Canada Student Loans
Canada Student Loans provide federal funding to help cover the cost of post-secondary education. Since April 1, 2023, Canada Student Loans are permanently interest-free — you repay exactly what you borrowed, with no interest charges added. Repayment begins six months after you graduate or leave school, and income-based repayment assistance is available if needed.
Canada Student Loans are available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons enrolled at designated post-secondary institutions in Canada.
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
- Enrolled at a designated post-secondary institution
- Demonstrated financial need
- Not in default on any previous student loan
- Quebec, NT, and Nunavut residents use separate provincial/territorial systems
Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate or leave school. If your income is low after graduation, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) can reduce or suspend your payments. After 10 years of payments on RAP, any remaining balance is forgiven.
- Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP): payments capped as a percentage of income
- Permanent Disability Benefit: loan forgiveness for severe permanent disability
- Death and Disability: loans cancelled if borrower dies or becomes severely disabled
- Repayment period: up to 10 years (15 years for larger balances)
Apply through your province's student aid office — the federal loan is processed alongside provincial aid.
- Ontario: OSAP at ontario.ca/osap
- BC: StudentAid BC at studentaidbc.ca
- Alberta: Alberta Student Aid
- Other provinces: provincial student aid portal
Frequently asked questions
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