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AFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)

Quebec residents apply here, not to OSAP. Loans plus non-repayable bursaries, with the bursary share rising as family income falls.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified September 1, 2026

$14,000

Total value

What you will need

Online application via afe.gouv.qc.ca (your AFE file is created once and follows you across CEGEP and university)
Quebec residency proof (driver's licence, RAMQ card, or other government-issued document)
Proof of full-time enrolment from your educational institution
Income information (yours, your parents' if dependent, or your spouse's if applicable)
Bank account details for direct deposit

About this award

AFE (Aide financière aux études) is Quebec's provincial student financial assistance program, administered by the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur. Because Quebec is opted out of the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance program, this is the single provincial channel for Quebec residents — Quebec students do not apply to OSAP or any other province's aid system. The Programme de prêts et bourses (Loans and Bursaries Program) is the flagship: AFE assesses your financial need, issues a loan up to a calculated ceiling, and awards any unmet need above that ceiling as a non-repayable bursary. The ratio of loan to bursary varies by household income — students with the lowest family income receive the highest bursary proportion, while students closer to the income cutoff receive mostly loans. The program covers full-time secondary vocational training, CEGEP, undergraduate, and graduate studies. Roughly 175,000 Quebec students receive AFE support each year. AFE uses rolling term-based deadlines (June 15 for Fall, November 15 for Winter, April 15 for Summer); processing takes four to six weeks, so students targeting a September start should apply by mid-May. Aid covers tuition, mandatory fees, living costs, and transportation, with the allowance structure varying by whether you live with parents, live independently, or have dependants.

Who qualifies

You qualify for the Programme de prêts et bourses if you meet four conditions: (1) Quebec residency — deemed a resident of Quebec for student aid purposes (the standard test is 12 months of continuous residence in Quebec for a reason other than full-time studies, though specific categories like being born in Quebec or having parents/spouse residing in Quebec can satisfy the rule through a different path); (2) Immigration status — Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons (refugees), and certain other categories defined in the Regulation respecting financial assistance for education expenses are eligible; international students on study permits are generally not eligible; (3) Enrolled full-time in a recognized Quebec educational institution (secondary vocational training centre, CEGEP, college, or university), or in a recognized program outside Quebec under the Loan for Studies Abroad provision; (4) Satisfactory academic progress in good academic standing.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
Open to CEGEP, graduate, trades or undergraduate students
Resident of Quebec

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

More details

The June 15 Fall-term deadline is rolling, but processing takes four to six weeks — applying by mid-May means aid arrives before the first tuition invoice.

Use the AFE assessment simulator on quebec.ca before applying, so you have an estimate of what loan and bursary you can expect.

If you receive an external scholarship (private foundation, Tri-Agency, university entrance), it counts as income in the AFE need calculation and can reduce your loan and bursary dollar-for-dollar above a protected exemption — talk to the AFE office at your institution before accepting multiple sources.

AFE bursaries are generally exempt from income tax when you're enrolled full-time.

Loan interest qualifies for the federal student loan tax credit once repayment begins.

If you're a CEGEP student transitioning to a Quebec university, AFE follows you to the university — you don't need to reapply just because your school changed.

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