Nova Scotia announces a significant relief for its students. All over the globe, people faced several emotional and financial problems due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Nova Scotia came up with a solution to lessen the burden for post-secondary students in the province.
Nova Scotia declared a one-time Covid-19 grant for thousands of post-secondary students. The grant will be $875 and will not have to be repaid by the students. The province aims to provide this grant to help students pay their bills.
Advanced Education Minister Brian Wong stated, “We know the pandemic has been very difficult in many ways for post-secondary students.” He acknowledged in his statement that many students were unable to pay for school as they did not have access to part-time employment because of Covid-19 measures.
The grant represents an investment of $9.8 million to be shared among all eligible post-secondary students. To be eligible for this one-time grant, post-secondary students must be Nova Scotia resident who qualifies for and receive Nova Scotia Student Assistance. Additionally, students who attend university, Nova Scotia Community College or a private career college are eligible for this grant.
The rising cost of expenses, including food and housing, forms a significant challenge for students right now. This investment in students came at the most appropriate time when they were already bearing plenty of added costs related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The extra money from this grant would help many students focus on their studies instead of worrying about the payment of their bills.
Eligible students do not have to apply to receive this grant. The grant money will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts in March.
Brian was dedicated towards reducing barriers and finding a solution to help students be successful. This investment became an immediate relief for thousands of Nova Scotia students, especially during the time when the needs of students were at peak. He continues to work with partners to assist maximum students overcome the stress of Covid-19.
We know the pandemic has been very difficult in many ways for post-secondary students. We also know many students haven’t been able to access part-time employment to help pay for school due to COVID measures,” said Advanced Education Minister Brian Wong. “I am committed to reducing barriers and finding solutions to help post-secondary students be successful. This investment provides immediate relief for thousands of Nova Scotia students with the highest need while we continue to work with our partners to assist students.
The students who receive the Nova Scotia Student Assistance qualify for this grant. The Nova Scotia Student Assistance Program provides needs-based assistance to around 11,000 students who do not have enough resources to cover living costs and are thus unable to attend post-secondary study in Nova Scotia. All these students who qualify for Nova Scotia Student Assistance get 40% of their assistance as a non-repayable grant upfront.
Moreover, Nova Scotia plans to forgive the student loans as well. All eligible students under the Nova Scotia Loan Forgiveness Program who attend a Nova Scotia institution and complete their first degree, certificate or diploma program are eligible for this waiver. The entire Nova Scotia portion of their student loan will be forgiven. Students attending private career colleges are not eligible for this waiver.
To get detailed information about this program, visit the Nova Scotia Student Loan Forgiveness Program page.
Additionally, all Nova Scotia University full-time students receive the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary of $1,283 annually. This money is taken directly off the student’s debt load and does not have to be repaid.
