Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
The NWT Student Loan (Repayable Loan) is a needs-assessed loan available to all NWT resident student categories. It provides up to $1,400 per month to help cover education and living costs beyond what grants cover. The lifetime loan limit is $90,000. Repayment begins six months after you cease full-time studies, and loan remission of up to $12,000 per year is available for eligible NWT residents who return home.
The NWT Student Loan — formally known as the Repayable Loan — is a needs-assessed loan component of the Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program. It provides additional funding beyond the grants you may receive, based on your individual financial circumstances. Unlike the Basic Grant and Supplementary Grant, the Repayable Loan must be repaid, though loan remission options are available for eligible students who return to the NWT.
All three NWT student categories — Northern Indigenous Residents, Northern Residents Schooled in the NWT, and Northern Residents Not Schooled in the NWT — are eligible to apply for the Repayable Loan.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the NWT Student Loan, you must meet the general SFA eligibility requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person.
- Be ordinarily resident in the NWT for at least 12 continuous months.
- Be enrolled full-time in an approved post-secondary program (at least 60% course load, or 40% for students with a verified disability) at a designated institution.
- Have previous SFA loans up-to-date and no outstanding GNWT debts.
- Not be receiving student financial aid from another provincial, territorial, or federal program.
How Much Can You Get?
The Repayable Loan is needs-assessed — the amount you receive is based on your financial circumstances, not a fixed award. The maximum is $1,400 per month. The amount calculated depends on:
- The number of eligible dependants in your care
- Your income and your spouse’s income prior to starting school
- Any full-time income you earn or additional funding you receive while in school
You can apply for the Repayable Loan at any time during your academic year, as long as you have already submitted your SFA application for that year. The lifetime loan limit is $90,000 (a revolving limit combining the Repayable Loan and any Remissible Loan balances).
What the Loan Covers
The Repayable Loan is intended to help with a broad range of education-related expenses, including:
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- Textbooks
- Travel
- Rent and/or mortgage
- Food
- Utilities
- Local transportation
Pro Tip:
Before applying for the Repayable Loan, explore all other financial resources available to you — scholarships, bursaries, employer support, and Indigenous organization funding. Only borrow what you need, as this loan must be repaid in full.
Repayment
The Repayable Loan is payment-free and interest-free while you are enrolled full-time. Once you cease full-time studies, you have a six-month interest-free period. Interest begins on the first day of the seventh month after you stop studying, and your first payment is due one month after that.
The Repayable Loan is 100% repayable — unlike the Remissible Loan, it cannot be forgiven, even if you return to the NWT.
Loan Remission for Remissible Loan Holders
If you hold a Remissible Loan (the living allowance component), you may be eligible for annual loan forgiveness once you return to the NWT after completing your studies. Loan remission amounts vary by community:
| Zone | Communities | Annual Remission |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Yellowknife (including Ndı̨lǫ̀ and Dettah) | $6,000 / year |
| Zone 2 | Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Inuvik, Norman Wells | $8,000 / year |
| Zone 3 | All other NWT communities | $12,000 / year |
Loan remission applications are accepted twice per year: between March 1 and April 15 (deadline April 15), and between September 1 and October 15 (deadline October 15). Late applications are not accepted.
How to Apply
Complete the Application for Full-Time Student Financial Assistance. The Repayable Loan is assessed as part of your overall SFA application. You may apply before being accepted into your program. Submit your application by email to nwtsfa@gov.nt.ca, by fax, by mail, or in person at the SFA office or a local ECE Regional or Community Service Centre. SFA will provide a written response within 25 business days.
You must report any changes to your income, dependants, or additional funding to SFA while you are in school, as these may affect your loan amount. Contact SFA in writing before making changes such as withdrawing from a course or dropping to part-time studies.
Other Financial Aid Options
The NWT Student Loan works alongside the Basic Grant (for eligible categories) and the Supplementary Grant or Remissible Loan for living expenses. Students with disabilities may also be eligible for the NWT Grants for Students with Disabilities.
Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.
