Saskatchewan Student Assistance
The Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan Program means Saskatchewan residents can apply for federal and provincial student loans using one application form. Recent changes to the student financial assistance program are making post-secondary education more accessible for low and middle income students and provide more non-repayable funding in addition to affordable repayment options.
Eligibility
- Resident of the province of Saskatchewan, as defined by the program
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident or designated as a protected person
- Demonstrate financial need according to program criteria
- Pass a credit check if you are over 22 years of age and applying for student financial assistance for the first time
- Have not exhausted the lifetime maximum student financial assistance limit
- Not in default on a previous student loan
- Enrolled or qualified to enrol as a full-time post-secondary student at a designated school in an approved program which is at least 12 weeks in length. If your program is 6-11 weeks, you may be eligible if the short program is part of a longer program
Recent Changes to the Program
- Full-time students can earn as much as they choose during their study period without affecting their eligibility for financial assistance
- Interest rates will be reduced to prime on repayable loans
- Ownership of vehicles by students is allowed without affecting the level of financial assistance
- The part-time student loan program is now interest-free
Contact Us
Student Awards and Financial Aid
Office: Administration Humanities, Rm. 210
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Pkwy
Regina, SK
S4S 0A2
safa@uregina.ca
1-306-585-4591
Applying for Student Financial Assistance
You can apply online or download a paper application from the Saskatchewan Student Loans website. A new application is required at the start of each academic year (for example, an academic year is September 1 to April 30, but you must use the actual dates of each year on the application). Check out this great five-minute video from the Saskatchewan Student Loans website explaining how you can apply!
If you are applying for financial assistance during the Spring/Summer terms it can be confusing to determine which dates to select for your study period. Please select the dates that are closest to your actual dates of your classes which can be found in your Detailed Class Schedule in UR Self-Service. For more information on how to find your dates we have put together some helpful instructions but you are also welcome to give our office a call so we can assist you.
Once you submit your application you can monitor your application status online. Once your loan has been assessed, you will find out out what type of funding you are eligible to receive (loan and/or grant), the amount of money you will receive, and when you can expect to receive the money. This is communicated through a "Notice of Assessment" on your portal account.
If you have been determined to be eligible for a student loan and/or grant for the first time, you will be required to complete the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA), which is a legal agreement between you and the Government. This is a contract between you and the Government which outlines your responsibilities and the terms and conditions of the loan. There is a two-step online process to:
Once we have confirmed your enrolment, we will calculate the amount of your tuition and fees, and request either that amount, or the maximum we are able to request. This funding will be used from both your student loans and your grant funding. This will advise National Student Loans to transfer the funds to the U of R in that amount, and we will put a note on your account. This note will stop any interest from being charged on your account while we await the money to be sent from National Student Loans. If you are a dual registered student, we will only take tuition money from your loan/grant funding for U of R classes.
Once the money is received from National Student Loans, a payment will appear on your student account. If we have taken tuition for Fall and Winter, a credit (negative number) may appear on your account, which will remain on your account until you register for your Winter courses.
Full-Time Students:
We can only confirm your enrolment at the U of R a maximum of 21 days before the start of classes, so if you have been approved for funding, you still have to wait until the U of R is able to confirm your enrolment for the Government to release that money. We will need to confirm you are in full-time courses, which is a minimum of 9 credit hours per term (6 credit hours for students with a registered disability). The U of R will review your tuition and fees on your account, and request the funds from the Government to cover either one term or two-terms, depending on the length of your approved period of study for your funding. Any excess funds will be deposited to your bank account by the Government, along with any monthly payments you have been deemed eligible to receive. Make sure your government funding has been deposited in your student account (using UR Self-Service) prior to the end of September for Fall, or the end of January for Winter to ensure you do not incur any late fees. After you have received your funding, it is important to be aware that any changes in registration could affect future funding. You are encouraged to stop by our office at any time to discuss what impact dropping a class after you have received funding may have on your funding.
Part-Time Students:
You can complete either an online or paper application on the Saskatchewan Student Loan website. You will be required to complete a Program Information Form for Part-Time Students. This form must be completed by the Student Awards and Financial Aid office. You can either bring it in to our office or email it to us and we will complete it and upload it to the Saskatchewan Student Loans office. You must be taking between 20-59% of a full course load to be eligible for Part-Time funding.
