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By rdnewsNOW staff

Provincial Politics

Province highlighting its support of post-secondary students

Sep 11, 2025 | 11:24 AM

With a new school year well underway, Alberta’s government says it is helping build the province’s future workforce through funding to support post-secondary students.

Alberta’s government says it is investing almost $1.2 billion in post-secondary students through loans, grants, scholarships, bursaries and awards. Government officials say post-secondary students are essential to building Alberta’s future workforce and ensuring the province remains competitive both nationally and internationally.

As of Sept. 2, provincial officials say Alberta Student Aid has received more than 90,000 loan and grant applications for the 2025-26 academic year, and about 17,000 scholarship and award applications. Officials note, the Alberta Student Aid system automatically processes student aid applications, though some applications require staff review to determine eligibility.

“Alberta’s post-secondary students are investing their time, energy and money in pursuing higher education,” says Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education. “Our future leaders are among these young Albertans, and we are proud to support them through a variety of repayable and non-repayable funding supports. An investment in these students is an investment in the future of our workforce, our economy and our province.”

The Alberta Student Awards Personnel Association consists of 85 members representing 25 of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, and works with Alberta’s government to make improvements to the student financial assistance program in Alberta.

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“The Alberta Student Awards Personnel Association sincerely appreciates the noticeable improvements in application processing times this year,” shares Executive members of the Alberta Student Awards Personnel Association. “The positive impact of the work at Alberta Student Aid is being felt by students and institutions alike, and we recognize the considerable effort and coordination required to achieve this level of service.”

Government officials say they are continuing to take action to make post-secondary education more affordable by capping tuition increases, reducing interest rates on student loans, maintaining the interest-free grace period, increasing access to the Repayment Assistance Plan and modernizing shelter allowances for student aid.

Alberta government quick facts

• Students can get more information and submit their applications at studentaid.alberta.ca.
• To avoid delays, students are encouraged to upload all required documentation with their initial application.
• Alberta Student Aid does not cover all financial costs associated with attending post-secondary education and is a supplement to other funding sources such as savings, part-time employment or family assistance.