Applying is easy. Just remember this: whether you plan to attend a post secondary school on a full-time or part-time basis, you apply to your province or territory of residence for student financial assistance.

Click on the links below to find out more about student financial assistance available in your province or territory of permanent residence.

1) Are you a permanent resident of:

• Saskatchewan
• Ontario
• New Brunswick, or
• Newfoundland and Labrador?

If so, you will be applying for an Integrated Loan, which allows your federal and provincial loans to be managed by a single loan provider, the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).

2) Are you a permanent resident of:

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Prince Edward Island, or
• Nova Scotia?

If so, you will need to manage 2 loans: 1 from the Government of Canada (this is the Canada Student Loan) and 1 from your provincial government.

3) Are you a permanent resident of:

• Quebec
• Northwest Territories, or
• Nunavut?

If so, you will receive student financial assistance only from your provincial or territorial government. These jurisdictions don't participate in the Canada Student Loans Program.

Instead, they operate their own student assistance plans, which are partly funded by federal government transfers.

4) Are you a permanent resident of:

• Yukon?

If so, you will be applying for a Canada Student Loan through your territory (Yukon doesn't offer a territorial student loan program). Your loan will be managed and repaid through the NSLSC.

To learn more about student financial assistance available from your province or territory of residence, click on the provincial/territorial links above. CanLearn's How Much? section provides details, too. It also describes lifetime limits on student financial assistance, and financial help for those planning to study abroad.

In general, student loan applications are assessed within 4 to 6 weeks. Online applications are often processed more quickly.