Community News
Free Tuition and Tuition Relief Program Applications Available Now
Post secondary students in New Brunswick are eligible for the province’s Free Tuition Program and the new Tuition Relief for the Middle Class program. Applications for both programs are now available.
Free Tuition Program
The Free Tuition Program (FTP) is a new non-repayable provincial bursary designed to make post-secondary more accessible through the provision of increased upfront financial assistance. The goal of the FTP is to ensure that tuition costs are covered for those students with the greatest financial need.
The FTP is delivered through the New Brunswick Student Financial Assistance Program. The FTP, in conjunction with the existing federal grant, will provide an amount equivalent to tuition costs and will be available to students for the established timeline of their program. For example, a student beginning their Bachelor of Arts program in September 2017 can receive the FTP for four years of study.
Student financial assistance application forms and the Information Guide are available online at studentaid.gnb.ca. Student Financial Services can be reached by calling 1-800-667-5626.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the FTP, you must meet all of the following requirements. You must:
- apply to the New Brunswick Student Financial Assistance Program and demonstrate eligibility for federal and provincial funding;
- be enrolled full-time on/after August 1, 2016, in an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate program, at a publicly funded university or college located in New Brunswick;
- have a gross family income of $60,000 or less;
- not have exceeded the loan year* FTP maximum of $10,000 for university / $5,000 for college students;
- not have exceeded the FTP lifetime limit: − three academic years for college programs; − four academic years for most university programs (five years, if that is the established timeline of the program); and − four years for a combination of college and university studies (five years, if that is the established timeline of the program).
* Loan year is defined as August 1 each year to July 31 the following year
TUITION RELIEF FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
The Tuition Relief for the Middle Class (TRMC) Program is a new non-repayable provincial bursary designed to make post-secondary more accessible through the provision of increased upfront financial assistance. The goal of the TRMC program is to ensure that a portion of tuition costs are covered for students with family incomes above $60,000.
TRMC is delivered through the New Brunswick Student Financial Assistance Program. TRMC, in conjunction with existing Canada Student Grants, will provide tuition relief and will be available to students for the established timeline of their program. The value of the TRMC is based on family size and income. The amount of tuition relief decreases as the student’s family income increases, until they reach a maximum income cut-off.
Student financial assistance application forms and the Information Guide are available online at studentaid.gnb.ca. Student Financial Services can be reached by calling 1-800-667-5626.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for TRMC, you must meet all of the following requirements. You must:
- apply to the New Brunswick Student Financial Assistance Program and demonstrate eligibility for federal and provincial funding;
- be enrolled full-time on/after August 1, 2017, in an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate program, at a publicly funded university or college located in New Brunswick;
- have a gross family income greater than $60,000;
- not have exceeded the loan year* Free Tuition Program and TRMC combined maximum of $10,000 for university/$5,000 for college students;
- not have exceeded the Free Tuition Program and TRMC combined lifetime limit: − three academic years for college programs; − four academic years for most university programs (five years, if that is the established timeline of the program); and − four years for a combination of college and university studies (five years, if that is the established timeline of the program).
* Loan year is defined as August 1 each year to July 31 the following year.
For more information about either of these programs, please visit GNB’s Student Financial Services by clicking here.