Manitoba Student Aid

Manitoba Student Aid provides financial assistance for post-secondary studies in the form of loans, bursaries and grants for eligible applicants. It administers provincial and federal student loans and other financial assistance to Manitobans who don't have the resources to pay for their education on their own.

Manitoba Student Aid funding is supplemental and is not intended to replace your own resources or to cover the entire cost of your education. You, and in some cases your immediate family, are expected to contribute. Applying for other sources of funding (e.g. scholarships, bursaries, or Government funding) are highly recommended.

It is also important to note that due to processing delays during peak times, Manitoba Student Aid funding may not be available at the start of classes. Therefore, it is important for students to have a back-up plan of how they will pay for tuition, books/supplies, or living expenses while their 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:

1. A Canadian citizen, permanent resident (landed immigrant), or protected person as defined under Canadian Immigration Legislation.
2. A Manitoba resident. Generally, 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.
3. Studying at a designated school and program. If you're not sure, visit Is my school designated?
4. Not in default of previous federal or provincial student financial assistance.

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

Yes, students studying at schools outside of Manitoba (e.g. different province or country) may qualify for Manitoba Student Aid funding. Please note that the school and program must be designated. To check if your school and program are designated, visit Is my school designated?

Unfortunately, International Students do not qualify for Manitoba Student Aid.

You are a full-time student if:

• You are attending a university or college and are taking at least 60% of a full course load each term.
• You are attending a private vocational school and are taking a full or 100% course load.
  Note: Students with a verified permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability may be considered full-time at a reduced course load.
• You have a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability that has been verified through Manitoba Student Aid and are attending a university or college, and are taking at least 40% of a full course load each term.

You are a part-time student if:

• You are attending a university or college and are taking 20 to 59% of a full course load each term.
• You have a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability that has been verified through Manitoba Student Aid and are attending a university or college, and are taking 20 to 39% of a full course load each term.

For more information, visit What's available to me?

Generally, you are considered to be a single dependent, unless:

• You have been out of high school for a minimum of four years
• You have been in the workforce for at least 12 months in a row on two or more occasions and you were not a full-time student during that time
• You are, or were, a Crown ward of a child and family services agency
• Your parents are deceased and you have no legal guardian
• You are married or have been living common-law for 12 months
• You were previously married or living common-law; or
• You are widowed, divorced or separated, or a single parent with dependent children living with you.

Contact Manitoba Student Aid if you require more information.

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

If you are a full-time student:
The maximum amount of loans available for eligible students is $500* Canadian dollars X the number of weeks in 1 program year. For example, a student attending Year 1 at University of Manitoba may receive $17,000 in loans ($500 X 34 weeks).

If you are a part-time student:
The maximum lifetime assistance available is $10,000 Canadian dollars.

*Effective August 1, 2023

When you apply for student financial assistance in Manitoba, you deal with Manitoba Student Aid only. It is important to recognize, however, that while you are completing only one application, you are applying for two separate student loans - a Canada Student Loan and a Manitoba Student Loan. Effective July 1, 2023, when repaying your student loans, you will be dealing with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) only.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada-Manitoba Integrated Student Loan

When you submit an application, you will be automatically assessed for grants, bursaries, and loans. You will not be able to apply for grants only. If you have leftover funding at the end of your school year, you are welcome to return the funds by paying back towards your Canada Student Loan or Manitoba Student Loan.

You may only submit 1 application for 1 school, whether full-time or part-time.

If you are a full-time student, you may apply online. Create a Manitoba Student Aid account and log into your online portal to submit an application. You may apply even if you haven't been officially accepted yet, as long as you know your:

• School and program of choice (must be designated)
• Start and end dates

Average time for assessing online applications 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

Paper applications may only be submitted for the following reasons:

• Applying for full-time studies for a second time in the same program year
• Applying for part-time studies

Paper applications can be found at Forms. Average processing time for paper applications is 4 - 6 weeks (or longer during peak times).

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

Yes, you must submit a separate application for each school year.

New applications for fall and winter studies are available in June of every year. Apply early to avoid delays.

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

Yes, 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. This may be extended for an additional 60 weeks for students enrolled in doctoral studies.

Full-time studies:
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 minimum required course load. The minimum required course load is 60% (or 40% for students with a verified permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability) for students enrolled in university or college, and 100% for students enrolled in private vocational institutions. Note: Students with a verified permanent disability or prolonged disability may be considered full-time at a reduced course load.

Part-time studies:
You must pass all courses for which you received part-time funding for.

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

We calculate how much funding you may receive based on your assessed financial need. To calculate your assessed financial need, we use this basic formula:

Total Costs - Total Resources = Assessed Financial Need

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

If you are a full-time student:
The maximum amount of loans available for eligible students is $500^* Canadian dollars X the number of weeks in 1 program year. For example, a student attending Year 1 at University of Manitoba may receive $17,000 in loans ($500 X 34 weeks).

If you are a part-time student:
The maximum lifetime assistance available is $10,000 Canadian dollars.

^*Effective August 1, 2023

You can request a review of your assessment if you need more funds because of an error on your application, as long as you are not already receiving the maximum awards.

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

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

Documents/forms that require signatures in ink must be mailed or placed in the drop box at:
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 signatures in ink.

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)

Important:
Information is processed in the order it was received, and may take up to 6 weeks to review (or longer during peak times). During peak times, our mail unit may experience delays in processing incoming mail. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

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

Manitoba Student Aid requires an original copy of your "Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement" form (i.e. not a photocopy). The form must include:

• Your name on your application and bank account must match
• Any one of the following: void cheque, bank stamp, or direct deposit slip from your bank
• Your signature and date in ink

You may check current processing times on the Manitoba Student Aid website or by logging into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and checking your My Required Documentation tab.

