Student loans and Grants eligibility assessment thresholds

These tables help full-time and part-time students determine whether they may be are eligible for a student loan or grant. They are used by provinces and territories to calculate the loan or grant amount a student is eligible to receive.

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Student living allowances for school year 2017 to 2018

Actual monthly allowance by province/territory

These are the monthly amounts a student receives based on the cost of shelter, food, miscellaneous expenses and public transportation in their province or territory.

LIVING SITUATION NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
SINGLE STUDENT AWAY FROM HOME
Shelter (two- bedroom apartment, including utilities, shared by two) 486 436 491 449 417 588 485 548 472 851 587 808 810
Food 263 238 241 240 268 264 248 254 277 273 298 303 303
Miscellaneous (personal and health care, clothing, household cleaning, communications) 230 252 243 233 313 284 297 305 332 335 310 319 320
Local public transportation 68 66 67 70 47 84 86 78 72 105 62 69 69
Total monthly allowance 1,047 992 1,042 992 1,045 1,220 1,116 1,185 1,153 1,564 1,257 1,499 1,502
SINGLE PARENT (no dependant considered)
Shelter (one- bedroom apartment including utilities) 804 728 829 783 698 948 682 963 749 1,222 1,066 1,273 1,276
Food 263 238 241 240 268 264 248 254 277 251 298 303 303
Miscellaneous (personal and health care, clothing, household cleaning, communications) 230 252 243 233 313 284 297 305 332 350 310 319 320
Local public transportation 68 66 67 70 47 84 86 78 72 97 62 69 69
 Total monthly allowance 1,365 1,284 1,380 1,326 1,326 1,580 1,313 1,600 1,430 1,920 1,736 1,964 1,968
MARRIED STUDENT AND SPOUSE (no dependant considered)
Shelter (two- bedroom apartment including utilities) 972 858 986 889 833 1,172 885 1,097 942 1,723 1,171 1,615 1,619
Food 470 476 482 479 476 481 450 462 501 504 597 484 485
Miscellaneous (personal and health care, clothing, household cleaning, communications) 459 502 486 466 497 516 570 581 633 515 617 518 519
Local public transportation 136 137 134 138 93 165 174 170 146 194 124 139 139
 Total monthly allowance 2,037 1,973 2,088 1,972 1,899 2,334 2,079 2,310 2,222 2,936 2,509 2,756 2,762
EACH DEPENDENT STUDENT
Shelter 168 179 203 166 152 252 189 134 168 254 177 347 349
Food 187 194 195 194 222 207 192 197 215 208 244 241 242
Miscellaneous (personal and health care, clothing) 102 74 72 70 118 107 135 138 151 122 93 110 111
Local public transportation 68 66 67 70 47 84 86 66 72 97 62 69 69
 Total monthly allowance 525 513 537 500 539 650 602 535 606 681 576 767 771
SINGLE STUDENT LIVING AT HOME
Shelter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Food 187 236 241 240 222 207 192 197 215 257 298 241 242
Miscellaneous (personal and health care, clothing) 197 192 178 166 222 217 237 243 265 281 205 259 260
Local public transportation 68 66 67 70 47 84 86 78 72 120 62 69 69
 Total monthly allowance 452 494 486 476 491 508 515 518 552 658 565 569 571

Note: Monthly maximums are determined by the province/territory.

Monthly maximum for child care expenses for school year 2017 to 2018

This is the maximum monthly amount that will be taken into consideration for child care expenses when calculating the loan amount.

Province Monthly Maximum per Child
Newfoundland and Labrador 817
Prince Edward Island 429
Nova Scotia 476
New Brunswick 600
Quebec 391
Ontario 357
Manitoba 460
Saskatchewan 400
Alberta 1,200
British Columbia 1,153
Yukon 842
Northwest Territories 660
Nunavut 660

Note: Monthly maximums are determined by the province/territory.

Moderate standard of living estimates by family size for school year 2017 to 2018

Note: Moderate standard of living (MSOL) provides an estimate of the costs of living for the parents of dependent students and is used to help calculate a dependent student’s parental contribution. The MSOL includes the costs for various family sizes (parents and children) for shelter, food, contribution to RRSPs, household operation, child care, furnishings and equipment, clothing, transportation, health and personal care, reading material, health and life insurance premiums, pension contributions, charitable donations and other miscellaneous expenses. (Amounts represent after-tax income.)

