Financial Aid and Awards Office

Government of Quebec Student Financial Aid (Aide Financière aux Études)

Other Canadian Federal and Provincial Student Aid Programs

Work-Study Program and Concordia Student Financial Aid

Concordia University Scholarships and Bursaries

Awards Offered by External Organizations

Students from the United States — Federal Student Aid

International Students from Other Countries

General Information

The Financial Aid and Awards Office helps students manage their financial investment in their university education. It provides advice and guidance on budget planning, scholarships, bursaries, academic awards, work-study job opportunities and government student financial aid.

Government of Quebec Student Financial Aid (Aide Financière aux Études)

Eligibility, Part-Time Students, and Students with Disabilities

It is highly recommended that students apply for Quebec Loans and Bursaries online at the Aide financière aux études website: quebec.ca/education/aide‑financiere‑aux‑etudes. All students should apply a minimum of eight weeks prior to their studies. Each student is responsible for completing his or her application form and forwarding it directly to the government. Once a student’s aid is calculated, he or she will receive a formal calculation from Aide financière aux études indicating the amount of aid he or she will be entitled to receive.

It is important to note that the Loans and Bursaries Program is based on the principle that the student and, in some cases, his or her parents, sponsor or spouse, must contribute toward the cost of the student’s education according to their respective means. In addition, the Government Loan and Bursary programs serve as a supplement to a student’s own resources. Therefore, a student should not expect that all of his/her expenses would be covered through government aid.

Financial assistance is initially granted in the form of a loan that a student must pay back at the end of his or her full-time studies. If a student is entitled to more than the maximum loan, he or she may receive additional assistance in the form of a bursary, which does not have to be paid back.

Eligibility

Students are eligible for consideration of government assistance if they meet the following conditions:

1. are a Canadian citizen or have legal status in Canada;
2. are a Quebec resident or are deemed to reside in Quebec;
3. have been admitted to a recognized educational institution and be pursuing or be deemed to be pursuing full-time studies in a recognized program (contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office for further information);
4. have not exceeded the number of months of eligibility for which financial assistance may be awarded;
5. have not reached the debt limit for their level of education, type of degree or program;
6. do not have sufficient financial resources to pursue their studies.
   

The Government of Quebec sets the maximums for cumulative debt loads and period of eligibility. The maximum cumulative debt load is unrelated to students’ eligibility periods; in other words, students might not be eligible for any assistance if they have accumulated a maximum debt load even if they have not used all their eligibility periods.

Level of study		Maximum limit of loans
Secondary vocational school		$22,000
College:	general	$16,000
	technical	$23,000
	non-subsidized	$27,000
University:	undergraduate:
	programs requiring less than eight terms (BA)	$30,000
	programs requiring more than eight terms (co‑op, engineering)	$36,000
	graduate:
	master's level	$42,000
	master's level with thesis	$48,000
	doctorate level	$55,000

The maximum period of eligibility is dependent on the students’ program, level of study as well as other factors affecting their file.

In general, the maximum period of eligibility set for university students is as follows:

Basic Period of Eligibility

Level of education	Maximum periods of eligibility
University (undergraduate)	39 months
University (master's degree)	31 months
University (doctoral degree)	47 months

Note: The maximum number of months for which financial assistance can be awarded to students enrolled in university or equivalent programs is 88 (all levels combined).

Financial Assistance for Part-Time Students

Consult the Aide financière aux études website at quebec.ca/education/aide‑financiere‑aux‑etudes for funding available to part-time students.

Students with Disabilities

Students in any Faculty, who are Canadian citizens or have legal status in Canada and who are Quebec residents, may be eligible for additional aid. For information on specific forms, please contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office. Further information is also available at the Office for Students with Disabilities.

Other Canadian Federal and Provincial Student Aid Programs

Explore, and Language Assistance Programs

Students applying for Federal and Provincial Loans (other than Quebec) must be a Canadian citizen or have legal status in Canada and be a resident or be deemed to reside in the province to which they are applying. For further information, contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office.

Explore (Second-Language Summer Program)

Students across Canada may apply for bursaries to enrol in a five‑week immersion course in French or English at accredited institutions. The aim of this program is to provide post‑secondary students with the opportunity to learn one of Canada’s official languages as their second official language and to improve their knowledge of the culture represented by that language.

