Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities (GFD)

What you will need

• ✓ Completed Schedule 4 approved by an authorized official
• ✓ Documentation of a permanent disability (PD) or persistent or prolonged disability (PPD)
• ✓ After you receive the grant: receipts showing it was used for its intended purposes, due by the end of the study period

About this award

You can receive a maximum amount of $3,000 per loan year, though the grant will not exceed the actual costs of the services and/or equipment you require. This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. If you also receive the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment (CSG-DSE — the federal grant for disability supports), those funds are used first. Together, the combined CSG-DSE and GFD (Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities) maximum is $20,000 for study periods under 10 months, or $23,000 for study periods of 10-12 months. This is for you if you have a documented permanent disability (PD) or a persistent or prolonged disability (PPD) and need specific equipment or services to succeed in your studies. No deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Government of Alberta — Alberta Student Aid's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Funding is disbursed at the beginning of your study period. Ask Government of Alberta — Alberta Student Aid during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. To keep this funding, you must provide receipts by the end of the study period to prove the grant was used for its intended purposes. The $3,000 limit applies per loan year. Note that any unused or undocumented funding must be returned, or it will be converted into an Alberta student loan that you must pay back.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee or protected-person status in Canada. You must be a resident of Alberta and have at least $1 of Alberta calculated need. You must be enrolled in a full-time program, which means taking at least 60% of a full course load (or at least 40% if your reduced course load is documented). Additionally, you must have a documented disability (either a PD or a PPD) and a demonstrated requirement for services or equipment. You must also meet all general eligibility criteria for receiving Alberta funding and be in good standing on any previous Canada or Alberta student loans.

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

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
• ✓ Open to college, undergraduate, graduate, trades or certificate students
• ✓ Resident of Alberta

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• DocumentationAvoid providing vague descriptions of your needs. Instead, ensure your Schedule 4 is detailed and signed by an authorized official to prove exactly which services or equipment you require. Get your medical or professional documentation ready before you start the form.
• SupportAvoid submitting your application without checking the CSG-DSE (Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment) guidelines first. Instead, list every cost you have, including transportation like fuel and parking, and explain why public transit is not an option for you. This ensures you maximize both federal and provincial support.
• StrategyAvoid losing track of your spending. Instead, create a dedicated folder for every receipt related to this grant immediately after purchase. This prevents the grant from being converted into a loan at the end of the term.
• RealismAvoid assuming the full $3,000 is guaranteed regardless of cost. Instead, remember that the grant only covers actual expenses; if your required equipment costs $1,000, you will only receive $1,000. Budget based on your documented quotes rather than the maximum limit.

Questions students ask

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