Apply for Loans and Grant

Students can now access the following applications:

• 2024-25 full-time application

• 2024-25 part-time application

Refer to the following materials for help with completing the full-time post-secondary application for financial assistance:

• How to apply
• Loans and Grants Funding Guide
• Full-time Application Worksheet 2024-2025 

A resource called the Part-time Application Process helps students complete the part-time application for financial assistance. 

2024-25 Program Updates 

The What's New section highlights updates to the Alberta Student Aid program, policies and systems effective August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025. 

In addition, the Alberta Government has updated academic progress policies to ensure students complete programs on a timely basis and prevent excessive debt. There are also changes in funding eligibility related to private career colleges, which are outlined below: 

• Alberta Student Aid can only provide funding to cover tuition and books for full-time private career college programs delivered exclusively online (including those offered in Alberta).
• Alberta Student Aid will no longer issue provincial funding to students enrolled at private career colleges outside Alberta and within Canada.
• Students may still be eligible for Canada student loans and grants.

For any questions, please contact financialaid@ambrose.edu.

Managing your money effectively is crucial as you navigate through your post-secondary years and beyond. However, certain habits can prevent you from achieving financial stability and building wealth. Here are some money mistakes you should avoid:

Paying Yourself Last

It's easy to prioritize bills and other expenses over saving for yourself. Make a habit of paying yourself first by setting aside 10%-20% of your income for savings/investments before paying for bills and other expenses.

Getting Comfortable with Bad Debt

High-interest debt, like credit cards or loans, can drain your finances. Pay off high-interest debt first to free up money for savings and investments.

Not having an Emergency Fund

Life can be unpredictable and emergencies can strain your finances. Build an emergency fund with enough to cover 3-6 months of your living expenses. This will protect you from going into debt during tough times!

Not Tracking Your Income + Expenses

Understanding your income and expenses is essential for making informed financial decisions. Create a budget to track where your money goes each month and identify areas where you can cut back to save more effectively. There are plenty of FREE resources online that you can try out to find the best and most effective way for you to keep track of your finances!

Living Beyond Your Means

Expensive habits or hobbies can quickly eat into your budget. Evaluate your spending habits and prioritize activities that align with your financial goals and budget. What are some lifestyle choices or hobbies that take a big portion of your finances today?

Overpaying Taxes

Paying taxes is inevitable, but there are ways to legally minimize this! Explore tax-saving strategies such as contributing to RRSP, and RESP.

Not Prioritizing Savings

Saving money regularly is key to building financial security. Open a TFSA and automate your savings contributions and set specific goals to make saving a habit!

Read our blog post on Saving Tips & Tricks while in University!

Waiting Too Long to Invest

Investing early allows your money to grow over time through compound interest. Don't wait too long to start investing, even if you can only start with small amounts. The earlier you begin, the more time your money has to work for you. 

For more tips on managing your finances effectively, check out this informative video: Money Mistakes Holding You Back.

Start making smarter financial decisions today to secure a brighter financial future!

Congrats! Here are my top 4 tips

1. Do you have a Student Loan? Make sure you know what repayment looks like and set yourself up for a good credit score for years to come.

2. If you are continuing on to graduate school, check out their website for funding and connect with their financial aid & awards office. Knowledge First Financial Graduate Scholarship Awards is one you could check out.

3. Do you have a spending plan of action? You may be looking for work or already have something lined up. Be on top of your finances by setting a plan. Credit Counselling Society has a good budget calculator and I also recommend the Government of Canada budget planner.

4. Do you want Money coaching? Financial Aid & Awards Office offers that and is open during the summer too. Set an appointment.

A renewed program is available to Continuing Student Scholarship recipients who are attending spring courses at Ambrose. Up to half of your award can be allocated toward spring course tuition and the other portion can be allocated toward fall tuition.

This initiative is to assist our continuing students with the cost of education. Please contact financialaid@ambrose.edu to implement.

Remember to apply for Financial Aid by June 1.

Application is available online on Financial Aid homepage.

