Application process

All students

If you are planning to attend AU and apply for government student financial assistance, there is important information for you to know.

Prior to applying for government student financial assistance, the following steps should be followed:

1. Apply to become an AU student or already be one.
2. Wait to receive acceptance into your desired program of study.
3. Transfer credit evaluation completed if requested.
4. Review AU's Support Services to access a number of student support services
5. For assistance with assessing your readiness to attend AU as a full-time student complete the Full-time readiness assessment or if you need help with career choices, don't hesitate to contact an advisor through our contact page.
6. If you experience barriers to studying efficiently at AU due to a disability, please contact Accessibility Services. Get more information on attending AU as a funded student with disabilities and full-time status for students with permanent disabilities.

Full-time students

As a full-time AU student, follow these steps to apply for your loan:

1. Students can apply online for financial assistance from their home province. Your home province is the province you lived in for 12 consecutive months before becoming a full-time student.
   • Processing of applications may take up to 12 weeks from the time that complete documentation is submitted. Students must apply by application deadline.
   • Funding approval is due at least 1 month before the start date with no holds or reviews. This is a requirement for all students seeking to attend AU as full-time funded students. Students not approved by the deadline for the desired start date will need to reapply.

Once you have applied for your student loan, you will need to complete the Full-Time Course Registration Plan.

Your advisor will register you into your courses provided funding approval is in place one month prior to the study period start date.

Part-time students

Your home province is the province in which you have most recently lived for 12 consecutive months while not attending as a full-time post-secondary student. If you’re studying part time, use the following steps when applying for your funding:

1. Submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan for part-time studies.
2. Complete and submit the application form as per your provincial funding agency.
3. Students applying for part-time student financial assistance are required to self-register by the 10th of the month prior to the study period start date.
   • Deadline is 2 months before the desired start date or but no later than 3 months before the contract end date of applicable courses.
   • If the course(s) are complete, with final grades posted, it is too late to apply for funding.
   • Prior to submitting your request all previous part-time funded courses must be successfully completed with final passing grade(s) posted.
   • Minimum of one 3-credit course to a maximum of three 3-credit courses for 6-month semester.
   • You may apply for only 1 semester per funding period (not multiple semesters).
   • Courses applicable to the part-time study period must start on the same date.
   • Re-registration/0 credit/audit/challenge/courses that have previously been awarded credit, are not eligible for funding.

When do I have to apply for my student loan?

You are required to submit a Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan and apply for funding by the required date. Completing the 2 steps below will initiate critical processes including the completion of provincial or territorial program information forms and the confirmation of enrolment forms by AU and your funding agency. See the start dates, application open dates, and deadlines corresponding to your studies.