Candidates whose mother tongue is neither French nor English may not receive bursaries to study English or French as their first official language. These bursaries will defray the cost of tuition, instructional materials, and room and board, but will not cover transportation costs or pocket money.

Inquiries regarding the awarding of bursaries (e.g. eligibility) should be made to the students’ provincial coordinator or territorial official, the names and addresses of which are available at the Financial Aid and Awards Office.

Eligibility

Students are eligible if they meet the following conditions:

a) are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of application. Students studying in Canada on visas are not eligible;

b) have general post-secondary standing or can prove that they will have obtained such a status by the time they become involved in the program;

c) were enrolled as full-time students during the previous academic year.

Language Assistant Programs — Odyssey

Language assistants are students who help students with the spoken language by conveying to them the real-life aspect of the language. They carry out their duties under the supervision of second-language teachers. Full-time language assistants work for nine months (September to May 31) for an average of 25 hours per week and may earn up to $18,500. Part‑time language assistants are employed for eight months for an average of eight hours per week (September to April). The program also provides reimbursement for certain expenses.

Work-Study Program and Concordia Student Financial Aid

I. Work-Study Program

Work‑Study is a student financial assistance program funded by Concordia University and the Government of Quebec. It is designed to assist full‑time Concordia University students (with the exception of the summer session), who are in financial need, to pursue their academic goals by providing part-time employment on campus. (Up to 20 hours per week for a maximum of 200 hours per term.)

Eligibility

Students are eligible to participate in the Work-Study Program if they meet the following criteria:

• are enrolled in a degree program (bachelor’s, master’s or PhD);

• are studying full-time (with the exception of the summer session);

• are making satisfactory academic progress (GPA over 2.00)

• for Canadian students: are receiving government student aid for the current academic year (conditional work-study authorizations may be issued once a student has applied for government student aid);

• for International students: are at least in their second year of attendance at Concordia University, paying the full international rate and experiencing an exceptional financial difficulty.

Further information can be found at concordia.ca/students/financial/employment/work-study.

II. Tuition Deferrals

Students who are blocked from registering for an upcoming term because of an overdue student account balance may apply for a tuition deferral which would provide them the ability to register for courses.

Eligibility for a tuition deferral is based upon the following conditions:

• The student has received confirmation of funding from a government student aid program that is disbursed by the University’s Financial Aid and Awards Office.
• The amount of upcoming government student aid must be greater than the overdue amount in the student’s account balance (i.e. fall student aid disbursement is $3,000 and the outstanding student account balance is $2,500).
• The student must plan to register as a full‑time student, according to his/her government’s definition of full‑time.
• The student must have a plan on how he or she will be able to enter his or her next term of study without requiring an additional tuition deferral.
• There may be further requirements or conditions if a student has received a tuition deferral in a previous term.

If students receive approval for a tuition deferral, they will still be responsible for late fees and interest on their outstanding loan balance. The purpose of applying for a tuition deferral is to allow students participating in a government loan/bursary program the opportunity to register for the upcoming term.

Students must meet with a financial aid advisor to apply for a tuition deferral.

III. Short-Term Advances

Funds are available at the Financial Aid and Awards Office for students experiencing financial difficulties. Such advances are issued to undergraduate and graduate, full-time and part-time students at Concordia University whose funding is from a government student aid program that is disbursed by the University’s Financial Aid. Students must see a financial aid advisor for further information on eligibility requirements and conditions.

IV. Emergency Financial Assistance

Students experiencing an unanticipated emergency, and who can demonstrate exceptional or unexpected circumstances which are creating considerable financial hardship for them and which require an urgent financial response, should visit the Financial Aid and Awards Office to discuss emergency financial assistance.

Concordia University Scholarships and Bursaries

Entrance and In-Course Scholarships and Bursaries

Two types of awards are available to undergraduate students through the Financial Aid and Awards Office: scholarships and bursaries. Entrance scholarships and entrance bursaries are available to newly admitted students entering university programs for the first time. In‑course scholarships and in‑course bursaries are available to returning students who have completed at least one year of studies at Concordia University. In all cases, scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement and, in some cases, consideration is given to the involvement in university life or other non-academic criteria. Bursaries are awarded based on financial need and acceptable academic standing, and sometimes additional criteria may apply.

