For students in Nunavut, securing funding for post-secondary education follows a distinct path. The federal Canada Student Loans and Grants are not available; instead, Nunavut operates its own dedicated program designed to ensure financial need is not a barrier to higher education. This guide details the territory’s specific financial aid options for students with disabilities.
Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS)
Nunavut’s post-secondary funding is administered through the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program. Governed by territorial legislation, FANS aims to support eligible residents in achieving their educational goals. Official Information: FANS Program Information
Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students Program (FANS), funds students attending postsecondary education programs. FANS ensures that financial need is not a barrier to higher education. FANS is governed by Nunavut’s Student Financial Assistance Act and Regulations
2025/2026 FANS Program Changes
The Department of Education is pleased to announce new changes to the current Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS) program. The FANS program has undergone a comprehensive review. This review resulted in several recommendations for change that will be implemented through a phased approach. Phase one changes identified for the 2025/2026 academic year include a simplified Nunavut Residency requirement, Primary Universal Benefits, Secondary Universal Benefits, Nunavut Inuit Benefits, changes to ineligibility and suspension policy and changes to application deadlines. These Phase one changes are detailed below. Phase two will be the full roll out of a whole new program, which will include additional non-financial student support, and a name change to the FANS program.
2025/2026 Benefit Structure
- Eligibility: 12-months Nunavut residency requirement
- Student Categories: Nunavut Inuit or Non-Inuit
Primary Universal Grant
Travel Grant
- All full-time approved students will be eligible for travel under this grant.
- Full-Time Student Travel includes one return trip for the student and their eligible dependents from their home community to their school location and back home to be used at the start and end of the student’s academic year.
Disability Grant
All FANS students will have access to the disability grant at any time during the academic year. If you have a disability, you may apply for the disability grant, eligibility will be based on the details of the application form and supporting documents.
Disability Grant includes:
- Basic Disability Grant: Up to a maximum of $20,000.
- Non-Inuit Students with Permanent Disability:
- Tuition: half the amount as a grant and half as a loan.
- Books: half the amount as a grant and half as a loan.
Secondary Universal Financial Assistance
Issued to Inuit students in the form of a grant and to non-Inuit students in the form of a remissible loan. Non-Inuit can choose to receive a smaller loan amount.
Full-time Students
- Tuition: Up to maximum of $10,000/year.
- Books: Up to maximum of $2,500/year.
- Living Expense: Combined amounts for food, housing, spouse, dependents and miscellaneous.
Part-time Students
- Tuition: Up to maximum of $5,000/year.
- Books: Up to maximum of $1,250/year.
Benefits Identified Specifically for Nunavut Inuit
Holiday travel for full-time students:
- One return trip for the student and their eligible dependents from their school location to their home community and back to their school location.
Transitional living expense:
- Living expense payments to start two weeks prior to a student’s start date and end two weeks after a student’s end date.
Living expense for part-time students:
- Half the amounts of living expense as the full-time rates.
Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
- This grant is intended to help with the extraordinary costs associated with post-secondary studies for those with permanent disabilities.
- You can apply to this grant at any time during the academic year.
- You must provide a medical or learning ability assessment by a certified medical professional describing the manner in which your disability impacts on your ability to participate in post-secondary studies.
- This grant allows up to $8,000 for equipment and services directly related to your training or up to $1,000 for each full credit distance/correspondence course.
Learn More About the Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
National Scholarships
RE/MAX Quest for Excellence Scholarship
- The RE/MAX Quest for Excellence scholarship program offers another avenue for support. This program recognizes students across Canada (except Québec) for their community contributions and leadership pursuits. It awards 40 scholarships of $1,000 each.
- For more information and to apply for the RE/MAX scholarship, you can visit the official RE/MAX Quest for Excellence page.
Back to Guide to Financial Aid for Canadian Students with Disabilities
