University of New South Wales -

Welcome to the UNSW Canadian Student Loans Program information page. This page is aimed at assisting international students with Canadian citizenship who may wish to extend their loans to study programs at the University.

UNSW is a recognized provider for a range of Canadian and Provincial Government student loans programs.

Considering a Canadian Loan for Study at UNSW?

If you are considering taking a loan we strongly recommend that as a first point of reference regarding Canadian student loans, that you look at the 'Canlearn' Canadian Student Loans Program site.

The site provides a range of information on the different loans programs available to students for post secondary education at a national level and across the different provinces of Canada.

It has tips on eligibility requirements, details on permissible loan amounts, budgeting and financial management advice, details on your final debts and loans repayment plans, and lots of useful links to all the relevant application forms and information sheets.

This site will assist you with preparation for taking a Canadian education loan at a national or provincial level and the implications of borrowing monies for study at any University. Remember that government and provincial loans are based on financial need and must be repaid, with interest, within a defined period of time.

The site also links to the Department of Human Resources and Social Development, which contains full legislative details pertaining to the Canadian Student Loans Program. In general, the Canada Student Loan (CSL) Program covers the following;

This loan is subsidized by the federal government. It is issued in the form of a Schedule 1.
Interest will be paid by the federal government while you are attending school full time.
Maximum assistance is 60 per cent of total funding, up to $165 per week of study.
You must be enrolled in at least 60 per cent (40 per cent for students with permanent disabilities) of a full-time course load. *Note that Australian Student Visa requirements mandate that you must be enrolled full time (over 18Units of Credit at UNSW) to be permitted to remain in Australia.
Repayment will begin six months after your studies end.

To qualify for funding through the Canada Student Loan Program or a provincial program, a student must be a Canadian citizen, a Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant), or a Protected Person including Convention Refugees, as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. For Provincial loans, there may be specific residential requirements to qualify. *Please note also that it is a condition of taking a loan that you have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Additionally, it is a requirement of the loans programs that you be enrolled in a full time program, and meet satisfactory academic performance requirements as reported by UNSW. Please check and understand the specific requirements with your provincial authority before proceeding with an application.

Provincial Student Loans Information

As you may know, in Canada each provincial ministry is responsible for post-secondary training and education, and each has different regulations and requirements for their provincial loans programs. In the first instance we recommend that you look at the detailed application requirements for the loans program for your province.

Note: In most instances to be eligible for provincial assistance, you must first be eligible for a Canada Student Loan.

A list of provincial education loans offices can be found at the Provincial and Territorial Student Assistance Offices section of the Canadian Student Loans Program site.

These each link through to the appropriate site to advise you on the procedures and application processes for that province's range of loans programs.

Province Specific Information

Please find below some province specific information for areas where UNSW has received students to date. We are or course still pleased to assist you with accessing a loan and with information and processes if your province is not listed below. Please contact us for further details if required.

Alberta

Please visit the Alberta Learning Information Service site

Alberta Student Loans are provided by the Government of Alberta, and are processed through EDULINX, Alberta's student loan service provider. All loans are based on financial need and must be repaid, with interest, within a defined period of time. Loans are reviewed and administered by the province.

EDULINX has developed a secure, self-serve website that allows students to access and view information on their direct Alberta Student Loans only. The website includes entrance counseling, personal information updates, checking balances and loan amounts, information on cheque disbursement etc.

Applications for Alberta Loans can be completed online

British Columbia

UNSW is an approved school for British Columbia. UNSW's registration code is VUAM.

Comprehensive assistance and information on the operations of the BC Provincial Loans Program can be found here.

Guide booklet with details of the program

The British Columbia Student Loan (BCSL) details;

This loan is subsidized by the provincial government. It is issued in the form of a master B.C. Student Loan agreement*.
Interest will be paid by the provincial government while you are attending school full time.
Repayment will begin six months after your studies end.

*All students approved for a loan will be required to complete a Master British Columbia Student Loan Agreement. Cheques for these provincial loans may be disbursed directly to a student or the university once UNSW has confirmed enrolment in the chosen program for the student.

Application details, including eligibility, financial counselling, information on funding limits, and all relevant forms can be found here.

Ontario

UNSW is an approved school by Ontario for the Canada portion of the Canada Integrated Student Loan Program.

Assistance and information on the operation of Ontario Provincial Loans Program click here. Ontario loan eligibility requirements are listed here.

For paper application forms and the 'Setting Out' Ontario and Canada Financial Assistance Booklet are available by clicking here.

Students may also apply online through the OSAP system.

Quebec

For full information on how to apply for out of province aid as a full-time post- secondary student please go to the Aide Financiere aux Etudes Quebec site.This lists all relevant detail and the steps of the process involved in Quebec student loan applications. You can apply with downloadable forms on the site or by applying online

If you wish to take a program at UNSW and apply for provincial financial aid you will also need to carefully read the details of the Study Outside of Quebec section of the site. Please note that you may be asked to provide information about your program at UNSW. UNSW has registered with the ministry and can assist you with program details or confirmations if required.

Once you arrive at UNSW as part of your loan requirements you will need to complete the following:

Proof of Admission or School attendance form

Private Loans

If your Canadian or Provincial Loans are insufficient to cover your education related Cost of Attendance at UNSW, then you may wish to access a Private Loan to assist with financing your studies. Please see our Private Loans section to check details on how this can be arranged.

Loans Disbursement and Other Assistance at UNSW International Financial Aid Office

The process to cash a Canada Student Loan is noted below. Provincial Loans funds may have a slightly different process. Please check those details

At the start of your program, the UNSW International Financial Aid Office must confirm your full time enrolment before your Canada Student Loan Agreement can be released to you. Your enrolment must be for an entire period of study, and that your studies are leading to a certificate, diploma or degree for the period of your study dates.

Your Notification of Assessment for your Canada Student Loan will indicate whether your Loan Agreement will be sent to your school or to your home. If your Notification of Assessment indicates funding "sent to home", your Canada Student Loan Agreement will be mailed to the address you provided in your application once your school has confirmed your enrolment with the Student Services Branch.

If your Notification of Assessment indicates funding "sent to school", your Canada Student Loan Agreement will be sent to your school. In order to receive your document(s), a school official (Financial Aid Officer or Registrar) must confirm your enrolment. Once enrolment is confirmed, the school official will sign the document, mail the confirmation to the National Student Loans Service Centre, and release the document(s) to you.

The loan agreement is valid for up to 30 days after your enrolment has been confirmed. The loan cannot be cashed after the study end date indicated on the document.

The UNSW International Financial Aid Office can assist with the disbursement of loans funds students who become eligible to receive a provincial or private loan. If you nominate to have your loans agreement and cheques forwarded to this office and co-payable to the University, then we can deposit the monies through the UNSW Treasury and have the funds quickly converted into Australian dollars.

Please note that all deposits and tuition fees at UNSW must be paid in Australian dollar amounts. The process will be much quicker than through normal bank arrangements and is at minimal cost to you. This may also ensure that you are able to meet payment deadlines at UNSW for tuition fees, and avoid potential issues around denial of service while waiting for your funds.

As part of this process, UNSW will automatically remove your session tuition fees from the loan cheque, and arrange for transfer of the remaining funds to your Australian bank account or by cheque.

If you are experiencing issues with your enrolment at UNSW due to non-payment or late payment of fees, due to the late arrival of your loans, feel free to contact this office and we can assist with negotiation of extensions or late payment with UNSW Treasury.

Further questions feel free to contact us