Unless otherwise stated, awards are granted to full-time students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Unless expressly authorized by the University Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Committee, award recipients may hold only one of the following types of awards in a given academic year: Concordia entrance scholarships, Concordia in-course scholarships, or Concordia in-course bursaries. For additional information on all undergraduate awards, consult the Financial Aid and Awards Office (FAAO) website at concordia.ca/faao.

I. Entrance Scholarships

Recipients are recommended to the Undergraduate Scholarship and Awards Committee by the Faculties during admission processing on the basis of academic achievement during the first three semesters of Cegep or equivalent. For a complete list, consult the FAAO website.

II. In-Course Scholarships

In-course scholarships are awarded by the Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Committee to full-time students (unless otherwise indicated) who have completed at least 24 credits at Concordia. Recipients are selected on the basis of the previous year’s assessment GPA as calculated by the Office of the Registrar. Unless otherwise indicated, no application is required. For a complete list, consult the FAAO website.

III. Entrance Bursaries

Entrance bursaries are available to students entering university studies for the first time. An application form must be submitted online along with various supporting documents. Eligibility is determined following a financial needs test, a review of the candidate’s academic ranking as assigned during admission application processing, and a holistic appreciation of the applicant’s personal statements on the entrance bursary application form. Students who have received a tuition waiver from the University are not eligible to apply for an entrance bursary. For a complete list of available entrance bursaries, consult the FAAO website.

IV. In-Course Bursaries

Awards Offered by External Organizations

External Organizations

Awards sponsored and administered by external associations, companies, foundations, societies, and clubs, are listed from time to time on the FAAO website and bulletin boards. In general, applications must be submitted to the organization administering the award, unless otherwise indicated.

Students from the United States — Federal Student Aid

Application Requirements, Eligibility, and Policies

Citizens of the United States and certain eligible non‑citizens studying at Concordia may be eligible for financial aid through the U.S. Department of Education in the form of a Federal Direct Loan. Financing may also be available through alternative non-governmental sources such as Sallie Mae. Only students enrolled in degree programs are eligible to receive U.S. Government student loan funding. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in diploma and certificate programs are not eligible for U.S. Government funding at Concordia.

Effective July 1, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education requires all schools disbursing U.S. Government loans to do so through the U.S. Government’s William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. This means that the U.S. Government will be electronically disbursing student loan funding directly to schools without the participation of any third parties (i.e. banks or financial institutions). Under the Direct Loan program, the lender is the United States Department of Education.

I. Concordia University Requirements for Beginning the Application Process for Federal Student Aid

Students who would like to participate in the Federal Student Aid Program are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office in the spring. The loan application process at Concordia University is “borrower initiated.” This means that for each academic year, students must begin the loan process by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, a Master Promissory Note and a Concordia University U.S. Direct Loan Application form. The Concordia University U.S. Direct Loan Application form is available on Concordia’s Financial Aid and Awards website. Students must forward all application documents to the Financial Aid and Awards Office, as they are not received through electronic means. For the FAFSA form, Concordia’s school code is 00836500.

II. Maintaining Eligibility

Course Load

Students must be enrolled on a full-time (12 credits or more) or half-time (6 credits or more) basis in order to qualify for aid through the U.S. Department of Education.

Program Eligibility

All programs offered to Direct Loan recipients must meet the U.S. Department of Education’s program eligibility requirements, as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations. In the case of foreign institutions, for recipients of Direct Loan funding, this means that the version of the program into which the student is accepted will not include the following:

1. Any use of a telecommunications course, correspondence course or direct assessment (CFR 600.51 [d]);

2. Has no written arrangements, within the meaning of 34 CFR 668.5, with institutions or organizations located in the United States for those institutions or organizations to provide a portion of an eligible program, as defined under 34 CFR 668.8, except for written arrangements for no more than 25 per cent of the courses required by the program to be provided by eligible institutions located in the United States;

3. Does not permit students to complete an eligible program by enrolling in courses offered in the United States, except that it may permit students to complete up to 25 per cent of the program by:

(a) Enrolling in the coursework, research, work, or special studies offered by an eligible institution in the United States; or

(b) Participating in an internship or externship provided by an ineligible organization as described in 34 CFR 668.5(h)(2).

