Education · Canada
Alberta Student Aid 2026-27: Grants, Loan Limits and Repayment
For 2026-27, one Alberta Student Aid application assesses you for both Alberta and Canada student loans and grants, with amounts applying to study periods starting on or after 1 August 2026. Grants come first: up to $525 a month from the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students and, for eligible programs, up to $425 a month from the Alberta Student Grant. Loans cover the rest of your calculated need, up to $8,500 a semester combined. Apply at least 60 days before you start; Alberta says most applications are processed within 30 days. Alberta loans have a 12-month interest-free grace period after school, twice the six months for Canada loans.
Key takeaways
- One application for Alberta and Canada aid; need = allowable costs minus resources.
- Canada Student Grant, full-time: up to $525 a month; Alberta Student Grant: up to $425 a month.
- Combined loans: $8,500 a semester, $17,000 for two, $25,500 for three.
- Apply 60 days ahead; most applications take up to 30 days.
- Alberta loans: 12-month grace, then interest at CIBC prime. Canada loans: 6 months, no interest.
- Example with made-up inputs: an 8-month student with $18,000 need gets $7,600 in grants.
Who qualifies
Alberta Student Aid says you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, an Alberta resident, and enrolled full-time in at least 60% of a full course load at an approved institution, or 40% if you have a documented disability. Your school decides what counts as a full load. Students with a study permit are not eligible. Calculated need is your allowable costs minus your resources, and it is assessed separately for Alberta and Canada aid.
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Most applications | Within 30 days |
| Applications needing manual review | Up to 45 days, longer at peak |
| Recommended application timing | 60 days before your study start date |
Grants
Grants do not need to be repaid, but Alberta warns that if you receive more than you are eligible for, for example because your dates, costs or course load change, the grant overpayment is converted to a loan.
| Grant | Maximum | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students | $525 per month of study | Low- and middle-income students; no grant at $69,987 family income for one person |
| Alberta Student Grant for Full-time Students | $425 per month of study | One-year programs (including Open Studies and University Transfer), apprenticeship programs and graduate level |
| Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants | $280 per dependant per month | Dependants under 12, 12 to 18 with a permanent disability, or wholly dependent family members |
Both the Alberta grant and the federal full-time grant pay the maximum when family income, from line 15000 of your 2025 tax return, is at or below the federal threshold for your family size: $38,474 for one person, $54,412 for two and $66,641 for three. Above that, the amount gradually decreases. Alberta publishes the cut-offs where the federal grants end.
| Family size | Full-time grant | Dependants grant |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $69,987 | Not applicable |
| 2 | $98,017 | $98,017 |
| 3 | $117,317 | $117,317 |
| 4 | $129,769 | $129,769 |
| 5 | $141,180 | $141,180 |
| 6 | $151,937 | $151,937 |
| 7 or more | $161,321 | $161,321 |
Alberta lists two federal changes effective 1 August 2026: the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students is limited to students at public institutions and not-for-profit private institutions, with exemptions available, and federal aid is no longer provided at private for-profit international institutions, with a legacy provision until 31 July 2029 for students already funded in 2025-26.
Loan limits
Alberta Student Aid sets combined Alberta plus Canada loan limits by semester and over your lifetime. The lifetime limit is the total you can owe at one time, so repaying some of it can free up room.
| Study length | Maximum loans |
|---|---|
| One semester | $8,500 |
| Two semesters (5 to 9 months) | $17,000 |
| Three semesters (10 to 12 months) | $25,500 |
| Program type | Lifetime limit |
|---|---|
| One-year undergraduate, certificate, diploma and apprenticeship | $51,000 |
| Undergraduate programs of two years or more | $85,000 |
| Dental hygiene | $95,000 |
| Pharmacy and graduate programs | $125,000 |
| MBA, law and doctoral | $150,000 |
| Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, chiropractic and optometry | $200,000 |
Alberta says students may still receive Canada student loans of up to $300 per week for later study periods after reaching these lifetime limits. Part-time Canada loans have a separate $10,000 maximum, and students at that limit can still get Canada Student Grants.