A quality post-secondary education is a worthwhile investment into your future, yet it can also be a considerable challenge for you to finance. We want to make sure you are equipped to manage your money wisely!

1. Make a Budget and Stick to It!

Ambrose offers Budget Worksheets for students to use to plan out a year’s worth of expenses. Planning out your expenses will help you create achievable goals and plan ahead. Even just tracking your spending will help you to see trends and keep yourself accountable with your money. Generating the habit of budgeting could save you lots of money and stress!

Here are some free budget tracking tools and resources:

• Google Sheets (there are lots of free templates to help track your spending!)
• Wally
• Goodbudget

2. Keep Your Eyes Out for Scholarships

Ambrose gives out over a million dollars to students in need. Keep your eye on the Financial Aid Blog for scholarship announcements and keep an eye on your provincial financial aid pages for external scholarships!

3. Buy/Sell Used Textbooks

Did you know that the Ambrose Lion’s Store offers used textbooks for some of your class textbooks? You can buy used textbooks at a reduced price and sell them when you are done with them to help cut some costs!

The Ambrose Lion’s Store will also buy back some of your used textbooks. Make sure to keep an eye on their Buyback lists so that you can earn some extra cash!

• Fall Semester: The lists are updated at the beginning of June, and they accept books until the first day of classes.
• Winter Semester: The lists are updated at the end of November, and they accept books until the first day of classes.

4. Cook Meals at Home Instead of Eating Out

Eating out multiple times a week can add up quickly. Buying food in bulk at the beginning of the week and freezing meals can give you something quick and easy to throw in the microwave when needed!

Did you know that the average cup of coffee in Calgary costs around $4.22? If you are drinking coffee every morning, you can save money by making your own drinks!

5. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help!

If you are stressed about being able to afford your studies, please ask for help! You can always talk to our Student Finance Office to set up a payment plan or book an appointment with our Financial Aid & Awards Coordinator to help you search for free money. Please note that the earlier in the semester you book an appointment, the more resources are available to you!

Continuing Student Scholarships

- $500 and up

One application form for multiple Ambrose endowed and
annual awards for students returning to study at

Ambrose in the fall. Recipients will be notified early May.

Apply online by February 28: Undergrads or Seminary

Financial Assistance - $500 and up

One application form for multiple bursaries. Students will be

matched to a bursary or financial assistance if they

demonstrate financial need.

Apply online by June 1

Questions? Contact Roxanne Poelstra

financialaid@ambrose.edu

Leadership scholarships are open from January 5 to February 5 - apply today!

Laurence Decore Award For Student Leadership Scholarship - $1,000

Be involved in either student government or student societies, clubs or organizations, or involved in student organizations at the provincial or national level or in non-profit community organizations

Apply Now

Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship - $2,000

Have shown outstanding leadership, especially in the area of disability, and/or initiative to improve the lives of other people while attending Ambrose

Apply Now

The Indigenous Careers Award is designed to encourage Indigenous Albertans (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) to pursue and complete post-secondary studies in certificate, diploma, applied degree and bachelor's degree programs.

Award Value

$2,000 per semester / maximum of $4,000 in an academic year

Credential Types

Students must be enrolled in a certificate, diploma, applied or bachelor’s degree program.

All program bands are eligible for the Indigenous Careers Award.

To Receive This Award

• The Fall 2023 and/or Winter 2024 term (a term is defined as a study period of up to 17 weeks in length),
• At least 60% of a full course load (40% of a full course load if you are a student with a documented permanent disability). 
• Have satisfactory academic standing, as determined by the school.

You must also meet all of these eligibility criteria:

• Be a Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis or Inuit and be able to provide a copy of proof of Indigenous ancestry
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or have protected person status under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Be a resident of Alberta.

Application Deadline

• Fall - November 5, 2023
• Winter - February 5, 2024

Indigenous Careers Award Application 

Please submit applications and/or inquiries to:

Roxanne Poelstra
Financial Aid & Awards Coordinator

financialaid@ambrose.edu
(403) 410-2938

Book an Appointment

The scholarship recognizes and rewards Alberta post-secondary students for their academic achievements and encourages them to continue in their undergraduate or professional program of study.

