Canada Student Grant 2026: The Canada Student Grant is financial help from the Government of Canada for eligible students who need money for their post-secondary studies. The grant does not have to be paid back. It is meant to help with costs such as tuition, living expenses and other school costs.
For the 2026 to 2027 school year, the government is keeping the higher grant amounts for another year. A full-time student can get up to $4,200 in a year. The amount can be different for part-time students, students with children or other dependants and students with disabilities.
The Canada Student Grant is part of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. It is given through participating provinces and territories. Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut do not use this federal program because they have their own student aid systems.
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Canada Student Grant 2026 Amount
The amount you can get depends on your student status and your financial situation. The government looks at things such as family income, family size and your assessed financial need.
| Type of Canada Student Grant | Maximum amount for 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|
| Full-time students | Up to $4,200 per year |
| Part-time students | Up to $2,520 per year |
| Full-time students with dependants | Up to $2,240 per dependant per year |
| Part-time students with dependants | Up to $2,688 per year |
| Students with disabilities | $2,800 per year |
| Services and equipment for students with disabilities | Up to $20,000 per school year |
The full-time grant can pay up to $525 for each month of study and can be received during each year of undergraduate study as long as the student continues to qualify. The school year runs from August 1 to July 31.
Students studying part-time can receive up to $2,520 per year. However, the grant can’t be higher than the student’s assessed financial need. For example, if the assessed need is $1,200, the grant will be $1,200 rather than the full $2,520.
Full-time students with eligible dependants can get up to $280 per month in school, or up to $2,240 per year for each dependant. This amount is paid in addition to the regular full-time student grant.
A student with a recognized disability can receive up to $2,800 per year. There is also a separate grant for students who need education-related services or equipment. That grant can provide up to $20,000 per school year when the student meets the requirements and has the needed documents.
Who can get the Canada Student Grant?
The basic requirements depend on which grant you are applying for. In general, students need to show financial need and study in an eligible program at a designated post-secondary school.
For the main full-time grant, you must be a full-time student in a qualified program and your family income must be below the required limit. The income limit also changes based on how many people are in your family.
| Family size (number of people) | For maximum grant (if gross family income is below the amount for family size, the student qualifies for the maximum grant) | For grant cut-off (if gross family income is at or above these amounts for family size, the student does not qualify for the grant) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38,474 | $69,987 |
| 2 | $54,412 | $98,017 |
| 3 | $66,641 | $117,317 |
| 4 | $76,952 | $129,769 |
| 5 | $86,033 | $141,180 |
| 6 | $94,245 | $151,937 |
| 7 and more | $101,797 | $161,321 |
These figures use the previous year’s gross annual family income and apply from August 1, 2026. A family income below the first amount can qualify for the maximum grant. When the income reaches the cut-off amount or more, the student won’t qualify for that grant.
Students also need to meet the student status rules. In general, full-time students must be taking at least 60% of a full course load. Students with a qualifying disability can be considered full-time with a course load of 40% to 59% in certain cases. Part-time students usually take between 20% and 59% of a full course load.
You also normally need to be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a protected person. You must also be a resident of a participating province or territory. Your program must be at a designated post-secondary school and normally must run for at least 12 weeks within 15 consecutive weeks.
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Students with dependants have extra rules. For the full-time dependant grant, the dependant generally needs to be under 12 years old at the beginning of the study period. A dependant older than 12 can also qualify when they have a permanent disability.
How to Apply for the Canada Student Grant
There is no separate application just for the main Canada Student Grant. Students apply for student aid through the province or territory where they are a resident. During that application, the student is automatically assessed for the Canada Student Grant if they meet the requirements.
- Apply online through your province or territory’s student aid website.
- Enter your details such as family income, course details and living situation.
- Upload documents if they are asked for. Students with disabilities may need extra documents.
- Wait for the result. Your province or territory will tell you if you qualify and how much aid you can get.
- Check the federal estimator to get an idea of your possible grant amount. It doesn’t include provincial or territorial grants.
The National Student Loans Service Centre recommends applying at least two months before the program starts so funding has more time to be processed.
Important Changes for 2026
There is also an important change for the 2026 to 2027 school year. Starting August 1, 2026, students attending private, for-profit international schools are no longer eligible for federal student funding. Students who were already receiving federal student aid for their current program at the same school may continue to qualify until July 31, 2029. The government has also said that, pending approval, most full-time students at private, for-profit schools in Canada will no longer qualify for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students.
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The 2026 to 2027 year will continue the 40% increase in Canada Student Grants. The federal government expects around 571,000 students to benefit from the higher non-repayable grants during the academic year. The higher Canada Student Loan limit of $300 per week will also continue for eligible students.
