New Beginnings Bursary
Alberta Student Aid
The bursary provides financial support to low-income students studying in qualified high-demand programs in sectors identified in Alberta’s Recovery Plan that support Alberta labour market needs and industry demand.
The bursary will be available for three years beginning from the 2022-2023 loan year.
Eligibility Criteria
Students must be eligible for full-time student loan funding from Alberta Student Aid for the 2023-2024 loan year. See eligibility requirements for full-time students.
Have a family income from the previous tax year at or below the low income threshold. For more information see, Income Thresholds for Canada and Alberta Eligibility.
Be enrolled in one of the following high demand programs at a publicly funded post-secondary institution in Alberta:
Airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance technology/technician
Airline/commercial/professional pilot and flight crew
Civil engineering
Computer and information sciences
Computer engineering technologies/technicians -Computer science
Data modelling/warehousing and database administration
Electrical and electronics engineering
Engineering physics/applied physics
Industrial production technologies/technicians
Information technology
Materials engineering
Mechanical engineering
Nursing
Physical sciences
The post-secondary institution must confirm the student’s enrolment in one of the above programs.
- Preference will be given to students attending a study period at least two semesters in length.
- Students enrolled in apprenticeship technical training, integrated training, pre-employment or non-credential programs are not eligible.
Application Process
Recipients are selected from applications received for full-time student loans for the current loan year. A separate application is not required.
Students enrolled in a Combined Degree, where they will receive two different degrees upon completion, must apply with the program of study eligible for the New Beginnings Bursary. If the program of study used on the application is not eligible for the New Beginnings Bursary, the application will not be considered.
Selection Process
Alberta Student Aid will deliver the program and select recipients by looking at the pool of student loan borrowers who have completed applications for full-time loans for the current loan year and by applying the bursary eligibility criteria.
Recipients will be selected on a first come first serve basis, as there will be more eligible applicants than number of bursaries available.
An individual may receive a lifetime maximum of two bursaries. Recipients may hold other scholarships and accept remunerative assignments depending on the policy of the institution they attend.
Many other scholarships and awards are offered by other organizations – we encourage you to visit Alberta’s public university and college websites to research the scholarships that they offer.