Finances

Canadian Students Loans

Canada student loans are fully interest-free while you are a full-time student and are automatically considered for additional grant funding when you apply. Eligibility for grant funding is determined by your family income.

While you are registered in full-time studies you are not required to make payments on your loan and the government pays the interest during this time.

After you graduate you have 6 months before repayment begins. If you are unable to make payments you can apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan.

Important Briercrest Information

  • Briercrest Institutional Code - CPAC

2024-25 Period of Study Dates

  • Fall and Winter: August 26, 2024 - April 16, 2025
  • Fall Semester: August 26, 2024 - December 20, 2024
  • Winter Semester: January 6, 2025 - April 16, 2025
  • Summer Semester: April 21, 2025 - July 31, 2025

Book estimate - $150 per 3 credit hour course

 

Please note that when the application asks for fees it is only asking for academic fees (student life fee, course fees as applicable).

Living expense is calculated using a set standard of living costs for rent, utilities, food and clothing for each month of full-time study so you will not be asked for cost of living specific information.

Eligibility

  • You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
  • You must be a full-time student.
  • You are considered full-time if you are taking 60% of a 100% course load. At Briercrest you must be registered in minimum of 6 credit hours per semester to be considered for full-time student loans in the Seminary.
  • Part-time student loans

 

Apply

You apply directly through your home province's loan office. Applications are available online. Your application will be considered for federal and provincial loans and grants.

Applications open mid-May to mid-June for the upcoming academic year.

 

Process Information

Once your application has been submitted, Briercrest will need to provide program information. Some provinces request this information electronically and others request that you submit a paper Program Information form to the Student Finance Office for completion. Please send requests for Program Information forms to studentfinance@briercrest.ca or fax to 306-912-7862. The sooner this is done, the more likely it is that your loan will arrive in time for the start of the academic year.

When you receive your notice of assessment telling you how much funding the government is offering, you will be required to complete a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA). By signing the MSFAA, you agree to accept responsibility for all funding you receive from that date forward, so you will not have to sign another agreement for future loan assistance (unless you’ve been out of student loans for 2 years). This should be done prior to arriving at school in September. Further information can be found on the provincial website.

Disbursement (Receiving funds)

Pay close attention to the Notice of Assessment letter, specifically to the amount and date when funds will be disbursed. The final step in the loan process is Briercrest confirming your enrolment. At that time we will request the funds to come directly to the school to put towards your student account balance (following provincial regulations). You will receive an email from the Student Finance Office indicating the amount that will be coming to the school. It is the student's responsibility to monitor their Briercrest account balance when expecting a loan disbursement to ensure that all tuition, fees, room and board are paid in full by the stated deadlines.

Maintaining Interest Free Status while in School

If you are taking out a new loan, are registered as a full-time student, and your loan is confirmed prior to September 30, we will automatically confirm your enrolment to your government student loan providers.

If your new loan will not be confirmed before September 30 or you are not taking out a new loan you must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (Schedule 2) to your loan providers.

Ontario students submit a Continuation of Interest-Free Status Application online or complete and mail the form.

All other students can complete the Confirmation of Enrolment (Schedule 2) electronically.

  1. Create an Online Services account with NSLSC , log on to your NSLSC online account
  2. Select the "Confirmation of Enrolment" link on the left hand bar.
  3. Follow the prompts/fill out all application information.
  4. Submit your request.

We will complete the request electronically. You can also print the Confirmation of Enrolment (Schedule 2) form from your provincial website and submit it to the Student Finance Office for processing.

Contact Information

studentfinance@briercrest.ca
Phone: (306) 801-5117
Fax: (306) 912-7862