Canada Student Grants Program

The new Canada Student Grants Program (CSGP) consolidates federal student financial assistance grants into a single program that will provide more effective support for students and families and help them manage the cost of post-secondary education.

The new CSGP is expected to provide support to over 245,000 students starting in the 2009-2010 school year. The grants available under the new CSGP will be predictable, easy to apply for, and provided to students at the beginning and middle of the school year.

Program Highlights:

• Canada Student Grant for Persons from Low-Income Families: Students from low-income families who qualify for a federal student loan and meet the specific grant eligibility requirements will receive $250 per month of study. This grant is available for all years of an eligible university undergraduate, college, or trade school program.

• Canada Student Grant for Persons from Middle-Income Families: Students from middle-income families who qualify for a federal student loan and meet the specific grant eligibility requirements will receive $100 per month of study. This grant is available for all years of an eligible university undergraduate, college or trade school program.

(Please note that the eligibility thresholds for the low- and middle-income grants will be adjusted to reflect the cost of living in each province and territory for different family sizes).

• Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: Under this grant, students with permanent disabilities may receive $2,000 per academic year to help cover the costs of accommodation, tuition, and books.

• Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: Under this grant, students with permanent disabilities who have exceptional education-related costs such as tutors, note-takers, interpreters, braillers or technical aids may receive up to $8,000 per academic year.

• Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependants: Under this grant, low-income students with children may receive $200 in grant assistance per month of study for each child under 12 years of age.

• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants: Under this grant, part-time students with up to two children under 12 years of age may be eligible for $40 per week of study, and part-time students with three or more chidren may be eligible for $60 per week of study.

• Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies:  Under this grant, part-time students may be eligible for up to $1,200 per school year.

• Transition Grant: As of August 1, 2009, eligible recipients of a Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (CMSF) Millennium bursary in 2008–2009 may receive a transition grant which does not need to be paid back, for up to three additional years of undergraduate study. The transition grant will equal the difference between the CMSF Millennium bursary received during the 2008-2009 school year and a Canada Student Grant for Persons from Low-Income Families or Canada Student Grant for Persons from Middle-Income Families.

(Please note that students may be eligible to receive more than one grant simultaneously).

The Government of Canada will continue to work with participating provinces and territories to implement the new Canada Student Grants Program. Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut offer their own student financial aid programs and do not participate in the Canada Student Loans Program. Contact the student financial assistance office in your province or territory of permanent residence to learn more about available student financial aid program.