Example with made-up inputs: one school year
These numbers are an example with made-up inputs. A single student with 2025 family income of $35,000, below the $38,474 threshold, studies full-time for 8 months in a one-year diploma program. Calculated need is $18,000. Grants: 8 × $525 = $4,200 federal and 8 × $425 = $3,400 Alberta, $7,600 in total. Loans cover the remaining $10,400, within the $17,000 two-semester limit. If the student were in a four-year degree, the Alberta Student Grant would not apply, so loans would be $13,800.
| Program | Canada grant | Alberta grant | Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year diploma | $4,200 | $3,400 | $10,400 |
| Four-year degree | $4,200 | $0 | $13,800 |
Grace period and interest
Alberta Student Aid says Alberta student loans are interest-free with no payments for the first 12 months after you leave school, a change from six months made on 1 July 2023 that covers students who finished on or after 1 December 2022. Canada student loans have a six-month grace period. Interest on Canada student loans is permanently eliminated, though Alberta notes students remain responsible for interest that accrued before 1 April 2023.
After the grace period, Alberta loans carry interest that is added monthly. The rate is set by the CIBC prime rate: since 1 July 2023 both the floating and fixed rates equal CIBC prime, down from prime plus 1% floating and prime plus 2% fixed. Loans start on the floating rate, and you can switch to a fixed rate once.
Repayment
Alberta and Canada loans are two separate accounts: Alberta loans in MyLoan and Canada loans at the National Student Loans Service Centre. Alberta sets your Alberta repayment term by balance, and you can change your payment schedule, frequency and amount at any time.
| Alberta loan balance | Repayment term |
|---|---|
| $0 to $3,000 | 3 years |
| $3,001 to $6,000 | 8 years |
| $6,001 and more | 9.5 years |
If payments are hard to afford, see how much you pay on RAP. If you go back to school and only have Alberta loans, Alberta says to submit the Confirmation of Registration Alberta, Form B, to keep them payment- and interest-free; with Canada loans, you confirm your enrolment online.
Steps
- Check that your program is approved and your course load meets 60% (40% with a disability).
- Have your 2025 line 15000 income, and your spouse's or parents' if required.
- Apply at least 60 days before your study start date.
- Watch for requests for documents; manual reviews take longer.
- Track any change in dates, costs or course load to avoid grant overpayments.
- Before graduating, note both grace periods and set up MyLoan and NSLSC accounts.
For the federal amounts in detail, see Canada Student Grant 2026-27.
Sources
- Alberta Student Aid, Loans and Grants Funding Guide: eligibility, loan limits and grace periods, studentaid.alberta.ca, as of 1 Oct 2026.
- Alberta Student Aid, Detailed information about annual loan limits and types of grants (2026-27), studentaid.alberta.ca, as of 1 Oct 2026. Grant amounts, thresholds, cut-offs and 1 Aug 2026 federal changes.
- Alberta Student Aid, Loan Limits policy, studentaid.alberta.ca, as of 1 Oct 2026. Annual and lifetime limits; part-time $10,000 limit.
- Alberta Student Aid, Repaying your student loans, studentaid.alberta.ca, as of 1 Oct 2026. Grace periods, interest rates, repayment terms.
- Alberta Student Aid, application processing times, studentaid.alberta.ca, as of 1 Oct 2026.
- Income, need and program length in the example are an example with made-up inputs.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Alberta Student Grant for 2026-27?
Up to $425 per month of study for full-time students in eligible one-year programs, apprenticeship programs or graduate studies, at family incomes up to the federal threshold ($38,474 for one person).
How much can I borrow from Alberta Student Aid?
Combined Alberta and Canada loans are capped at $8,500 per semester, $17,000 for two semesters and $25,500 for three, with lifetime limits from $51,000 to $200,000 by program.
How long does Alberta Student Aid take?
Alberta says most applications are processed within 30 days and manual reviews take up to 45 days. It recommends applying 60 days before your study start date.
When do I start repaying Alberta student loans?
Twelve months after you leave school for Alberta loans, and six months for Canada loans.
What interest rate do Alberta student loans charge?
Since 1 July 2023, both the floating and fixed rates equal the CIBC prime rate. Canada student loans no longer charge interest.
Can international students get Alberta Student Aid?
No. Alberta Student Aid says students with a study permit are not eligible.
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