Apply for the Yukon Grant

Length of time you may receive the Yukon Grant

Students can receive up to 170 weeks of funding over your lifetime. You must continue to meet eligibility requirements.

Payment amount

We calculate the Yukon Grant on a weekly basis.

For the 2019-20 academic year, the Yukon Grant will pay $141 per week of study. You will receive the Yukon Grant in lump-sum payments.

Example

If you study from September to April inclusive, your school year is 34 weeks long. The calculation is 34 weeks x $141 per week = $4,794.

Travel Amount

Students going to school outside of the territory may be eligible for an annual travel amount of $1,500.

Students from Yukon communities may also be eligible for an extra travel amount.

We automatically assess students for this amount. The travel amount is usually included with your first Yukon Grant payment.

Eligibility

You must return to Yukon at least once between the beginning of 1 school year to the next.

Can I receive the Yukon Grant and the Student Training Allowance?

No, you cannot receive the Yukon Grant and the Student Training Allowance at the same time. You have to choose the funding that suits you best if you:

• attend a Yukon Institution; and
• are eligible for both grants.

Can I combine the 2 grants?

You can receive a total of 170 weeks of funding from the Yukon Grant and the Student Training Allowance.

For example, if you:

• use 68 weeks of the Student Training Allowance; and
• will have 102 weeks of funding left for either Student Training Allowance or the Yukon Grant.

Extra funding

Yukon Grant eligible students may receive up to 68 weeks of extra funding. This is to attend full-time upgrading courses using the Student Training Allowance program.

What if you have a gap between secondary and post-secondary education?

You can receive the Yukon Grant if there is a gap between when:

• you finish secondary schooling; and
• you begin post-secondary schooling.

You must continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

Receiving student financial assistance from more than one funding source

Students may receive the Yukon Grant along with another student financial assistance. You must meet the eligibility requirements.

Students with a permanent disability

You may qualify for the Yukon Grant even with a reduced course load. Check with your institution to see what supports are in place.

To be eligible, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• study at a designated institution anywhere in the world;
• be a full-time student;
• not be eligible for funding from another province, territory or country;
  • this may happen if you, a parent or other supporting person resided outside of Yukon for 12 months or longer;
  • if you are not sure, check with our office.
• have lived in Yukon for the 2 years right before your classes start. Generally, you are a Yukon resident if you:
  • file as a Yukon citizen with Canada Revenue Agency;
  • have valid Yukon health care insurance; and
  • have a valid Yukon driver’s licence if you drive.
• You must also meet 1 of the following requirements:
  • completed 2 years of secondary school in Yukon;
  • if you are younger than 20, have resided in Yukon continuously since the age of 14; or
  • in any other case, live in Yukon from the age of 14 to the age of 18.

Maintain Yukon residency

You could lose your eligibility if you do not return to Yukon when you are not in full-time studies.

If you have been away for more than 4 months (not counting full-time studies) during the 2 years before your classes start, you must:

• prove that you filed as a Yukon resident with Canada Revenue Agency for the previous 2 tax years;
• confirm that you maintained your Yukon health care Insurance coverage; and
• confirm that you maintained your Yukon drivers’ licence if you drive.

Eligibility for student financial assistance in other jurisdictions

You are not eligible for the Yukon Grant if you are eligible to apply for funding from another jurisdiction.

Another territory, province or country outside Yukon will consider as a resident:

• a student;
• their parent; or
• another supporting person.

This may happen when a person has resided outside of Yukon for at least 12 months.

Examples

You are eligible in another jurisdiction when:

• your parents moved away from Yukon to another province for at least 12 months; and
• you have been in full-time post-secondary studies since leaving high school.

Absences from the territory of more than 4 months

You’re considered absent if you’ve been:

• away for more than 4 months;
• while not in full-time studies; and
• during the 2 years before you start classes.

To prove Yukon residency

You will need to:

• show that you filed as a Yukon resident with Canada Revenue Agency for the previous 2 tax years;
• confirm you maintained your Yukon health care insurance coverage during your absence; and
• confirm you maintained your Yukon drivers’ licence during your absence if you drive.

What counts as full-time studies?

Designated institutions determine whether a student is in a full-time post-secondary program. Some institutions have different rules. Check with your institution if you're not sure.

