University College of the North Financial Aid and Awards staff strive to provide students and prospective students with accurate information, guidance, and all the necessary resources to fund their educational goals. Below is an overview of the funding options available to students.
GOVERNMENT STUDENT LOANS
Financial aid options are available to students through their province/territory of residence. Students who qualify may be eligible for non-repayable funding such as grants and/or bursaries. For more information or to access the online application click on the appropriate link below.
Students with disabilities may be eligible for additional financial support through the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities and/or Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities. Students must first apply and qualify for student loan funding before they can access the disability grants.
The following presentation introduces students to the world of student loans. It goes through the process and explains what is expected of them at each stage of the loan life cycle. Students are introduced to the idea of repayment, but the focus is more on what happens throughout the school year. The presentation goes through the roles of the National Student Loans Service Centre and the province, as well as provides students with some hints of how to be financially successful during and after school. Government Student Loans & Grants Orientation Video
Manitoba Student Aid Contact Information |
Website: www.manitobastudentaid.ca |
Manitoba Student Aid 401-1181 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0T3
Phone: (204) 945-6321 Toll-free: 1-800-204-1685 Fax: (204) 948-3421 Email: manitobastudentaid@gov.mb.ca
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National Student Loan Service Centre Contact Information
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Website: www.csnpe-nslsc.canada.ca |
National Student Loan Service Centre P.O. Box 4030 Mississauga, Ontario L5A 4M4
Phone: 1-888-815-4514 Fax: 1-888-815-4657 Email: To email the NSLSC, you must submit a message through their online messaging system.
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Student Loan Repayment
Do you need to start repaying your student loan or are you having difficulty making payments?
To discuss your available options:
Manitoba Student Aid Borrowers Contact
National Student Loans Service Centre toll-free at 1-888-815-4514.
Other Province/Territory Borrowers Contact
The Provincial/Territorial student loan office where you applied.
Failure to repay your student loan could result in your credit rating being negatively affected, inability to get future loans, payments being withdrawn from your bank account, etc. It is important to connect with your lender(s) prior to graduation or as soon as you stop being a full-time student.
Check out the Repayment Seminar Video for Canada/Manitoba Loans by clicking the link below.
Should you have a hearing impediment or simply would like a copy of the handout or presentation, email: regionalrelations@nslsc.ca and indicate the province
for which you received your loan.
STUDENT LINE OF CREDIT
A student line of credit is a repayable loan from a banking institution that a student can use to pay for their post-secondary education. Students are encouraged to shop around and research the terms and conditions carefully as they can vary between financial institutions. To learn more about the differences between a student line of credit and government student loan visit https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/loans/student-lines-credit.html.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Various organizations and government agencies provide eligible students with funding to access education at the post-secondary level. Browse the links below to determine if you qualify for financial support from any one of the post-secondary education support programs. Students are strongly encouraged to do their research and contact all organizations/agencies where they meet some or all of the criteria.
Berens River First Nation Student Services
For more information visit http://www.berensriver.ca/post-secondary.
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) provides assistance and funding for training and skills development to Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve. Through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) program, the program is designed to help Aboriginal Peoples prepare for, and find high-demand jobs that will help address Canada’s labour market challenges. Funded through Employment and Social Development Canada, CAP’s employment programs and services provide Aboriginal Peoples the opportunity to gain the skills required to find employment and fill job gaps in sectors experiencing skills and labour shortages. The ISET program is targeted to Aboriginal Peoples living in urban, rural and remote areas throughout Canada. Those eligible to apply include Aboriginal youth, women, single parents, mature workers, persons with disabilities and those experiencing career change or transition. For more information visit https://abo-peoples.org/program/indigenous-skills-and-employment-training-iset/.
Cote First Nation Post-Secondary Education Assistance Program
For more information visit https://cotefirstnation.ca/elementor-6334/.
Cross Lake Education Authority
For more information visit https://cleamb.ca/studentservices.html.
Dreamcatcher Education Funding
Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation can provide limited funding assistance for youth in Aboriginal communities to reach their education goals. For more information visit https://www.dreamcatchercharity.org/wellness-education#education.
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities
For more information visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/wd/ites/vrmanual/index.html.
Fisher River Cree Nation Post-Secondary Services
For more information visit https://fisherriver.ca/fisher-river-board-of-education/.
Futures Forward Youth-In-Care Tuition Waiver
Established in 2012, nine participating colleges and universities in Manitoba have each established a fund to support current and former youth in care. The purpose of the fund is to provide the opportunity for current and former youth in Child and Family Services care in Manitoba to attend post-secondary education. Tuition Waiver students who are on Agreements with Young Adults (AYAs) or former youth in care may be eligible for Living Supports through Skills and Employment Partnerships to cover the costs of books and supplies and a regular biweekly living allowance. For more information visit https://futuresforward.ca/education/paying-for-post-secondary-school/.
Indigenous Disability Canada’s Support for Indigenous Student Learning Program (SISLP)
Indigenous Disability Canada’s Support for Indigenous Student Learning Program (SISLP) is a time-limited project for Indigenous students across Canada who have limited financial resources, including those students living with disabilities. Applicants must be of Indigenous ancestry (First Nation, Métis, or Inuit). For more information visit http://www.bcands.bc.ca/isslp/?fbclid=IwAR1hfnIDbyGlbs2db8J_yEmHKHM_u7NDQqqu4JgG8n47Z2Hb6g2FyQz2c74.
Indigenous Services Canada
The program aims to improve the socio-economic outcomes for First Nations by supporting First Nations in providing eligible students with funding to access education opportunities at the post-secondary level. This is consistent with the principle of First Nations control of First Nations education. To be eligible for funding, students must maintain satisfactory academic standing within an eligible post-secondary institution. These include educational institutions affiliated with, or those that deliver post-secondary programs by arrangement with, a post-secondary institution, as well as First Nations-designated and directed institutions. For more information visit https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033682/1531933580211.
