Quebec student loans and bursaries are forms of financial assistance offered by the provincial government through Aide financière aux études (AFE) to help cover education costs. These programs are available to eligible full-time and part-time students pursuing studies in Quebec or abroad. The main distinction is that loans must be repaid after studies, while bursaries are non-repayable grants. Eligibility is determined by the Quebec government based on factors including residency, financial resources, and course load.
Understanding Quebec Student Financial Assistance
The Quebec government's student financial assistance system is managed by Aide financière aux études. This system provides two primary types of aid to help students with insufficient financial resources pursue their education. The first type is loans, which are sums of money that must be repaid with interest after you complete or leave your studies. The second type is bursaries, which are non-repayable grants awarded based on financial need. Your educational institution, such as Concordia University, plays a role in confirming your enrolment and academic status to the government after you submit your application. Funding eligibility is not automatic and depends on an assessment of your financial situation and your status as a full-time or part-time student.
Eligibility Requirements for Quebec Aid
To qualify for Quebec student loans or bursaries, you must meet specific criteria set by the provincial government. You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have refugee or protected person status. Crucially, you must also be considered a resident of Quebec for student aid purposes at the time of your application. Your eligibility for funding is determined by the Quebec government based on your financial resources. The government assesses your need by considering factors like your income, your parents' or spouse's income if applicable, and your living situation. Your course load is a central factor in determining whether you are classified as a full-time or part-time student, which directly affects the type and amount of aid you can receive.
Full-Time Versus Part-Time Student Status
Your registration status is a critical component of your financial aid application. You are considered a full-time student if you are registered for 12 credits or more per term. You are considered a part-time student if you are registered for fewer than 12 credits per term. For courses that run across both the fall and winter terms, the credits are split equally between the two terms. For example, a 6-credit fall or winter course counts as 3 credits in each term for status calculation. There are exceptions where you may be considered full-time with fewer credits. This can apply if your course load includes internships or project courses, or if you are starting your courses in the summer term. Your official status is typically set when you are admitted to your program and remains the same unless you formally request a change through your academic department.
The Application Process and Required Information
Applying for Quebec financial aid requires careful preparation and attention to deadlines. It is recommended that you apply six to eight weeks before your term begins to allow the government sufficient time to process your file. Before starting your application, you should gather necessary information including your Social Insurance Number and your Quebec permanent code. A permanent code is a unique 12-digit identifier assigned by Quebec, and you likely already have one if you attended high school or CEGEP in Quebec or have received Quebec financial aid before. If you do not have a permanent code, you must submit a paper application, and the Ministère will assign you one during processing. You will also need to identify your educational institution using a specific code provided by your school, such as Concordia University, and for part-time loan applications, a program code is not required.
To apply for a Quebec student loan, you must first create an account with Aide financière aux études (AFE). You should follow the application instructions for either full-time or part-time studies available on the Quebec government website. It is recommended that you apply six to eight weeks before your academic term begins to allow for processing time. Once your application is submitted, you will need to provide a guarantee certificate to your financial institution to proceed.
- Determine if you are applying for full-time or part-time aid and follow the corresponding instructions on the AFE website.
- Wait for the AFE to process your request and inform you of your approved amount and payment details.
- If approved for a loan, start the loan application with your financial institution by sending the guarantee certificate from the AFE.
- Sign all loan documents electronically. The AFE will then deposit the funds into your account.
The Aide financière aux études (AFE) only processes applications that are complete. A complete application includes both the official application form and all required supporting documents. If any documents are missing from your submission, the processing of your file will only begin once all required items are received. You can consult the AFE website for estimated processing timelines for applications. If you have concerns about your application's status, you can contact the financial aid office at your educational institution.
Confirmation of Enrolment and School Codes
After you apply, your school must confirm your registration details with the Quebec government. For full-time students, Concordia University confirms enrolment automatically after you make a request by email or phone, and you need to provide your student ID number to the Financial Aid and Awards Office. For part-time students, you typically do not need to request a confirmation of enrolment, but if the status shown in your AFE portal does not match your actual status at Concordia, you can complete your section of a Confirmation of Part-Time Studies form. You then email it to the Financial Aid Office, which will complete the rest and return it for you to upload to the AFE portal. The AFE uses specific program codes to identify your study program at your institution, and you must consult your school's list to find the correct code for your full-time program of study.
Loan Repayment Terms and Strategies
Understanding the repayment terms for a Quebec student loan is essential for financial planning after your studies. The government pays the interest on your loan while you are in school, and you only start paying interest at the start of the month after you have finished or stopped school. You have a six-month partial exemption period after finishing or stopping your studies before you must begin repaying the principal, and during this period, interest continues to accumulate on the loan balance. You must enter into a repayment agreement with your lender before the end of this partial exemption period, and if you do not set up an agreement, the lender will automatically send you repayment terms based on your loan balance and the maximum allowed amortization period. The Loan Remission Program allows you to reduce your student loan debt by 15 percent if you completed a full-time program within the expected deadline.
