Manitoba Student Aid helps Manitoba students pay for college, university and career programs. This guide explains how it works in plain words, so you know what to ask before you apply.
Source: Manitoba Student Aid, program year 2025-2026, as of July 2025 (revision date). Rules and amounts change, so confirm them on the official site.
Independent advice
Study Master Canada is an independent education counselling firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Government of Manitoba or Manitoba Student Aid. Apply only through the official portal at manitobastudentaid.ca. We do not complete forms or handle paperwork: you submit your own application. Our guidance is free to students and is general information, not a guarantee of eligibility, funding amounts or timelines. Study Master Canada is an authorized agent of certain colleges and universities, directly and through recruitment partners, and is compensated by them for admissions and recruitment services.
Manitoba Student Aid is a federal and provincial program that gives extra financial help for full-time and part-time post-secondary costs. It covers college diplomas, university degrees and other designated programs that build job-ready skills.
Not every program qualifies, so confirm that your program is designated before you enrol. Eligible students are assessed for grants, bursaries and loans.
Source: Manitoba Student Aid, program year 2025-2026, as of July 2025 (revision date). Rules and amounts change, so confirm them on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid is a federal and provincial program that gives extra financial help for full-time and part-time post-secondary costs. It covers college diplomas, university degrees and other designated programs that build job-ready skills.
Not every program qualifies, so confirm that your program is designated before you enrol. Eligible students are assessed for grants, bursaries and loans.
Source: Manitoba Student Aid, program year 2025-2026, as of July 2025 (revision date). Rules and amounts change, so confirm them on the official site.
Source: Manitoba Student Aid, program year 2025-2026, as of July 2025 (revision date). Rules and amounts change, so confirm them on the official site.
Official site: manitobastudentaid.ca (opens in a new tab)Manitoba Student Aid lists the requirements below. Only Manitoba Student Aid can decide whether you qualify.
You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or Protected Person.
You are a Manitoba resident.
You attend a designated post-secondary school, in a program that leads to a certificate, diploma or degree.
Your program is at least 12 weeks long.
If your school or program is not designated, you cannot receive student aid for it until it is. Check the designation list on the official site before you pay a deposit.
Only the aid body decidesManitoba Student Aid lists the requirements below. Only Manitoba Student Aid can decide whether you qualify.
If your school or program is not designated, you cannot receive student aid for it until it is. Check the designation list on the official site before you pay a deposit.
Step 1Create a portal account
Create a Manitoba Student Aid online portal account. Full-time applications are stated to open online in June.
Step 2Submit your application
Apply online for a designated school and program. You can submit before you are officially registered, and you apply again each school year.
Step 3Receive your Notice of Assistance
It is stated to be available online within about two weeks, and it includes a list of the documents you need to send.
Step 4Return the required documents
Send the requested documents to Manitoba Student Aid and/or the National Student Loans Service Centre.
Step 5Review and enrolment confirmation
Manitoba Student Aid and NSLSC review your documents and confirm your enrolment with your school. This can take up to six weeks or longer.
Step 6Funding is sent
Funding goes to your school and/or you. Watch the deadline: no later than 45 days before your period of study ends.
Full-time funding is based on your assessed financial need: your costs (tuition, books, supplies, fees and a living allowance) minus your resources (your own contribution, scholarships and bursaries, other funding, and a parental contribution where it applies). Awards go up to the maximum allowed.
Aid you do not repay
Canada Student Grants (including grants for part-time students, students with dependants and students with disabilities) and the Manitoba Bursary. Self-identified Indigenous learners may be eligible for an additional Manitoba Bursary.
Loans you repay
Published for 2025-2026 as up to $500 per week of study combined: up to $300 per week for the Canada Student Loan and up to $200 per week for the Manitoba Student Loan (effective August 1, 2023). Confirm current amounts on the official site.
Interest and repayment
Manitoba Student Aid lists 0% interest on both loans, with repayment starting six months after full-time studies end. NSLSC manages loan disbursement and repayment.
Grants-only option
Full-time applicants can choose to be assessed only for the Canada Student Grants they are eligible for, according to Manitoba Student Aid. Think about how this affects your budget first.
These are the points Manitoba Student Aid states or suggests. Your own dates depend on your school and your study period.
June
Full-time applications open
Manitoba Student Aid states that full-time applications open online in June. You apply again each school year.
About 2 weeks
Your Notice of Assistance appears
It is stated to be available online within about two weeks, with a list of the documents you need to send.
