Student Aid Application
The Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan work together to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students. Loans and grants are available to help full-time and part-time students. Assistance is meant to supplement, not replace, other resources.
The new student aid applications for 2024-25 are now available for post-secondary programs starting on or after August 1, 2024.
The 2024-25 Student Aid Handbook contains valuable information about the student aid program including:
- changes for the new student loan year, beginning on August 1, 2024;
- who is eligible;
- how much student aid you can receive;
- grants you may be eligible for;
- scholarships;
- maintaining your eligibility while in school; and
- repaying your student loan.
Please read the handbook carefully before applying for student aid.
1. Benefits
The amount of aid you can receive, including grants, depend on your situation. The Assessment Summary Letter you receive after applying will outline your eligibility for both provincial and federal aid.
Important Information!
Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship
If you are a Grade 12 graduate (2012 or later) and enrol in a Saskatchewan post-secondary institution, you may be eligible to receive the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship of $750 each year (maximum of $3,000).
Request grants-only funding
When you apply for student aid, you are assessed for a mix of non-repayable grants and repayable loans. You can choose to decline the loans and receive only grants. For example, a full-time student whose income is below the low-income threshold may be assessed for approximately $19,100* in financial aid ($13,900 in loans and $5,200 in grants) for a typical 8-month academic year. If grants-only funding was requested, this student would receive only grant funding of $5,200.
*Note these amounts are only an example and will not apply to all students. Your loan and grant amounts will be based on your individual circumstances.
Did You Know?
- A grant is funding that you do not need to pay back. If you withdraw from school, some or all of the grant funding you receive will convert to a loan. A loan is funding you must pay back.
- You can apply for student aid whether you are a full-time or a part-time student.
- In addition to helping with the costs of tuition, loans and grants can be used for living expenses like rent, food, transportation, and child care.
- If you have challenges repaying your loan you may be able to defer or reduce your payments by accessing the Repayment Assistance Plan.
- Loans are interest-free while in school and you don't have to start repaying them until six months after you complete your studies.
2. Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for full-time or part-time student aid in Saskatchewan if:
- You are a Saskatchewan resident, meaning you have lived in Saskatchewan for at least 12 consecutive months before the first day of your study period (excluding time spent as a full-time post-secondary student). New permanent residents (less than 12 months) who have only lived in Saskatchewan may be considered residents of the province; and
- You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person; and
- You have financial need according to program criteria; and
- You are enrolled or qualified to enrol as a full-time post-secondary student at a designated school in an approved program which is at least 12 weeks in length;
- If your program is between 6-11 weeks, you may be eligible, if the shorter study period is part of a longer program; or
- You are enrolled or qualified to enrol as a part-time post-secondary student at a designated school in an approved program;
- For full-time studies, you are required to take at least 60% of a full course load;
- For part-time studies, you are required to take between 20% and 59% of a full course load (If you are a student with either a permanent or a persistent or prolonged disability, you can choose to be considered full-time or part-time if you will be taking 40% to 59% of a full course load);
- Your previous student loans are in good standing (e.g., you must not have defaulted on a previous student loan); and
- You have not exhausted the lifetime maximum assistance limit.
Check with your school to ensure it is designated for the purposes of student aid or visit the Government of Canada website for a list of designated educational institutions. Your school must be designated in order for you to receive funding. If you have questions regarding a school's designation, please contact the Student Service Centre.
3. Before You Apply
Read the following list to see what information you will need to complete your application:
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Saskatchewan Health Services Number (HSN).
- For full-time students, if you are dependent upon your parents, you will need your parents' SIN, HSN, dates of birth and information about their marital status including the date their current marital status began (e.g., date of marriage).
- If you are married, you will need your spouse's SIN, HSN, birth date, and information about what they will be doing while you are in school.
- If you have dependent children, you will need the HSN and birth date for each child.
4. How to Apply
You must apply for each school year separately. Applications for student aid can be submitted online or sent in by mail. The fastest and most convenient way to apply for student aid is online.
Submit your application early to ensure you receive your money at the start of your school term. Student aid applications for the upcoming loan year are available in late June. Applications and any changes to information must be received 30 days before your program end date.
How to apply for Student Aid in Saskatchewan
Watch this short tutorial to learn how you can apply for student aid online.
How to upload documents through your Advanced Education Student Portal account
Learn how to use the upload feature in the Advanced Education Student Portal to submit your documents online.
5. Apply
Apply Online
1. Ensure you have the required information identified in the Before you Apply section.
2. Create an Advanced Education Student Portal account.
Note: If you are not a student and are submitting documents on behalf of the student, skip to 3. Submit your documents.
The Advanced Education Student Portal Account is your one-stop location for information related to student loans, grants, Graduate Retention Program information and more. Create a username and password to be able to access your account at any time throughout the duration of your studies and after you graduate.
3. Submit your documents:
Once you've created your account, or if you have an existing account, you can fill out the application directly within the Advanced Education Student Portal. If you are required to upload supporting documents to your application, you can use the Upload Feature within your Advanced Education Student Portal Account.
If you do not have an existing Advanced Education Student Portal Account, or you need to submit documents on behalf of the applicant, upload documents online using the Post-Secondary Document Uploader.
If you prefer to print the application and complete it by hand, you can scan the completed forms and upload them to your Advanced Education Student Portal account or through the Post-Secondary Document Uploader.
Full-time and Part-Time Students | Non-students |
Apply Online Now | Submit Documents |
Other Ways to Apply
Students who are unable to apply online may apply through the mail using the printable application package. Completed paper applications, with all supporting documents, can be scanned and submitted through the Post-Secondary Document Uploader, or by mail to the Student Service Centre.
Student Services Centre
1120 - 2010 12th Avenue
Regina, SK S4P 0M3
The processing time for paper applications may take as long as four weeks. Please consider applying online – it's faster.
Retrieve documents and tax slips associated with your application through the Government of Saskatchewan Advanced Education Student Portal.
6. Further Information
After You Apply
For information about receiving, maintaining, and repaying your student loan, please visit After You Apply.
Canada and Saskatchewan Student Grants
When you apply for student aid, you will be automatically considered for grants from both the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan.
Scholarships and Grants
Did you know that there are additional government funded scholarships and grants available? Learn more scholarships, bursaries and grants available to students.