Student loans will probably not cover all your expected tuition and living costs. They are not even meant to. But if you qualify, they can definitely help offset the cost of your education. There are two lenders for student loans, your Province of permanent residence and the Federal Government. The Federal portion of a student loan has a maximum of $210 per week starting August 1, 2005, (up from $165 a week) with an additional portion coming from your Province. If you have not lived away from home and been fully self-supporting for at least 2 years, your parents are expected to help you with your education costs. The information you provide on your loan application will be used to address how much both you and your parents are expected to contribute monetarily towards your education.

Student Loan packages are available from your Provincial Government, usually starting in May or June for the school year starting the following September. Please check with your Provincial office as early as possible. You complete one application form, obtained from your Provincial Student Aid Office, and that office will process your application, qualifying you for both the Provincial and Federal portion of your student loan, as well as assessing your need and eligibility for a number of scholarships, bursaries and grants - all from the one application form.

Note: Your province of permanent residence is probably the last province you have lived in. If you have moved a great deal in the last 12 months, phone the provincial student loan office for help in deciding which student loan package you actually need.