Can I use the grant for a graduate degree program?

You may use Yukon Grant funding for:

• a Master’s degree; or
• a PhD.

You must meet the eligibility requirements.

Studying at 2 or more post-secondary institutions

You may be able to take courses at more than 1 institution and be eligible for the Yukon Grant. Your designated institution must submit written approval to our Student Financial Assistance Office. They must state that you are full-time at the start of classes for your current academic year.

When to apply

We encourage you to apply as early as you can. Processing of applications are on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis.

You must apply each year for Yukon Grant funding.

You will have to apply more than once in a year if you:

• change institutions;
• withdraw or change to part-time studies then return to full-time studies within the same academic year;
• have a break in studies of 3 weeks or more between classes; or
• change programs.

Deadline

6 weeks after the start date of your classes.

How to apply

Additional forms you may need to submit

Are you applying as a dependent student?

Have your parents complete the Schedule A - Parent/Legal Guardian Residency Declaration.

If your school start and end dates are not September and April.

Complete the program information form.

If you're attending a designated institution outside Canada, a private institution or taking online classes.

Complete the program information form.

Online application

1. Register and apply online.

   • Login to Student Financial Assistance

   • There, you can login with your user name and password to start your application.
   • If you don’t have a user name and password, visit the Student Financial Assistance Registration webpage and register.
2. You must download and complete the Yukon Student Financial Assistance Student Declaration form.
3. For your 1st application include:
   • a copy of your high school transcript; and
   • a copy of the letter of acceptance from the school you plan to attend.
4. If you are changing post-secondary institutions, include a copy of your new letter of acceptance.
5. Collect and complete other forms that may apply.
6. Submit the completed forms.

Paper application

1. Download or pick up from our office the mandatory forms:
   • Yukon Student Financial Assistance application; and
   • Yukon Student Financial Assistance Student Declaration form.
2. For your 1st application include:
   • a copy of your high school transcript; and
   • a copy of the letter of acceptance from the school you plan to attend.
3. If you are changing post-secondary institutions, include a copy of your new letter of acceptance.
4. Collect and complete other forms that may apply to full-time students.
5. Submit the completed forms.

How to submit your application

In person: Education Building (entrance to parking on Hospital Road), 1000 Lewes Boulevard in Whitehorse. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: sfa@gov.yk.ca
Fax: 867-667-8555
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Student Financial Assistance (E-1)
Box 2703,
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

When will you find out about your grant application?

Processing an application can take up to 8 weeks. This can be longer if you are going to an institution outside Canada. You will receive a letter in the mail.

Online applications

You can also check your Student Financial Assistance account.

1. Log in.
2. Select “Check the status of applications”.

Paper applications

You can follow up with Student Financial Assistance. Email: sfa@gov.yk.ca or phone: 867-667-5929, toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, local 5929.

You can appeal a grant decision

Find out how to appeal a grant decision.

How will I receive payments?

Once you're approved, you will receive a letter outlining the amount you can expect. We then mail your Yukon Grant cheque to the financial aid office at your institution for you to pick up.

We will not send cheques to alternate addresses for students studying:

• in Canada; or
• distance education.

Students studying outside Canada may request an exception. To discuss the process email sfa@gov.yk.ca or phone 867-667-5929 or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, ext. 5929.

When will I receive payments?

We process applications on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis.

You will receive part of your payment amount:

• at or near the beginning of the school year; and
• another part near the mid-point of the school year.

Do I have to pay back the Yukon Grant income?

You do not have to pay back the Yukon Grant if:

• you are eligible to have received it in the 1st place; and
• there are no changes during your study period.

If anything changes during your study period you may have to pay back all or part of the Yukon Grant.

For example:

• you withdraw from your program; or
• drop to part-time status.

In these cases, you will receive an invoice for any weeks you weren't registered in a full-time post-secondary program.

If your situation changes, as soon as possible email sfa@gov.yk.ca or phone 867-667-5929 or toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, ext. 5929.

Do I have to report the Yukon Grant income on my tax return?

You must report the Yukon Grant funding you received on your tax return. We will send a T4A to the permanent address you provide in your application.

If you have not received a T4A for the previous year by February 28, please call 867-667-3555.

Wondering how your T4A income will affect your tax return?

Contact the Canada Revenue Agency.