Manitoba Student Aid

• Manitoba Student Aid is supplemental financial assistance to help pay for full-time and part-time post-secondary education costs. You, and in some cases your family (e.g., parents, spouse), are expected to contribute to your post-secondary education costs.
• ONE application will assess your eligibility for provincial and federal student loans, grants and bursaries.
• Applying for other sources of funding (e.g. scholarships, bursaries, or Government funding) is also recommended.
  
  Note:
  • Funding may not always be available right at the start of classes due to high processing volumes during peak times.
  • You must have a back-up plan on how to pay for tuition, books/supplies, or living expenses while your application is in process.

For more information, visit What is Manitoba Student Aid? Do I qualify?

To qualify for Manitoba Student Aid, you must be:

• a Canadian citizen, permanent resident (landed immigrant), or protected person as defined under Canadian Immigration Legislation
• a Manitoba resident
  • you are a resident if you've lived in Manitoba for the last 12 consecutive months before your study period, not including time spent in post-secondary studies
  • for newcomers, you are considered a resident if Manitoba was the province where you first landed
• studying at a designated school and program. If you're not sure, visit Is my school designated?
• must be in good standing on any previous federal or provincial student financial assistance. This means you’re making your payments on time and are not in default.

For more information, visit What is Manitoba Student Aid? Do I qualify?

Yes, you may qualify for Manitoba Student Aid if you are studying at a designated school and program outside of Manitoba (e.g. different province or country).

To check if your school and program are designated, visit Is my school designated?

International Students do not qualify for Manitoba Student Aid.

Full-Time Student:

• you are registered in at least 60% of a full course load in each term at a designated university or college
• you are registered in a 100% course load at a designated private vocational or private training institution
• you are registered in at least 40% of a full course load in each term at a designated university, college, private vocational or private training institution and verified with:
  • A permanent disability; or
  • A persistent or prolonged disability

Part-Time Student:

• you are enrolled in 20% to 59% of a full course load in each term at a designated university, college, private vocational or private training school
• you are enrolled in 20% to 39% of a full course load in each term at a designated university, college, private vocational or private training institution and verified with:
  • A permanent disability; or
  • A persistent or prolonged disability

Note: If you do not know your course load percentage, please contact your educational institution to verify your registration information.

Single Dependent if you:

• have never been married or in a common-law relationship; and
• have never been a single parent with legal custody and financial responsibility for supporting a child; and
• have not been out of high school for four years or have never been in the workforce full-time for two years
  Note: These two years do not need to be consecutive, but each year of work must have been 12 months in a row.

Single Independent if you:

• are not married or in a common-law relationship and do not have any dependents and at least one of the following applies:
  • have been out of high school for four years
  • have been active in the workforce full-time for at least two years
    Note: These two years do not need to be consecutive, but each year of work must have been 12 months in a row
  • have no parent, guardian, sponsor, or other supporting relative, due to death or disappearance
  • are a current or former ward of a child and family services agency

Married or Common-Law if you:

• are legally married, or
• have been living in a common-law relationship for at least one year

Single Parent if you:

• have legal and physical custody and responsibility for supporting a child, and
• are not currently married or in a common-law relationship

For more information, Contact Us.

There is a maximum amount of loans available for each student.

• Full-time student:
  • The maximum amount of loans available for eligible students is:
    $500 Canadian dollars per week of study
  • For example, a student registered in the fall and winter terms at a university may receive $17,000 in loans ($500 X 34 weeks).
• Part-time student:
  • The maximum lifetime assistance available is $10,000 Canadian dollars.
    Note: You can pay your part-time student loan debt to receive further funding.

When you apply for Manitoba Student Aid, you only need to submit one application to be assessed for provincial and federal student loans, grants and bursaries.

NEW: Canada Student Grant Only Option
If you choose this option, you will only receive the Canada Student Grants you are eligible for. If you decide to request other types of financial assistance later, your application will need to be re-assessed, which could take extra time to process.

For more information, visit FUNDING.

Yes. Starting in 2025/26, if you're applying as a full-time student, you can choose to get just the federal grants you're eligible for—no loans.

Note: Your total funding might be lower than if you included loans in your application.

If you do not choose this option, your application will be assessed for provincial and federal student loans, grants, and bursaries. For further information, please visit the Program Updates page.

For part time applications, this option is not yet available therefore you will still be assessed for grants and loans.

Yes, as long as the study period dates do not overlap.

