Concordia University College of Alberta
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Financial Aid
Students should plan their finances for the whole academic year rather than separate semesters and develop workable budgets before classes begin. Financial aid in the form of loans and scholarships is meant to assist students and parents with the cost of an education-rarely does it cover the full amount needed to finance an education.
Concordia provides assistance, guidance, and information regarding financial matters to both students and prospective students.
Application forms and information regarding student loans, scholarships, and bursaries may be obtained from the Admissions and Financial Aid Office.
Government Loans
Concordia’s Admissions and Financial Aid Office will assist students by providing information about student loan policies, funding eligibility, and appeal processes. However, students are ultimately responsible for ensuring that they have fulfilled all of the requirements for federal, provincial, and territorial student financial assistance programs.
It is important that students carefully read the instructions and information on loan applications and certificates to fully understand the terms and conditions of their student loan agreements.
Applying for a Student Loan
Students enrolled in an approved post-secondary program of studies who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, or who are designated as Convention Refugees, may be eligible to receive financial assistance through provincial, territorial, and/or federal governments. Financial assistance for post-secondary study is administered by the provincial and territorial governments. Students must apply for financial assistance in their province or territory of residence.
To be eligible for financial assistance for full-time post-secondary study or to maintain interest-free status on an existing federal, provincial or territorial student loan, students must normally be registered in a minimum 60% of a full course load (or a minimum 40% of a full course load for students with a permanent disability). It is important to note that some provinces and territories may have alternate definitions for what constitutes full-time study (e.g., Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories). Students who are registered in 20% to 59% of a full course load (or 20% to 39% of a full course load for students with a permanent disability) may be eligible for financial assistance for part-time post-secondary study.
For example, to meet the 60% requirement of a full course load, students enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts degree program must register in a minimum of nine credits each semester of the period of studies. A full course load for this program is defined by Concordia as 15 credits each semester.
Student loan application packages are normally available in May of each year from Student and Enrolment Services, or the applicable provincial or territorial government. Though processing times for student loan applications vary, most will take four weeks between the date of application and the Notice of Assessment. Therefore, students are encouraged to apply early and to use online application services, if available.
Students who are residents of Alberta may apply for financial assistance through Alberta Students Finance. For more complete information on financial assistance for Alberta students, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website at www.alis.gov.ab.ca. 
Residents of other provinces or territories can obtain further information about financial assistance by visiting the CanLearn website at www.canlearn.ca.
Processing a Student Loan
Student Loans Issued by Alberta
Through the electronic Confirmation of Registration (COR) process, Concordia can confirm students' enrolment status and submit tuition remittance requests to Alberta Students Finance. Students are then mailed a 'confirmed' Certificate of Eligibility (Canada student loan or provincial loan certificate). On a 'confirmed' certificate, the 'Authorized Signature' and 'Date Signed' fields in the Confirmation of Registration section are pre-printed. Students do not need to bring confirmed certificates to Concordia for enrolment verification. Students who receive 'unconfirmed' certificates (the 'Authorized Signature' and 'Date Signed' fields in the Confirmation of Registration section are blank) should follow the procedures described in section 6.1.2.B, Student Loans Issued by Other Provinces or Territories.
Students must deliver their confirmed Certificate of Eligibility to the appropriate service provider, the National Student Loan Service Centre—Public Division (NSLSC) or EDULINX. Students may deliver their certificates to participating Canada Post Outlets (a list is available at www.canlearn.ca) or to Concordia during loan processing days in August and September (Academic Schedule, section 2.0).
Regardless of where students choose to deliver their loan certificates, they are required to present:
- valid photo identification (i.e., driver's license, student ID card, passport or citizenship card), and
- their Social Insurance Number card or any official Government of Canada document with their Social Insurance Number printed on it (i.e., an income tax assessment, recent T4 slip).
In addition, students who wish to have their loan funds deposited electronically to their bank accounts must provide their personal banking information (branch, transit, and account numbers).
Student Loans Issued by Other Provinces or Territories
Students should submit all copies of their Certificate of Eligibility (Canada Student Loan and provincial or territorial student loan certificates) to Student and Enrolment Services for confirmation of registration. The processing of student loan documents begins no sooner than 30 days before the first day of class for a period of study, and continues throughout the year (Academic Schedule, section 2.0). Student loan documents are processed only for students who are officially registered during the entire period of study specified on the loan documents and may be reclaimed from the Student Accounts Office. Generally, two business days are required for processing student loan certificates after submission.
Once Concordia has confirmed their registration, students must deliver the Certificate of Eligibility to the appropriate service provider or financial institution. In the case of Canada Student Loans, students may drop off their Certificate of Eligibility at participating Canada Post Outlets (a list is available at www.canlearn.ca) to be forwarded to the National Student Loan Service Centre Public Division (NSLSC). Alternatively, students may deliver their loan certificates to Concordia during loan processing days in August and September (Academic Schedule, section 2.0).
Disbursement of Funds
The fees due to Concordia are the first charge against the student loan. If the student loan awarded is less than the full amount of tuition and fees, the outstanding balance is subject to normal payment regulations (section 5.0, Fees and section 5.4.2, Payment Methods and deadlines section 2.0, Academic Schedule).
Changes in Registration Status
Students who receive financial assistance for full-time post-secondary study and drop to part-time status or discontinue their studies at Concordia before the End of Study Date stated on their Certificate of Eligibility or Confirmation of Enrolment must advise their provincial or territorial student loan authority. In any event, Concordia also advises the appropriate provincial, territorial, or federal government and service provider.
Normally, the student loan is cancelled and the student is required to reapply for future funding. When a student loan is cancelled, it will be reassessed which may result in the calculation of an over-award. In most cases, students must repay over-awards before future financial assistance is available.
International Students
Students who are citizens of countries other than Canada and who are attending Concordia on a study permit (student visa) are not eligible for Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial financial assistance. Applicants from other countries who require financial aid should contact officials of their own governments for financial assistance options.
Emergency Loans
Concordia's Emergency Loan Program is designed for full-time students who have the necessary funding for their studies, food, and accommodation, but have been confronted by an unanticipated event which has created an urgent need for supplemental funds.
Emergency loans are not intended to defray the normal costs of study, food, and accommodation, or to cover fines or debts owed to Concordia. Emergency loans do not normally exceed $300.00, and students are not considered for more than one emergency loan per semester.
To obtain an emergency loan, students first complete the Emergency Loan Form, which is available at Student and Enrolment Services. Students then meet with an Advisor to determine the validity of the request. At this time, they must provide the Advisor with all supporting documents (such as the student loan notice of assessment, medical letter of verification). Emergency loans can normally be processed within two working days.
The student and the Advisor together determine the repayment date. Emergency loans that are repaid by the mutually-agreed repayment date are provided interest free. Loans may be repaid by cash, cheque, or deductions from government student loans or grant disbursements.
Concordia withholds transcripts and documents (degrees, diplomas, etc.) from students with unpaid emergency loans, denies them future registration, and may prohibit them from writing final examinations.
Related websites
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.alberta-learning.ab.ca/learning/fa/
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/student_loans/
http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/
http://www.aucc.ca/
http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.finaid.com/
http://www.millenniumscholarships.ca/
http://www.canlearn.ca/