Changes to Student Aid Alberta program announced

Government of Alberta press release

Starting this year, post-secondary students who have been approved for Alberta and Canada student loans will need to submit just one set of paper loan agreements. When returning students apply to Student Aid Alberta in future years, they will no longer need to submit new loan agreements and will benefit from a mainly paperless process.

Also new this year is a grant for students in one-year, undergraduate certificate programs who meet eligibility requirements. This year, it’s expected approximately 5,000 Albertans will be eligible for the grant, which is valued at $120 per month of study.

“A post-secondary education is one of the most important investments a person can make in their lifetime. Through streamlined processes, grants to encourage students to access and complete post-secondary studies, and flexible loan re-payment options after graduation, we are helping more students reach their full potential. The province will reap the benefits in the years to come,” said Thomas Lukaszuk, Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education

Last year, more than 58,000 students received a total of $748 million in federal and provincial loans and grants through Student Aid Alberta. More than 80 per cent of these students applied online, and many of them found out if they were eligible, and how much they were eligible for, right away.

Student Aid Alberta improvements in 2012-2013:

• Implementing a flat-rate contribution;
• Relaxing eligibility rules;
• Creating a grant to encourage students to complete their studies; and
• New call centre and the studentaid.alberta.ca website.