Family Size (Number of people) NL PE NS NB QC ON MB SK AB BC YT NT NU
2 38,052 37,832 41,793 37,841 41,709 49,037 41,552 42,050 51,947 44,883 49,750 51,533 50,530
3 47,541 48,096 52,005 46,959 52,715 60,879 52,040 52,668 62,263 58,308 58,473 60,569 59,389
4 54,947 55,380 59,246 53,429 60,518 69,282 59,479 60,196 69,579 67,830 64,663 66,980 65,676
5 60,689 61,027 64,865 58,447 66,579 75,803 65,254 66,038 75,258 75,215 69,464 71,953 70,552
6 65,384 65,643 69,458 62,546 71,522 81,123 69,973 70,814 79,894 81,251 73,392 76,023 74,541
7 69,351 69,544 73,339 66,015 75,706 85,630 73,961 74,848 83,816 86,356 76,706 79,455 77,908
8 72,790 72,923 76,705 69,016 79,330 89,525 77,414 78,342 87,217 90,778 79,583 82,434 80,829
9 75,821 75,907 79,669 71,664 82,527 92,965 80,461 81,424 90,211 94,676 82,115 85,058 83,401
10 78,533 78,570 82,324 74,029 85,386 96,047 83,183 84,184 92,896 98,162 84,383 87,406 85,704

Weekly parental contributions for school year 2017 to 2018

* Discretionary Income ($) Weekly Contribution ($) *Discretionary Income ($) Weekly Contribution ($)
0.01  -   500.00 1 13,000.01 - 13,500.00 45
500.01 - 1,000.00 3 13,500.01 - 14,000.00 47
1,000.01 - 1,500.00 4 14,000.01 - 14,500.00 51
1,500.01 - 2,000.00 6 14,500.01 - 15,000.00 55
2,000.01 - 2,500.00 7 15,000.01 - 15,500.00 59
2,500.01 - 3,000.00 9 15,500.01 - 16,000.00 63
3,000.01 - 3,500.00 10 16,000.01 - 16,500.00 66
3,500.01 - 4,000.00 12 16,500.01 - 17,000.00 70
4,000.01 - 4,500.00 13 17,000.01 - 17,500.00 74
4,500.01 - 5,000.00 14 17,500.01 - 18,000.00 78
5,000.01 - 5,500.00 16 18,000.01 - 18,500.00 82
5,500.01 - 6,000.00 17 18,500.01 - 19,000.00 86
6,000.01 - 6,500.00 19 19,000.01 - 19,500.00 89
6,500.01 - 7,000.00 20 19,500.01 - 20,000.00 93
7,000.01 - 7,500.00 22 20,000.01 - 20,500.00 97
7,500.01 - 8,000.00 24 20,500.01 - 21,000.00 101
8,000.01 - 8,500.00 26 21,000.01 - 21,500.00 105
8,500.01 - 9,000.00 28 21,500.01 - 22,000.00 109
9,000.01 - 9,500.00 30 22,000.01 - 22,500.00 113
9,500.01 - 10,000.00 32 22,500.01 - 23,000.00 116
10,000.01 - 10,500.00 34 23,000.01 - 23,500.00 120
10,500.01 - 11,000.00 36 23,500.01 - 24,000.00 124
11,000.01 - 11,500.00 38 24,000.01 - 24,500.00 128
11,500.01 - 12,000.00 39 24,500.01 - 25,000.00 132
12,000.01 - 12,500.00 41 25,000.01 - 25,500.00 136
12,500.01 - 13,000.00 43    

* Discretionary income is calculated by determining total income and then subtracting personal income tax, Employment Insurance premiums, other compulsory payments, and household spending on necessities.

Expected contributions

Students are expected to make a contribution to their education, which is made up of the fixed student contribution (from $1,500 to $3,000), scholarships and bursaries (after a $1,800 exemption) and targeted resources (such as a training allowance or a stipend from an employer that covers room and board). If you are a dependent student, your fixed student contribution amount is based on family income, determined as parental income only (found on line 150 of each parent’s previous year’s TI General Income Tax Return). In addition to the student contribution, the parents of dependent students are also expected to make a parental contribution. If you are considered to be an independent student, you (and your spouse, if you have one) are expected to contribute.