- Confirm your identity and register your account with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC); and
- Complete your MSFAA online and accept the terms and conditions of the agreement.
Once we have confirmed your enrolment, we will calculate the amount of your tuition and fees, and request either that amount, or the maximum we are able to request. This funding will be used from both your student loans and your grant funding. This will advise National Student Loans to transfer the funds to the U of R in that amount, and we will put a note on your account. This note will stop any interest from being charged on your account while we await the money to be sent from National Student Loans. If you are a dual registered student, we will only take tuition money from your loan/grant funding for U of R classes.
Once the money is received from National Student Loans, a payment will appear on your student account. If we have taken tuition for Fall and Winter, a credit (negative number) may appear on your account, which will remain on your account until you register for your Winter courses.
Full-Time Students:
We can only confirm your enrolment at the U of R a maximum of 21 days before the start of classes, so if you have been approved for funding, you still have to wait until the U of R is able to confirm your enrolment for the Government to release that money. We will need to confirm you are in full-time courses, which is a minimum of 9 credit hours per term (6 credit hours for students with a registered disability). The U of R will review your tuition and fees on your account, and request the funds from the Government to cover either one term or two-terms, depending on the length of your approved period of study for your funding. Any excess funds will be deposited to your bank account by the Government, along with any monthly payments you have been deemed eligible to receive. Make sure your government funding has been deposited in your student account (using UR Self-Service) prior to the end of September for Fall, or the end of January for Winter to ensure you do not incur any late fees. After you have received your funding, it is important to be aware that any changes in registration could affect future funding. You are encouraged to stop by our office at any time to discuss what impact dropping a class after you have received funding may have on your funding.
Part-Time Students:
You can complete either an online or paper application on the Saskatchewan Student Loan website. You will be required to complete a Program Information Form for Part-Time Students. This form must be completed by the Student Awards and Financial Aid office. You can either bring it in to our office or email it to us and we will complete it and upload it to the Saskatchewan Student Loans office. You must be taking between 20-59% of a full course load to be eligible for Part-Time funding.
If you are planning to take a course at another post-secondary institution as well as at the U of R, you will need to let us know. Depending on where you are taking these courses, you will need to provide additional information as follows:
- University of Saskatchewan: please send an email to safa@uregina.ca and include your name, your U of R ID number, your U of S ID number, the courses you are taking, the number of credit hours, and the start and end dates of these courses.
- Any other post-secondary institution: please send an email to safa@uregina.ca and include your name, your U of R ID number, the name of the institution, a proof of your registration at the other institution showing the courses you are taking, the number of credit hours, and the start and end dates of those courses.
You must start making payments on your Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan six months after you have completed full-time study, whether you have graduated, transferred to part-time studies, withdrawn, or you are taking time off from your studies. This is called student loan consolidation.
Prior to your loan entering the repayment phase, the National Student Loans Service Centre will send you a consolidation letter and agreement. It outlines your repayment terms and your minimum monthly payment. You can negotiate your monthly payment amounts with the National Student Loans Service Centre, pay in lump sum or pay out your loan early.
Contact the National Student Loans Service Centre if you have not received your repayment information one month before your loans consolidate.
Prior to your loan entering the repayment phase, the National Student Loans Service Centre will send you a consolidation letter and agreement. It outlines your repayment terms and your minimum monthly payment. You can negotiate your monthly payment amounts with the National Student Loans Service Centre, pay in lump sum or pay out your loan early.
Contact the National Student Loans Service Centre if you have not received your repayment information one month before your loans consolidate.
Ministry of Advanced Education
Telephone: 306-787-5620 (in Regina area or outside Canada)
Toll Free: 1-800-597-8278 (outside Regina)
email: studentservices@gov.sk.ca
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/student-loans
National Student Loans Service Centre
Public Institutions Division
PO Box 4030
Mississauga, ON L5A 4M4
Telephone: 1-888-815-4514
https://www.csnpe-nslsc.canada.ca/en/home
Telephone: 306-787-5620 (in Regina area or outside Canada)
Toll Free: 1-800-597-8278 (outside Regina)
email: studentservices@gov.sk.ca
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/student-loans
National Student Loans Service Centre
Public Institutions Division
PO Box 4030
Mississauga, ON L5A 4M4
Telephone: 1-888-815-4514
https://www.csnpe-nslsc.canada.ca/en/home