Funding Your Studies at Academy Canada

At Academy Canada we know that attending college is a big investment. That is why it is so important to understand all of your educational funding options. We have the information and people to help you plan effectively.

Did you know that there are many options available for financing your post-secondary education? Depending on your eligibility, the following programs may be of interest to you.

Skills Development Program

The Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development may provide financial support to eligible individuals who are seeking full-time post-secondary training. Individuals must be unemployed and eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) in order to be considered. Individuals must be approved for funding before starting any post-secondary program. As a result, it is strongly recommended that you start this process early. To begin this process, please complete one of the two forms below:

• For individuals living in Grand Falls Windsor, St. John’s, and Corner Brook: complete a Request for Service (Request for Service) and submit to Employment Options (Contact Employment Options).
• For individuals living in other areas in Newfoundland and Labrador: complete a Request for Service (Request for Service) and submit to the Department of Jobs, Growth, and Rural Development (Contact Jobs, Growth, and Rural Development).

Fee-Payer Funding

Fee-payer is an individual who is referred to Service Canada, by the Province, to maintain their entitlement to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while attending a full-time training program at their own expense (e.g., no tuition, books or other expenses are paid to individual). Individuals seeking Fee-payer must be case managed the Department of Jobs, Growth, and Rural Development and have an employment plan developed prior to consideration. A Fee-payer cannot be supported beyond the duration of their EI benefit period and individuals are ineligible to transition to regular Skills Development if claim ends and there is no subsequent claim or plan to fund training. Individuals must be approved for funding before starting any post-secondary program. As a result, it is strongly recommended that you start this process in advance of being accepted into a program. To begin this process, please complete a Request for Service (Request for Service) and submit to the Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development (Contact Employment Services at Jobs, Growth and Rural Development).

Service Canada Training Course Information Questionnaire - If you decide on your own to take training while receiving Employment Insurance (EI), you must declare your training and prove that you are still able and willing to work and are continuing to look for a job to continue receiving EI benefits. You must be ready to make arrangements to work if you receive a job offer, and to adjust or cancel your training plans, if necessary. If you are taking training on your own or getting permission from Service Canada to take full-time training, you must complete the Training Course Information questionnaire and submit it using My Service Canada Account (MSCA) . If you are unable to use MSCA you can also complete the Training Course Information questionnaire and mail or deliver it to your local Service Canada Centre. An agent will review your training information to ensure that you are receiving the benefits to which you are entitled. If you are requesting permission to take full-time training, Service Canada will contact you by phone and by mail to let you know whether your request to take training has been approved. For more information, you can connect with Service Canada by phone at 1-800-206-7218.

Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Student Financial Assistance Program (Student Aid)

The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador work together to provide student financial assistance to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Both loans and grants are available to help eligible students access and pay for post-secondary education. With one application, StudentAidNL will assess eligibility for both federal and provincial financial assistance.  Full complete details, visit online at Student Aid - Education and Early Childhood Development (gov.nl.ca), call 709-729-5849 or toll free 1-888-657-0800 or email studentaidenquiry@gov.nl.ca.

Student Aid information for other provinces and territories can be found at the noted links:

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Nunavut

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

Yukon

Program Specific Funding

Early Childhood Education Grants

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador offers Early Childhood Education Needs-Based Incentive Grant will provide eligible students with non-repayable grants of up to $10,000. Learn more here.

Personal Care Attendant Grant

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador offers a bursary of up to $5,000 with a required service obligation of 3,900 hours. The service obligation requires the student to work as an LPN/PCA with a Regional Health Authority (RHA) in Newfoundland and Labrador upon completion of the program (last day of exams in academic calendar). Learn more here.

Massage Therapy Scholarship and Tuition Reimbursement Program (Massage Addict)

Massage Addict offers a $5000 Tuition Reimbursement Program for one Massage Therapy student in the province. Contact your Admissions Officer to learn more!

Skills Training through Indigenous Service Delivery Organizations

Indigenous service delivery organizations deliver training services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/nonaffiliated Indigenous people in their communities. To find out more information and connect with a service provider near you, please see: Get the skills and training you need by finding your local Indigenous service delivery organization - Canada.ca

Other Scholarships, Bursaries, and Grants

Academy Canada is pleased to maintain a list of external awards for which our students and/or graduates qualify. They include

• Belairdirect (formerly Johnson Insurance)
• Department of Education Scholarships
• Canadian Forces Ombudsman
• Department of Education
• EnergyRates
• Health Care Foundation Moving Lives Forward
• Horatio Alger Vocational & Technical Education Scholarships
• International Grenfell Association
• NAPE
• NL Credit Union
• NL Schools
• Qalipu First Nation
• Solve Your Debts Scholarship
• Sport NL – Funding Programs
• Stewardship Association of Municipalities
• Sobeys
• Student Awards
• Support Our Troops
• Terry Fox Humanitarian Award.

Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP)

Some students have access to funds from a Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP) that was established for them by a family member. An RESP is an investment vehicle used by parents to save for their children’s post-secondary education. A principle advantage of RESPs is the access to the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) is provided to complement RESP contributions. The government of Canada also provides a Canada Learning Bond (CLB) to encourage low-income families to contribute to an RESP.

Sponsorship: Workplace NL

Individuals who have been injured on the job may be entitled to receive funding to retrain in post-secondary. We encourage candidates to contact their Workplace NL Case Worker/Counsellor for more details.

Paying Own Way

Some students choose to pay themselves and/or with the support of their families. Payment plans are arranged on either a semesterly or monthly basis and can be paid by cheque, cash, Interac, Money Order, Visa or Mastercard.

Repayment Assistance Options

Repayment Assistance Plan

The program allows borrowers to make affordable payments on their loans. Loan payments are calculated based on income, debt amount, and family size.

Application is not automatic— you must apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan through your secure NSLSC online account or complete a paper application available at NSLSC.ca. You must reapply every six months to remain eligible

Repayment Assistance Plan For Borrowers With A Permanent Disability

The program allows borrowers to make affordable payments on their loans. Loan payments are calculated based on income, debt amount, family size and disability-related expenses.

Application is not automatic— you must apply for this program through your secure NSLSC online account or complete a paper application available at NSLSC.ca. You must reapply every six months to remain eligible.

Severe Permanent Disability Benefit

If you have a severe permanent disability that prevents you from participating in post secondary studies and the labour force, you may be able to have your student loans forgiven through the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit.

You must apply for this program. Contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 for information on the application process.

Customize Your Payment Terms

You can increase or decrease your monthly payment amount to better suit your budget by customizing your payment terms. Remember, decreasing your monthly payments will increase the time it will take to pay back your loan.

You must apply for this program. Contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 to determine whether Customize Your Payment Terms is an appropriate option for you.

Newfoundland and Labrador Debt Reduction Grant

The Debt Reduction Grant program is offered by the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to help reduce the student loan debt of successful students. This program converts the provincial portion of your student loan into a non repayable grant, pending you meet the eligibility requirements:

• Graduate from a program at least 80 weeks in duration.
• Borrow more than $165 per week during a semester.
• Successfully complete at least 80% of a full course load in a semester, except where it is determined that you have extenuating circumstances.

As of August 1, 2025, StudentAidNL is expanding eligibility for NL Debt Reduction to include programs of study which are at least 60 weeks in length. This change only applies to new entrants in eligible programs as of August 1, 2025, and will not be applied retroactively. Individuals currently enrolled in programs of study that are at least 80 weeks in length, will remain eligible.

Newfoundland and Labrador Early Childhood Education Grants

StudentAidNL will notify students if they meet the eligibility requirements - no application is required. If a student qualifies, StudentAidNL will forgive theoutstanding balance of the provincial loan borrowed while they were studying Early
Childhood Education by converting it into a non-repayable grant upon confirmation that the student has met all requirements:

• Graduate from an approved Early Childhood Education program within the province;
• Applied and been deemed eligible for assistance for at least half of the required length of the program.
• Borrow more than $165 per week of study during a given semester.
• Successfully complete the program within the normal length of the program plus a grace period of up to one academic year (two semesters).
• Obtain full-time employment (at least 30 hours per week) in a licensed family home or child-care centre within the province for a period of at least 24 months.

First 21 Calendar Day Refund Policy

Making the correct career choice requires a lot of consideration, and sometimes, no matter how much deliberation and advanced research you do, students can find that the career they have chosen is not the right one for them. With this in mind, Academy Canada offers a unique “21 Calendar Day Refund Policy” that extends beyond the refund policy required by government legislation. Students who decide within the first 21 calendar days of their program that it is not for them (for any reason), can withdraw or transfer to a different program with no financial penalty. Tuition paid prior to that time will be fully reimbursed. This policy applies to post-secondary diploma programs only. The First 21 Calendar Day Refund Policy does not apply to study visa holders.