How to apply for grants from Alberta Student Aid
To seek grants, you must complete a comprehensive full-time funding application, which effectively combines three applications into one. This consolidated application encompasses an Alberta student loan, a Canada student loan, and grant funding. Essentially, you are required to apply as if you were seeking a student loan, and within that application, your eligibility for grants is automatically assessed. There is no distinct application solely for grant funding; submitting a student loan application concurrently serves as an application for grant funding.
What does grant funding entail?
Grant funding essentially constitutes free money designed to assist in meeting your educational expenses. The key feature of grant funding is that it doesn’t require repayment, provided you maintain full-time enrollment for the specific funding period during which you access the grant. For instance, if you obtain grant funding for a study period from September to April, it is imperative to sustain full-time enrolment throughout that duration. In the event of withdrawing from studies during this period, there is a probable obligation to repay the granted funds to Alberta Students Aid.
Who qualifies for full-time grants?
Grants are available to students facing unique circumstances, which encompass, but are not restricted to, those with lower incomes and students with disabilities. To access a disability grant, it is necessary to be an individual with a permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability, as outlined by the Canadian Student Financial Assistance Program, and furnish acceptable documentation. Grant consideration is automatic based on the information supplied in your application. Nevertheless, there are restrictions on the amount of AB student grant funding that is accessible.
How to Get Started?
To seek grants exclusively, you must fill out a comprehensive full-time Alberta Student Aid loan application. To accomplish this, navigate to the Alberta Student Aid website at studentaid.alberta.ca.
Once you reach the Alberta Student Aid website, you will need to either establish an account if this is your initial visit or log in to your previously created account. If you are a first-time applicant, click on the “start here” button, where you’ll find step-by-step instructions and resources to guide you through the application process. Returning users or applicants should log in to their Alberta Student Aid account to manage their application. Subsequently, complete the Alberta Student Aid application in its entirety.
It is crucial to ensure that the funding period you specify aligns with the dates of your post-secondary program. Fill in all sections of the student loan application with precise information. Pay special attention to the Education Costs for the School Term in the Studies Information Section. Even if you do not intend to use grant funding for covering tuition, fees, books, etc., accurately document your actual tuition fees in this section. It is imperative to accurately complete the Education Costs section; failing to do so may result in the denial of grants. Your tuition should be automatically displayed on this page next to where it indicates “Full course load amount.” Each white box labeled ‘requested amount’ must be filled with the correct tuition and fees. Avoid entering $1 or $0 in the white boxes; report your precise tuition and fees in this section. This point cannot be emphasized enough, as it is a common mistake made by applicants when exclusively applying for grants.
In this part of the application, you will be prompted to disclose “Total income from your tax return.” Student Aid requires you to report the gross income from the previous year. Depending on your circumstances (age, relationship status, etc.), this may encompass your income, your spouse income, or, if you are a dependent student, the income of your parents. After completing the entire student aid application, ensure a thorough review of the application to verify the accuracy of all sections. Subsequently, you can click on “Submit application” or “Start Submission Process” at the top of the page. Following the submission of the application, you will encounter a screen prompting you to specify the Amount of Assistance Requested.
To exclusively seek grant funding, input “$1” in the box labeled “Total amount of Assistance requested.” This specific entry of “$1” signals your intention to request grant funding only. Do not leave this box empty or enter any other numerical value; the notation of $1 signifies your preference for grant funding exclusively.
Here are some important considerations to bear in mind. Once you have inputted “$1,” it is crucial to follow the instructions provided on the last few pages of the student funding application. Although you might be tempted to skip this information, please make sure to read all the consent and declaration details at the conclusion of the application. Anticipate receiving a notice of assessment letter in your Alberta Student Aid inbox within 2-4 weeks after submitting your application. Regularly check your Student Aid inbox, and do not overlook any notifications from this source. There may be additional documents to complete before you receive your grant funding, so it is essential to keep a close eye on your inbox for further instructions. Additionally, be aware that some grants you obtain might be directed to your post-secondary institution to settle outstanding tuition, while the Canada Student Grant for students with disabilities will be sent directly to you.