Canadian Student Grants and Financial Assistance

Introduction

A new, consolidated Canada Student Grant will be available to students.

Main Digest

Before, the Government of Canada offered many different small grants. Now, all federal grants will be combined to provide more effective support for students and to better assist Canadian families who struggle with the cost of higher education.

The new grant will be paid through all years of a university undergraduate, college or trade school program. Students from low and middle income families will qualify based on clearly defined income levels.

The new program will provide $250 each month in grants for students from low-income families and $100 a month for students from middle-income families. Because this grant is predictable, they will be better able to plan and pay for their post-secondary education.

The low and middle-income thresholds will be adjusted to reflect the cost of living in each province and for different family sizes.

To be eligible for a Canada Student Grant, the student must qualify for a Canada Student Loan. The goal is to have a single application for both loan and grant that will automatically determine the student's eligibility level for the Canada Student Grant.

Complementary grants will be available for students with permanent disabilities and students with dependents. Low-income students with dependents will receive an improved grant that will provide more money up front ($200 per month for each dependant under 12). Students with a permanent disability will continue to receive grant assistance similar to the Canada Access Grants and Canada Study Grants they received in the past.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund (CMSF) will end after the 2008-2009 school year. The Government will ensure that students receiving the Canada Millennium Scholarship general bursaries in 2008-2009 will receive transitional grants until they complete or withdraw from their current program of study.

Current CMSF general bursary recipients who are eligible for the new federal grant will have the difference between the amount of the CMSF general bursary and the amount of the new grant made up with a transition grant.

The new Canada Student Grant is expected to provide support for some 245,000 students each year starting in the 2009-2010 school year.

Student Scenarios

David has completed his first year at Northern College in 2008. He and his two sisters live with their parents in Saskatoon. His parents have a total annual income of $27,000. Because of their modest income, David received a Canada Access Grant (low income) which helped cover his $2,656 tuition; however, this was only available for his first year of study. He did not qualify for a Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation bursary.

The new Canada Student Grants cover college and undergraduate university students from low and middle income families for the entire length of their programs. Under the new grant, since David qualifies for a federal student loan, he will receive $250 per month up front for the eight months of the year he is in school, for a total of $2,000 each year until he graduates.

Chris has completed his first year of a four-year Bachelor of Education program in 2008. He lives with his parents in Moncton. His parents have an annual income of $27,000.

Currently, Chris would not qualify for a Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation bursary because his tuition is relatively low compared to tuition for other university degrees, and he works part-time while attending school. He does qualify for a federal student loan.

Under the new federal grant, Chris will receive $100 per month up front for eight months, for a total of or $800 a year, for every year, until he graduates.

Anne has completed her first year in Business Administration at Memorial University. Anne has an after-tax income of $12,600 per year. She has a five-year-old son.

Anne applied for student assistance and she was assessed with a need of $9,000. She was eligible for a Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Integrated Student Loan. She was not eligible for the Canada Study Grant for Students with Dependants because her assessed need was less than $9,350 (or $275 per week of study).

Under the new Canada Student Grants, Anne will receive a $200-per-month grant to help her with child care expenses while she attends university. She will also receive the new low income grant of $250 per month. This means that every year until she graduates from the undergraduate program she will receive a total of $450 per month in grants. These grants will be paid up front and will reduce the Canada Student Loan amount that Anne will need.

Robert is planning to attend Northern College in the fall of 2009. He and his two sisters live with his mother in Saskatoon. His mother has an annual income of $27,000.

The Canada Student Grant Program extends the coverage to college and undergraduate university and trade school students from low income families for the entire length of their programs. Since Robert qualifies for a federal student loan, he will receive $250 per month (up-front) for the eight months of the year he is in school, each year until he graduates. Under this grant, that's $2,000 he will never have to pay back.

Further information www.canlearn.ca/eng/index.shtml

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Cite This Page (APA): Canada Student Grants. (2009, September 10 - Last revised: 2016, June 13). Canadian Student Grants and Financial Assistance. Disabled World. Retrieved September 11, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/education/student-grants.php

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