Canadian students and financial aid - Ngā tauira nō Kānata me te pūtea āwhina

How to apply for a Canadian student grant or loan to help fund your studies at Massey. You can also defer your previous Canadian student loans while studying or claim tuition fees as a Canadian tax credit.

If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to get a grant or loan to help pay for your studies at Massey.

You're responsible for applying for financial aid, paying your tuition fees and repaying any loans when you finish your studies.

The kind of financial support you can get depends on things like:

  • your family income
  • whether you have a disability
  • whether you support any children or other people.

If you get a loan, you'll have to pay the money back when you finish studying. If you get a grant, you won't have to pay anything back.

When completing your Canadian student loan or grant application, use the institution code that corresponds to your campus of study:

  • Manawatū campus (Palmerston North): VUAY
  • Auckland campus: VUCY
  • Wellington campus: VUCF

How to apply for a Canadian Student Grant or Loan

1, Apply to your province or territory

Applications for Canadian student loans and grants must be submitted directly through your provincial or territorial student aid office. After you apply, your provincial or territorial student aid service will assess your eligibility and be in touch with you for the steps that will follow.

Find the student aid office for your province or territory

2, Request programme information from Massey

Your provincial or territorial student aid office may require Massey to provide them with programme information to determine the funding available to you.

Depending on your province or territory, this may involve:

  • online Program Information requests through your provincial loan portal (eg British Columbia)
  • Institution-completed PDF forms (eg Ontario).

Email Massey's Canadian Aid team to inform them of an awaiting online Program Information request, or email your Institution-completed PDF forms to them directly.

Email: CanadianAid@massey.ac.nz

3, Request enrolment confirmation from Massey

Your provincial or territorial student aid office may require confirmation that you are enrolled at Massey University before funding can be released.

Depending on your province or territory, this may involve:

  • online Confirmation of Enrolment through your provincial loan portal (eg British Columbia and Nova Scotia)
  • Institution-completed PDF forms (eg Ontario and Alberta).

Email Massey's Canadian Aid team to inform them of an awaiting online Confirmation of Enrolment, or email your Institution-completed PDF forms to them directly.

Email: CanadianAid@massey.ac.nz

Be aware that Massey can't complete your Confirmation of Enrolment until you've been accepted as a student at Massey and your courses have started – so make sure you've got enough money to:

  • travel to New Zealand
  • pay for a student visa
  • buy health and travel insurance
  • cover your living costs until your grant or loan comes through.

4, Receive your funding

Once your application and enrolment confirmation requirements have been completed, your provincial or territorial student aid authority will arrange payment of any approved funding.

Canadian student loan and grant funds are paid directly to students. Students are responsible for paying their tuition fees to Massey University by the required deadlines.

Please note:

  • delays in funding approval do not change Massey's tuition payment deadlines
  • exchange rate fluctuations may affect the amount received in New Zealand dollars
  • students remain responsible for all tuition and living costs.

5, Reapply each year

Canadian student loans only fund 1 year of study at a time, so you must reapply every year to keep getting financial aid.

Institution and program designation

Some provinces maintain a list of approved or designated institutions and programs for student financial assistance purposes. If Massey University or your program does not appear on your province's designation list, contact your provincial student aid office to determine whether a designation request can be submitted. If your provincial student aid office advises that a designation request is required, contact the Canadian Aid team for assistance.

Please be aware that institution/program designation may take some time and result in a delay of funds.

Defer your previous Canadian student loans

If you have existing Canadian student loans and are studying full-time at Massey University, you may be eligible to maintain your interest-free status and postpone loan repayment while you continue your studies.

Massey University can assist with completing Confirmation of Enrolment documentation required by your provincial student aid office or the National Student Loans Service Centre.

Claim tuition fees against taxes

If you pay tax in Canada during your studies at Massey, you can claim your tuition fees as expenses. This may mean you get a discount on your tax bill.

You need to file your Canadian tax return by the end of April each year. Massey can assist with the completion of Canadian tax forms, including:

Contact us for help

Contact us for questions about Canadian Student Aid at CanadianAid@massey.ac.nz