Emergency Loan

The Emergency Loan program provides immediate funding support for temporary financial shortfalls due to delays in funding (e.g., government student loan is late), unexpected expenses (e.g., necessary car repairs, emergency dental work), or temporary inability to cover essential living expenses, such as rent or groceries. Emergency loans are not issued to pay for any university tuition or fees.

In order to qualify for an Emergency Loan, you must apply online and demonstrate the ability to repay the loan within a six-month time period. Your financial situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and eligibility is not guaranteed. If your financial shortfall is not temporary or short-term, please refer to the Supplementary Bursary program for non-repayable funding support.

What are the eligibility requirements?

In order to qualify for an Emergency Loan, you must:

  • Be an undergraduate or graduate student currently attending classes at the University of Alberta at the time of your application.
  • Have satisfactory academic standing or greater based on your most recent term grades.
  • Be able to demonstrate your ability to repay the loan within six months; note that this due date may be shortened for students who are convocating.
  • Be able to demonstrate that you are facing urgent financial issues.
How do I apply?
  1. Click on the grey Apply for Emergency Loan button below to login using your Campus Computing ID (CCID) and password.
  2. Complete and submit the online Emergency Loan application.
  3. An advisor will review your Emergency Loan application and assess your financial situation within three business days. A remote advising appointment may be scheduled if required. If a remote advising appointment is required, you will receive a Google Calendar appointment invitation. You are expected to accept this appointment invitation on your Google Calendar, and you are advised to check your spam folder in case our messages are not received.
How do I receive money?
If your application is approved, your Emergency Loan funds will be sent via Interac e-transfer along with an exclusive PIN by the end of the next business day. 
How do I repay my loan?

Payments can only be made online at this time. The following banks can be used for online payments: ATB, BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, Servus Credit Union, Simplii, and TD/Canada Trust.  

If your bank is not listed here, please let us know by emailing us (bursaries@ualberta.ca) so that we can contact that bank to set up the University of Alberta (Emergency Loan) bill payment option.

To make payments online, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your bank's website with your bank card number and password.

2. Click the link to pay a bill and add a payee/biller.

3. Search for the words University Alberta Emergency Loan and click on the result; note that each bank displays variations of this wording/word order and the variations can be seen below.

4. Enter your account number as your 7-digit student ID number plus the first 4 letters of your last name. If your last name is shorter than 4 letters, enter the letters of your last name followed by letters from your first name (up to 4 letters in total).

Example: Suzy Smith -- 1234567SMIT

Example: Suzy Cho -- 1234567CHOS

5. Make a payment.

Note: Other funding paid to your student account (such as government student loans, external funding, etc) will not automatically pay off your loan balance.  

Biller Name Variations:
ATB : Univ of Alberta Emergency LN
BMO : University Of Alberta Emergency Loan
CIBC : University Alberta Emergncy LN
RBC : Univ Alberta Emergency LN
Scotiabank : Univ of Alberta Emergency LN
Servus Credit Union : (text unknown; try variations)
Simplii : University Alberta Emergncy LN
TD : University of Alberta - Emergency Loan Repayment
Repayment expectations and impacts
Loans are expected to be fully repaid by your agreed-upon due date. This ensures that other students are able to benefit from the program. A financial hold will be automatically placed on your student account if there is a balance owing on your loan by your due date. Financial holds restrict your ability to register in courses and access official documentation such as transcripts or degree parchments. For more information about this policy see the University Calendar ("Overdue Accounts").

Apply for Emergency Loan