Olu Awosile MSc, BA(Hons), CISA® Registrar  Battlefords Campus Email: Olukayode.Awosile@northwestcollege.ca Direct: 306-937-5105

 

Need help accessing Student Aid or completing the student loan application process? Our North West College (NWC) Registrar can help!

Saskatchewan Student Aid Application Process
You are eligible to apply for government student Aid if you are:

• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Accepted in a Full-time/Part-time program
• Your enrolment must be at least six consecutive weeks in length, provided that your eligible program is at least 12 weeks in length.

Contact the Student Services Associate assigned to your class, visit the NWC website for Saskatchewan Student Aid and Grant Information or get more information from the Saskatchewan Student Aid website. You may also want to explore additional scholarship opportunities - check out the Funding and Scholarships page on the NWC website.

When attending the Registrar meeting:

• Please ensure you have your Social Insurance Number, Health card available, and last year's income information  (T4, Notice of Assessment)
• If married or common law, please bring in your spouse/partner's Social Insurance Number, Health card and previous year's income information (T4, NOA)
• If you have dependants, please bring their Health Card

The Registrar will assist with the student application form. The Program Information Form (PIF) will be completed by the Registrar and submitted to Saskatchewan Student Aid.
After your Student Aid application has been assessed, you should receive an email from the Saskatchewan Student Aid office letting you know there is new information in your Advanced Education Student Portal account. Within your student portal, you will find an Assessment Summary Letter outlining the funding for which you were approved. To contact the Saskatchewan Student Service Centre toll free line for support, call 1-800-597-8278.

Please review any emails from the Student Service Centre titled "Important Student Loan Information," and follow the directions in the email. If additional Information is required, please submit it. If you need support, schedule a meeting with the Student Services Associate assigned to your class. You will receive your Saskatchewan Student Aid allocation if no additional information is required. 

You will receive an email from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) with a link to Register Your Online Account. Please watch the Video on the NWC website to Register your online Account and add your bank information. If you are having difficulty Registering your Online Account, please call the NSLSC 1-888-815-4514.

In order to receive your grant and/or loan money, NWC will need to confirm that you are enrolled. After you successfully register your account with the NSLSC, the college will verify your enrolment with them. NWC will deduct your tuition fees from the total loan amount, and the rest will be deposited into your bank account. It is your responsibility to pay for your books - please go to the NWC front desk for assistance).

Grant Only Funding
When you apply for Saskatchewan student aid, you are assessed for loans and grants. You can choose to decline the loans and receive Grant Only Funding by selecting this option within your Saskatchewan Student Aid application.

Indigenous Student Supports
Indigenous students may qualify for support through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and their Post-Secondary Student Support Program. You can find more information about support provided by the Government of Canada through ISC here.

Provincial and Territorial Student Aid Offices
When you apply for Saskatchewan student aid, you will be automatically considered for loans and non-repayable grants from both the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan.
If you are not a Saskatchewan resident, please apply for student aid through your province or territory's student aid office (listed here: Canada Student Grants and Loans).
After you apply, your provincial or territorial student aid service will be in touch with you for the steps that will follow

Student Aid Extensions
Students receiving Saskatchewan Student Aid that need to extend their course by five weeks or less are not required to complete a new application , but will have to request that a Program Information Form (PIF) be completed by the Registrar's office. To make this request, please email our registrar at olukayode.awosile@northwestcollege.ca. You may also go the front desk for assistance or call North West College at 1-306-937-5100.

Dual Registration form
Students who are enrolled at more than one institution: 

- If the full course load consists of classes from more than one educational institution and the combination of course enrolments is the equivalent of a full-time registration, you must complete the  dual registration form.
- Dual Registration Fillable PDF Download

Drop in for assistance with your Saskatchewan Student Aid application
Drop-in sessions are held in frontline computer , so you can log in and get direct support working through challenges you might be facing. Drop-in sessions are open to current and future students. Parents and friends are welcome to join you! No registration required.

- Mondays 9am -12 noon Throughout January 2025.

Book an Appointment for Student Loans Assistance or Other Help
Click Here to Book

Resources
Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education - Student Portal
Saskatchewan Student Aid Handbook - PDF Download
Video - Who is the NSLSC?

