The biggest challenge for most students who want to study abroad? Cost! Covering expenses like tuition, books, and accommodations can be tough enough, to say nothing of flights, and maybe even language lessons.
Luckily, Canada makes studies abroad more accessible to students: Canadians can apply for student loans to study in other countries! Here's how you can make your study abroad dreams come true, without breaking the bank (or giving your parent a heart attack).
Whether you're doing a full degree abroad, or just a year or semester exchange with another university, you can apply for financial support from Canada.
Enrolling abroad vs. taking an exchange program
When you're thinking about going abroad to study, you have two main options:
- Enrol at a university outside of Canada as an international student: You apply directly to the international school, and pay your tuition and fees to the school itself. You attend for your full program, and earn a degree from your school of choice.
- Take part in a study abroad program with a Canadian university: You apply to the Canadian school, and work with staff to find an exchange or study abroad program with a partner institution. You pay fees to, and receive your degree from, your Canadian school, and you only go abroad for a semester or a year. You may get an additional credential, or an official note, from the international school, too.
Here's how to get the ball rolling on financial support for your studies outside of Canada.
1. Start with your home province or territory
Student loans always go through your home region, not the place you want to study. So, if you live in Ontario, you'll want to apply for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). If you're a resident of BC, choose StudentAidBC, etc.
Most provincial systems integrate with federal student aid, so you will be assessed for both provincial and federal student loans. You'll also be considered for applicable grants — which you don't have to pay back.
So, start with the student aid portal for your region. Canada's Student Grants and Loans page has a handy list to help you.
2. Confirm if your destination school is "designated" for student loans
Important! Your school of choice must be "designated" as eligible for Canadian student loans! Provinces and territories may have their own lists, and the federal government has a master list of designated educational institutions approved for federal loans.
(Some countries are excluded, so be sure to give this list a search for your school of choice.)
Wait! The school I want isn't on the designated list!
If the school you want to attend isn't already designated for Canadian student loans, you can request designation. This article details how to request designation for OSAP in Ontario, but the process is similar across jurisdictions.
Fundamentally, requesting designation is a student-led process. You must express interest to your regional student loan authority and say, "Yes, I'm interested in [School X] in [Country Y]. Can you please designate them for student loans?"
You can expect this process to take several weeks, so don't sleep on it. You'll likely have to send your destination school some digital paperwork for them to complete. Timelines vary by province, so start as soon as you can. Aim to have everything submitted to your student loan provider within 6 to 8 weeks before the end of your study period. Earlier is better!
Your destination school will have to confirm your enrolment, too. If you haven't already been admitted to the school, you won't be able to request funding. Be sure you accept your offer of admission if you intend to seek designation for a school abroad.
Yes, this means you need to commit to your international school of choice before you can be certain of provincial or federal funding, so do lots of research, and give yourself lots of time.
3. Understand funding amounts
Provincial loan amounts vary, so be sure to explore the student aid website for your region. At the federal level, students can receive up to $300 CAD per week in loan support. Federal student loans are interest-free! (Like any loan, you will have to repay the amount you borrow. You'll have a grace period after graduation before repaying.)
You'll also be assessed for grants — money you don't have to repay — when you apply for student aid.
You can receive federal student aid for a maximum of 340 weeks. Doctoral students can receive aid for up to 400 weeks, and students living with a disability may receive up to 520 weeks of financial assistance.
Helpful links to get you started
Start with your home province, but don't forget about the federal master list of designated schools. Check it early and often. Geopolitical changes can mean edits and updates to this list.
I'm still not sure which school outside Canada is right for me
Still deciding on the right university? SchoolFinder is here to help! We're constantly expanding our database of international schools, and you'll find thousands of programs across dozens of countries. When you've found schools that interest you, compare them to the list of designated schools and request student loan designation if required.
Explore international schools on SchoolFinder.com.
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