Graduate financial aid application process

Before applying for government student financial assistance, ensure that you have completed the following steps:

1. Become a graduate AU student or already be one: Graduate Calendar
2. Apply and receive acceptance into your desired program of study: Graduate Programs
3. Evaluation complete if requested: Transfer Credit
4. Review AU’s Learner Support Services (Counselling Services, Advising Services and Accessibility Services)
5. Complete the Full-Time Readiness Assessment provided by AU’s Counselling Services

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Full-time funding

Graduate studies start dates are Sept., Jan., and May only.

Once the above is in place, please complete the 2 steps listed by the submission deadline for the next available start date:   AU Student Financial Aid.

To qualify for full-time status for funding purposes in a 4-month semester at the graduate studies level, students must be registered in a minimum of a 60 per cent course load (0.75 credits per month). This is equal to a minimum of one 4-month course per 4-month semester.

The year of study is determined by the credits that have been applied to your program and does not include courses that are currently in progress or that you intend to register in.

Year equivalents for graduate students:
Graduate Certificate and Diplomas = 1 year
Master’s programs = 2 year, exception Master of Counselling = 3 year
Doctoral programs = 4 year

Year equivalents for graduate students: 1-year program
Year 1 = 0 to all required credits completed

Year equivalents for graduate students: 2-year program
Year 1 = Fewer than 50% of the required credits completed
Year 2 = At least 50% of the required credits completed

Year equivalents for graduate students: 3-year program
Year 1 = Fewer than 12 credits completed
Year 2 = 12 – 23 credits completed
Year 3 = 24 – 30 + credits completed

Year equivalents for graduate students: 4-year program
Year 1 = Fewer than 25% of credits completed
Year 2 = 25% to less than 50% credits completed
Year 3 = 50% to less than 75% credits completed
Year 4 = More than 75% credits completed

Your funding needs to be approved, or the first semester tuition fees must be paid before your intended start date. Please check with your Graduate Centre for fee deadlines and course availability.

Graduate Nursing or Health Studies students:

Graduate students in Nursing or Health Studies may apply for full-time funding, provided they have registered and paid for their course(s) fees. These fees cannot be requested from your student aid.

• For assistance with your program course selections, please call 1-800-788-9041 ;and ask to speak to a Student Program Advisor for your Graduate Degree or email fhdgradadvise@athabascau.ca.
• For a list of all Master of Nursing and Health Studies registration and fee deadlines, please see the program website.

Graduate Counselling students: 

Graduate Counselling students may apply for full-time funding, provided they have registered and paid for their course(s) and program fees. These fees cannot be requested from your student aid. .

• For assistance with your program course selections, please call 1-800-788-9041 and ask to speak to a Student Program Advisor for your Graduate Degree or email fhdgradadvise@athabascau.ca.
• For a list of all GCAP registration and fee deadlines, please see the Master of Counselling academic schedule prior to applying.
• The Graduate Full Time Student Financial Aid Course Registration Plan is for the use of your Financial Aid Specialist in the Office of the Registrar.

Graduate students must still send a course registration form to the graduate office at the start of each term to be registered for the courses.

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Part-time funding

If you are enrolled in less than 3 credits in a 4-month term, please contact us to see if you qualify for part-time funding.