Career College Student Scholarships, Bursaries and Loans
Alberta Career College Scholarships, Bursaries and Loans
Are you an eastern or central Canadian student looking to explore career opportunities in Alberta? Are you from Alberta but need money for school? An array of scholarships, bursaries and loans exist for students applying to career colleges in Alberta.
Scholarship awards typically range in value from $200 - $3,000. These awards may be renewable and are based on either outstanding academic achievement, or a combination of outstanding academic achievement and leadership qualities. As well, students applying to career colleges in Alberta may be eligible for bursaries, which are typically based on financial need. Federal and provincial government student loans and grants, commercial bank loans, and work-study programs (involving part-time work for full-time students on campus) are other sources of financial aid to get you to the school you want.
Student Scholarships and Student Bursaries
Scholarships--for high school students or students from other post-secondary institutions--are merit-based and usually awarded according to high academic standing. These scholarships may cover tuition and/ or residence costs. Bursaries are also available and are more typically based on a combination of academic achievement and financial need and/or achievement in other areas such as leadership and community service. These awards may be offered by high schools, career colleges, professional organizations, local or national businesses and charitable foundations. They may be available on a non-renewable or renewable basis. Alberta's Skills Investment Program (SIP) is specifically designed to provide financial assistance to students who are unemployed, financially disadvantaged and need training to find employment. You may be able to access EI Retraining Programs if you have been on unemployment insurance at any time during the previous three years.
· High Schools: Start your search by talking to your high school career counsellor to learn what kinds of scholarships and bursaries are available for your particular program or school interest in Alberta.
· Entrance Awards: Some Alberta career colleges offer scholarships for new students either directly through the school or through supporting benefactors and foundations. In some cases, no application is required as students are automatically considered when they apply to a given institution. You can contact the school or look on the relevant school website to identify the awards offered. Many awards are available to all Canadian applicants, while others are regionally-specific or restricted to residents of Alberta or to specific groups (such as women, First Nations, Canadian Forces, or disabled students). Some career college scholarships can be applied for online through the school's website.
· Businesses: Many local and national businesses--and don't forget your parents' employers!--will offer some kind of funding, either in the form of scholarships or bursaries. These businesses offer awards as a way of showing their support for the local community, so don't overlook this opportunity.
· Community Groups: Also, don't forget community groups in your home-town, county or region that support students (for example, the Chamber of Commerce, Northern Alberta Development Council, Edmonton Community Foundation).
· Professional or Cultural Organizations: Many professional and cultural organizations will provide scholarships or grants as a way of promoting their profession or cultural heritage (for example, the Métis Nation of Alberta, the ManCap Foundation). Relevant organizations depend on your field of interest, so make sure to search it out once you've decided what you want to study.
· Charitable Organizations: There are a variety of local and national charitable organizations that provide literally millions of dollars of awards to post-secondary students; for example, the Government of Canada's Millennium Scholarship Foundation--which administers both merit-based scholarships and bursaries--falls into this category.
Student Loans and Grants
Financial aid in the form of student loans and grants is also available to students wanting to study at career colleges approved for ASL (Alberta Student Loans) and CSL (Canada Student Loans). Often payments do not begin until a student finishes the program, and the interest rate is generally lower than for other types of loans. For students with no established credit record, it is usually easier to get student loans than other kinds of loans. Some career colleges have agreements with financial institutions, which offer student lines of credit.
You can obtain information on Canada Student Loans, Canada Study Grants and Canada Access Grants from your high school career counsellor or your provincial financial aid website that details the different types of financial assistance available to students in that province. Many career colleges also offer financial aid information and student loan calculators, so call or look on their websites. Applications for Alberta financial assistance can be submitted online via the Alberta Learning Information Service site. National aid is typically tenderable across Canada.
Starting the education for your career may be easier than you think!
To learn more about specific Career Colleges or Career College programs, search Campus Starter’s comprehensive database of Career Colleges.
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