Canada Student Grant 2026–27: How to Get Up to $4,200

Full-time post-secondary students with financial need can receive up to $4,200 in Canada Student Grant money for the 2026–27 school year. That works out to as much as $525 for each month of study, and unlike the student-loan portion of your financial aid, the grant does not normally have to be repaid.

You also do not need to hunt down a separate federal application. In participating provinces and Yukon, your eligibility for the Canada Student Grant is assessed when you apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory. Your application can result in a mix of federal and provincial grants and loans, depending on your income, study costs, family situation and other factors.

For 2026–27, the federal government extended the temporarily enhanced grant amounts for one more school year. Full-time students can receive up to $4,200, part-time students up to $2,520, and additional grants are available for some students with dependants or disabilities.

If you are paying for school this year, this is one of the first sources of funding worth checking before covering the full cost with savings, work income or loans.

The Canada Student Grant at a glance

The 2026–27 school year runs from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027 for these federal grant limits.

The full-time grant is available for each year of undergraduate study as long as you continue to qualify. It is not a one-time first-year payment.

Who can get the $4,200 full-time grant?

The Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students is based on financial need and family income. To qualify, you generally need to:

• apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory;
• be studying full-time in a qualified program;
• attend a designated school that is eligible for the grant;
• demonstrate financial need; and
• have family income below the federal cut-off for your family size.

The federal income thresholds were updated for study periods beginning August 1, 2026.

2026–27 income thresholds for full-time students

These thresholds use the previous year's gross annual family income.

If your family income is below the maximum-grant threshold for your family size, you can qualify for the maximum federal grant if the other requirements are met. If your income falls between the maximum-grant threshold and the cut-off, you may qualify for a smaller grant. At or above the cut-off, you do not qualify for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students.

For a single student, that means the maximum-income line starts at $38,474, but grant eligibility does not disappear immediately above that amount. The federal cut-off for a family size of one is $69,987.

Your provincial or territorial student-aid assessment determines the actual amount you receive.

You do not apply for the federal grant separately

This is one of the easiest parts of the program to misunderstand.

In participating provinces and Yukon, you normally apply once through your provincial or territorial student-aid system. That application is used to assess you for federal and provincial student grants and loans.

For example:

• Ontario students apply through OSAP.
• British Columbia students apply through StudentAid BC.
• Alberta students apply through Alberta Student Aid.
• Saskatchewan students apply through Saskatchewan Student Aid.
• Manitoba students apply through Manitoba Student Aid.
• Nova Scotia students apply through Nova Scotia Student Assistance.

The federal government maintains a province-by-province student-aid application page with the current links for every province and territory.

Once your application is assessed, your province or territory tells you how much aid you have been approved for. The amount can include grants, loans or both.

If you receive federal student aid, you may also need to complete a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement and use the National Student Loans Service Centre for parts of the process. Your school or you will need to confirm your enrolment before funds are released.

Quebec, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories work differently

The federal Canada Student Financial Assistance Program does not operate directly in Quebec, Nunavut or the Northwest Territories.

Students in those jurisdictions use their own student financial assistance programs instead. The federal government provides alternative payments to the three jurisdictions to support their separate systems, but residents do not receive the Canada Student Grant described in this article through the normal federal program.

That distinction matters if you see a national headline promising "$4,200 for Canadian students." The federal maximum does not mean every student in every province and territory applies through the same program.

Use the student-aid program for your province or territory of residence to see the funding available to you.

Part-time students can get up to $2,520

The federal program also includes a Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students.

For 2026–27, an eligible part-time student can receive up to $2,520 for the school year. The grant cannot exceed your assessed financial need.

The same 2026–27 family-income thresholds used for the full-time grant apply to the basic part-time grant. Part-time applicants must also be enrolled in a qualified program at a designated school and meet the program's academic and financial-need requirements.

Under the federal student-aid rules, part-time study is generally 20% to 59% of a full course load. Full-time study is generally at least 60%. Students with a recognized permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability may have different full-time options when studying a reduced course load.

If your course load changes during the year, do not assume the full-time and part-time grants work the same way. Your student-aid office can reassess your funding based on your actual enrolment.

Students with children may qualify for more

Students supporting dependants can qualify for additional federal grant money.

For a qualifying full-time student with dependants, the 2026–27 grant can add up to $280 per month of study for each dependant, to a maximum of $2,240 per dependant for the year. This is on top of the basic full-time student grant.

For this grant, a dependant is generally a child under 12 at the beginning of the study period, or a dependant over 12 with a permanent disability.

An eligible student receiving the maximum basic full-time grant and the maximum dependant grant for one child could therefore receive as much as:

• $4,200 from the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students; plus
• $2,240 from the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants.

That is up to $6,440 in federal grant funding before considering any other aid for which the student qualifies.

Part-time students with dependants can receive a separate grant of up to $2,688 per year, subject to assessed need and the program rules.

Students with disabilities can receive $2,800 more

The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is worth $2,800 for the 2026–27 school year.

It is available to qualifying students with a disability recognized by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program who provide the required documentation and meet the other student-aid requirements.

Unlike the income-tested basic grant, the federal disability grant is a fixed $2,800 for an eligible student rather than an amount that changes with assessed need.

There is also separate federal assistance for eligible disability-related services and equipment. If disability-related costs are part of your education budget, include them in your student-aid application rather than assuming the standard $4,200 grant is the only support available.

A major school-eligibility rule changed in August 2026

Students attending private, for-profit schools need to check their school's current eligibility carefully.

