Government of Saskatchewan · Provincial
Saskatchewan Student Aid + Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship + Rural-Service Loan Forgiveness
About this award
Saskatchewan's combined federal-provincial student aid program — $46.5M in 2025-26 supporting ~24,000 students through $34.4M in loans+grants and $12.1M in scholarships and bursaries. Includes the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship ($750/year, $3,000 lifetime) for SK students at SK post-secondary institutions, plus loan-forgiveness pathways for nursing and veterinary grads serving rural communities.
Saskatchewan Student Aid administers the province's student financial aid program in coordination with the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. The 2025-26 cycle distributes $46.5 million total, supporting roughly 24,000 students — broken down as $34.4M in combined loans and grants plus $12.1M in scholarships and bursaries. SK participates in federal CSFA, with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) managing post-disbursement loan balances, indicating the federal-provincial integration pattern. Beyond the integrated loans-plus-grants application, Saskatchewan operates several notable companion programs: (a) the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship — $750/year × $3,000 lifetime cap for SK Grade 12 graduates at SK post-secondary institutions, with limited exceptions for Lakeland College and certain health-sector seats; (b) loan-forgiveness pathways for nursing and veterinary graduates who serve in rural Saskatchewan communities post-graduation. Application is rolling throughout the program year — apply at least 6 weeks before classes start. URL note: the canonical path is /saskatchewan-student-aid/student-loans-and-grants; older /student-loans paths now 404.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or Protected Person — citizenship requirement
- All, College, Undergraduate, Graduate, Trades — study level
- Resident of SK — provincial eligibility
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
Apply 6+ weeks before classes start through the SK Student Aid online portal.
The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship is auto-considered when you apply for SK Student Aid — it can be received without taking on loan, so even if you don't need the loan portion, applying for SK Student Aid unlocks SAS automatically.
If you're entering nursing or veterinary studies and willing to serve in rural Saskatchewan post-graduation, the loan-forgiveness pathway can substantially reduce your debt — consult the rural service requirements before signing up.
The Graduate Retention Program (a tax credit for SK graduates who stay and work in the province post-graduation, up to $20,000 lifetime) is a separate funding-adjacent mechanism — not a scholarship per se, but worth knowing about.
SK students studying at out-of-province institutions remain eligible for SK provincial aid as long as your home is in SK.