Dear UAlberta students,

We know many students are concerned about the current processing delays for Alberta student loans. We’ve got some updates to help keep you informed and prepared!

Important Update from the U of A: The University of Alberta is aware of the delays in processing Alberta student loans. Don’t worry – if your loan arrives after the fee payment deadline, the university will review your situation to ensure you're not negatively impacted. An official communication went out to all undergrad and grad students on September 25th, so check your inbox!

You can also refer to the Tuition Frequently Asked Questions page for more details on how to handle tuition payments with your loan.

If you're feeling stressed about the delays or need some guidance, there are several university resources to support you:

Campus Life: Finances, Funding + Support

Scholarship, Awards: Student Loans

Services: Student Service Centre

Important Update from the Ministry of Advanced Education: While the Ministry has committed to ramping up efforts to address the backlog and return to standard processing times by the end of September, the University of Alberta Students' Union, along with other Alberta student associations, is advocating on your behalf. We've sent a joint open letter to the Minister of Advanced Education, urging a transparent, long-term plan to ensure Alberta Student Aid can meet increasing demand and prevent future backlogs.

We’ve outlined key questions for the Ministry:

What long-term improvements will be made to prevent future delays?

How will Alberta Student Aid ensure clearer communication and real-time updates for students?

What steps are being taken to meet service standards consistently as application volumes grow?

We want to make sure you have timely access to your funding, so we are calling for the Ministry to ensure the issues of 2023 and 2024 are not repeated. You deserve a system that works efficiently, and we will continue to push for the necessary changes.

Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your VP External Abdul Abbasi (vpexternal@su.ualberta.ca) if you need any support. We're here to make sure you have the resources you need to succeed.

Sincerely,

The University of Alberta Students’ Union