Value

$1,000

Deadline

January 21, 2024

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible an applicant must:

• Be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person (visa students are not eligible),
   
• Be an Alberta resident and to be considered an Alberta resident one of the following conditions must apply:
  • one parent, or legal guardian has maintained permanent residence in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to commencing post-secondary studies and be residing in Alberta, or
  • Alberta is the last place the student has lived for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to commencing post-secondary studies, or
  • the student’s spouse/partner has maintained permanent residence in Alberta for 12 consecutive months prior to the person attending post-secondary.
     
• Be enrolled full-time in the second or subsequent year of an undergraduate program at a publicly funded post-secondary institution in Alberta,
   
• Have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.2 on a 4.0 point scale based on an 80% full course load in the previous fall and winter terms.

Note: A term is defined as a study period of up to 17 weeks in length. Co-op work terms, internships or exchange programs may be eligible as long as these programs are a mandatory component of the undergraduate or professional program.

Students are not eligible for a Jason Lang Scholarship if they:

• Are enrolled in a one year certificate program,
• Do not return to a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the fall or winter terms of the next academic year,
• Are recipients of a Louise McKinney Scholarship for the same period of study, or
• Have received the lifetime maximum of three Jason Lang Scholarships.

Nominees must be enrolled at eligible Alberta public post-secondary schools (includes publicly-funded colleges, technical institutes, universities and private colleges accredited to grant degrees). 

Apply Now

By: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

We are living through difficult economic times and unexpected situations such as a rise in interest rates and the cost of living and increasing debt levels can lead to financial difficulties. One proactive way to set yourself up for success is to optimize your financial health. You can do this by looking for and then making small improvements in how you manage your money.

Here are five behaviours that can optimize your financial health:

Behaviour #1: Learn the difference between good and bad debt

Knowing the difference between good and bad debt will help you borrow money and use credit more wisely.

Good debt is an investment in something that creates value or produces more wealth in the long run.

Bad debt is borrowing to buy something that goes down in value or that you can’t repay on time and in full, thus incurring interest charges and more debt.

Learn more about what to consider before borrowing money.

Behaviour #2: Create and review your budget to manage your money and debt

A budget is a plan that helps you manage your money. It helps you figure out how much money you get, spend and save. Making a budget can help you balance your income with your savings and expenses.

Reviewing your budget can help you repay your debt faster. When reviewing it, put needs before wants and try reducing your expenses. You’ll be able to cut some expenses that are not necessary. This way, you’ll have more money available to repay your debts.

Learn how to make a budget.

Use the Budget Planner to manage your money and improve your finances.

Behaviour #3: Shop around and compare your options to select the financial products and services that are right for you

Financial institutions offer many types of products and services. Before you get a new product or service, make sure it meets your financial needs. Research and compare the products and services that financial institutions offer. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions.

Learn more about choosing financial products and services that are right for you.

Behaviour #4: Set up an emergency fund for unexpected expenses

An emergency fund is money you set aside to pay for unexpected expenses.

Setting up an emergency fund helps you to:

• handle an unexpected expense without getting into debt
• avoid high-cost loans (such as a payday loan or a credit card cash advance)
• have financial control
• have peace of mind

Learn how to set up and manage an emergency fund.

Behaviour #5: Learn the basics about choosing and renewing a mortgage

When you shop for a mortgage, your lender or mortgage broker provides you with options. Make sure you understand the options and features. This will help you choose a mortgage that best suits your needs.

Learn more about choosing a mortgage that is right for you.

When your mortgage term comes to an end, you have to pay off your mortgage in full or renew it. This is a good time to review your mortgage needs and make sure you have the right product.

Learn more about renewing your mortgage.

FCAC expects banks to help individuals who are identified as consumers at risk of mortgage default. These consumers may be struggling to pay their mortgages due to exceptional circumstances.

These expectations also apply to other federally regulated financial institutions offering mortgages.

Learn more about paying your mortgage when experiencing financial difficulties.