Financial Assistance

Incoming Med Student Financial Talk

The 2025 financial education talk for incoming med students can be viewed below.


This talk was posted on 17th July 2025.

You can access the slides to this talk here.

FoMD Emergency Loans

Learners in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry in desperate financial need - who have exhausted all other sources of funding - may apply to the Associate Dean of Advocacy & Wellbeing for a small, one-time emergency loan (less than $5,000). The number of loans is limited and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Please note that funding received through this Emergency Loan is required to be repaid.

OAW Emergency Bursaries

The OAW emergency bursary fund provides non-repayable financial aid to FoMD learners facing unexpected, unforeseen, and urgent financial hardship. (e.g. theft, car accident, other unexpected/temporary costs).

The money from this bursary is not intended for:
  • Payment of debts to the University of Alberta (ie. tuition, books, fines, parking tickets). 
  • Use in place of the student health & dental insurance plan
  • Regular car maintenance/upkeep
  • Computer/technology upgrades, etc.

Note that this bursary is not normally used for a financial shortfall for the current school year's academic and basic living costs. The Supplementary Bursary application assesses students for these types of financial shortfalls.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the OAW emergency bursary, you must:
  • Be a full-time, currently registered FoMD learner 
  • Have not already reached the OAW bursary maximum in the current academic year ($1000)
  • Have experienced an unexpected, unforeseen, and urgent financial hardship

Please note, approvals are not guaranteed.

APPLICATION & ASSESSMENT

The application process for an OAW emergency bursary includes two steps*:

  1. Completing a google form application, including evidence demonstrating financial need
  2. A short meeting with an OAW advisor 

*These steps may happen in either order

Normally, applications are assessed within 2-3 business days following the completion of these steps. To get started on this application process, email oawadmin@ualberta.ca 

FEE DISTRIBUTION & OTHER DETAILS
  • If your application is approved, the funds will be sent via Interac e-transfer within 1 to 2 business days after bursary approval. You will be emailed an exclusive PIN to use to deposit your Interac e-transfer.
  • The maximum amount that will be awarded is $1,000 per academic year. Applications will be evaluated based on actual need presented; the maximum level of funding is not guaranteed.

Please note that all distribution of finances, whether loan or bursary, is processed through the Student Financial Support (SFS) office.

Other resources:

Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards

Financial FAQ

Do I need to report my scholarship/bursary funding? What is the impact on my loans?
  • Alberta Loans: If you know the amount of scholarship/bursary funding that you are receiving for the academic year at the time of government student loan application, please report the amount. The assessment for the federal portion of your loan funding may be impacted (i.e. the funds will be included in the assessment) for any amounts greater than $1,800 (their exemptible amount)
  • Out-of-province Loans: Report receipt of all funding; please check with your province as this funding may have an impact of subsequent loan disbursement amounts
Can I apply for Alberta government student loans if I am coming from outside of the province?
  • Several years ago, out-of-province students who had completed their undergraduate degree in Alberta had an option to apply for Alberta loans for their MD degree; however, this is no longer the case
  • Out-of-province students (see Provincial Residency) can apply for Alberta loans if 1) you have lived in Alberta for the last 12 months without being a full-time student, OR 2) your legal partner has lived in Alberta for the last 12 months without being a full-time student; if these requirements are not met, you will need to apply for loans through the province in which you hold residency
Are loans interest-free during post-graduate medical education (residency)?
  • Alberta Loans: Your Alberta loan portion will remain interest-free, payment-free during PGME as long as a Form B is completed each year; your federal loan portion will remain interest-free always but payments will be required 6 months after you have stopped being a full-time student (note: PGME does not count as being a student)
  • Out-of-province Loans: Please check with your province regarding repayment of their provincial loan portion; your federal loan portion will remain interest-free always but payments will be required 6 months after you have stopped being a full-time student (note: PGME does not count as being a student)