Before you seek financing through the Government of Canada student loans, you should be seeking Canada student grants that are available in Canada to help pay for your education. Simply put – if you are looking for ways to finance your education, you probably know that a student loan has to be repaid, while a grant never has to be repaid.

The Canada Student Grants Program, also known as CSGP, exists for the purpose of consolidating many different financial assistance programs for Canadian students. What this means is that you can apply for several different Canada student grant programs through one program, making the process much simpler for you.

Through the CSGP program, you can apply for the Canada Student Grant for Persons from Low Income Families, the Canada Student Grant for Persons from Middle Income Families, the Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities, the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities, the Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependents, the Canada Student Grant for Part Time Students with Dependents, and the Canada Student Grant for Part Time Studies.

The grant for Canada students from low income families provides the student with $250 per month to help cover costs while studying. The Canadian grant for students from middle income families provides $100. This is, of course, above and beyond the other grants and Canadian student loans that you may receive.

If you have permanent disabilities, you may receive up to $2000 per academic year of Canada government student grants. Additionally, you may receive up to $8000 per academic year to help pay for equipment that may be needed for your education, due to your disability.

If you have dependents, you can receive up to $200 for each month that you are in school, for each child under the age of 12. You must additionally be a low income student. If you are a part time student, with up to two children under the age of twelve, you may be paid $40 per week that you are in school, and if you have three or more children, you may receive $60 per week of study. If you have no dependents, but you are a part time student, you may be eligible for $1200 per academic year under the program for part time students.

Regardless of the Canadian student grant that you receive, payments are disbursed twice a year – at the beginning of the academic year, and again in the middle of the academic year. If you live in Quebec, Nunavet, or the Northwest Territories, you are not eligible for these Government Canada student grant programs, as those territories offer their own grants programs.

It is important to realize that you can receive more than one Canada student grant at a time, if you are eligible for more than one grant. For example, if you are disabled, you should apply for both grants designed for disabled students. If you also have dependents, apply for those grants, and if you are from a middle or low income family, apply for those grants as well. To learn more go to Government of Canada Student Loans and Grants.

Related Reading

Canadian National Student Loans Program