The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has enhanced the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program to better support students and remove barriers to post-secondary education. SFA provides financial assistance to eligible Northwest Territories (NWT) residents to assist with post-secondary education-related expenses.
Program enhancements include:
- Increasing benefit levels for tuition, books and monthly living allowances,
- Increasing the Grants for Students with Disabilities and expanding supports to students with persistent or prolonged disabilities,
- Improving access for Northern Indigenous students by removing the semester limits and providing additional funding for tuition and book costs,
- Removing the semester limit and expanding remissible loans for all NWT residents (within the loan limit of $60,000), and
- Removing suspension penalties for withdrawing from or failing a course or program.
The GNWT recognizes the importance of education and the need to better support students in achieving their post-secondary goals. Program changes will be in effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
SFA Applications for students wishing to attend the fall semester are due by June 30. To learn more about the SFA program and the changes, students are encouraged to review the SFA Handbook [link] or visit www.gov.nt.ca/sfa.
Quote(s)
"These enhancements to the Student Financial Assistance Program will help students from across the Northwest Territories to succeed in their post-secondary education journey. The changes will remove barriers that may prevent Indigenous students from achieving their educational goals and will promote access to post-secondary education for all NWT residents."
- R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
Quick facts
- The program changes are based on feedback received through a client satisfaction survey and an internal review that focused on aligning the SFA program with the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada Calls to Action, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report and Calls for Justice, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- The purpose of SFA is to assist with the cost of obtaining a post-secondary education, but not cover all expenses.
- SFA applications are due by June 30th for students attending post-secondary studies this fall. Late applications are accepted, but payment is not guaranteed for the start of the program.
Related links
For more information
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife Northwest Territories
Canada X1A 2L9
www.gov.nt.ca
