Do you need financial assistance? Don’t put it off; Request it now!
What’s the difference between a loan and a bursary?
- Loan: money that you are required to pay back once you leave or graduate from the program
- Bursary (or grant): money that does not need to be paid back
- Students qualify for a loan first; based on financial need, students may also qualify for a bursary
What is an online assessment?
- Provides an estimate of the loan and/or bursary that you could receive
- The actual amount of financial aid received will be determined by Aide financière aux etudes (AFE)
- Available at www.afe.gouv.qc.ca under “Your On-Line Services” then “Assessment Simulator”
- It is important to complete an online assessment before applying to determine if you are eligible for a loan
- Completing an online assessment does not commit you to a loan.
How do I apply?
- Available at www.afe.gouv.qc.ca under “On-Line Access to your File” then “Student”
- You will need your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and your Permanent Code
- There are a number of documents required for an application: these will vary based on your residency in Quebec and Canada, your marital status, if you have children, your employment, and your previous education
- Paper applications are also available if you do not have a Permanent Code yet.
If my program is 2 years, will I have to apply again?
- An application is only valid for that academic year; if you require financial assistance for the second year of your program, you will need to submit a second application
When will I receive my money?
- It normally takes 4-6 weeks for an application to be processed once the required documents are received (this can be 6-8 weeks during the high volume period in September-October)
- Completing the application early will increase the likelihood that funds will be available in September
Contact Information
- Quebec’s Student Financial Assistance Office: get up-to-date contact information here >
- Our own Liora Richler: lrichler@wqsb.qc.ca