Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026

The Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students (ASG-FT) is a non-repayable provincial grant for eligible Albertans pursuing full-time post-secondary education. It is designed to help low- and middle-income students cover the costs of their studies — on top of any Canada Student Grants they may also qualify for.

You do not need to apply separately for this grant. When you submit your application through Alberta Student Aid, you are automatically assessed for both the provincial Alberta Student Grant and all applicable federal Canada Student Grants at the same time.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person residing in Alberta.
• Meet Alberta residency requirements — you are considered an Alberta resident if you have lived in Alberta for at least 12 consecutive months while not being a full-time post-secondary student, and have not lived in any other province for 12 continuous months; or if at least one parent resides in Alberta.
• Be enrolled full-time — generally at least 60% of a full course load per semester, or attending a program of at least 12 weeks per study term with a minimum of 20 hours per week in class. Apprentices enrolled in eligible classroom instruction programs are also eligible.
• Demonstrate financial need — your family income must fall within the income thresholds set by the province (see table below).
• Be in good standing on any previous Alberta or Canada student loans.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress. Note: if you withdraw from two study periods after receiving funding, you will not qualify for the next 12-month funding period from the date of your second withdrawal.

Income Thresholds for Eligibility (2025–2026)

Your grant amount is based on your family’s gross annual income (Line 15000 of your 2024 income tax return, or an expected income estimate for 2025) and the number of people in your family.

• Column A — income must be below this amount to receive the maximum grant.
• Column B — income must be below this amount to qualify for any grant at all.

Note: Grant eligibility is cut off when family income is equal to or greater than the Column B threshold. Income thresholds are set by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and may be updated annually.

How Much Can You Get?

For the 2025–2026 academic year, the maximum Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students is $425 per month, with an annual maximum of $5,100 per year. The minimum grant amount is $100, provided your income falls below the cut-off threshold.

The actual amount you receive is calculated based on your assessed financial need — the difference between your allowable education costs and the resources you and your family are expected to contribute. Students whose income falls between the two thresholds will receive a reduced grant amount.

There are limits on Alberta grant funding available each year. If grant funding is exhausted, you may still be eligible for the maximum annual loan amount.

Special Circumstances — Still Eligible as Full-Time

The following situations may still qualify you as a full-time student for grant purposes:

• Multiple schools simultaneously — if enrolled in programs at more than one institution, you may still qualify as full-time. You must designate one as your primary institution on your application.
• Integrated internships — internship hours required as part of your program count toward your full-time course load.
• Exchange or field study programs — participation in exchange or field study components of your program qualifies.
• Studying outside Canada — if your international institution offers a program recognized by the Canadian government, you may still be considered full-time.
• Online programs — as of 2025–2026, Alberta students enrolled in eligible full-time programs delivered exclusively online are assessed using Alberta living allowance costs, regardless of where the institution is located.

Grant Overpayment — When You May Need to Repay

Grants are non-repayable unless your eligibility changes after funding is issued. The most common reason for overpayment is withdrawing from classes after the grant has been paid:

• If you withdraw within 30 days of your program start date, all grant money will be converted to a loan.
• If you withdraw more than 30 days after your start date, Alberta Student Aid will calculate how much of the grant is converted to a loan based on your circumstances.

How to Apply

Applying for the Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students can be broken into two parts: gathering the information you need, and creating your Student Aid account online.

Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following on hand: your personal details (name, address, phone number, email, and date of birth), your Social Insurance Number, your Alberta Student Number (if you have one), and your family’s most recent income tax information — specifically the Line 15000 total income figure from your 2024 return, or an estimate of your 2025 income if it is expected to be lower. You will also need your program details, including the start date, end date, and duration of your course, as well as information about any other financial support you receive from caregivers, awards, or other sources.

Once you have your information ready, you will need to create or upgrade to a verified Alberta.ca Account to access the Alberta Student Aid system — this replaced older login methods and is now required for all applicants. Identity verification is part of the account setup process. After your identity is confirmed, you can officially create your Student Aid account and submit your application.

You only need to submit one application to be automatically considered for both Alberta and Canada student grants and loans. Apply as early as possible — processing times may exceed 45 days during peak periods. Applications are valid for one academic year. If your study period exceeds 12 months, a separate application is required for each loan year, and a new application is needed any time there is a break in your studies of 30 calendar days or more.

Other Financial Aid Options

If you don’t qualify for this grant, or want to explore additional funding, the following options may be available:

• Alberta Student Loans — provincial loans to help cover education and living costs
• Canada Student Grants — federal non-repayable grants assessed automatically through your Alberta Student Aid application
• Canada Student Loans — permanently interest-free federal loans assessed through the same application
• Alberta Student Grant for Students with Disabilities — for students with a permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability

Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.