Students with disabilities are eligible to access all Saskatchewan Student Aid programs. There are also some features of the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan program specifically for students with disabilities, as well as other supports available to all students that may be of interest to you. For more information, click the following link detailing Supports for Students with Disabilities.
Eligibility
Students with disabilities are able to apply for Saskatchewan Student Aid at a reduced course load. Students with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability can apply for either full-time or part-time student aid if they are taking between 40% and 59% of a full course load.
In addition, students with disabilities are also not required to make a fixed contribution to their educational costs, meaning they may be eligible to receive more student aid funding. This approach recognizes that many students with disabilities face reduced earning capacity or higher disability‑related expenses, and is designed to ensure their financial need is assessed more fairly.
First-Time Requirements
For students with disabilities applying for Saskatchewan Student Aid and related disability grants for the first time, there are a few key requirements:
- You must be enrolled in a full‑time or part‑time program at a designated post‑secondary institution;
- You must provide proof of disability, usually through a Verification of Disability Form completed by a doctor / medical professional, or a medical certificate / assessment describing your functional limitations and whether the disability is permanent or persistent / prolonged;
If you are applying for the Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities:
- You must provide written confirmation of the education‑related services or equipment you need (for example, tutors, note‑takers, assistive technology, specialized transportation, or learning disability assessments);
- You must not have outstanding receipts from previous services and equipment grant funding, and any unused grant amounts from prior approvals must be returned as instructed by Student Aid;
For many students, disability verification is a one‑time process. Once proof of a permanent disability is on file, it usually does not need to be resubmitted. Students with persistent or prolonged disabilities, however, may be required to confirm or self‑attest their disability status each year to maintain ongoing access to disability‑related student aid benefits.
Major Programs
There are many supports available to assist students with permanent, persistent or prolonged disabilities in accessing and succeeding in their post-secondary studies.
Saskatchewan Student Aid
Students with disabilities are eligible to access all Saskatchewan Student Aid programs, including both loans and grants. These programs help cover core educational costs such as tuition, books, fees and basic living expenses for full‑time and part‑time students. Students can usually choose to apply for a combination of loans and grants or for grants‑only funding, depending on their needs and comfort level with borrowing.
For students with permanent, persistent or prolonged disabilities, Saskatchewan Student Aid includes important flexibility features. Students can be treated as full‑time or part‑time for funding purposes at a reduced course load and are not required to make a fixed contribution toward their educational costs, which may increase the amount of grant and loan funding they can receive. Repayment support, such as the Repayment Assistance Plan – Disability Assistance (RAP‑D), may be available after graduation for borrowers who are having difficulty making their student loan payments.
Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities
The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is a federal grant that helps full‑time and part‑time students with disabilities cover the costs of post‑secondary education. This grant is available for each year of study as long as the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria. Until the end of the 2026–27 school year, eligible students can receive up to $2,800 per year, which does not need to be repaid.
Students in Saskatchewan are automatically considered for this grant when they apply for student aid through the province and demonstrate financial need. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a designated post‑secondary program, have a disability recognized for student aid purposes, and provide documentation confirming their disability. Because this is grant funding rather than a loan, it can reduce or replace the need to borrow, lowering the amount of student loan debt a student may have after graduation.
Canada-Saskatchewan Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities
The Canada‑Saskatchewan Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities helps students pay for specialized education‑related services and assistive equipment that are not covered by regular student aid. Eligible students can receive up to $22,000 per program year, consisting of up to $20,000 from the federal portion and up to $2,000 from the Saskatchewan portion, and this funding does not need to be repaid.
This grant can cover a wide range of supports, such as tutors, note‑takers, sign language interpreters, readers, alternate format materials, assistive technology (like specialized software or adapted computers), specialized transportation to and from school, attendant care for studies, and reimbursement for learning disability assessments. To access this grant, students must first apply for Saskatchewan Student Aid, then submit a separate services and equipment application with documentation of their disability and written confirmation of the supports or equipment they need. Working with a disability advisor at their post‑secondary institution or a recognized disability organization can help students identify appropriate supports and complete the application accurately and on time.
Necessary Forms
Any and all necessary forms required for the subsequent application process(es) can be accessed in the following link.