Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance

NWT Student Financial Assistance consists of three main components: the basic grant, supplementary funding, and remissible loans. Together, these can cover the full cost of post-secondary education for NWT residents.

• Basic Grant: Covers tuition and mandatory fees at any eligible Canadian post-secondary institution
• Supplementary Grant: Non-repayable living allowance for rent, food, and books
• Travel Allowance: Covers return travel between NWT and your school (crucial for northern students)
• Remissible Loan: A loan that is forgiven dollar-for-dollar if you return to the NWT and work for a specified period after graduation
• Northern Bonus: Additional top-up for students from remote NWT communities

NWT Student Financial Assistance is available to residents of the Northwest Territories attending eligible post-secondary institutions.

• NWT resident (generally lived in NWT for at least 12 consecutive months)
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Indigenous person with status in NWT
• Enrolled full-time at a designated post-secondary institution in Canada
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
• Not in default on any previous NWT student financial assistance

Here are some practical tips to maximize your NWT student funding:

• Apply early — NWT SFA applications open in the spring for the fall academic year
• If you plan to return to NWT after graduation, your remissible loan is forgiven — factor this into your career planning
• Keep your NWT residency status up to date with ECE to ensure eligibility
• Even though NWT doesn't use the Canada Student Grant system, you may still qualify for some federal scholarships (Vanier, Schulich, Loran) separately
• Indigenous NWT students should also apply for Indspire and federal Indigenous-specific funding