Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Important Update for 2025–2026:
The Northwest Territories runs its own Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program independently from the federal Canada Student Loans and Grants system. NWT residents do not apply through a provincial portal — they apply directly to the GNWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment. You cannot receive both NWT SFA and federal student aid for the same period of study.
The Northwest Territories offers a comprehensive Student Financial Assistance program for eligible NWT residents pursuing post-secondary education. Unlike most Canadian provinces, the NWT administers its own student aid system entirely — separate from the federal Canada Student Loans and Grants program — providing grants, remissible loans, and repayable loans to help cover tuition, books, living costs, and disability supports.
Key programs include the Basic Grant, the Supplementary Grant, the NWT Repayable Loan, and the NWT Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities. A French Post-Secondary Bursary is also available for eligible residents studying in French.
Let’s get into the details of the NWT’s student financial assistance programs.
What Kind of Funding Is Available?
NWT residents pursuing full-time or part-time post-secondary studies may be able to access:
- Non-repayable grants to help cover tuition, books, and travel costs
- Remissible (forgivable) loans for living allowances that may be forgiven under certain conditions
- Repayable loans for additional education-related costs
- Disability supports for students with permanent or prolonged disabilities
- Course reimbursement for part-time study
- Bursaries for students pursuing French-language post-secondary education
Important:
If you are receiving student financial aid from another province, territory, or federal program, you are not eligible for NWT Student Financial Assistance for the same period of study. You must choose one or the other.
Student Categories
The type and amount of NWT student financial assistance you can receive depends on which student category you fall into. There are three categories:
- Northern Indigenous Resident — a member or descendant of the Dene, Métis, Inuvialuit, or Inuit who completed schooling in the NWT. Eligible for the highest levels of grant funding.
- Northern Resident Schooled in the NWT — a non-Indigenous NWT resident who completed schooling in the territory, or whose parents are considered NWT residents. Eligible for most grant programs at slightly lower amounts.
- Northern Resident Not Schooled in the NWT — a resident who completed schooling outside the NWT and was not considered an NWT resident at that time. Eligible primarily for loan-based support.
NWT Student Financial Assistance Programs
Basic Grant
Covers tuition and fees, books, and travel costs for eligible NWT residents. Available to Northern Indigenous Residents and Northern Residents Schooled in the NWT. The amount varies by student category — Indigenous residents receive higher tuition and book funding than other northern residents.
Supplementary Grant / Remissible Loan
Provides a monthly living allowance to help with accommodation, food, and day-to-day living expenses while studying. Delivered as a supplementary grant or a remissible (forgivable) loan depending on your student category. The monthly amount is based on family size. Recent enhancements have expanded remissible loan access to all NWT residents within the overall loan limit.
NWT Student Loan
A repayable loan for students who need additional funding beyond what grants cover. Helps with tuition, books, travel, and monthly living expenses. Available to students in all three NWT student categories. Repayment begins after you complete or leave your program.
NWT Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities
Covers tuition, books, accommodation, and travel expenses for full-time NWT students with permanent disabilities. Recent program changes have expanded supports to students with persistent or prolonged disabilities, not just permanent ones.
Course Reimbursement
For NWT residents studying part-time. Provides reimbursement for individual courses rather than full-program funding. A practical option for working adults upgrading their skills one course at a time.
French Post-Secondary Bursary
The only standalone bursary offered by the territorial government. Available to NWT residents pursuing post-secondary education in French at any eligible Canadian institution. Only a limited number of awards are offered each year, so early application is strongly encouraged.
Pro Tip:
You do not need to be accepted into a program before applying for NWT Student Financial Assistance — you can apply as soon as you know your intended school and program. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you the best chance of receiving funding before your program begins.
How to Apply
NWT Student Financial Assistance applications are submitted directly to the GNWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment — not through a provincial student aid portal. You must apply each academic year to continue receiving funding.
Applications can be submitted by email to nwtsfa@gov.nt.ca, by fax, by mail, or in person at the SFA office in Yellowknife. For questions, contact the SFA office toll-free at 1-800-661-0793.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Beyond the territorial SFA program, NWT students may also be eligible for external scholarship and bursary programs. Some worth exploring include the National Indigenous Scholarship Program, the NorthwesTel Northern Futures Scholarship, the Leo Memorial Scholarship, and the Josie Gould Memorial Scholarship. These programs are administered independently and have their own eligibility criteria and deadlines.
Ready to explore your post-secondary options? Search for programs across Canada today.