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISET)
The ISET Program provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/non affiliated Indigenous people in their communities. For more information visit
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/indigenous-skills-employment-training.html.
Interlake Tribal Division Post-Secondary Program
Post-Secondary Programs eligible for funding include University, Community College, and University College Entrance Preparation (UCEP). UCEP programs must have Grade-12 as an entrance requirement and must be at least eight months in duration. Please note that the application deadline date is March 15th each year for the Post-Secondary Program. For more information visit https://www.irtc.ca/education/.
Keewatin Tribal Council Education Services
For more information visit http://www.ktc.ca/how-to-enter/education/.
Manitoba Jobs and Skills Development Centres
Students may be eligible for sponsorship (certificate, diploma or a portion of their degree program) and can reach out to their local Manitoba Job and Skills Development Centre. Eligibility is based on a case-by-case basis. For contact information visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/wd/ites/contact.html.
Northern Manitoba residents can call a Centre in their area to arrange an appointment:
- Flin Flon Centre: (204) 687-1550
- The Pas Centre: (204) 627-8196
- Thompson Centre: (204) 677-6544
Manitoba Métis Federation Métis Employment & Training
Métis Employment & Training provides a wide range of services to clients seeking employment and training. For more information visit https://mmfemployment.ca/?page_id=308.
- Interlake Local Management Board: (204) 646-4091
- Northwest Local Management Board: (204) 638-9485
- Southeast Local Management Board: (204) 754-3112
- Southwest Local Management Board: (204) 725-7525
- The Pas Local Management Board: (204) 623-5701
- Thompson Local Management Board: (204) 677-1430
- Winnipeg Local Management Board: (204) 589-4327
Manitoba Moon Voices Inc.
Empowered Indigenous women are the foundation for strong and healthy families and communities. That is why Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. (MMVI) is proud to deliver the Indigenous Skills & Employment Training program (ISET) in Manitoba. ISET helps Indigenous women and gender diverse individuals fully participate in economic opportunities by supporting education and skills training that can help them achieve economic independence. For more information visit https://www.manitobamoonvoices.com/projects/.
Manitoba Possible
Vocational Rehabilitation is the progressive process of helping adults with disabilities to plan, prepare for, attain and maintain gainful employment. Our Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellors assist participants in exploring vocational goals based on their interests, abilities and skills. This includes developing educational programs and supporting people to complete university degrees, community college diplomas, etc. For more information visit https://www.manitobapossible.ca/vocational-rehabilitation.
Misipawistik Cree Nation Education
For more information visit https://misipawistik.com/programs-%26-services.
MMF Post-Secondary Education Support Program
The MMF Post-Secondary Education Support Program aims to improve the education of students from the Manitoba Métis community by providing them with funding to access educational opportunities at the post-secondary level. Eligible post-secondary levels include:
- undergraduate programs
- advanced or professional degree programs, and
- Masters and Doctoral programs.
The program is administered by the Manitoba Metis Federation. The MMF is responsible for determining the funding and selection criteria. The Government of Canada provides funding for this program as part of a funding agreement with the MMF. For more information visit http://www.mmfeducation.ca/.
Native Women's Association of Canada
The NWAC ISET program helps Indigenous women and gender-diverse individuals to fully participate in economic opportunities. NWAC believes that education can help Indigenous women achieve economic success. Empowered Indigenous women are the foundation for strong families and communities. Through NWAC’s agreement with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) we are able to provide supports such as tuition, living allowance, childcare, job starts and other resources that can help Indigenous women reach their employment and skills training goals. For more information visit https://nwac.ca/programs/iset#:~:text=The%20NWAC%20ISET%20program%20helps,for%20strong%20families%20and%20communities..
NEADS Accessibility Resilience Program/Accessibility Relief Grants for Disabled Post-Secondary Students
The Accessibility Resilience Program is intended to offset some of the financial burden placed on post secondary students with disabilities due to covid-19. This program offers $1,000 and $5,000 grants to help mitigate exasperated socio-cultural and operational accessibility challenges facing students with disabilities, like rising tuition costs and the lack of supports for online learning. For more information visit https://www.neads.ca/en/about/media/index.php?id=1171.
Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority Inc. Post-Secondary Education Program
For more information visit http://www.nhea.info/postsecondary.html.
Norway House Cree Nation Education, Training & Culture
For more information visit https://nhcn.ca/education-training-and-culture/.
Opaskwayak Education Services
For more information visit https://education.opaskwayak.com/.
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Post-Secondary Student Support Program
For more information visit https://www.peterballantyne.ca/post-secondary-education/.
Peguis First Nation Training & Employment
For more information visit https://peguisfirstnation.ca/peguis-training-employment/.
Sandy Bay Post-Secondary Program
For more information visit http://www.sandybayfirstnation.com/education.html.
Sapotaweyak Education Authority
For more information visit http://www.ndkms.com/sea.html.
Veterans Affairs Canada
For more information visit https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng.
PAYMENT PLAN OPTION
Students intending to enroll in a post-secondary program at UCN have the option to participate in a payment plan through UCN Finance. For more information or to set up a payment plan, contact Bonnie Needham, Finance Officer - Revenue/Receivables via email at bneedham@ucn.ca or telephone at (204) 627-8522. Payment arrangements must be made prior to the start of each term.
Does your organization/agency offer financial support for post-secondary students?
Please contact Michelle Ballantyne via email at mballantyne@ucn.ca or call (204) 627-8517 to discuss advertising on our website.