As such, students receiving Title IV aid must register for on-campus courses only throughout their academic career at Concordia in order to be considered enrolled in an eligible program. Should students register in any ineligible course as outlined above, they are automatically considered to be in an ineligible program and will immediately become ineligible for Title IV funds. There is no appeal process for this requirement. Students are encouraged to discuss their study plans with a Financial Aid advisor before registering.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students are required to make satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of their degree. For the purposes of Title IV funding, satisfactory academic progress is determined by qualitative measure (grade point average) and quantitative measure (completion rate). Federal regulations require that the University tracks the academic progress of all student loan recipients from the first date of enrolment at Concordia University, whether or not loans were received at that time. Credits transferred from all other credit sources will be considered as attempted and completed credits in the evaluation of the completion rate standards, but these courses do not affect the calculation of a student’s GPA.

To achieve satisfactory academic progress as per the U.S. Department of Education, students must:

• Maintain a minimum assessment GPA of 2.00 and

• Maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two‑thirds of credits attempted (67%).

Concordia University requirements for satisfactory academic progress:

In order to be eligible for U.S. loans, students must meet Concordia University’s institutional requirements for minimum satisfactory performance. These are defined in the Undergraduate and the Graduate Calendars under each Faculty’s section. Note that students must maintain a minimum assessment GPA of 2.00 in all undergraduate Faculties and 3.00 for graduate Faculties.

DISC, INC, MED, DEF, AU, F/FNS/R/NR and S grades, and repeated course work will be treated as follows:

• Incomplete (INC) indicates that a student has not completed required course work and that the instructor has agreed to accept the work after the due date. The notation is always used in combination with a letter grade such as B/INC and the grade is used in the calculation of the various GPAs.

• Medical (MED) indicates that a student has been unable to write a final examination or complete other assignments due to a long-term medical situation. A MED notation carries no grade point value.

• Deferred (DEF) indicates that a student has been unable to write a final examination. A DEF notation carries no grade point value.

• An audit (AU) grade is not considered attempted course work. It is not included in the GPA calculation or completion rate determinations.

• F/FNS/R/NR grades are treated as attempted credits that were not earned, and so are included in both the calculation of the GPA and minimum completion rate.

• A satisfactory grade (S) is treated as attempted credits that are earned, but is not included in the calculation of the GPA.

• In the case of repeated courses, only the grade corresponding to the latest attempt of the course will be used in the calculation of the various GPAs, but every repeated attempt will be included in the completion rate determinations. No loans can be disbursed for a repeated attempt if a student has already achieved a passing grade for that course. The University’s policy means that students receive aid for only one repeat of a course.

Student Loan Denied Status

Students who fail to meet the minimum 2.00 annual grade point average standard, or fail to complete at least two-thirds of cumulative credits attempted, will immediately lose eligibility for Title IV aid funding. No Title IV financial aid will be disbursed unless the student is removed from Student Loan Denied status.

If students fail to satisfy the 150% requirement, they will also be placed on Student Loan Denied status. No Title IV aid will be disbursed unless students have made an appeal and the appeal is granted. There are no exceptions to this requirement. If students are in a 120-credit bachelor's degree program and have attempted in excess of 180 credits including transfer credits, they are no longer eligible for financial aid.

All Title IV aid recipients who fail any of the above-noted Satisfactory Academic Progress standards will be notified by email within one week of the determination to advise they have been placed on Student Loan Denied Status, and given a specific date to submit their appeal (if applicable).

Reinstatement of Aid After Student Loan Denied Status

Students may be reinstated for financial aid purposes after having been placed on Student Loan Denied status in one of the following ways:

• The students attend Concordia University, pay for tuition and fees without the help of Title IV financial aid, and do well enough in the course to meet all the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Under this scenario, students regain aid eligibility on a probationary status.

• The students must submit a written appeal in accordance with the appeal process. If the Financial Aid and Awards Office grants the appeal, the students will then be placed on Student Loan Probation for one payment period. Students must attain a minimum 2.00 term GPA in that payment period to qualify for the second disbursement. The students' next academic evaluation will use the term GPA of the first payment period of the aid year. This evaluation will normally be done in September, December or May, after which time if the students' GPA is not above the 2.00 minimum or pace of progression has not been attained, they will immediately be placed on U.S. Federal Loan Suspension and become ineligible for any further Title IV aid until all of the above-noted minimum academic requirements have been met.

