Nova Scotia Student Assistance

Nova Scotia Student Assistance assesses you for multiple programs in one application:

• Canada Student Loan and Canada Student Grant: Federal portions assessed automatically
• Nova Scotia Student Loan: Provincial loan portion
• Nova Scotia Student Bursary: Non-repayable provincial bursary for high-need students
• Nova Scotia Graduate Retention Rebate: Tax rebate refunding up to $25,000 in student loan principal if you work in NS after graduation

One of the most valuable features of studying in Nova Scotia is the Graduate Retention Rebate. If you graduate from a Nova Scotia institution and remain in the province to work, you can receive a tax rebate that effectively refunds up to $25,000 of your student loan principal over your early career.

• Available to graduates of eligible Nova Scotia institutions
• Must live and work (or be self-employed) in Nova Scotia
• Rebate claimed through your Nova Scotia income tax return
• Maximum lifetime rebate: $25,000

Practical advice for Nova Scotia students:

• Apply early — Nova Scotia Student Assistance opens each spring for the fall academic year
• The NS Student Bursary is assessed automatically — no separate application needed
• If you plan to work in Nova Scotia after graduation, the Graduate Retention Rebate makes studying in NS especially cost-effective
• Check your university's bursary programs — Dalhousie, Saint Mary's, and Acadia all have significant institutional aid
• Nova Scotia Student Assistance can be used at institutions outside the province