The Federal and Provincial/Territorial Governments provide student loan and grant assistance for Canadian citizens and permanent residents studying at the post-secondary level. Student loan programs are designed to help you reach your educational/career goal so you can experience student life without having to work too much while you study.

How to Access Student Loans

• Apply through your province/territory of residency. Applications open sometime in June for the upcoming academic year (for studies beginning on or after August 1).
• Depending on your assessment and province of application, you may receive a Notice of Assessment, your Alberta Student Aid Agreement and your Canada Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement – your legal agreements between you and your loan provider. Your Notice of Assessment informs you of how much your award will be for the year. Once your application is approved, you will receive an email asking you to log in to your Student Aid account. Log in and follow the instructions to complete your agreements.  No funds will be released until your agreements are complete.  
• Register in a full-time course load in all of your terms so Northwestern Polytechnic can confirm your enrolment with your student loan provider. You must be admitted into your program to register in your courses.
• Don't pay twice! We will make every attempt to request your tuition to be sent to us directly from your student loan. We are unable to request tuition for some programs that fall outside of the typical fall/winter academic schedule. Please be sure to inquire if unsure.
• To ensure your funds will assist you throughout the academic year; Financial Aid encourages students to make a budget.

If it seems like you did not receive enough funding to cover your expenses for the year, you might be able to appeal your loan. Please visit our Financial Aid office or contact us at the information below.

You must apply for funding each academic year.

Completing the Application

Determine your province/territory of residence: You must apply for your funding through your province/territory of residence.

You are considered to be a resident of Alberta if:

• Alberta is the last province you have lived in for 12 consecutive months without being a full-time post-secondary student, or
• You are attending a school in Alberta and have never lived in any Canadian province for 12 months in a row. In this case, attach a letter to your application to explain your residency situation, or
• You have been out of high school for less than two years and at least one parent is residing in Alberta, or
• If spouse/partner meets the residency requirements for an independent student.

Alberta	British Columbia	Manitoba
New Brunswick	Newfoundland	Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia	Nunavut Territory	Ontario
Prince Edward Island	Quebec	Saskatchewan
Yukon Territory

Apply Online

By filling in one application form, you will be assessed for Canada and Alberta Student Loans, as well as grants and bursaries.

Deadline to apply

You must apply to Alberta Student Aid at least 30 days before the end date of your yearly period of studies.

Need application help? Visit our Financial Aid office or contact us at the information below.

Paying Your Fees

Northwestern Polytechnic will make every effort to request your tuition and fees directly from your loan certificate when we confirm your enrolment. It is ultimately your responsibility as the student, to ensure that tuition is paid in accordance with the institution's payment deadlines.

The Financial Aid Team is here to assist you every step of the way! Any questions or concerns please be sure to call, email or visit our office located in Student Services.

Access our current estimated program costs at NWP.me/Tuition&Fees.

Cashing Your Loan

Before you can receive any student loans or grants, you need to complete a legal agreement between you and your loan provider.

There may be separate agreements for your province and Canada. If you are approved for student aid from both your province and Canada, you will have to complete two agreements.

You must complete an agreement in the following situations:

• The first time you apply and are approved for student aid,
• If you have had previous student aid and return to school after a break of two years or more, or
• You have had previous student aid from another province.

Once your application is approved, you will receive an email asking you to log in to your Student Aid account. Log in and follow the instructions to complete your agreements.

You cannot receive any student aid until your agreements are complete. 

Read the terms and conditions of your agreements carefully. They include details regarding:

• How you will use the money
• Your repayment obligations
• How your monthly payments will be calculated

Once you have completed your Alberta Student Aid agreement, a copy will be available in your Student Aid inbox.

Your agreement must be received before your study period end date. To allow for processing time, complete your agreement at least two weeks before your school year ends. If your agreement is not complete before your end date, funding will be cancelled.

Issuing Grants

Grants are not issued until you have submitted both your Alberta Student Aid Agreement and your Canada Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement and the educational institution has confirmed registration. Grant cheques are mailed to your home address.

Keeping Loans Interest Free

If you are not receiving student aid this year, but you have previous student loans and are still a full-time student, notify your provincial Student Aid Service Centre and the National Student Loans Service Centre. This will keep your loans in interest-free status while you are in school.