Up to 6 weeks or longer
Review and enrolment check
Manitoba Student Aid and NSLSC review your documents and confirm your enrolment with your school.
45 days before your study period ends
The latest deadline
Funding must be requested no later than 45 days before your period of study ends.
6 months after full-time study ends
Loan repayment starts
Both loans list 0% interest. NSLSC manages repayment.
June
Full-time applications open
Manitoba Student Aid states that full-time applications open online in June. You apply again each school year.
About 2 weeks
Your Notice of Assistance appears
It is stated to be available online within about two weeks, with a list of the documents you need to send.
Up to 6 weeks or longer
Review and enrolment check
Manitoba Student Aid and NSLSC review your documents and confirm your enrolment with your school.
45 days before your study period ends
The latest deadline
Funding must be requested no later than 45 days before your period of study ends.
6 months after full-time study ends
Loan repayment starts
Both loans list 0% interest. NSLSC manages repayment.
Source: Manitoba Student Aid, program year 2025-2026, as of July 2025 (revision date). Confirm every date on the official site.
Ask the college which intakes your program has, then count back from that start date to plan your Manitoba Student Aid application. Intakes vary by college and program; confirm with the college.
Ask the college which intakes your program has, then count back from that start date to plan your Manitoba Student Aid application. Intakes vary by college and program; confirm with the college.
Notice of Assistance
The result of your application. It is available online and includes a list of the documents you need to send.
Designated school
A school and program that Manitoba Student Aid approves. If yours is not designated, you cannot receive aid for it.
NSLSC
The National Student Loans Service Centre. It manages loan disbursement and repayment.
Manitoba Bursary
Aid you do not repay. Self-identified Indigenous learners may be eligible for an additional Manitoba Bursary.
Canada Student Grants
Aid you do not repay, including grants for part-time students, students with dependants and students with disabilities.
Full-time course load
At least 60% per term. Part-time studies (a 20 to 59% course load) use a paper application.
A short list is enough. We use it to talk about programs and cost, not to fill in forms for you.
Study Master Canada is an education counselling firm. We help you choose the right program and connect you with the college. We do not complete forms, submit applications or handle paperwork, and we do not decide eligibility or funding.
We talk through your goals and budget, help you choose a suitable program, connect you with the college, and explain in general terms how Manitoba Student Aid works.
We do not complete forms, submit applications or handle paperwork. Manitoba Student Aid alone decides eligibility, amounts and timing.
What we do
We talk through your goals and budget, help you choose a suitable program, connect you with the college, and explain in general terms how Manitoba Student Aid works.
What we do not do
We do not complete forms, submit applications or handle paperwork. Manitoba Student Aid alone decides eligibility, amounts and timing.
Always confirm that your program is designated for Manitoba Student Aid before you enrol. For questions about your file, reassessments or appeals, contact Manitoba Student Aid at 204-945-6321. Our counselling is free for students.
Always confirm that your program is designated for Manitoba Student Aid before you enrol. For questions about your file, reassessments or appeals, contact Manitoba Student Aid at 204-945-6321. Our counselling is free for students.
General information based on Manitoba Student Aid's published details. Confirm everything on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid (MSA) is a federal and provincial program that provides supplemental financial assistance to help pay for full-time and part-time post-secondary education costs. It supplements, and does not replace, your own savings, family contribution, scholarships, and other funding.
According to Manitoba Student Aid, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person; be a Manitoba resident; and attend a designated post-secondary school and program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree, with a minimum program length of 12 weeks. Manitoba Student Aid decides whether you meet these requirements.
Check the list of designated schools on the Manitoba Student Aid website under 'Planning for your future' then 'Is my school designated?'. If a school or program is not designated, you cannot receive student aid for it until it is. The school, not the student, submits the designation application.
We provide free education counselling: we help you choose a program that fits your goals and budget and connect you with the college. We do not complete forms or handle paperwork, and we cannot determine your eligibility or funding amounts.
Manitoba Student Aid (MSA) is a federal and provincial program that provides supplemental financial assistance to help pay for full-time and part-time post-secondary education costs. It supplements, and does not replace, your own savings, family contribution, scholarships, and other funding.
According to Manitoba Student Aid, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person; be a Manitoba resident; and attend a designated post-secondary school and program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree, with a minimum program length of 12 weeks. Manitoba Student Aid decides whether you meet these requirements.