Full-Time Student

• Create a Manitoba Student Aid account
• Login and submit an online application through the Manitoba Student Aid online portal
  • even if you haven't been officially accepted yet, please have the following information ready:
    • name of designated school and program
    • current study period start and end dates
    • tuition, compulsory fees and books costs (if you are attending an out-of-province school)
  • your online application will be assessed is 3-5 business days
  • once your application is assessed, you will find out:
    • how much you are eligible to receive
    • what forms you need to fill out and submit
    • if and why you are not eligible to receive funds
• apply using the paper application
  • if you require the application in an alternate format

NEW: Starting in 2025/26, full-time students applying a second time in the same academic year can now submit an online application through the Manitoba Student Aid online portal

Part-Time Student

• apply using the part-time application

For more information, visit Where do I start? and What information do I need?

Yes, you must submit a separate application for each academic year, or each term, if the break between terms is more than 25 days.

Apply early to avoid delays!

• New applications for fall and winter studies are available in June of every year for students attending universities, colleges, private vocational or private training schools.
  • Submit a 2024/25 application if your study period starts between August 1, 2024, to July 31,2025
  • Submit a 2025/26 application if your study period starts between August 1, 2025, to July 31,2026
• New applications for spring and summer studies are available in March of every year for students attending universities.

Note: When a new application becomes available, an announcement is posted on the main page of the Manitoba Student Aid website.

You must submit your application no later than 60 days before your period of study ends.

Note: Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

Yes, there are limits to the financial assistance you can receive from Manitoba Student Aid.

Full-Time Students

• Minimum Course Load
  • 60% for students enrolled at a designated university or college
  • 100% for students enrolled at a designated private vocational or private training institution
  • 40% for students with a verified permanent disability, or a verified persistent or prolonged disability enrolled in a university, college, private vocational or private training institution
• Study Period + 1 limit
  • You will receive funding for the number of years a school says it should take to complete a program, plus one extra year.
    Note: If you take less than a 100% course load for each year, you may run out of loan eligibility before finishing the program.
  • If you are verified with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability, you are exempt from this policy.
• Maximum Lifetime Assistance
  • 340 weeks if you are enrolled in post-secondary education
  • 400 weeks if you are enrolled in doctoral studies
  • 520 weeks if you are verified with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability
• Satisfactory Scholastic Standard
  • You must maintain satisfactory progress and attendance, whether you received student aid funding or not, to continue to be eligible for student financial assistance.
  • Transcripts or academic histories will be required for all students who have attempted at least one academic term of full-time study and have not completed the required minimum course load.

Part-time Students

• You must pass all courses for which you received part-time funding.

• Minimum Course Load
  • 20% for students enrolled at a designated university, college, private vocational or private training institution
• Maximum Assistance
  • You may receive up to a maximum of $10,000 part-time loan
    Note: You can pay your part-time student loan debt to receive further funding.

For more information, visit What is Manitoba Student Aid? Do I qualify?

Manitoba Student Aid (MSA) uses this formula to assess full-time applications:

Allowable Expenses – Resources = Financial Need

• Costs:
  • Tuition
  • Books, Supplies and Fees
  • Living Allowance
• Resources:
  • Student contribution
  • Scholarships and Bursaries
  • Government and private funding
  • Parental contribution
• Assessed Financial Need
  • Funding up to the maximum allowable amount

Full-Time funding includes school and living costs

• There is a maximum amount of loans for full-time students and part-time students.
  • If you are a full-time student:
    • The maximum amount of loans for eligible full-time students is:
      $500 Canadian dollars per week of study
      For example, a student registered in the fall and winter terms at a university may receive $17,000 in loans ($500 X 34 weeks).
  • If you are a part-time student:
    • The maximum lifetime assistance available for part-time students is $10,000 Canadian dollars.
      Note: You can pay your part-time student loan debt to receive further funding.

If you are not already receiving the maximum funding, you can request a review of your assessment:

• if you need more funds
• if there was an error on your application
• if you selected grant only funding when you applied and are now wanting to be re-assessed for eligible loans

To obtain forms to make changes to your application, visit Forms.

You can view or print your required documents/information by logging into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and checking your My Required Information tab.