Information is processed in the order it was received, and may take up to 6 weeks to review (or longer during peak times). During peak times, our mail unit may experience delays in processing incoming mail. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

Not all documents can be processed at the same time, as others are as quick as confirming that all signatures are there (e.g. applicant or parental declaration forms, etc.), whereas others require a Manitoba Student Aid staff member to review and process (e.g. request for changes, academic histories, Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement and Sponsoring Agency forms, etc.).

Information is processed in the order it was received, and may take up to 6 weeks to review (or longer during peak times). During peak times, our mail unit may experience delays in processing incoming mail. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

You may continue to check current processing times on the Manitoba Student Aid website or by logging into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and checking your My Required Documentation tab.

You will receive your funds after:

• All your documents/forms are submitted and processed. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.
• Your school has confirmed your enrollment

Funds from the Canadian Government (e.g. Canada Student Loan and Canada Student Grants) should be available 7 - 10 business days from the time funds are disbursed.

Funds from the Provincial Government (e.g. Manitoba Student Loan and Manitoba Bursary) should be available 5 - 7 business days from the time funds are disbursed.

If you have not yet received your funding, ensure that you have submitted all required documentation. You can view the status of your documentation by logging into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and checking your My Required Documentation tab.

Information is processed in the order it was received, and may take up to 6 weeks to review (or longer during peak times). During peak times, our mail unit may experience delays in processing incoming mail. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

Note: Funds cannot be released before your program starts or after your program ends.

The funds are generally released in 2 disbursements: 60% at the beginning of the program, and 40% at the mid-point of the program. Check your Manitoba Student Aid online portal under My Award Information tab for detailed disbursement amounts and dates.

Once your enrollment is confirmed, 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.

Exception: if your school is located outside of Canada, all your funding will be deposited to the bank account on your file.

Note: Funds cannot be released before your program starts or after your program ends.

The disbursement dates indicated on your Manitoba Student Aid online portal are estimated dates of when the funds are available. Funds are usually available after the dates indicated. The release of the funds is dependent on when the required documents/forms and confirmation of enrollment are processed. To avoid delays, ensure that your documents/forms are completed in full.

You may continue to check current processing times on the Manitoba Student Aid website or log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal.

To report changes to your address, student number, or course load, log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal.

To report changes to your application (e.g. changes to your name, marital status, banking information, living arrangements, school, added/dropped a school term, etc.), submit the appropriate forms (if available) to Manitoba Student Aid. The forms are located at Forms

You may also send your request for changes 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 or requests for change no later than 45 days before your period of study ends. Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your period of study end date.

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

If you are increasing or decreasing your course load, your application must be reassessed (e.g. you may receive more funding for a higher course load, and less funding for a lower course load).

Important information to remain eligible for Manitoba Student Aid:

If you are a full-time student:

• You must maintain at least 60% of a full course load each term if you are attending a university or college
• You must maintain a full or 100% course load if you are attending a private vocational school
• You must maintain at least 40% of a full course load each term if you have a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability that has been verified through Manitoba Student Aid and are attending a university or college

If you have dropped to below the minimum 40%, 60%, or 100% course load requirement as indicated above, your full-time application is void.

If you are a part-time student:

• You must maintain at least 20 to 59% of a full course load each term if you are attending a university or college

For more information on how to re-apply for funding, visit Forms

You will get an email asking you to log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal for further details each time there has been a change to your application/assessment, or there is information you need to provide.

Your assessment may change if we receive information from your school that your course load or tuition fees have changed. You will receive an email notification advising you to check your Manitoba Student Aid online portal for details.

You may send information to correct the error 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 or requests for change no later than 45 days before your period of study ends. Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your period of study end date.

Visit your Manitoba Student Aid online portal at: https://web.gov.mb.ca/sao/app/en and select Forgot Your User ID/Forgot Your Password

Check your Junk email folder to see if you have received your "Welcome Email". If you have not received the email, you can visit the National Student Loans Service Centre to register your 10-digit Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA).

To obtain your 10-digit MSFAA number, log into your Manitoba Student Aid online portal and check your My Required Documentation tab.

To obtain 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.

You may submit your request to cancel your Manitoba Student Aid application 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)

If you were denied financial assistance or you think the amount you received is too low, you can appeal your assessment. Please note that your appeal will only be considered if your situation allows for an exception to our policy.

To appeal your assessment, complete the Request for Appeal form located at Forms

DEADLINE: You must submit your appeal request and all required information no later than 45 days before your period of study ends. Manitoba Student Aid cannot release any funds after your period of study end date.

You may check current processing times on the Manitoba Student Aid website.

Appeals take 4 - 6 weeks to complete (or longer during peak times). When your appeal is complete, you will get a letter in the mail, advising you of the results of the appeal.

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: ManitobaStudentAid@gov.mb.ca
*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.

You must go to an approved or designated school and be in a designated program to be eligible for funding from Manitoba Student Aid.

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

If your school or program has not been designated by Manitoba Student Aid, you cannot receive student aid for it until it is has been designated. 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 obtain the designation applications, visit Institution Officers.

The designation process can take up to 8 weeks, so please apply early. If your school or program is not designated or cannot be designated, you will not be given Manitoba Student Aid funding for that school or program.

Please send an email to the MSA Designation Unit at msadesigna@gov.mb.ca.

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