Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
The Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities (GFD) provides up to $3,000 per loan year for exceptional education-related costs such as assistive services, equipment, and disability-related transportation. It is available to students with a persistent or prolonged disability (PPD) and can be received alongside federal disability grants. A Schedule 4 form is required to access this funding.
The Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities (GFD) is a provincial, non-repayable grant that helps eligible students with a documented disability cover exceptional education-related costs while pursuing post-secondary studies in Alberta. It is specifically designed to offset the additional expenses that students with disabilities often face — costs that go beyond what standard student aid is intended to cover.
This grant works alongside — and can be received in addition to — federal disability grants from the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. When you apply through Alberta Student Aid, you are automatically considered for both provincial and federal disability funding at the same time.
At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | Up to $3,000 per loan year |
| Who it’s for | Alberta students with a persistent or prolonged disability (PPD) |
| Repayable? | No — non-repayable grant (unless eligibility changes) |
| Application required | Yes — Schedule 4 form plus supporting documentation |
| Study status | Full-time or part-time |
| Can be combined with federal grants? | Yes — can be received alongside CSG-D ($2,800) and CSG-DSE (up to $20,000) |
| Receipts required? | Yes — receipts for funded services/equipment must be submitted before the end of your study period |
Types of Disability That Qualify
Alberta Student Aid recognizes two categories of disability for the purposes of grants and loans:
- Permanent Disability (PD) — a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment that restricts the ability to perform daily activities necessary to pursue post-secondary studies or participate in the workforce, and is expected to remain for the person’s lifetime.
- Persistent or Prolonged Disability (PPD) — a disability that is not necessarily permanent but is ongoing and significantly affects the student’s ability to pursue studies.
The Alberta GFD is specifically available to students with a persistent or prolonged disability (PPD). Students with a permanent disability (PD) are primarily directed to the federal Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment, though they may also be eligible for the GFD in certain circumstances — particularly for disability-related transportation costs not covered federally.
What Expenses Are Covered?
The Alberta GFD covers exceptional education-related costs tied directly to your disability. Eligible expenses include:
| Eligible Services | Eligible Equipment & Other Costs |
|---|---|
| Tutoring and academic strategy services | Assistive technology and devices |
| Note-taking and transcription services | Specialized equipment required for studies |
| Sign language interpreters | Disability assessments (up to $3,000, within 6 months of study start) |
| Reader and scribe services | Disability-related transportation (parking, fuel for distance travelled) |
| Accessibility and disability support services | Other approved disability-related education costs |
Important:
Disability-related transportation costs (such as parking and fuel for distance travelled) are covered under the Alberta GFD but not under the federal Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment. If transportation is a significant cost for you, the GFD may be your only source of federal or provincial reimbursement for this expense.
How to Apply
Applying for the Alberta GFD involves two steps: your main student aid application, and the Schedule 4 disability form.
First, submit your Application for Financial Assistance through your verified Alberta.ca Account on Alberta Student Aid. Once that application has been submitted, you will need to complete and submit the Schedule 4 form (Federal/Provincial Grant for Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities) along with all relevant medical documentation confirming your disability.
Who reviews your Schedule 4 depends on where you study:
- Public post-secondary institutions in Alberta — you must meet with an Accessibility Advisor or Accessibility Counsellor at your school to have your Schedule 4 reviewed and authorized. Note that as of 2025–2026, an Accessibility Advisor’s signature is no longer required on the form itself, but the review meeting is still the expected process.
- Private career colleges or institutions outside Alberta — work with your school’s Accessibility or Disability Supports office, or a School Official, to submit your application, Schedule 4, and disability documentation. Alberta Student Aid will then review and authorize the form directly.
If you are unable to submit the Schedule 4 at the time of your initial application, Alberta Student Aid will still process your student aid application — but without disability grants. You can submit the Schedule 4 later as a change request, though this will be treated as a Request for Reconsideration.
Pro Tip:
Get your disability documentation and Schedule 4 ready as early as possible — ideally before you submit your main student aid application. Submitting both together avoids delays and ensures your disability grants are included in your initial funding package rather than processed as a separate reconsideration.
Receipts and Unused Funds
If you receive the Alberta GFD for assistive services or equipment, you are required to submit receipts before your study period ends to confirm the funds were used as intended. Write your Application ID, Alberta Student Number, and your name on each receipt before submitting.
Any unused funds must be returned to Alberta Student Aid. This differs from many other grants, so it is important to plan your use of the funding carefully and ensure purchases are made within your approved study period.
How the Alberta GFD Works with Federal Disability Grants
The Alberta GFD is one part of a broader set of disability supports available through the combined Alberta and Canada student aid system. Students approved as having a disability may also be eligible for:
- Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities (CSG-D) — $2,800 per loan year for general education and living costs, available to both full-time and part-time students with a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability
- Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment (CSG-DSE) — up to $20,000 per loan year for approved disability-related education services and equipment
The Alberta GFD is typically used to cover costs that fall within its scope — particularly disability-related transportation and costs that may exceed the federal CSG-DSE maximum — and is allocated before Alberta and Canada student loans in your overall funding package.
Other Financial Aid Options
Explore all available funding options to build the right support package for your studies:
- Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students — up to $425/month for eligible low- and middle-income full-time students
- Alberta Student Loans — provincial loans to help cover tuition, books, and living costs
- Canada Student Grants — federal non-repayable grants automatically assessed through your Alberta Student Aid application
- Canada Student Loans — permanently interest-free federal loans
Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.
