How to Proceed
Items of Interest
Before
Your Studies
During
Your Studies
After
Your Studies
Parents, Sponsor,
Spouse
Years 2000-2008
1937-1966 | 1967-1973 | 1974-1997 | 1997-2000 | 2000-2008
2000-2001
Over the year, Aide financière aux etudes (AFE) examined roughly 150 000 student loan applications, 88 000 bursary applications, 7 400 eyeglass or contact lens claims, 5 900 summer language bursary applications, 91 000 declarations of change, 24 000 information requests and 7 900 computer loan guarantee applications.
In 2000-2001, 128 383 students received a total of $532.6 million in financial assistance under the Loans and Bursaries Program. In particular, 71 437 students received a loan only, with an average value of $2 491; 56 445 students received both a loan and a bursary, with a combined average value of $6 240; and 501 students received a bursary only, with an average value of $4 780. The overall average value of loans was $2 707 and the overall average value of bursaries was $3 533.
Students who graduated from a technical training program with a Diploma of College Studies henceforth qualified for the Loan Remission Program.
The eligibility threshold for the Deferred Payment Plan was raised to $1 125. Higher gross monthly income limits were allowed for applicants with family responsibilities.
To qualify for the Computer Loan Guarantee Program, students were henceforth required to qualify under the Loans and Bursaries Program, and the maximum guarantee was $2 000. For students enrolled in programs that required a portable computer, the maximum was $3 000.
The method for calculating the student contribution was changed. Subsequently, only 50 per cent of the employment income exceeding the minimum contribution was taken into account.
Students could henceforth qualify for a bursary if they were studying in a Canadian province other than Québec.
A parental contribution was no longer required for students who had been in university in Québec for at least three years and had earned 90 credits in the same program.
Students were no longer required to repay bursary overpayments resulting from an administrative error that they could not reasonably have detected.
Students were now entitled to postpone the repayment of their student loan debt for a period generally equivalent to two terms if they temporarily interrupted their studies because of a pregnancy, the birth or adoption of a child or a temporary disability.
2001-2002
Over the year, AFE examined roughly 148 000 student loan applications, 90 000 bursary applications, 8 000 eyeglass or contact lens claims, 5 900 summer language bursary applications, 98 000 declarations of change, 20 000 information requests and 7 500 computer loan guarantee applications.
In 2001-2002, 127 768 students received a total of $592.6 million in financial assistance under the Loans and Bursaries Program. In particular, 60 312 students received a loan only, with an average value of $2 554; 66 892 students received both a loan and a bursary, with a combined average value of $6 514 (average loan: $2 759; average bursary: $3 755) and 564 students received a bursary only, with an average value of $5 073.
Students who lived with their or their spouse’s child qualified for a bursary for two additional terms beyond the standard eligibility period. However, only living expenses for the children, childcare expenses and additional living expenses for single-parent families were considered in the bursary calculation.
The amounts allowed for weekly living expenses, practicum expenses and transportation expenses as well as the allowance for students in outlying areas were all indexed by 2.5 per cent.
The Deferred Payment Plan’s eligibility threshold was indexed, rising from $1 105 to $1 125 per month. The threshold was also increased to take into account the student’s family responsibilities, with increases of $110 for single parents, $215 for the first child and $200 per child for each additional child.
Changes were made to the method for calculating the student’s contribution to avoid taking into account the same portion of income twice.
The parents’ or spouse’s contribution requirement was reduced by 10%.
2002-2003
AFE introduced the Loans Program for Part-Time Studies to provide financial assistance in the form of a loan renewable from term to term. Loans awarded under this program were intended to cover education expenses and childcare expenses, if applicable.
Students who were studying part-time were henceforth deemed full-time students if they were a single parent, were living with a spouse and a child under 6 years of age, or were at least 20 weeks pregnant.
2003-2004
On June 30, 2003, the Ministère de l'Éducation suspended the Computer Loan Guarantee Program.
2004-2005
Following a third reform, the Loans and Bursaries Program was even better adapted to the needs of students. A new act was passed amending the Act respecting financial assistance for education expenses, and a new computer system was implemented, allowing electronic transfers with financial and educational institutions.
The new rules for awarding financial assistance were intended to:
- cover students' educational expenses, living expenses and other expenses at the appropriate time, i.e. in accordance with the school calendar. Educational expenses were subsequently covered at the beginning of each study period, while living expenses were covered only during the months in which students were studying. The award year henceforth started on September 1 and ended on August 31
- deduct a larger part of students' income from their contribution to take into account the months during which they were not studying and were responsible for their living expenses
- reduce, if applicable, the contributions of students, their parents and their spouse to take into account their study situation
- assess the loan portion of the financial assistance awarded to students based on the number of months during which they would be studying during the award year
- determine, as of the first assessment, the amount of financial assistance to be granted in the form of a loan and a bursary as well as the breakdown of instalments for the year
- deposit the financial assistance to which students were entitled in their bank account on a monthly or periodic basis
- take into account any change in marital or family status as of the month following the change
As of September 2004, the loan portion of the financial assistance to which students were entitled was increased in accordance with the compulsory fees charged by educational institutions.
Since September 2004, students can obtain:
- once during their studies, $2 000 in additional assistance for the purchase of computer equipment or $3 000 if the use of a laptop is required in their program
- in the calculation of their contribution, an exemption on the first $1 200 that they receive annually in support payments
Since January 2005, refugees and protected persons within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were henceforth eligible for the Loans and Bursaries Program.
2005-2006
Following an agreement in principle between the government and student associations, the student loan threshold was lowered.
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation increased its contribution of assistance paid to Québec students.
2007-2008
Amendments to the Regulation respecting financial assistance for education expenses
In August 2007, the Québec government adopted amendments to the Regulation respecting financial assistance for education expenses. As of September 1, 2007, several measures will improve the assessment of financial assistance.
The amendments were intended to:
- Increase the financial assistance awarded to students who attend a university in Québec in order to cover the rise in tuition fees
- Bolster several categories of allowable expenses, in particular, those for living expenses and the maximum bursary
- Raise the amount of allowable expenses recognized for school supplies
- Decrease the contributions required of parents, sponsors and spouses
- Harmonize the eligibility threshold for the Deferred Payment Plan with the minimum wage in effect in Québec
- Exclude income received by students under the Social Assistance and Support Program – Réussir when determining their student contribution, and consider those students eligible for certain measures intended for students with a major functional disability
These amendments increase financial assistance to more than 100 000 students and represent an investment of $31 M in the Loans and Bursaries Program.
