Alberta Student Aid Guide 2025

Updated March 2025 · 10 min read

Alberta Student Aid (ASA) is the Government of Alberta's financial assistance program for post-secondary students. It offers loans, grants, and bursaries to help Albertans pay for college or university. Since 2023, Alberta joined the federal government in eliminating interest on provincial student loans, making it one of the best provincial programs for borrowers.

What Alberta Student Aid Offers

ASA provides several types of funding to eligible students:

Alberta Student Loans

The provincial loan component. Interest-free since 2023. The amount you receive depends on your assessed financial need, program costs, and income.

Canada Student Loans

Federal loans accessed through your ASA application. Also interest-free since April 2023.

Alberta Student Grant

Non-repayable grant funding for students from low- and middle-income families. The Alberta Student Grant is assessed automatically through your application.

Canada Student Grants

Federal non-repayable grants of up to $4,200 per year for full-time students from low-income families, also accessed through your ASA application.

Alberta Bursary

Additional bursary funding for students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, assessed case-by-case.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Alberta Student Aid, you must:

• Be an Alberta resident (or have parents who are Alberta residents)
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• Be enrolled at a designated post-secondary institution
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be in a program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• Be enrolled in at least 60% of a full course load for full-time funding
• Not be in default on a previous student loan

How to Apply

1. Visit studentaid.alberta.ca and log in or create an account
2. Start a new application for the upcoming study period
3. Enter your program and school details
4. Provide income information — yours and your parents' (for dependent students)
5. Review and submit your application
6. Sign your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) online
7. Funding is disbursed at the start of your study period — often split between start and midpoint of the year

Maximum Funding Levels

Alberta students can receive the following maximums in combined federal and provincial aid per study period:

• Full-time students: up to approximately $340 per week of study
• Part-time students: based on actual costs up to a maximum per semester

The actual amount you receive is based on your assessed need. Your need is calculated by subtracting your expected financial resources (income, parental contribution, assets) from your allowable education costs.

Assessed Costs in Alberta

Alberta Student Aid uses standardized cost tables to determine allowable expenses. These typically include:

• Tuition and compulsory fees for your program
• Books and supplies (a standardized estimate)
• Living expenses (varies based on whether you live at home, in residence, or independently)
• Local transportation
• Childcare for students with dependants

Part-Time Students

Part-time students (enrolled in 20–59% of a full course load) can also apply for ASA funding. Part-time funding is available as loans and, in some cases, the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students (up to $1,800 per year). Part-time students who work while studying can access this funding based on direct program costs.

Maintaining Your Funding

To keep receiving ASA funding each year, you must:

• Reapply each academic year
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards — typically passing 60% or more of your attempted courses
• Confirm enrollment at the start of each term
• Report any significant changes to your financial situation

Repayment

After you leave school or drop below full-time status, a 6-month non-repayment period begins. No payments are required and no interest accumulates during this time. After 6 months, repayment begins — typically over a 10-year standard term.

You manage repayment through the NSLSC portal for the federal portion and through the Alberta Student Aid portal for the provincial portion, though in practice both are often managed together.

Alberta Repayment Assistance

Alberta offers its own repayment assistance program for provincial loans, complementing the federal RAP. If your income is low after graduation, you can apply to have payments reduced based on your household income. For the federal portion, the standard RAP applies with the same terms as other provinces.