Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
Manitoba Student Loans are interest-free and payment-free while you are in school full-time and for six months after you leave. The Manitoba Student Loan maximum is $200 per week, and the Canada Student Loan maximum is $300 per week. One application covers both provincial and federal loans. A My Service Canada Account (MSCA) is now required to access your National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) account.
Manitoba Student Aid (MSA) provides supplemental financial assistance to eligible Manitoba residents pursuing post-secondary education. When you apply, a single application assesses your eligibility for both the Manitoba Student Loan and the Canada Student Loan, which are administered together as the Canada-Manitoba Integrated Student Loan. Both loans are interest-free.
Manitoba Student Aid also assesses your eligibility for grants and bursaries at the same time as your loan application, including Canada Student Grants and the Manitoba Bursary — no additional application is needed for these.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for Manitoba Student Aid, you must meet all of the following:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person.
- Be a resident of Manitoba.
- Be enrolled in a designated school and eligible program. If your school is not currently designated and you wish to apply, contact your institution’s Financial Aid and Awards Office to request designation — this process can take up to four weeks.
- Have a demonstrated financial need. Your assessed need is based on allowable educational expenses (tuition, books, supplies, living costs, mandatory fees) minus the resources expected from you and, in some cases, your family.
- Be enrolled at the required course load for your student category (see table below).
- Not be in default on any previous student loans.
If you are a first-time applicant over the age of 22, you will be required to pass a credit check.
Course Load Requirements
| Student Type | Minimum Course Load |
|---|---|
| Full-time (university or college) | 60% of a full course load per term |
| Full-time with a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability | 40% of a full course load per term |
| Full-time (private vocational/training school) | 100% course load with over 90% attendance |
| Part-time (university or college) | 20%–59% of a full course load per term |
| Part-time with a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability | 20%–39% of a full course load per term |
How Much Can You Get?
The amount you receive depends on your assessed financial need, up to the weekly maximums below. For 2025-26, both maximums are extended at elevated levels:
| Loan Type | Maximum Per Week |
|---|---|
| Manitoba Student Loan | $200 |
| Canada Student Loan (full-time) | $300 |
| Canada Student Loan (part-time, lifetime limit) | $10,000 total |
Manitoba Student Aid will fund the number of years your school says it should take to complete your program, plus one extra year. The lifetime maximum for full-time students is 340 weeks. Students in doctoral programs may be eligible for an additional 60 weeks. Taking less than a full course load could mean running out of loan eligibility before finishing your program.
New for 2025–2026: Canada Student Grants Only Option
Full-time applicants can now choose to receive only the Canada Student Grants they are eligible for, without taking on any loan funding. This option covers the CSG-FT, CSG-FTDEP, CSG-D, and CSG-DSE. If your financial situation changes, you can request a reassessment to add loans — but note this may cause processing delays. This option is not yet available for part-time applications.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through the Manitoba Student Aid portal. Full-time students can apply even before receiving their official acceptance letter — all you need are the name of your institution, your program details, and your study start and end dates. New applications for fall and winter studies open in June each year.
Starting 2025-26, full-time students applying a second time in the same academic year can also apply online — previously this required a paper application.
Part-time students and students requiring a paper application may submit by mail or drop-box to the Manitoba Student Aid Office at 401-1181 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 0T3.
When applying, have the following ready: your Social Insurance Number, contact information, institution and program details (including course load and study dates), previous year’s income tax information, and your bank account details for direct deposit. Dependent students will also need their parents’ SIN and tax records; married students will need their spouse’s information.
Submit all required documents within 45 days of your application to avoid delays in receiving funds.
Important: My Service Canada Account Now Required
Effective May 25, 2025, all students — including existing borrowers and first-time applicants — need a My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to access their National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) account. Register for an MSCA as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving your funding. You do not need to wait until after submitting your application to register.
When Will You Receive Your Funds?
Funding is released once your school confirms your enrolment and your application has been fully processed. Processing can take up to 6 weeks or longer during peak times — apply early and have a backup plan to cover initial expenses such as tuition and books while your application is in progress.
For most programs, your Canada Student Loan is disbursed at the start of the school year, and your Manitoba Student Loan is disbursed in two instalments — at the beginning and middle of the program. For programs of 17 weeks or less, the full amount is disbursed upfront at the start of the study period.
Interest and Repayment
Both your Manitoba Student Loan and Canada Student Loan are interest-free and payment-free while you are in school full-time. Repayment begins six months after you stop attending school full-time. You make a single monthly payment on your integrated loan balance through the National Student Loans Service Centre.
If you experience difficulty repaying, contact Manitoba Student Aid or the NSLSC to discuss repayment assistance options.
Other Financial Aid Options
Your Manitoba Student Aid application automatically assesses you for the Canada Student Grants and the Manitoba Bursary — no separate application required. You may also want to explore the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative and the Business Council of Manitoba Indigenous Education Awards.
Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.
