Planning for you future | Manitoba Student Aid

What is Manitoba Student Aid? Do I qualify?

We break it down for you: Who we are, what we do, what we can do for you and what it takes to be eligible for our program.

Our program provides loans, grants and bursaries to Manitobans who need help paying for school.

Student loans are calculated based on your financial need and are meant to supplement, not replace, your own resources. Just because you apply for a student loan does not mean you'll get one, and just because you get one does not mean you will get the maximum amount.

If you do get a student loan, you don't have to make payments or pay interest on it while you are a full-time student.


One Application – Two Loans

When you apply to Manitoba Student Aid (MSA), you may become eligible for loans and grants, not only from MSA, but also from the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFA Program).

Processing of student loan applications, requests for reassessments and appeals for funding will be managed by MSA, while the loan disbursement and repayment of Manitoba student loans will be managed by the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada-Manitoba Integrated Student Loan


Who Uses Manitoba Student Aid, and Are You Eligible?

Whether you are new to post-secondary education, going back to it or planning for your future, we may be able to help you pay for school.

Take this test to see if you are eligible to apply for Manitoba Student Aid.

  • You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident (landed immigrant) or protected person.
  • You are a Manitoba resident.
  • You will be studying at a designated school and program. If you're not sure, check the designated schools and programs section or contact Manitoba Student Aid.

If you answered yes to all of the questions above, then you are eligible to apply for Manitoba Student Aid.

Other Requirements and Limits

Requirements

To remain eligible for Manitoba Student Aid, you must:

  • pass at least 60% of a full course load in each term at a college or university (ask your school if you're not sure what a full course load is for you)
  • pass 100% of your courses and keep your attendance above 90% if you are going to a private vocational or private training school
Limits

There are limits to the assistance you can receive from Manitoba Student Aid. They include:

School Program

Manitoba Student Aid will fund the number of years a school says it should take to complete a program, plus one extra year. Taking less than a 100% course load could mean running out of loan eligibility before finishing the program.

Lifetime Limit

Manitoba Student Aid funds full-time students for a maximum of 340 weeks.