Generally, you are considered to be a dependent student unless:
  • you are married or were living common-law for 12 months at the beginning of your study period;
  • you were previously married or living common-law;
  • you are widowed, divorced or separated or a single parent with dependent children living with you;
  • you were out of high school for at least four years prior to the start date of the study period;
  • you worked for at least 12 months in a row on two or more occasions and were not a full-time student during that time;
  • your parents have both died and you have no legal guardian; or
  • you are a permanent ward of a child and family services agency.

Weekly parental contribution formula

The following calculation is used to determine how much parents of a dependent student are expected to contribute per week to their child’s post-secondary education.

Note: DI = annual discretionary income

If the annual discretionary income is: the weekly parental contribution is:
$0  -  $7,000 (15.0% of DI) / 52
$7,001 -  $14,000 ($1,050 + 20.0% of (DI - $7,000)) / 52
Over $14,000 ($2,450 + 40.0%*(DI - $14,000)) / 52

Low-income thresholds for school year 2017 to 2018 (base year: 2016)

This table is used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants, the Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants, and the Grant for Part-Time Studies.

Low-income Thresholds (for pre-tax incomes)
Number of family members, including student, student’s spouse and dependent children Province Territory
AB BC MB NB NL NS ON QC PE SK YT NT NU
1 25,159 24,586 25,235 21,404 21,780 21,301 25,194 24,576 21,218 21,742 24,617 25,075 25,305
2 31,324 30,609 31,419 26,646 27,113 26,518 31,367 30,597 26,414 27,068 30,647 31,218 31,504
3 38,508 37,631 38,624 32,756 33,331 32,601 38,562 37,615 32,474 33,276 37,678 38,379 38,731
4 46,753 45,687 46,894 39,773 40,469 39,583 46,817 45,670 39,428 40,403 45,744 46,596 47,022
5 53,027 51,818 53,187 45,108 45,899 44,893 53,101 51,798 44,718 45,823 51,883 52,849 53,333
6 59,806 58,442 59,985 50,876 51,767 50,634 59,889 58,418 50,434 51,681 58,515 59,604 60,149
7 or more 66,585 65,068 66,785 56,642 57,634 56,372 66,677 65,040 56,151 57,538 65,147 66,361 66,967

If you are attending school in your home province or territory and your family income is below the low-income threshold, the grant you are eligible to receive depends on:

  • whether you are studying full-time or part-time; and
  • whether you have a dependent child or dependent children.
If you are a full-time student with dependants and your family income is below the low-income threshold:

You are eligible for the Grant for Full-time Students with Dependants.

If you are a part-time student with dependants and your family income is below the low-income threshold:

You are eligible for the Grant for Part-time Studies and you may be eligible for the Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants. You will receive the Grant for Part-time Studies first. If you have additional assessed need, you will receive the Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants. If you are assessed to have needs beyond the two grants, you will receive a Loan for Part-time Studies.

Middle-income thresholds for school year 2017 to 2018 (base year: 2016)

This table is used to determine whether a student is eligible for a Loan for Part-time Studies.

Middle-income Thresholds (for pre-tax incomes)
Number of family members, including student, student’s spouse and dependent children Province Territory
AB BC MB NB NL NS ON QC PE SK YT NT NU
1 48,547 42,665 38,990 34,606 35,108 39,172 45,559 39,075 35,792 38,575 46,247 47,129 47,518
2 67,966 59,733 54,584 48,450 49,153 54,842 63,783 54,707 50,109 54,005 64,746 65,979 66,524
3 81,464 77,601 68,363 60,123 61,410 68,241 79,183 69,140 63,704 67,642 76,098 77,547 78,188
4 91,032 90,274 78,137 68,408 70,979 77,742 90,113 79,375 73,352 77,311 84,154 85,757 86,465
5 98,465 100,102 85,723 74,832 78,396 85,115 98,594 87,325 80,831 84,810 90,401 92,123 92,884
6 104,532 108,135 91,922 80,080 84,460 91,143 105,514 93,810 86,947 90,945 95,515 97,333 98,138
7 or more 109,663 114,928 97,161 84,520 89,584 96,236 111,376 99,297 92,111 96,126 99,828 101,729 102,570

Note: The middle income table above is also used in determining part-time loans eligibility.

Family income thresholds for receiving maximum Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students for school year 2017 to 2018

Number of family members, including student, student’s spouse and dependent children Previous year’s maximum gross annual family income for maximum Grant amount
1 30,000
2 42,426
3 51,962
4 60,000
5 67,082
6 73,485
7 or more 79,373
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