Documents/forms that require ink signatures must be submitted by:

• Mail or Drop-box: 401 - 1181 Portage Avenue,
  Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
  East side of the building beside the Wall Street entrance)
  • Please refer to your Manitoba Student Aid online portal to determine which documents/forms require ink signatures.
• You may submit other documents/forms to Manitoba Student Aid via one of the following:
  • Email: ManitobaStudentAid@gov.mb.ca
  • Mail or Drop-box: 401 - 1181 Portage Avenue,
    Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
    East side of the building beside the Wall Street entrance)

DEADLINE:

• You must submit all required information no later than 45 days before your study period ends.
• Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

Important:

• Documents/forms are processed in the order they were received and may take up to 6 weeks or longer during peak times.
  Note: To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

• To check the status, log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and go to your My Required Information tab.
  
  Note:
  • Information is processed in the order it was received and may take up to 6 weeks or longer during peak times.
  • To avoid delays, ensure that all your documents/forms are completed in full.

For more information on current processing times, please visit Currently Processing.

• Not all documents can be processed at the same time
  • some documents are quick to process (e.g. confirming complete signatures in the applicant or parental declaration forms, etc.)
  • some documents require a Manitoba Student Aid staff member to review and process (e.g. request for changes, academic histories, Sponsoring Agency forms, etc.)
    Note: To avoid delays, ensure that all your documents/forms are completed in full.
• Information is processed in the order it was received and may take up to 6 weeks or longer during peak times.
• Please continue to check:
  • Currently Processing on the Manitoba Student Aid website; or

Log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and go to your My Required Information tab.

• You will receive your funds after:
  • All your documents/forms are submitted and processed, and your school confirms your enrollment.
    
    Note: To avoid delays, ensure that all your documents/forms are completed in full.
• Your funds should be available 7 - 10 business days from the date they were disbursed.
  • Funds cannot be released before your study period starts or after your study period ends.
  • If you have not yet received your funding, ensure that you have submitted all required documentation.
    
    Note:
    • Information is processed in the order it was received and may take up to 6 weeks orlonger during peak times.
    • To avoid delays, ensure that all your documents/forms are completed in full.
    • Please check:
      • Currently Processing on the Manitoba Student Aid website; or

Log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and go to your My Required Information tab.

• For programs that are 17 weeks or less, your funds will be released in 1 disbursement at the start of the study period. 
• For programs that are longer than 17 weeks, the funds are generally released in 2 disbursements:
  • 60% at the beginning of the program; and
  • 40% at the mid-point of the program

Note: For detailed disbursement amounts and dates, log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and go to your My Award Information tab. Funds cannot be released before your study period starts or after your study period ends.

Once your school has confirmed your enrollment:

• Your Manitoba Student Aid funding will be sent directly to your school to pay your outstanding tuition, if applicable.
• Any leftover amount will be sent to the bank account on your file and may take 7 - 10 business days to become available in your bank account.

Note: If your school is located outside of Canada, all your funding will be deposited to the bank account on your file. You will be responsible for paying your school fees including tuition and books.

The disbursement dates indicated on your Manitoba Student Aid online portal are estimated dates of when the funds are available.

• The release of the funds is dependent on when the required documents/forms and confirmation of enrollment are processed.

Note: To avoid delays, ensure that all your documents/forms are completed in full.

If you have changes to your application, please:

• Log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal, to change your information such as:
  • address
  • telephone number
  • email address
  • parents' or other contact person’s information
  • student number
  • course load
• Complete the appropriate Manitoba Student Aid form to change your application information:
  • name
  • marital status
  • living arrangements
  • school
  • added/dropped a school term
    
    To download forms, visit Forms.
    
    Please submit the completed form via one of the following:
    • Email: ManitobaStudentAid@gov.mb.ca
    • Mail or Drop-box: 401-1181 Portage Avenue,
      Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
      (East side of the building beside the Wall Street entrance)
• Submit your request by Email Form, if there is no specific form that matches your request.

DEADLINE:

• You must submit all required information no later than 45 days before your study period ends.
• Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

For more information, visit How do I update my account information?

If you applied as a full-time student and you later drop below the minimum course load requirement, your application may be cancelled or withdrawn. If you have not received any funding, you may submit a part-time application. If your course load changes but you still meet the full-time course load requirements, you may submit a Request for Changes before Funds Issued form, and your application will be re-assessed.

If you applied as a part-time student, and your course load changes but you still meet the part-time courseload requirements, you will need to submit a new Section D of the part time application.

Please refer to the section titled “Am I a Full-time or Part-time student?” for details on course load requirements

You will get an email asking you to log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal if:

• There has been a change to your application
• There is information you need to provide

Note: If your application has been updated, you will need to log into your online portal and check the Assessment Details tab to view your Notice of Assistance which explains the changes.