Appeal Process

Students may appeal their Student Loan Denied status if it can be determined that an unusual or extraordinary situation affected their academic progress. An example of an unusual or extraordinary situation would be a death in the family or a serious illness. Appeals must be:

• Submitted in writing to the Financial Aid and Awards Office’s manager and/or U.S. Loan advisor by the date specified in the Student Loan Denied notification letter.
• Submitted with documentation that supports the unusual or extraordinary situation (i.e. death of a family member is supported by a death certificate). In addition, statements must include a specific plan for academic recovery.

For additional information regarding this process, please visit the Financial Aid and Awards Office.

III. Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) Policy

• the date they officially withdrew during the official withdrawal period (see Section Section 16.1.5 Withdrawal for details)

• the date they submitted their petition to withdraw to their Faculty or School’s Student Request Committee if the withdrawal period has ended and the student successfully petitioned to withdraw or

• the start date of their leave of absence, in the case of graduate students. The notion of “leave of absence” applies only to graduate students as per the Graduate Calendar or

• the date they were expelled/dismissed from the University or

• the date they died, if they passed away during the term.

If a student ceases attendance (drops or withdraws) from all his or her Title IV eligible courses in a payment period, or period of enrolment, the student must be considered a withdrawal for Title IV purposes.

Students must immediately inform the Financial Aid and Awards Office of their withdrawal by email to help@faao.concordia.ca.

The Financial Aid and Awards Office (FAAO) then determines the return of Title IV funds percentage. Institutions are required to determine the percentage of Title IV aid “earned” by students and to return the unearned portion to the appropriate aid program. Regulations require schools to perform calculations within 30 days from the date the school determines the students’ complete withdrawal. The school must return the funds within 45 days of the calculation.

The return of Title IV funds policy follows these steps:

Step 1: Student’s Title IV Information

The FAAO will determine:

a) The total amount of Title IV aid disbursed (not aid that could have been disbursed) for the term in which the students withdrew. The student’s Title IV aid is counted as aid disbursed in the calculation if it has been applied to the students’ account on or before the date the students withdrew.

b) The total amount of Title IV aid disbursed plus the Title IV aid that could have been disbursed for the term in which the students withdrew.

Step 2: Percentage of Title IV Aid Earned

The FAAO will calculate the percentage of Title IV aid earned as follows:

The number of calendar days completed by the students divided by the total number of calendar days in the term in which the students withdrew. The total number of calendar days in a term shall exclude any scheduled breaks of more than five days.

Days Attended ÷ Days in Enrolment Period = Percentage Completed

If the calculated percentage exceeds 60%, then students have “earned” all the Title IV aid for the enrolment period.

Step 3: Amount of Title IV Earned by the Student

The FAAO will calculate the amount of Title IV earned as follows:

The percentage of Title IV aid earned (Step 2) multiplied by the total amount of Title IV aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed for the term in which the students withdrew (Step 1-B).

Total Aid Disbursed x Percentage Completed = Earned Aid

Step 4: Amount of Title IV Aid to be Disbursed or Returned

• If the aid already disbursed equals the earned aid, no further action is required.

• If the aid already disbursed is greater than the earned aid, the difference must be returned to the appropriate Title IV aid program.

Total Disbursed Aid - Earned Aid = Unearned Aid to be Returned

If the aid already disbursed is less than the earned aid, the FAAO will calculate a Post-Withdrawal Disbursement.

Return of the Title IV Aid, based on the type of aid disbursed, in the following order:

1. Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
2. Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
3. Parent Plus Loan or Graduate Plus Loan

Loans must be repaid by the loan borrower (student/parent) as outlined in the terms of the borrower’s promissory note. The students’ grace period for loan repayments for Federal Unsubsidized and Subsidized Direct Loans will begin on the day of the withdrawal from the University. Students should contact the lender if they have questions regarding their grace period or repayment status.

Institutional and student responsibility in regard to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy

International Students from Other Countries

Financial Assistance

International students may be eligible for financial assistance in the form of scholarships, bursaries and part‑time employment on campus via the Work-Study program. Further information on undergraduate scholarships and bursaries, and the Work-Study program, can be found at concordia.ca/faao and concordia.ca/students/financial/employment/work-study.

International students from countries other than the United States who may require government student financial aid should contact their home country’s Department of Education for possible educational financing support opportunities.

The Canadian International Development Agency offers training assistance to most developing countries with which Canada has a co-operative agreement; however, students must be nominated by their own government. For further information, contact the Scholarship Committee, Human Resources Directorate, Canadian International Development Agency, 200 Promenade du Portage, Hull, Quebec K1A 0G4.