Student Financial Assistance

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Overview

This program provides financial assistance to eligible Northwest Territories (NWT) residents to assist with post-secondary education-related expenses.

Available Funding

  • Basic Grant: Funding for tuition and fees, books and travel costs
    • Northern Indigenous Residents can receive $875 for books and up to $3,320 for tuition per semester
    • Northern Residents schooled in the NWT can receive $700 for books and up to $2,655 for tuition per semester
  • Supplementary Grant or Remissible Loan: Monthly living allowance (based on family size)
  • Repayable Loan: Funding for tuition and fees, books, travel and a monthly living allowance
    • Up to $1,400/month depending on need
  • Grants for Students with Disabilities
    • up to $4,000 per academic year for assistance with tuition, books, travel and accommodation; and
    • up to $20,000 per academic year to assist with eligible expenses, such as a tutor, interpreter, special equipment, etc.
  • Course Reimbursement: Up to $880 per course; lifetime limit of $8,800

Deadline

Annual deadlines are:

  • June 30 for programs starting between August 1 to September 30,
  • October 31 for programs starting between December 1 to January 31, or
  • One month prior to the program start date for all other months.
  • The course reimbursement application deadline is one year from the start of your course.

Applications for loan repayment incentives must be submitted twice a year: by April 15 and by October 15. 

Eligibility 

NWT Residents interested in pursuing part-time or full-time post-secondary education.

To qualify for SFA, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a protected person of Canada;
  • be a resident of the NWT according to program criteria;
  • study at an approved designated institution;
  • be enrolled in an approved, post-secondary program or course as defined by SFA; ensure your previous SFA student loans are up-to-date;
  • make arrangements to repay any outstanding Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) debts; and
  • not be receiving student financial aid from another provincial, territorial or federal program.

How to apply

  1. Complete an application form or apply online each academic year.
    • Students applying online for the first time will need a Web Access Code (WAC). Once submitted, your WAC code will be sent to the email address that was provided. When you receive the WAC code, you may log into MyECE and apply for SFA. You will only need your WAC the first time you log into MyECE.

Note:

  • You must apply each academic year to continue receiving funding.
  • Applicants do not have to be accepted into a program before applying for SFA.

Contact us

Contact your Student Case Officer while you’re applying for assistance or while you are attending school. 

Contact your Finance Officer, Revenue and Collections if you’re looking for information to pay back your loans.

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