Financial Assistance

Applying for a student loan in New Brunswick

Eight steps, three organisations, and a few weeks of waiting. Here is what each stage involves and who you are waiting on at every point.

Apply by
Two months before classes
Processing time
Several weeks
Apply at
studentaid.gnb.ca

Who decides what

Student Financial Services determines your eligibility and how much funding you receive. ACTM cannot determine what you qualify for and cannot change your assessment. We handle the school's portion: program dates, tuition figures, and confirming your enrolment.

Before you start

New Brunswick Student Financial Assistance is available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and individuals registered under the Indian Act who are residents of New Brunswick. International students studying here on a study permit are not eligible.

The eight steps

Open any step for the detail. The tag on each one tells you whose turn it is.

  1. 1
    Your turn
    Create or log into your NB Student Aid account

    Go to studentaid.gnb.ca. If this is your first time applying, create an account. You will need a valid Social Insurance Number, and only one account can exist per SIN.

    Your account is where you will
    • Apply for student financial assistance
    • Check your application status
    • Read messages from Student Financial Services
    • Upload requested documents
    • View your Notice of Assessment
  2. 2
    Your turn
    Answer the questions that set your student category

    Your category affects what information the application asks for. Students entering post-secondary directly from high school are usually considered dependent students, which means parental income becomes part of the assessment.

    Factors that affect your category
    • How long you have been out of high school
    • Your employment history
    • Your marital or common-law status
    • Whether you have dependants
    • Other circumstances identified by Student Financial Services

    You do not need to work this out in advance. The application asks the questions and determines your category for you.

  3. 3
    Your turn
    Gather your documents

    Having everything ready before you start saves a lot of stopping and restarting. Tick these off as you collect them.

    ACTM program information

    Enter Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage, University of New Brunswick Campus, Fredericton.

    Program
    Massage Therapy
    Credential
    Diploma
    Length
    2 years

    If you are unsure what to enter about tuition, program dates, or your year of study, contact us before guessing. We are happy to give you the correct figures.

  4. 4
    Your turn
    Complete the application

    Once logged in, start an application for Full-Time Student Financial Assistance for the correct academic year.

    Personal information

    Name, address, residency status, SIN, and family situation. Permanent residents and protected persons may need to supply additional documentation.

    Education information

    Enter ACTM and your program. Pay close attention to your year of study: if you are starting the Massage Therapy program you are entering Year 1 of a 2-year program, and returning senior students are entering Year 2.

    Financial information

    Your income, financial resources, and any other education funding. Depending on your category you may also report information for your parents, spouse, or common-law partner. Answer as accurately as you can.

    Supporting documents

    Student Financial Services may request more documentation. Upload it through your account and check regularly for new requests.

  5. 5
    Your turn
    Review and submit

    Take a few minutes before you submit. Errors here are the most common cause of delays later.

    Apply early

    Processing takes several weeks and longer if documents are missing. Waiting until just before classes start can mean your funding is not there when you need it.

  6. 6
    Student Financial Services
    Wait for your Notice of Assessment

    Once your application is processed you will receive a Notice of Assessment. It tells you whether you are approved, what types of funding you qualify for, how much, and when it should be released.

    Funding may combine loans, grants, and bursaries depending on your eligibility. Grants and bursaries generally do not need to be repaid. Loans do.

  7. 7
    Your turn
    Sign your MSFAA

    First-time recipients are usually required to complete a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement through the National Student Loans Service Centre. It is the legal agreement between you and the governments providing your funding, and it is typically signed once and carries forward to future years.

    Do not skip this

    Watch your email for the invitation. No funding is released until every required step is complete, and an unsigned MSFAA is one of the most common reasons money does not arrive on time.

  8. 8
    ACTM
    Confirmation of Enrolment

    Before funding is released, ACTM confirms your enrolment. You do not need to contact us each time you see a Confirmation of Enrolment waiting. We receive these requests and complete them according to the dates and requirements set by Student Financial Services and the NSLSC.

    Confirmation of Enrolment does not mean your money arrives immediately. The release date is set by Student Financial Services and the NSLSC, not by us. If there is a problem with your enrolment information, we will work with you to correct it.

Request for Program Information form

Only some students are asked for this. If Student Financial Services tells you it is required, send it to ACTM and we complete it for you.

What we fill in

Program name, year of study, program length, study period dates, tuition and compulsory fees, and course load. Once complete, you submit it to Student Financial Services as instructed.

Staying on track

01
Apply earlyAim for two months before your program starts. It leaves room for the things that go wrong.
02
Check your portal, not just your inboxSubmitting is not the end. Messages, document requests, and status changes all appear in your account.
03
Watch the email you applied withBoth Student Financial Services and the NSLSC send instructions there, including your MSFAA invitation.
04
Get the ACTM details right the first timeWrong program dates or year of study are a common cause of reassessment and delay.
05
Ask before you guessIf you are unsure about anything on the ACTM side of the form, contact us. It takes a minute and saves weeks.

If something changes

Tell ACTM and Student Financial Services if your situation shifts during the year. Changes to your enrolment can affect your funding.

Report these

Withdrawing from ACTM, taking a leave, changing your course load, changing programs, finishing earlier than expected, or any other change to your academic status. If you are not sure whether something counts, contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Who to contact

Three organisations, three different sets of questions. Going to the right one first saves a transfer.

New Brunswick Student Financial Services

Your application and assessment

1-800-667-5626
studentaid.gnb.ca
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. · Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. · Closed holidays

Your application, eligibility, your Notice of Assessment, missing documents, grants and bursaries, and changes to your assessment.

National Student Loans Service Centre

Your loan account and money

1-888-815-4514
TTY 1-888-815-4556
nslsc.ca

Your MSFAA, funding disbursement, your loan account, repayment, and updating your banking information.

Atlantic College of Therapeutic Massage

The school's portion

(506) 440-6580
actm@actm.ca

Program dates, tuition figures, your year of study, confirmation of enrolment, the Request for Program Information form, and changes to your enrolment or academic status. Questions about eligibility, your assessment, or how much you receive must go to Student Financial Services.

This page is general guidance and may be subject to change. Eligibility and funding decisions are made solely by New Brunswick Student Financial Services. Current and prospective students should check studentaid.gnb.ca for the most current information.