Starting August 1, 2026, most full-time students attending private, for-profit schools in Canada are no longer eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students. Some programs can be exempt from that restriction.

Federal rules also changed for private, for-profit schools outside Canada. Students beginning at private, for-profit international schools are generally no longer eligible for federal student financial assistance for study periods beginning August 1, 2026 or later. Transitional rules can continue funding for some students who had already received federal aid for their current program at the same school.

The school itself being open and accepting students does not automatically mean its programs qualify for federal grants.

Before relying on a grant amount in your school budget, check the federal Master List of Designated Educational Institutions and your provincial or territorial student-aid office.

How much will you actually receive?

The "$4,200" figure is the maximum basic full-time federal grant, not a flat payment sent to every student.

Your student-aid assessment can take into account factors including:

• your family income;
• your province or territory of residence;
• tuition and mandatory school costs;
• living expenses;
• your course load;
• whether you have dependants;
• whether you have a disability; and
• the amount of financial need calculated through the student-aid system.

A student whose income falls below the maximum-grant threshold can still receive less than the maximum if other program rules affect the assessment. Additional provincial grants can also increase the total non-repayable funding beyond the federal amount.

The cleanest way to get a real number is to complete your province's student-aid application. You can also use the federal student-aid information pages to understand how grants and loans are calculated before applying.

Example: what $4,200 means over an eight-month school year

The federal maximum is expressed as up to $525 per month of study, capped at $4,200 per year.

For a typical eight-month study period:

$525 × 8 months = $4,200

That money could cover a meaningful part of a student's annual costs. For example, $4,200 is equivalent to:

• $525 per month for eight months;
• $105 per week across 40 weeks; or
• $350 per month when spread across a full 12-month budget.

That does not mean the grant arrives as a $350 monthly payment. It is simply a useful way to understand what the annual amount represents in a budget.

If you are building a school-year budget, Canooq's monthly budget planner can help put grant funding beside rent, groceries, tuition, transit, work income and other costs.

What if you also qualify for a student loan?

Applying for student aid can produce both a grant and a loan.

The distinction is important:

• Grant: non-repayable student aid, assuming you remain eligible.
• Loan: borrowed money that must eventually be repaid.

For 2026–27, the federal government has also maintained the higher Canada Student Loan limit of up to $300 per week of study.

You do not have to treat every dollar of approved loan room as spending money. Start with the grants and other non-repayable funding in your assessment, then decide how much borrowing you actually need for tuition and living costs.

The student-aid system can be especially valuable because it assesses grants at the same time. Skipping the application because you do not want a loan can also mean skipping the assessment that could identify grant money.

Four things to do before submitting your application

1. Apply through the correct province or territory

Student aid is generally based on your province or territory of residence, not simply the province where your campus is located. Use the official application route linked by the Government of Canada.

2. Check that your school and program qualify

Use the designated-school list and your provincial student-aid system. This is particularly important for private, for-profit schools after the August 2026 changes.

3. Have your income information ready

The 2026–27 federal grant thresholds use previous-year gross annual family income. Your application will tell you which income information and supporting documents are required for your situation.

4. Include the circumstances that can increase your aid

Dependants and disabilities can affect both eligibility and the amount of assistance available. Complete those sections accurately and provide requested documentation so the assessment includes the grants you may qualify for.

Other student savings worth checking

Government grants can make the biggest difference, but they are only one part of a student's budget.

Canooq also keeps a current list of student discounts available in Canada, including software, technology, banking, transit and other student pricing.

If you still have an active school account, check the free student subscriptions worth activating before graduation. Several education plans become harder to claim once your student status ends.

The useful order is simple: claim grants and school-funded benefits first, then lower the recurring costs you would otherwise pay yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Canada Student Grant really free money?

It is a grant, so eligible funding normally does not have to be repaid. Student aid can be reassessed if your enrolment, eligibility or information changes, so keep your application accurate and report required changes to your student-aid office.

Can every full-time student get $4,200?

No. $4,200 is the maximum for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students in 2026–27. Your income, financial need, school, program and other eligibility rules determine whether you receive the maximum, a smaller amount or no grant.

What income qualifies for the maximum Canada Student Grant in 2026–27?

For a family size of one, previous-year gross annual family income below $38,474 qualifies for the maximum grant if the other requirements are met. The maximum-income threshold increases with family size.

Can middle-income students qualify?

Yes. For a family size of one, the grant cut-off is $69,987 for 2026–27. A student with income above the $38,474 maximum-grant threshold but below the cut-off may still qualify for a reduced grant.

Do I need to submit a separate Canada Student Grant application?

Usually no. In participating provinces and Yukon, you are assessed for federal grants when you apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory.

Does Quebec offer the $4,200 Canada Student Grant?

Quebec does not participate directly in the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. It operates its own student financial assistance system, as do Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

Can part-time students receive a Canada Student Grant?

Yes. Eligible part-time students can receive up to $2,520 for 2026–27, subject to assessed need and the other program requirements.

Can I receive more than $4,200 in grants?

Potentially. Qualifying students with dependants or disabilities can receive additional federal grants, and provincial or territorial grants may also be available.

When does the $4,200 maximum end?

The current enhanced maximum applies through the end of the 2026–27 school year on July 31, 2027. Future grant amounts can change, so students applying for later school years should check the updated federal rules.

This article is for general educational information. Student-aid eligibility and amounts are determined by the applicable government program and can change when your circumstances or enrolment change.