Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Important Update for 2025–2026:
Quebec administers its own student financial assistance system — Aide financière aux études (AFE) — independently from the federal Canada Student Loans and Grants program. Quebec residents apply directly through AFE, not through the federal system. The Québec Perspective Scholarship (PBPQ) is also being phased out: students who started an eligible program in Spring 2025 or later are no longer eligible.
Quebec’s student financial assistance system is one of the most established in Canada. Through Aide financière aux études (AFE), eligible Quebec residents can access loans, bursaries, disability supports, and scholarships to help fund post-secondary education at recognized institutions — including private career colleges.
Key programs include the Loans and Bursaries for Full-Time Studies, the Loans for Part-Time Studies, the Allowance for Special Needs, and scholarship programs for students in education and vocational programs. Federal funding options are not available alongside Quebec’s system — AFE is the primary funding route for Quebec residents.
Let’s get into the details of Quebec’s student financial assistance programs.
What Kind of Funding Is Available?
- Loans and bursaries for full-time students — the bursary portion is non-repayable if you remain eligible
- Loans for part-time students
- Disability allowances for students with recognized permanent disabilities
- Scholarships for students in education programs and those completing required internships in vocational and technical fields
All programs are administered through AFE and applied for directly at quebec.ca.
Important:
Quebec residents do not apply through the federal Canada Student Loans system. AFE is a separate provincial program. If you are a Quebec resident studying outside Quebec, or a student from another province studying in Quebec, different rules apply — check with AFE directly for your situation.
Who Can Apply?
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
- Be considered a Quebec resident for student aid purposes
- Be enrolled in a recognized institution and an eligible program
- Demonstrate financial need
- Respect your eligibility period and debt limit
Private career colleges recognized by the Ministère are eligible institutions. Full-time students must generally be registered in 12 or more credits per semester; part-time students in fewer than 12 credits.
Quebec Student Financial Assistance Programs
Loans and Bursaries for Full-Time Studies
Quebec’s main student aid program for full-time post-secondary students. Provides a combination of loans (repayable) and bursaries (non-repayable) based on your assessed financial need. The bursary portion converts automatically — you only repay the loan component. Applies to vocational, college, and university programs at recognized institutions.
Loans for Part-Time Studies
Provides loan funding for Quebec residents studying part-time. A contributory loan — part of the costs are expected to be covered by the student, their family, or spouse. Available to Canadian citizens who are Quebec residents enrolled in eligible part-time programs at recognized institutions.
Allowance for Special Needs — Adults
For post-secondary students with a recognized major permanent disability — including visual, hearing, motor, or organic impairments. Covers education-related costs beyond standard tuition, such as interpreters for hearing-impaired students, readers for visually impaired students, scribes, specialized equipment, and other practical supports needed to participate in studies.
Quebec Scholarships
Quebec offers two merit-based scholarship programs relevant to students in education and vocational or technical programs. Both are non-repayable.
Excellence Scholarships for Students in Education Programs
Awarded to students with an excellent academic record who are enrolled in a certified undergraduate teacher training program. Approximately 2,500 scholarships are awarded each year. The amount is tied to your GPA during your training program and can total up to $30,000 over the full course of your studies.
Intern Perseverance and Success Scholarship
Awarded during the last compulsory internship of eligible vocational, technical, and university programs. Recognizes students completing required field placements in areas such as healthcare, social services, education, and skilled trades. The amount varies depending on the level and nature of the internship.
Pro Tip:
AFE applications for full-time studies open in May each year for the upcoming academic year. Apply as early as possible — processing takes time and late applications can delay your funding. You have up to 30 days after your last month of studies to submit, but waiting that long is not recommended.
How to Apply
All Quebec student financial assistance programs are applied for through AFE’s online portal at quebec.ca. You will need your Social Insurance Number and information about your institution, program, income, and family situation.
For questions, contact AFE directly or speak with the financial aid office at your institution — they can help confirm whether your program and school are recognized for AFE purposes.
Other Financial Aid Options
Because Quebec operates outside the federal Canada Student Loans system, Quebec residents are not eligible for Canada Student Loans or Canada Student Grants through the standard federal process. However, federal Student Scholarships and Student Bursaries for Indigenous students may still be available depending on your circumstances — check with AFE or the relevant federal program for details.
Ready to explore your next step? Find schools today!
