Canada Student Loans

What dollar amounts do I include in my application?

Tuition and Academic Fees - Please click here. Please note that when the application asks for fees it is only asking for academic fees: student government, student life fee (both semesters) and course fees as applicable. 

Room and Board is calculated using a set standard of living costs for rent, utilities, food and clothing for each month of full-time study so you will not be asked for room and board specific information.

Book estimate - $100 per 3 credit hour course

Do I apply for Full-Time or Part-Time Loans?

• If you are enrolled in 9 credit hours or more apply for a full-time student loan. To be a full time student at Briercrest for all other purposes you must be registered in 12 or more credit hours.
• If you are enrolled in less than 9 credit hours apply for a part-time student loan. 
• If you are a student with a documented disability you qualify for a full-time student loan with 6 credit hours. 

If you are applying through SK, ON, or NB: please see the 'Submitting Program Information Form' below. 

If you are applying through BC: Please let us know when your application is complete and when your funds are ready to be released as we do not receive notification. 

If you are applying through ON: Please submit your OSAP confirmation of enrolment forms to studentfinance@briercrest.ca for timely processing. 

How do I sign my Master Financial Student Aid Agreement? (Final Step)

You will be prompted to sign this through the National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC). To login, you must create a My Service Canada Account. 

Step 1: If you do not use the following banks you will need to request a personal access code (PAC) from a Service Canada Office or online, we recommend you obtain this PAC early to ensure you get your student loan funding on time. 

• BMO, CIBC, Desjardins, Envision Financial, Island Savings, Prospera Credit Union, RBC, Scotiabank, TD or Valley First

Step 2: If you do not bank with one of the banks listed above, please follow this link (click on Interac Sign-In Partner) to determine if you will need to set up a PAC and a GCKey login. If your bank is not listed please obtain your PAC, then continue on the page to register for your GCKey.

• You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
• If you are enrolled in 9 credit hours or more you are eligible to apply for a full-time student loan. To be a full time student at Briercrest for all other purposes you must be registered in 12 or more credit hours.
• Student Financial Assistance Estimator
• Parental Contribution Estimator
• Grants for Full-time students
• Grants for Part-time students
• Part-time student loans

You apply directly through your home province's loan office. Applications are available online. Your application will be considered for federal and provincial loans and grants.

Applications open mid-May to mid-June for the upcoming academic year.

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

Students from SK, ON, and NB: Once you’ve submitted your student loan application, you are required to submit a Program Information Form to Briercrest. If you miss this important step, your student loan application is not complete and will not be assessed. This will delay receiving funds. Please forward the required form to studentfinance@briercrest.ca.  The sooner this is completed, the better the chances your funding will arrive before the academic year begins.

Be sure to carefully review your Notice of Assessment, paying close attention to the amount and disbursement date of your funding.

When you receive your Notice of Assessment, you’ll be asked to sign a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA). This agreement confirms your responsibility for any funding you receive. You’ll only need to sign the MSFAA once—unless you’ve been out of school and loan-free for two years or more. We recommend completing this before arriving on campus in September.

For full details, visit your provincial student aid website.

The final step in the loan process is for Briercrest to confirm your enrolment. At that point, we’ll request that the funds be sent directly to the school to be applied to your student account, in accordance with provincial guidelines. You’ll receive an email from the Student Finance Office confirming the amount being directed to Briercrest.

Please note: It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their account and ensure that all tuition, fees, and room and board are paid in full by the posted deadlines.

If you’re registered as a full-time student and taking out a new loan that is confirmed before September 30, Briercrest will automatically confirm your enrolment with your government loan provider—no action needed on your part.

If your new loan won’t be confirmed by September 30, or you’re not taking out a new loan this year, you’ll need to submit a Confirmation of Enrolment (Schedule 2) to maintain your interest-free status.

• Ontario students: Submit a Continuation of Interest-Free Status application online or complete and mail the paper form.

• Students from all other provinces: Submit the Schedule 2 electronically through your NSLSC account.

  1. Create or log in to your NSLSC Online Services account.

  2. Select “Confirmation of Enrolment” in the menu.

  3. Fill out the required information and submit your request.

  Once submitted, Briercrest will complete the confirmation electronically. This will ensure your loan remains interest-free while you’re in school.

The National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) is a valuable resource for managing and repaying your student loan. Be sure to review information specific to your province, as repayment processes can vary.

• If you’re from British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, or Saskatchewan, you can view your loan balance directly through your NSLSC account.

• If you’re from Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island, you’ll find your Canada Student Loan information on NSLSC, while provincial loan balances must be accessed through your provincial lender.

To help you plan ahead, the Loan Repayment Estimator is a great tool—you can calculate your minimum monthly payments and see how making extra payments could reduce your overall interest.

If you’re experiencing financial difficulty, the Government of Canada offers a Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) to help make your payments more manageable. For more details, visit the Repayment Assistance Plan page.