Finished your studies? Learn what's next for your student loans	Explore your student loan repayment options
Need help with repayment? Explore your options!	More video resources available at the NSLSC YouTube Channel

Saskatchewan Graduate Retention Program (GRP)
Are you planning to stay in Saskatchewan after completing your studies? You may qualify for the Graduate Retention Program, which can be applied to reduce the amount of Saskatchewan income tax owed each year. The amount you are eligible to claim depends on your program length. More details on programs and elibility is available here.

Please fill out the Graduate Retention Program application form and submit it to the Student Service Centre at the address located on the bottom of the form.

Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for Saskatchewan Student Aid?	You must be a Canadian citizen,  or permanent resident of Canada. You must be a Saskatchewan resident (living in Saskatchewan for at least 12 months immediately prior to your study period). For full-time, you must be registered in full-time studies taking at least a 60% course load (40% for students with a permanent disability). Any previous student loans must be in good standing. The full set of eligibility criteria can be found here: Apply for Student Aid | Student Loans and Grants | Government of Saskatchewan
I have uploaded my documents, but they are still showing as required. Did I do something wrong?	The status of your documents will only change after they are reviewed. If you submitted your documents and the status did not change, it means that the documents are waiting to be processed. Current processing times are posted on the Saskatchewan Student Aid website.
When will I get my funding?	There are a lot of factors that determine when your funding will arrive. First, you need to apply well in advance. Next, you need to make sure that your supporting documentation is submitted correctly. If everything is received, processed, and approved before the start of your study period, and you have completed your Master Financial Assistance Agreement with the NSLSC, your first installment of funds should be issued as per your Assessment Summary Letter. For more information, please see Receiving Your Student Aid Funding. If you are a full-time student and you have been approved for student aid, you can track the status of your funds in real-time using the Funding Tracker found on your secure NSLSC account dashboard.
When is the deadline to apply for Saskatchewan Student Aid?	30 days before your program end date
How will I get my student funding?	Your funding is automatically applied to your account balance at North West College. The remainder will be deposited into your bank account. If your tuition and fees is $4000, and you are receiving $5,000 from the NSLSC, your balance at NWC will be paid by NSLSC automatically and the remaining $1000 will be deposited into your bank account.
When do I need to start paying back my Students loans?	You will need to start paying back your student loans six months after you graduate or leave full-time studies. You don’t need to start paying back your student loan if you continue in school full-time for the next study period.
I received a notice from the NSLSC that the end of my study period is approaching, and my repayment will begin six months later. What should I do?	This notice is for your information only. If you are returning to school full-time within the next six months, please submit a full-time Saskatchewan Student Aid application, or if you will be continuing your studies without student aid, request a Confirmation of Enrolment by logging onto your NSLSC account and selecting "Confirmation of Enrolment" under the "Managing your Loan" tab on your dashboard. This will notify NSLSC that you are a full-time student and will update your study period end date. If you are not returning to school during this time, this notice will inform you of when your repayment period will begin.
How do I pay back my student loan?	You can pay back your student loan using the National Student Loans Service Centre, not the Saskatchewan Student Aid portal. Sign in to your National Student Loans Service Centre account to: Check your student loans status and balances Update your contact information Make a lump sum payment Apply for Repayment Assistance Plan or the Repayment Assistance Plan – Disability Assistance. Request a change to the terms of your repayment Learn more at: NSLSC Loan Repayment Options
How much will my monthly payments be?	The amount of your monthly loan payment will depend on a number of factors – your total loan amount, how quickly you want to re-pay your debt, and the interest rate.

Tools to Simplify the Repayment Process
You can find tools on the NSLSC website to help simplify and improve your repayment process. These include: 

• NSLSC repayment calculator
• Pre-authorized debit: activate this option online to automatically make student loan payments every month.
• Repayment notice: important information about your repayment terms, such as amount owing, repayment start date and repayment amount can be found by accessing the repayment notice feature online.
• Virtual repayment counsellor: a virtual repayment counsellor can help you identify the best repayment path and ensure regular, timely loan repayments.
• One-time payment: make lump-sum payments through your NSLSC account to accelerate repaying your loan.

Avoiding Missed Loan Payments

• If you are stuggling to repay your student loan, please explore your options with the NSLSC right away. You can log into your NSLSC account to access tools to help you find a repayment option, or you can contact the NSLSC to discuss your options (e.g. customize your payments, apply for the repayment assistance plan).
• Missing student loan payments can negatively affect your credit rating and can make it harder for you to catch up on your payments.
• Poor credit makes it harder to be approved for a mortgage, car loan, or credit card, and can result in higher interest rates on any loans that are approved.