Student Aid
One of the ways you can fund your post secondary education
is through a government loan. If you are a Canadian citizen, Landed Immigrant
or Protected Person, you can submit an application for funding in your home
province. Information provided here is intended to be a resource only.
The government
loans in the Province
of Manitoba are
administered by the Manitoba Student
Aid Program. If you have questions about your loan application or status,
please contact them directly at 204.945.6321 or visit Manitoba Student Aid Program.
So What Can I Expect?
Here is a brief timeline of the application process. Instructions on all of these processes will be included in your government loan documentation and their website.
- Submit an
application online at Manitoba Student Aid Program. We suggest doing this by mid-June 2013, so that you can
receive your loans by September to pay your fees and book costs. This will also
give you a better sense of what your budget is going to look like for the year.
- About two weeks after you apply, you will receive a “Notice
of Assistance." This will outline the total amount of government aid you will
receive, and when it will be disbursed. Follow the instructions on the
notice and return the requested paperwork right away.
- Around mid-August you will receive a letter with your “Certificate
of Eligibility”. This will indicate the total amount of student aid in your
first disbursement, and the fees you owe to The University of Winnipeg (which
will be automatically deducted from your student aid). For example, the certificate may say you will
receive a $975 grant and a $4,000 loan and the fees owed to the University are
$2,500. Thus, all of your fees will be covered and $2,475 will be deposited
into your bank account for living expenses.
- The government department will take care of processing the
document after you submit it, transferring the fee payment portion directly to
the University and depositing any additional balance to your account. This
usually takes about 10 business days.
- If your Canada Student Financial Assistance has been
approved, but not yet disbursed by the start of classes, please contact the
University right away. We can make arrangements for a “fee deferral”
which means your registration will not be cancelled due to lack of payment.
Some other important things to know!
- Loans are normally disbursed in two installments – 60% in the fall term and 40% in the winter term.
- You submit a new application each year.
- You do not pay interest on your loans as long as you are a full-time student.
- If your finances change during the school year, you can apply for a government loan after the school year has started.
- When registering for courses, remember that as a recipient of a government loan, you must be enrolled in at least 18 credit hours for the Fall/Winter session. If you fall below this credit hour threshold, you may be in default of your loan and be reassessed by the government.
Questions?
Email: awards@uwinnipeg.ca
Phone: 204.789.UWIN (8946)
Website: Government Student Aid Program Information
