Canada Student Grants for Students with Disabilities

The Canada Student Loan Program offers a non-repayable grant of up to $2,800 per academic year to eligible students with a disability.

If you apply for student aid, you will automatically be considered for this grant during your assessment—provided you have submitted the required disability documentation. Medical documentation is typically only required once for verification and does not need to be resubmitted in future years.

Definition of disability 

Permanent disability
A permanent disability is any physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory impairment—or functional limitation—that:

• restricts your ability to perform daily activities needed for post-secondary studies or work, and
• is expected to last for your lifetime.

Persistent or prolonged disability
A persistent or prolonged disability is any impairment or functional limitation that:

• restricts your ability to perform daily activities needed for post-secondary studies, and
• is expected to last at least 12 months, but not for your lifetime.

Who is Eligible to Apply

You may be eligible if you:

• Have at least $1 of financial need through your student aid application,
• Are enrolled in a full-time or part-time program at a designated post-secondary institution,
• Meet the documentation requirements below:
  
  For learning disabilities:
   
• Provide a psycho-educational assessment completed by a registered psychologist

• The assessment must:

  • be completed within the last 5 years, or
  • have been completed when you were 18 or older.

  For all other disabilities:

• Submit a Permanent or Persistent/Prolonged Disability Medical Assessment Form (completed by a qualified medical practitioner). This form is provided in your Application Action Items after your complete a student aid application.

Additional Supports for Students with a Disability*

If you are approved as a student with a disability, you may also:

• Take a reduced course load (as low as 40% of a full course load) and still qualify as a full-time student,
• Receive up to 520 weeks of funding to complete your studies, and

• Apply for additional funding through the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment.

  *These supports are only available during periods when your disability status has been approved.

Canada Student Grant for Services & Equipment 

This grant provides funding for disability-related educational supports such as services and equipment.

To be considered, you must:

• Have submitted a student aid application, demonstrated financial need, and been approved as a student with a disability,
• Meet with your school’s accessibility advisor to discuss your needs, and 
• Submit a Services and Equipment Application (with supporting documents), with help from your accessibility advisor.

Deadline:

• Your application must be received at least 6 weeks before the end of your study period.

Important: Repayment Conditions

This grant becomes repayable if:

• Funds are not used for their approved purpose, or
• A portion of the funds remains unused.

You must provide proof of purchase (receipts) showing that funds were used for pre-approved services or equipment.

Failure to repay unused funds or provide receipts may:

• Result in an outstanding balance, and
• Affect your eligibility for future student aid funding.

Contact Us:

Student Financial Services
176 Great George St., P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7N8
 

Email: studentloan@gov.pe.ca
Telephone: (902) 368-4640, Press 2 for Disability Grants
Fax: (902) 368-6144