You can choose a repayment strategy that works for your financial situation when you set up a repayment agreement. One strategy is to start repaying the interest during the six-month partial exemption period after your studies end, which reduces the total amount you pay later. Making accelerated payments every week or every two weeks can save on interest and shorten your loan's amortization period. You can also pay back the principal of your loan in full or in part before the end of the term through your financial institution's online services.
- Consider starting to repay the interest during the six-month partial exemption period to reduce the total amount owed later.
- Make accelerated payments weekly or bi-weekly to save on interest and shorten your loan's amortization period.
- You can prepay the principal of your loan, in full or in part, before the end of the term through your financial institution's online services.
- If you face financial difficulty, explore the AFE's Deferred Payment Plan, which may allow you to lower or suspend payments for up to six months.
The interest you pay on a government-guaranteed Quebec student loan is eligible for tax deductions. These deductions are available through non-refundable tax credits at both the provincial and federal levels. You should retain your monthly account statements from your financial institution as an official record of the interest paid. You can check these statements through your financial institution's online or mobile banking services.
Where to Get Help and Contact Information
Several resources are available if you need assistance with your Quebec student financial assistance file. Your first point of contact for application questions or concerns should be the financial aid office at your educational institution, as they can help with situations related to your enrolment status, program codes, and confirming information for the AFE. The Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur also has dedicated Client Services departments for different programs, and for questions about the full-time Loans and Bursaries Program, you can call the interactive telephone service. The number in the Quebec City area is 418-646-4505, and the toll-free number elsewhere in Canada and the United States is 1-888-345-4505. For matters related to loan collection, you can contact the Collection department at 418-646-5100 in Quebec City or toll-free at 1-877-643-3750, and client service hours for most departments are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Wednesday hours sometimes starting at 10:00 a.m.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for Quebec student loans and bursaries?
Eligibility for Quebec student loans and bursaries requires you to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee or protected person status and be considered a resident of Quebec for student aid purposes. The Quebec government's Aide financière aux études (AFE) determines eligibility based on your financial resources. You must be enrolled in an eligible full-time or part-time program of study. The Loans and Bursaries program is designed for Quebec students with insufficient financial resources. Your specific funding eligibility depends on factors like your course load as confirmed by your educational institution.
What is the difference between a loan and a bursary in Quebec?
A Quebec student loan is financing you must repay after you graduate or stop your studies, while a bursary is a non-repayable grant. Both are offered by the Government of Quebec's Aide financière aux études (AFE) to help eligible students cover education costs. The government pays the interest on your loan while you are in school. You only start paying interest at the start of the month after you have finished or stopped school. Bursaries are awarded based on financial need and do not require repayment.
When should I apply for Quebec financial aid?
You should apply for Quebec financial aid six to eight weeks before your academic term begins. This timeline gives the Aide financière aux études (AFE) sufficient time to process your complete application. A complete application includes both the application form and all required documents. Processing will only begin once all required documents are received. The goal is to have your funding in place before your classes start. You can consult the AFE website for estimated processing timelines.
How is full-time or part-time status determined?
Full-time status is typically determined by being registered for 12 credits or more per term, while part-time status is for fewer than 12 credits per term. Credits for courses that run across both fall and winter terms are split equally between the two terms for this calculation. Your status is usually set when you are admitted and remains the same unless you formally request a change through your department. However, you may still be considered full-time for loan purposes with at least 6 credits per term if you fall into a specific category, such as having internships or project courses.
When do I have to start repaying my Quebec student loan?
You have six months after you finish or stop your studies before you must start repaying the principal of your Quebec student loan. This is called the partial exemption period. Interest begins to accumulate for you to pay at the start of the month after you leave school, and it continues to accumulate during this six-month period. You must enter into a repayment agreement before the end of this partial exemption period. If you do not set up an agreement, your lender will automatically send you repayment terms based on your loan balance.
Where can I get help with my application or file?
For help with your application or file, you should contact the financial aid office at your educational institution. Their contact information is available on your institution's website. For specific questions about the Loans and Bursaries Program for full-time studies, you can contact the Aide financière aux études (AFE) Client Services department. You can reach them by phone in the Quebec City area at 418 646 4505 or toll free in Canada and the United States at 1 888 345 4505. Their hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sources and further reading
- Quebec loans & bursaries | Tuition & Financial Aid concordia.ca
- Student Financial Assistance customer service contact ... quebec.ca
- Student Loans: Financing for Your Studies desjardins.com
This article explains how things work and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules, limits and rates change, so check the current figures with the Canada Revenue Agency, your province or your financial institution before you act.