Financing your education

A post-secondary education is an excellent investment. Choosing and financing a good program now can mean significantly higher income for a lifetime, along with many other benefits. How will you find the money you need to invest in yourself?

School-related expenses that we use to calculate need include basic living costs, textbooks and tuition, other mandatory school expenses, and transportation to and from classes or the family home. Students can access many resources to pay for school. Some of the resources that may be available to you are:

• A parent’s, step-parent’s, or spouse’s earnings or other income.
• RESPs or other investments in your name.
• Your own pre-study period earnings or study-period earnings.
• Scholarships and bursaries - not just for straight “A” students
• Employment Insurance benefits
• Federal or Provincial government retraining programs
• Student Assistance loans and grants
• A personal loan or a student line of credit from your bank
• Student Incentive / Work Study Programs
• Receiving Income Assistance? Check out the Employability Related Expenses or other Employment Support Programs.

Once you’ve figured out how you’ll afford school, take a look at our tips on how to spend that money wisely by choosing the right program and managing your debt to keep it as low as possible.