Check the list of designated schools on the Manitoba Student Aid website under 'Planning for your future' then 'Is my school designated?'. If a school or program is not designated, you cannot receive student aid for it until it is. The school, not the student, submits the designation application.
We provide free education counselling: we help you choose a program that fits your goals and budget and connect you with the college. We do not complete forms or handle paperwork, and we cannot determine your eligibility or funding amounts.
Eligible students are assessed for grants, bursaries, and loans. Non-repayable aid includes Canada Student Grants and the Manitoba Bursary, and repayable aid includes the Canada Student Loan and the Manitoba Student Loan. What you receive depends on your assessed financial need.
For the 2025-2026 program year, Manitoba Student Aid published a combined maximum of $500 per week of study in repayable loans (up to $300 per week Canada Student Loan and up to $200 per week Manitoba Student Loan, effective August 1, 2023). Your actual amount depends on your assessment. Amounts can change, so confirm the current figures on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid lists 0% interest on both the Manitoba Student Loan and the Canada Student Loan. Repayment begins six months after full-time studies end. Check the official site for the current terms before you borrow.
Eligible students are assessed for grants, bursaries, and loans. Non-repayable aid includes Canada Student Grants and the Manitoba Bursary, and repayable aid includes the Canada Student Loan and the Manitoba Student Loan. What you receive depends on your assessed financial need.
For the 2025-2026 program year, Manitoba Student Aid published a combined maximum of $500 per week of study in repayable loans (up to $300 per week Canada Student Loan and up to $200 per week Manitoba Student Loan, effective August 1, 2023). Your actual amount depends on your assessment. Amounts can change, so confirm the current figures on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid lists 0% interest on both the Manitoba Student Loan and the Canada Student Loan. Repayment begins six months after full-time studies end. Check the official site for the current terms before you borrow.
Per Manitoba Student Aid, full-time means a minimum 60% course load each term (or a 100% course load at a private vocational school) and is applied for online. Part-time means a 20-59% course load each term and is applied for using a paper application. Students with a verified disability may be considered full-time at a reduced course load.
Full-time applications are made online through a Manitoba Student Aid portal account, and Manitoba Student Aid has stated that applications become available in June. You can submit before you are officially registered in your program, and you apply separately for each school year. You complete and submit your own application.
Manitoba Student Aid states that the deadline to apply and submit all required information is no later than 45 days before your period of study ends, and that it cannot release funds after your period of study end date. Apply early and confirm dates on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid describes the process as: submit the online application; a Notice of Assistance is available online within about two weeks with a list of required documents; you return the documents; then review and enrolment confirmation can take up to six weeks or longer. Timing varies by file.
Per Manitoba Student Aid, full-time means a minimum 60% course load each term (or a 100% course load at a private vocational school) and is applied for online. Part-time means a 20-59% course load each term and is applied for using a paper application. Students with a verified disability may be considered full-time at a reduced course load.
Full-time applications are made online through a Manitoba Student Aid portal account, and Manitoba Student Aid has stated that applications become available in June. You can submit before you are officially registered in your program, and you apply separately for each school year. You complete and submit your own application.
Manitoba Student Aid states that the deadline to apply and submit all required information is no later than 45 days before your period of study ends, and that it cannot release funds after your period of study end date. Apply early and confirm dates on the official site.
Manitoba Student Aid describes the process as: submit the online application; a Notice of Assistance is available online within about two weeks with a list of required documents; you return the documents; then review and enrolment confirmation can take up to six weeks or longer. Timing varies by file.
Manitoba Student Aid states that, effective July 1, 2023, loan disbursement and repayment of Manitoba student loans are managed by the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). New applications, reassessment requests, and appeals for funding still go to Manitoba Student Aid.
Contact Manitoba Student Aid directly. Reassessment requests and appeals are submitted to Manitoba Student Aid by the student. We do not submit reviews or appeals on your behalf.
Manitoba Student Aid states that, effective July 1, 2023, loan disbursement and repayment of Manitoba student loans are managed by the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). New applications, reassessment requests, and appeals for funding still go to Manitoba Student Aid.
Contact Manitoba Student Aid directly. Reassessment requests and appeals are submitted to Manitoba Student Aid by the student. We do not submit reviews or appeals on your behalf.
Talk to us about choosing a program. It is free for students, and you apply yourself at manitobastudentaid.ca.
Or call (905) 660-6957 or write to sales@studymaster.ca.
