Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations updated for the 2026–2027 loan year with higher grant limits, a raised borrowing cap, and new rules on private for-profit schools

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The regulations have been rolled forward to the 2026–2027 loan year with several practical changes for students. The enhanced weekly loan limit of $300 per week, and the elevated grant amounts for part-time students ($2,520), students with dependants ($280/month, $2,688 part-time cap), students with permanent disabilities ($2,800), and full-time students ($525/month), all continue at those higher levels for the new loan year. The income thresholds used to phase out grants have been adjusted upward across all family sizes, meaning slightly more students will qualify for full grant amounts. The aggregate cap on outstanding student loans has been raised from $34 billion to $40 billion. A significant new eligibility rule restricts the full-time student grant to students attending public or private not-for-profit designated institutions, but creates time-limited exemptions for students at private for-profit schools enrolled in programs leading to nursing, dental hygiene, early childhood education, or paramedicine; starting in the 2027–2028 loan year, private for-profit institutions or provinces can apply for exemptions for specific programs if certain labour market and regulatory criteria are met. Students at private for-profit schools outside these exemptions should check whether their institution qualifies before applying for grants.

Who this affects: full-time post-secondary students · part-time post-secondary students · students with dependants · students with permanent or persistent disabilities · students enrolled at private for-profit designated educational institutions