Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
Québec’s Loans and Bursaries Program is the province’s main source of student financial assistance. It provides a loan first — the government pays the interest while you study. If your loan is insufficient to cover your assessed needs, part of it may be converted into a non-repayable bursary at year-end. Québec operates its own independent program — Canada Student Loans and Grants do not apply to Québec residents.
Every year, the Loans and Bursaries Program from Aide financière aux études enables approximately 175,000 Québec students with insufficient financial resources to pursue full-time secondary vocational, college, or university studies. Financial assistance is calculated individually based on your allowable expenses and expected contributions — including, where applicable, parental or spousal contributions.
The program works in two layers: all eligible students first receive a loan, on which the government pays interest for the duration of your studies. If that loan does not fully cover the difference between your allowable expenses and your contributions, the remaining gap may be covered by a bursary — which is non-repayable. The bursary portion is determined at the end of the award year after your income is verified with Revenu Québec.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Loans and Bursaries Program, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or protected person.
- Be a Québec resident as defined under the program (born in Québec; parents or sponsor residing in Québec; holder of a Québec selection certificate; or having resided in Québec for 12 consecutive months without pursuing post-secondary studies, among other criteria).
- Be admitted to a recognized educational institution and pursuing full-time studies (or studies deemed full-time) in a recognized program.
- Have insufficient financial resources to pursue your studies on your own.
- Not have exceeded your eligibility period (in months) for your level of education.
- Not have reached your student loan debt limit for your program level.
Deemed Full-Time Status:
Some part-time students may qualify for the program if they are enrolled in at least 20 course hours per month and meet specific criteria — such as being pregnant, a single parent with a young child, living with a child under 6, having a recognized permanent disability, or being unable to continue full-time studies due to an episodic disorder. Contact the financial assistance office at your institution to confirm your status.
Eligibility Periods
Financial assistance is available for a maximum number of months that varies by level of study. Bursary eligibility ends earlier than loan eligibility.
| Level of Study | Maximum Loan Eligibility | Maximum Bursary Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary vocational (DVS) | 35 months | First 26 months |
| College — pre-university | 33 months | First 24 months |
| College — technical training | 42 months | First 33 months |
| University — undergraduate | 39 months | First 30 months |
| University — master’s | 31 months | First 22 months |
| University — doctoral | 47 months | First 38 months |
The overall maximum across all college-level programs is 63 months of financial assistance. For university, the overall maximum is 88 months combined across all levels.
What Expenses Are Covered?
Your allowable expenses include tuition and related fees, school supplies, living expenses, transportation, childcare (where applicable), practicum-related costs, and other recognized expenses. These are weighed against your expected contributions — from your employment income, savings, and in some cases from parents or a spouse — to determine how much financial assistance you receive.
How the Loan and Bursary Work Together
Your initial financial assistance comes entirely as a loan, deposited monthly to your bank account through your financial institution using a government-issued Guarantee Certificate. At the end of each award year, Aide financière aux études compares your declared income with Revenu Québec records. If the loan exceeds what is needed, the excess is converted — through a loan-to-bursary conversion — into a non-repayable bursary.
You do not pay interest or principal while you are a full-time student. Interest begins accruing only after you leave school.
Important — Québec Is Independent:
Québec operates its own student financial assistance system, completely separate from the federal Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants programs. Québec residents are not eligible for Canada Student Loans or Canada Student Grants. All financial assistance is managed through Aide financière aux études and the provincial program.
How to Apply
Apply online through your Student Financial Assistance File at quebec.ca/student-financial-assistance. Applications for the upcoming award year (September 1 to August 31) typically open in May. Apply as early as possible to ensure your funding is in place at the start of the academic year. You have up to 30 days after your last month of study to submit your application, and up to 45 days after that to provide any required documents.
You will need your permanent code (4 letters and 8 digits, found on your high school report card or college transcript), Social Insurance Number, your institution and program codes, and your income information for the calendar year.
Other Québec Financial Aid Options
Students with permanent disabilities may also be eligible for the Allowance for Special Needs Program. Part-time students who do not qualify under the full-time program may access the Loans for Part-Time Studies program. Education students and eligible interns may qualify for provincial scholarships.
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