Emergency financial assistance
You may be eligible for an emergency loan or other funding resources if you've experienced an unexpected emergency expense or extenuating circumstances that you couldn't have planned for.
Please contact us for more information about this program or to learn about other types of emergency financial assistance UCalgary offers.
To be eligible for emergency funding you must:
- Be a full-time UCalgary student enrolled in the current term (meaning, you must be taking nine units or more per term for the fall and winter terms)
- Part-time students are considered on a case-by-case basis
- Visiting students are not eligible
- Demonstrate your financial resources and have a plan as to how the loan will be repaid
- Not have overdue fees or fines (Note: emergency loan funds can't be used to cover debts from other university departments such as tuition, fees, library fines, residence, and so on.)
- Have used all available assets and resources to support your education prior to applying for an emergency loan
- Have the circumstance/unforeseen event occurred within last 30 days when applying and it is a singular unexpected incident that cannot happen regularly and continuously
- Show satisfactory academic standing in a previous academic year, if applicable (the minimum GPA accepted is 2.00)
- One application is accepted per academic year (Sept-Aug)
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Student Emergency Loan (SEL)
The Student Emergency Loan (SEL) is a short-term, interest-free loan available to full-time students who are experiencing unexpected difficulties meeting essential living expenses (food, rent, emergent medical expense, or one-time emergency expense).
- SELs can’t be issued to pay credit card bills, car payments, insurance, other non- essential expenses, and/or debts to other university departments.
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Apply for this if you have a specific emergency expense and can repay a loan at a later date.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students (domestic and international)
- Graduate students (domestic and international)
- Visiting students are not eligible
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Weingarten Undergraduate Emergency Bursary
The Weingarten Undergraduate Emergency Bursary is to assist undergraduate students with unexpected and unforeseen temporary financial need (such as theft, car accidents, unexpected medical expenses, and so on).
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Apply for this if you have an emergent, temporary, or unexpected need that may impede your ability to complete your studies.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students (domestic and international)
- Visiting students are not eligible
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Students’ Union Student Hardship Assistance Fund (SHAF)
The Student Hardship Assistance Fund (SHAF) was created to assist students who demonstrate financial need. SHAF is a fund of last resort that provides short term financial help due to unexpected and emergent circumstances encountered by the applicant. The SHAF’s purpose is to help the applicant to remain enrolled at UCalgary.
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Apply for this if you have a financial need due to an unexpected/emergent circumstance and you’ve exhausted all other forms of student aid.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students (domestic and international)
- Visiting students are not eligible
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UCalgary Graduate Student Emergency Bursary
The UCalgary Graduate Student Emergency Bursary is to assist graduate students with unexpected and unforeseen temporary financial need (such as theft, car accidents, unexpected medical expenses, and so on).
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Apply for this if you have an emergent, temporary, or unexpected need that may impede your ability to complete your studies.
Eligibility:
- Graduate students (domestic and international)
- Visiting students are not eligible
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Students' Greatest Need Emergency Bursary
The Students' Greatest Need Emergency Bursary is to assist undergraduate and graduate students with unexpected and unforeseen temporary financial need (such as theft, car accidents, unexpected medical expenses, and so on).
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Apply for this if you have an emergent, temporary, or unexpected need that may impede your ability to complete your studies.
Eligibility:
- All students (domestic and international)
- Visiting students are not eligible
Funding can be provided for students facing a wide range of unexpected or extenuating circumstances. Some common examples of emergent circumstances include:
- Medical emergencies
- Loss of employment
- Theft and accidents
- Housing issues
- Mandatory quarantine expenses for travel required for studies
- Graduate program delays
Eligible students are encouraged to apply even if your circumstance doesn’t fit the above examples. Please note that emergency financial aid cannot be used to cover tuition or fees.
Undergraduate students:
If you’re experiencing financial concerns, contact an Enrolment Services advisor to discuss resources available and plan your next steps.
If you have a sufficient emergency, your advisor will refer you to apply for emergency financial assistance and you’lll be granted access to the Undergraduate Emergency Funding Application accessible through your Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca).
Graduate students:
Contact an Enrolment Services Advisor to discuss your situation and determine which resources best fit your needs.
If you have a sufficient emergency, your advisor will refer you to apply for emergency financial assistance and you’ll be emailed a link to the application.
On each emergency funding application, students must state their financial resources and expenses to determine financial need.
To verify that applicants have a legitimate financial need we require documentation related to your extenuating circumstance. Required information/documentation may be requested from applicants after submitting an initial application. For example, a student facing housing issues may be required to submit a rental agreement or invoice.
After submitting an application, the Student Emergency Funding Committee will conduct an initial review and respond to the applicant within two business days. If more information/documentation is required, the applicant will be given two to three business days to respond.
Successful recipients will be paid by direct deposit to their bank account once they’ve submitted their banking information to us. Disbursements are scheduled for the 10 and 25 of each month (or the day before it those dates fall on a non-business day).
Banking information instructions can be found here.
If you don’t have a Canadian bank account, please be sure to enter a Canadian address so a cheque can be issued.
For support with your emergency funding application, or other inquiries, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Emergency laptop replacement requests are considered for emergency funding and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are required to provide a receipt with the purchase or repair costs to be eligible for a reimbursement.
Part-time students may be eligible on case-by-case basis.
Applications for most emergency funding resources are open year-round, and we accept applications on an ongoing basis.