You are here: Home / Academics / Student Services / Awards & Financial Aid / Government Student Aid Program Information

Awards and Financial Aid

Government Student Aid Program Information

This page has complete program information from applying to repayment. To skip directly to any of the sections listed below, just click on the name.

Application Process

The Government of Canada works in partnership with most provinces and territories to deliver student financial assistance programs. The exceptions are Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut which operate their own student financial assistance programs.

If you are a full-time student (see Course Load Requirements) and a Manitoba resident*, you can apply online at www.manitobastudentaid.ca

*To be a Manitoba resident, you must have lived in the province for at least 12 months. If you are a permanent resident (landed immigrant) or protected person, Manitoba must be your first province of residency.

If you are not a Manitoba resident, you will have to apply through the province you last lived in for 12 months, or first resided in for recent immigrants. For a complete list, see Provincial and Territorial Student Financial Assistance Offices.

When you qualify for a Canada Student Loan, you are automatically assessed for Grants and Bursaries that you may be eligible to receive such as:

  • Canada Student Grant for Students from Low-income Families
  • Canada Student Grant for Students from Middle-income Families
  • Canada Student Grant for Students with Dependents
  • Rural/Northern Bursary

These grants are the first money students will receive in their financial aid packages, before any loans are awarded. Many students may, in fact, receive the majority of their financial assistance in the form of grants.

Be sure to apply by February 1 as most provinces require all requested documentation to be submitted by February 20, 2012 in order to receive the funds for which you are eligible.You may be able to apply after February 1st, but you should contact your provincial government aid office for verification. 


Course Load

The minimum course load for which you must register to be eligible for full-time (interest-free) government student assistance is 60% of the maximum course load required for your study period:

  • Winter term only - 9 credit hours minimum
  • Fall/Winter session - 18 credit hours minimum

You must maintain the appropriate minimum course load for your study period in order to retain your student assistance eligibility.

Exception: Students with a Permanent Disability can sometimes be approved for full-time student aid with a 40% minimum course load. Please refer to the Accessibility Services office for more information: http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/services-disability

Part-time student loan applications are available from our office or your Provincial government student aid office for students wishing to apply who fall below the full-time minimum course load requirements. The main difference between part-time and full-time government student aid funding is that the part-time student loans are not interest-free while you are attending school. However, in both instances you are not required to make monthly payments on your loans while you are attending school.

NOTE: Wait-list courses are not reported when our office confirms your enrollment. If you are a full-time student, be sure you are registered in the minimum number of credit hours outlined above in order to have your government student aid funding released.

Registration at Another Post-Secondary Institution

If, in addition to The University of Winnipeg courses, you are registered and taking courses elsewhere during the academic year for credit towards your UW degree, you must present proof of registration to the Awards & Financial Aid Office before your student assistance document can be authorized and released to you.

The proof of registration must include the institution name, the academic year/term, the course name, the credit hours, and the cost. It can be dropped off in-person (1C22 - 1st Floor, Centennial Hall), faxed: 779-0961, or emailed to: awards@uwinnipeg.ca.


Release of Government Student Aid Documents - Manitoba Student Aid Program (MSAP) Recipients

Approximately 3 weeks before classes begin, the Manitoba Student Aid Program (MSAP) will begin printing official assistance documents for students whose MSAP documentation and University course registration are in order. MSAP will mail the documents directly to students at the addresses they have provided on their MSAP applications.

For full-time students, the document(s) you receive will already have been electronically approved/signed by the Awards & Financial Aid Office. In the same section of our signature, it will indicate the fees you owe to The University of Winnipeg. The National Student Loan Centre or the MSAP Loan Administration Department will process the document, transferring the fee payment portion directly to the University and depositing any additional balance to your bank account. Instructions on these processes will be included in your student aid document package.

  • If the document is a Canada Student Financial Assistance document, you should take it to an approved Canada Post outlet for forwarding to the National Student Loan Centre. You must present your government issued photo ID and S.I.N. (Social Insurance Number) card.
  • If the document is a Manitoba Student Aid document, you should forward it to the MSAP Loan Administration Department with a copy of your government issued photo ID.

NOTE: On Wednesday, January 4th, Manitoba Student Aid representatives will be in the Riddell Atrium to process Manitoba Student Loan documents. They will require government issued photo ID and complete bank account information (bring Deposit Form, or a void cheque, or bank transit, institution code and account numbers).


Release of Government Student Aid Documents - Out of Province and/or Part-Time Aid Recipients

Once all the necessary documentation has been submitted after you have applied and been assessed, you should receive your funding documents shortly before or right at the start of classes. The documents will either be mailed direct to you or to the Awards & Financial Aid office for pick up. You will be notified by the Provincial office in your notice of assessment when and how you will receive the funding and funding documents.

