Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Important Update for 2025–2026:
For the 2025–2026 school year, the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants has been extended at the temporarily increased amount of up to $280 per month per dependant (up to $2,240 per dependant per year). This is on top of the standard full-time student grant of up to $525 per month. Both increases apply until July 31, 2026.
Thousands of working professionals give up on their higher education goals to take care of dependants. The financial pressure of supporting a family can make pursuing a full-time program feel impossible. The Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants is designed to help — providing non-repayable funding on top of the standard full-time student grant to help cover the added costs of caring for a family while in school.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a full-time program at a designated institution supported by the federal grant. The program must be at least two years (60 weeks) in duration.
- Have a demonstrated financial need as assessed through your provincial or territorial student aid application.
- Have at least one dependant under the age of 12, or a dependant aged 12 or older with a permanent disability, at the start of your program.
- Have a family income below the income threshold for your family size (see table below).
- Not be a resident of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Quebec — these provinces and territories run their own student financial aid programs and do not participate in the federal grant.
Pro Tip:
Not sure whether your school or program qualifies? Speak with a financial aid advisor at your preferred institution — they can walk you through which federal and provincial grants apply and what other school-specific supports may be available.
Income Thresholds for Eligibility (2025–2026)
Your eligibility and grant amount are based on your family’s gross annual income from the previous tax year and the number of people in your family. Note that for this grant, the minimum family size is two people (you and at least one dependant).
- Income for Maximum Grant — your family’s annual income must be below this amount to receive the full grant.
- Income Threshold — your family’s annual income must be below this amount to qualify for any grant at all.
| Family Size | Income for Maximum Grant | Income Threshold (cut-off) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $45,399 | $89,004 |
| 3 people | $55,602 | $106,278 |
| 4 people | $64,204 | $117,021 |
| 5 people | $71,782 | $126,929 |
| 6 people | $78,634 | $136,236 |
| 7+ people | $84,933 | $144,457 |
Note: Income thresholds are set by the Government of Canada and may be adjusted annually. Always confirm current thresholds at Canada.ca.
How to Apply
There is no separate application for this grant. Simply submit your student aid application with your province or territory of residence — one application assesses your eligibility for all federal and provincial grants, loans, scholarships, and bursaries at the same time. If you qualify for both the standard full-time grant and the dependants grant, both will be included in your funding package automatically.
How Much Can You Get?
For the 2025–2026 school year, eligible students can receive up to $280 per month per dependant, or up to $2,240 per dependant per year. This amount is in addition to the standard Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students of up to $525 per month ($4,200 per year). Combined, a qualifying student with one dependant could receive up to $805 per month in non-repayable grant funding.
The grant amount will not exceed your assessed financial need. The school year runs from August 1 to July 31.
Both the full-time student grant and the dependants grant reflect a 40% temporary increase over pre-pandemic (2019–2020) base levels, extended through July 31, 2026.
Other Federal Financial Aid Options
If your dependants don’t meet the age or disability criteria, or your family income is above the threshold, you may still have other options. Explore Canada Student Loans, Federal Student Scholarships, and Federal Student Bursaries to help fund your studies.
Ready to explore your options? Find schools today!
