Federal student aid blocked for private, for-profit foreign schools — with a phase-out window for current students

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

A new rule (s. 6.31) prohibits the federal government from providing Canada Student Financial Assistance to students enrolled at private, for-profit designated educational institutions located outside Canada. A delayed-application provision means students already enrolled in an ongoing program at such an institution as of the 2025–26 loan year can continue receiving aid until August 1, 2029, provided they stay in the same program at the same school. A second new provision (s. 6.5) lets the federal Minister align with a provincial decision to suspend or deny student aid for a class of students, institutions, or programs, if there are compelling reasons the aid would risk program integrity, enable offences, or expose students or the Crown to financial risk. Affected students and institutions should review whether current or planned enrolments fall within the new ban and plan accordingly.

Who this affects
students enrolled at private for-profit foreign post-secondary institutions · prospective applicants for Canada Student Financial Assistance · designated educational institutions outside Canada that are private and for-profit · provincial student aid administrators