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Financial Aid

NorQuest College Student Financial Aid understands that when you’re a student, money matters! We specialize in helping students identify their eligibility for a number of different financial resources that will assist with educational and/or living costs while they are attending NorQuest College.

Financial Aid

 For assistance contact

 The Office of the Registar
 Telephone:  780-644-6000
Toll Free:  1-866-534-7218
info@NorQuest.ca

Alberta Works Income Support (Grant Funding)
Google search:  Alberta Works Policy Manual

NorQuest’s Skills Investment Program offered in conjunction with Alberta Employment and Immigration (AEI) is a grant-funding program designed to financially enable and support Albertans in need of training, providing funding to qualified full-time and part-time students. The program is open to those Albertans who are currently in the following situations:

  • Underemployed
  • Financially disadvantaged and require training to obtain and maintain sustainable employment
  • Making an informed choice

Most NorQuest programs are supported by the Skills Investment Program.

Three different streams of funding are available:

  • EI Client Stream
  • Non-EI Client Stream
  • Part-Time Bursary
  • Applying

EI (Employment Insurance) Client Stream

To apply under this stream, you must have an EI (Employment Insurance) attachment. This attachment can either be an active EI claim (if you are currently receiving EI or will be applying for EI), or a Reachback EI claim (if you have received EI in the past three to five years, three years for a regular claim and five for a maternity/ parental claim). Other basic criteria must also be met to access this funding. This will be determined through an assessment conducted by NorQuest student advisors.

Non-EI (Employment Insurance) Client Stream

To apply under this stream of funding, you must be able to demonstrate that you are financially disadvantaged and require training to obtain and maintain employment. You must also have been out of the regular school system for at least 12 consecutive months at some point in your education. Other basic criteria must also be met to access this funding. This will be determined through an assessment conducted by NorQuest student financial advisors.

Part-Time Bursary

To apply under this stream of funding, you must be able to demonstrate that your last years’ income is below the eligible threshold and you need training to improve your employment status. Other basic criteria must also be met to access this funding. This will be determined through an assessment conducted by NorQuest student advisors.

In all funding streams, eligible candidates may be considered for grant funding as required to assist in funding training goals. Employment Insurance learners may also be eligible to receive regular EI benefits while in training. (The duration is based on original eligibility.)

Applying for Alberta Works Income Support (Grant Funding)

  1. Initial assessment:
    All prospective students will have an initial assessment to help determine whether they qualify for grant funding. Most students attend a funding information session for this initial assessment. Students in some programs will have their assessment completed under Item 3 below, “Referral to training,” when they meet with a NorQuest student financial advisor. Call 780.644.6130 to find out which option is for you.
  2. Career study:
    Assistance is available from NorQuest’s Student Career and Employment Services.
  3. Referral to training:
    Meet with a NorQuest student advisor to approve your training plan.
  4. Commencement of training:
    Training commences, and you enter ‘Service Management.” This is your support system. It monitors your attendance and progress while you are in school.
  5. Completion of training:
    You successfully complete training and start looking for work.
  6. Follow-up:
    You will be contacted twice over a six-month period, once at three months and once at six months, for a report on your job search or employment situation.

From the time you apply at NorQuest College, it can take from six to eight weeks to receive funding. Please apply early!

 

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Student Loans

Alberta Student Loans:
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/learning/main.asp

The government student loan program is intended to supplement your own resources. Students coming right out of high school are considered to be dependent for four years, which means a parental contribution is expected. Students on government student loans may earn a maximum of $800 per month in extra income. Earnings above that amount will be considered in your assessment.

Identify your sources of income:
  • Parents
  • Grandparents/relatives
  • Savings from summer jobs
  • Part-time earnings while in college
  • Spouse
  • Investments
  • Scholarships/bursaries
  • Student loan
  • Bank student line of credit

Applying for a Student Loan

Full-time students in a post-secondary career program can apply for assistance to the student financial assistance service in their home province. Students taking upgrading courses or programs are not eligible for a student loan. Your provincial student finance assistance service determines your eligibility and will determine the disbursement method (Canada loan, provincial loan, etc.).

Paper applications are available after May 1st in the NorQuest Student Financial Aid Office. Most provinces encourage students to complete an online application.

Processing times vary from province to province and may take up to eight weeks; therefore, you are advised to apply early. You do not require proof of admission in order to submit an application for a student loan.

 

Using the Alberta Student Number

The Alberta Student Number (ASN) is a unique identifier for all Alberta students that gives them access to improved programs and services in the Alberta education system. With an ASN, students may apply electronically for financial assistance and have their enrolment confirmed electronically. If you do not have access to your number or if you are moving into the province to study, you can look up or request a number at:

 

We Can Help

NorQuest’s student financial aid advisor can provide the following:

  • Advice on how to maximize your student loan funding
  • Assistance in completing and reviewing your student loan application forms
  • Assistance in obtaining interestfree status on your previously existing
    student loans
  • Information regarding loan repayment after you finish your program

To process your loan, please come to the Student Financial Aid office with original documents, including your certification of eligibility, a void cheque (two cheques if you have two loans), your social insurance (SIN) card (or current tax assessment), and photo ID (e.g., passport, driver’s licence).

 

Filling out Canada/Alberta Student Loan Forms

When completing a student loan application, be sure to include all the required information and documents. Check the NorQuest College website at www.norquest.ca to confirm the costs for tuition, books, and other fees for your program. The program and supplies fee and health/dental fees can be recorded under the books and supplies amount.

Don’t forget to claim $10 per month for miscellaneous expenses under books and supplies, and be certain to claim your Students’ Association fees under mandatory fees.

 
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Aboriginal Student Funding

Qualified Aboriginal students may be eligible for additional grants or loans. Other sources of funding may be available through your band education counsellor or Aboriginal funding agencies. For further information, contact NorQuest’s student advisor for Aboriginal students at 780.644.6130.

Aboriginal student funding can include:

  • Student grant funding
  • Student loan funding
  • Band funding, Bill C-31 funding, and Metis funding
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Emergency Student Assistance

Students who have extenuating or emergency situations and are in need of assistance can see the Student Financial Aid Officer in the Student Financial Aid Office, Room A125, Downtown campus, to determine eligibility for emergency loans.

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Student Emergency Loans

The College provides loans to registered students on an emergency basis up to twice per term if needed. Emergency loans are repayable to the Student Emergency Loan Fund.

To access the Student Emergency Loan Fund, students see the student financial aid officer to demonstrate a legitimate need for a loan. Legitimate need may include unforeseeable circumstances beyond a student’s control that lead to undue hardships and are verifiable by an objective and qualified third party. The student will be required to support the request with the assurance that sufficient funding will be forthcoming to repay the loan. The student financial aid officer will assess the request and discuss the repayment plan with the student.

 

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