Important Student Financial Aid information
The June 30 Student Financial Aid application for a Sept. 1 start date at Athabasca University is quickly approaching.
AU is committed to supporting our learners in any way we can, including helping you to navigate the student financial aid process. It takes coordinated effort between three key parties: AU, your provincial funding agency, and most importantly, you.
If you’re planning to attend AU and apply for Student Financial Aid, there is important information for you to know.
First steps
We recommend your first stop is our short informational video found on the AU Student Financial Aid webpage, as it outlines the full-time funding application process.
Before you apply for Student Financial Aid, you will need to:
- enrol to become an AU student,
- apply for and be accepted into a program of study, and
- have a transfer-credit evaluation completed if you’re requesting one.
Once those steps are completed, you will be ready to apply for full-time or part-time financial aid.
Application process
Please pay particular attention to the published application deadlines on our website, then complete the following:
- Apply to the government funding agency of your province of residence (See note below about Alberta and B.C.) There are residency conditions for each province or territory, and you will need to check the website for your province if you have questions.
- Submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan.
Alberta students: The 2020-2021 applications are open as of June 25. Please proceed with your application now.
B.C. students: AU is aware that BC Student Aid is not expected to have it 2020-2021 application systems open until mid-July. However, you are still required to submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan by the June 30 deadline.
To do this, please answer YES to the question, “Have you applied for your student financial aid?” even if you are unable to apply until July. This will open the rest of the form for you to complete, so that a financial aid advisor can begin working on your file.
To be eligible for full-time funding, you must take three to five three-credit courses per four-month term. For part-time funding, you must take one to three three-credit courses per six-month term. All courses must have the same start date to be eligible for funding.
Now what?
Once you have completed the above steps, your file will be assigned to a dedicated financial aid advisor who will manage your file throughout your entire program. Your advisor will ensure that you meet your government agency regulations and follow AU’s policies.
Your advisor will also register you in courses and complete any provincial or territorial program information forms that may be required.
You can expect to have access to your student aid funding on or slightly after your semester start date. Generally, your financial aid advisor will request tuition fees be paid to AU directly from your student funding amount.
Important dates
June 30: This is the Student Financial Aid Course Registration plan submission deadline for the semester starting Sept. 1.
July 7: Connect with AU – Live Chat. This live chat event for new and current AU learners will help answer questions you may have about how AU supports learners in the following areas: Academic Advising, Counselling Services, Information Centre, and Student Financial Aid.
July 14: Connect with AU – Live Chat. This live chat event for new and current AU learners will help you to answer questions you may have about how AU supports learners, with a specific emphasis on Student Financial Aid.
Frequently asked questions
How does AU know I am getting a student loan?
The financial aid unit is notified by the submission of the online Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan. If a student applies for funding but fails to submit a course registration plan, enrolment will not be confirmed, and funding will not be released.
I want to start Sept. 1. When do I have to apply for my student loan?
You are required to submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan and apply for funding by June 30 to be eligible for a Sept. 1 start date.
AU is aware that a few government agencies, including Alberta Student Aid and B.C. Student Aid, will not have their application systems open until mid-July, and we will therefore accept the late funding applications.
However, you are still required to submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan by the June 30 deadline. To do this, please answer YES to the question, “Have you applied for your student financial aid?” even if you are unable to apply until July. This will open the rest of the form for you to complete, so that a financial aid advisor can begin working on your file.
How many courses do I need to take if I am getting a student loan for full-time studies?
To be eligible for full time funding you must take three to five three-credit courses per four-month term. Please remember all courses must have the same start date to be eligible for funding.
Can I get student aid if I am part time?
For part-time funding you are required to:
- take one to three three-credit courses per six-month term,
- Register and pay for courses by the tenth of the month prior to your start date. For example, to receive funding for courses beginning Sept. 1, you must register and pay for courses by Aug. 10.
- Submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan and apply for part-time financial aid from your funding province. Once your part-time funding application is approved, we will confirm your enrolment.
Do I have to be in a program to get a student loan?
The short answer is yes, but there are some exceptions based on your province’s rules. Alberta Student Aid allows you to be funded when in unclassified or open studies for one year only, and then you must select a program of study. Some other provinces will only approve you as an unclassified/visiting student if you are on a letter of permission from your home institution. Please consult with the government funding agency of your province of residence.
Can I get Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding to go to AU?
Yes, OSAP approves Ontario students for study at AU. OSAP does not fund students in unclassified or open studies unless you are on a letter of permission from your home institution.
How does AU give OSAP my program information?
After you submit your AU Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan, your financial aid advisor will have access to your request and application for OSAP. We have a dedicated online portal that we use to upload the AU program information. This also includes your program, year of study, course load, start date, end date, weeks of study, and tuition fees.
How do I get my student loan funds?
Ensure you have completed your Master Student Financial Aid Agreement (MSFAA) from your government funding agency.
Once we get notice of your student loan approval from your province and we confirm your enrolment, you can expect to have access to your student funding either on your start date or shortly after. Sept. 1 is a peak period for all institutions across the country and we recognize that the National Student Loan Service Centre does experience some minor delays during peak periods.
I do not get my student loan funds until Sept. 1. Do I have to register myself and then wait for my loan to be processed?
No, if you complete the Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan and apply for funding by the published deadlines, your financial aid advisor will register you in your courses and complete any provincial or territorial program information forms needed.
How do I pay for my tuition fees if I am not getting my loan until Sept. 1?
Your financial aid advisor will request tuition fees directly from your student funding amount. The National Student Loan Service Centre then pay’s AU the tuition fees directly.
If my student loan is approved earlier, can I start earlier than Sept. 1?
No, once your original application and course registration plan is submitted, we cannot revise start dates, as the financial aid unit requires a minimum of two months to process learners’ course registration plans.
