Released on June 26, 2019
The 2019-20 student loan year is underway and students can now submit their applications for student financial assistance for academic programs beginning on or after August 1, 2019.
“Our government wants to ensure post-secondary education remains affordable for students,” Advanced Education Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “In 2019-20, the provincial government is providing approximately $82 million in financial assistance to about 20,000 students. We have also made recent updates to the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Loan Program to help eligible students pay for post-secondary education.”
Updates to the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Loan Program include:
- Starting in 2019, in order for students to be assessed for the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship they must apply for a student loan.
- Since 2018-19, students have the ability to request grants-only funding (money that you do not need to pay back) and decline the loans portion (money you must pay back).
- The Skills Boost top up to the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students provides $1,600 per year ($200 per month of an eight-month school year) in additional grant money for full-time students who have been out of high school for at least 10 years.
- There is no fixed student contribution for Indigenous students, students with permanent disabilities, students with children and students who are, or were, Crown wards. Therefore, these students may be eligible to receive more loan funding.
Loans and grants can be used to pay for more than just tuition. Students can use this money for living expenses such as rent, food, transportation and child care. Students are encouraged to apply early (two months before the program start date). Both full-time and part-time students can apply for financial assistance.
More information on Saskatchewan student loans can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/studentloans or by calling 1-800-597-8278.
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For more information, contact:
Marieka Andrew
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3170
Email: marieka.andrew@gov.sk.ca