Your funding may change if we receive information from your school about changes (e.g., course load, tuition fees, study period dates, etc.)

For further details, check your Manitoba Student Aid online portal.

To correct the mistake on your application:

• Complete the appropriate Manitoba Student Aid form
  • To download forms, visit Forms.
  • Please submit the completed form via one of the following:
    • Email: ManitobaStudentAid@gov.mb.ca
    • Mail or Drop-box: 401-1181 Portage Avenue,
      Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
      (East side of the building beside the Wall Street entrance)
  • Submit your request by Email Form, if there is no specific form that matches your request.

DEADLINE:

• You must submit all required information no later than 45 days before your study period ends.
• Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

To reset your account or password, visit the Manitoba Student Aid online portal, and select one of the following:

• Forgot Your User ID?
• Forgot Your Password?

If you have not received the “Welcome Email” from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC), check the Junk or Spam folder in your email account.

• If the “Welcome Email” is not in your Junk or Spam folder:
  • Log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and check your My Required Information tab to obtain your 10-digit Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA).

Log into your National Student Loans Service Centre account to register your 10-digit MSFAA.

Note: Canada announced a change to login requirements for the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) which took effect May 25, 2025. All borrowers, including existing borrowers and first-time applicants, now need a My Service Canada Account to be able to log into their NSLSC account. You can create a My Service Canada Account at any time, you do not need to wait until you have submitted a Manitoba Student Aid application.

To get your Manitoba Student Aid file number:

• Log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and check your Status of My Application tab.
• Your file number can also be found on some of your required forms generated for your application.

To cancel your Manitoba Student Aid application, you may submit your request via one of the following:

• Complete the appropriate Manitoba Student Aid form
  • To download forms, visit Forms.
  • Please submit the completed form via one of the following:
  • Email: ManitobaStudentAid@gov.mb.ca
  • Mail or Drop-box: 401-1181 Portage Avenue,
    Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
    (East side of the building beside the Wall Street entrance)
• Submit your request by Email Form.

DEADLINE:

• You must submit all required information no later than 45 days before your study period ends.
• Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

Note: Cancelation is not applicable if you have already received funding for your application.

If you were not approved for funding or your funding amount was reduced for the following reasons, you may request an appeal:

• Scholastic Progress
• Number of Years of eligibility for your current program
• Canada Student Loan and/or Manitoba Student Loan overaward

Note: Your appeal will only be considered if your situation allows for an exception within the policy.

For more information, please refer to the Request for Appeal form.
To access the form, visit Forms.

DEADLINE:

• You must submit all required information no later than 45 days before your study period ends.
• Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your study period end date.

When your appeal is processed, you will get a letter in the mail advising you of the results.

Note:

• Processing may take up to 6 weeks or longer during peak times.

For the status of appeals, visit Currently Processing.

Manitoba Student Aid contact information:

• Phone: 204-945-6321 (Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM CST)
• Toll-free (Canada and the USA): 1-800-204-1685
• In person: 401 - 1181 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3
• Email: Contact Us - Manitoba Student Aid | Province of Manitoba

Note: Please do not send multiple emails to avoid delays in receiving a response

During peak times, we may experience a higher than normal call volume. Unfortunately, only a certain number of calls are able to enter the call queue; all others cannot proceed. In these situations, please hang up and try again. We sincerely apologize and appreciate your patience.

Please note that Manitoba Student Aid is no longer accepting payments for Manitoba Student Loans. Please visit the NSLSC website to learn how you can continue repayment of your Manitoba Student Loan.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada-Manitoba Integrated Student Loan

You must attend an approved or designated program and school to be eligible for Manitoba Student Aid funding.

To check if your school and/or program is designated, visit Is my school designated?

• You cannot receive student aid funding if your school and program have not been designated by Manitoba Student Aid

Note: This requirement is in place to protect you and to make sure schools and the government are accountable to each other.

• Your school will need to complete and submit the appropriate designation applications.

To download designation applications, visit Apply to Become Designated

The designation process can take up to 8 weeks or longer during peak times. Please apply early.

Note: If your school and/or program is not designated or cannot be designated, you will not be eligible for Manitoba Student Aid funding.

Please email the Manitoba Student Aid Designation Unit at msadesigna@gov.mb.ca.

Please email the Private Vocational Institutions Branch at PVI@gov.mb.ca.