The document(s) you receive will most often need to be signed by an Awards & Financial Aid Office staff member. When we sign your funding document, we will indicate the fees you owe to The University of Winnipeg. The National Student Loan Centre or the Provincial Aid Department will process the document, transferring the fee payment portion directly to the University and depositing any additional balance to your bank account. Instructions on these processes will be included in your student aid document package. Please follow them carefully.


Tuition Fee Deferral

All fees for Winter 2011-12 courses must be paid by January 4, 2012. If you are relying on your Government Student Aid to pay your outstanding fees, please follow the important instructions below.

Those who have been assessed and approved for Manitoba Student Aid as of December 16 have automatically been deferred until February 4. You would have received a web-mail notification stating this. No action is needed.  

If you applied for Manitoba Student Aid after Dec 16 OR you are a recipient of out-of-province student aid, please send your name and student number to: awards@uwinnipeg.ca.  This will ensure you are added to our list of deferrals. We will try our best to make sure you are captured, however, it is not guaranteed.

What does Tuition Fee Deferral mean?

You have been given a one month grace period so that:

a. Your registration is not cancelled, and

b. You are not charged late payment fees.

Please be advised that if your student assistance does not cover your required fee payment, you will have to make payment on your own by the fee payment deadline to avoid late fees.

Please also note that if you withdraw from University courses, you will be responsible for the fees you owe until your actual date of withdrawal, regardless of Tuition Fee Deferral.

NOTE: If your tuition payment is not received by February 4th, you will have to make financial arrangements in-person at Student Central to ensure your registration is not cancelled. Bring your government student aid documents with you to show proof of pending payment(s). Late fees may apply.


Repaying Your Student Loan(s)

Are you graduating or leaving school? Then it's time to take charge of your finances!

Your government student loan(s) may come from the federal government and or your provincial/territorial government. This means you could have more than one loan to pay back.

The National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) will send your Consolidation Agreement by mail before you are required to start making payments. The Agreement sets the terms for the repayment of your Canada Student Loan; this is the federal portion of your loan. You'll have to make a number of decisions, including the type of interest rate and how long you'll take to repay your loan. Depending on your situation, you might also receive another Consolidation Agreement by mail for your provincial or territorial student loan.

You don't have to make any payments on your student loan(s) for the first six months after you leave school; however, interest will be added to your Canada Student Loan during these six months.

Helping you repay your loan

Missing payments can have serious and long-term consequences. Contact the NSLSC before you miss a payment. The federal government can provide you with a number of options, such as the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). Click here for more information on RAP, or visit CanLearn.ca to use the Repayment Assistance Estimator.

Stay connected!

Sign up for an online NSLSC account on CanLearn.ca and ensure that the NSLSC has your up-to-date contact information.

For information on your student loan(s), contact the NSLSC at 1-888-815-4514 (TTY 1-888-815-4556).

 For information on your provincial student loan(s), contact your provincial student financial aid office. For a complete list, see Provincial and Territorial Student Financial Assistance Offices.

Visit CanLearn.ca for more information.


Tips & Tidbits

Below is basic information regarding emergency funding, government student aid appeals, staying in non-repayment status, funding for exchange programs, and Manitoba Student Aid.

DID YOU KNOW... If you are out of funds before your next disbursement of Government Student Aid occurs, you can arrange for bridge financing from the University in the form of an emergency loan. Please call 786-9984 for an appointment.

DID YOU KNOW... If you applied for Government Student Aid and were denied funding, the staff in Awards & Financial Aid may be able to help you make an appeal for re-assessment. No appointment is needed. Just bring your Notice of Assessment with you to the Awards & Financial Aid Office, Rooms 1C22 & 1C22A - 1st Floor Centennial Hall. Student drop-in hours are 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday-Friday. If you need or would like to make an appointment, email awards@uwinnipeg.ca.

DID YOU KNOW… If you are a student who has had past Government Student Loans and are currently a full-time student but do not have a student loan this year, you can fill out a Schedule 2 document to remain in non-payment status. Please come to the Awards & Financial Aid office, Rooms 1C22 & 1C22A - 1st Floor Centennial Hall, where staff can provide you with this form.

DID YOU KNOW... If you are registered in one of The University of Winnipeg Exchange Programs, you could qualify for government student aid for your studies abroad. Apply through your home province and be sure to sign Power of Attorney forms with a family member or close friend. This way they can submit the loan documents on your behalf while you are away. The forms are available from our office, canlearn.ca and/or your provincial government student aid office.

DID YOU KNOW... Manitoba Student Aid staff can be on campus on Fridays from 1 - 4 p.m. for students to meet with them. If you would like to set up an appointment time, please call 786-9458 or 789-1420.

DID YOU KNOW... You can check the status of your student aid application, find out what documentation is still outstanding, update your address information and much more on-line? For Manitoba Student Aid recipients, go to www.manitobastudentaid.ca and then to MySAO to log into your existing account. For out-of-province applications, please refer to your provincial government aid website.


Surfing for dollars? Try these two websites.

www.studentawards.com

www.scholarshipscanada.com


< Back to Awards Home