ESL and Academic Upgrading Funding 

Start checking your eligibility early. You may qualify for Foundational Learning Assistance funding if you can answer YES to all the following:

• You plan to attend the ESL or Academic Upgrading program at NAIT;
• You have an Alberta address;
• You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee;
• You have limited financial resources;

For complete eligibility criteria, visit the Foundational Learning Assistance page.

Follow the application steps for the following eligible NAIT programs:

English as a Second Language (ESL)

You must first complete a NAIT ESL placement test. To qualify for full-time funding, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 classes (20 hours of class instruction per week). If you take 1 or 2 classes, you can still apply for part-time funding.

Academic Upgrading

You need to apply, be accepted and enrol in Academic Upgrading classes. To qualify for full-time funding, you must enrol in a full-time course load which is a minimum of 3 classes. 

Each term, students will need to complete NAIT’s web form so we can verify your class enrolment and eligibility. NAIT first awards funding to continuing students, with any remaining funds offered to new students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessing the web form

• This page will be updated with the exact opening date approximately one week before the form becomes available.
• Once the form opens, promptly complete the form as funding is allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
  • Any incomplete, inaccurate or ineligible forms will be closed and cancelled.

Complete web form for Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 

Web form closes on Sunday, June 21 at 11:59 MST

After completing the form

• Once the form has closed, it can take up to 3 weeks for NAIT to review and verify form submissions.
• If you are eligible and funding is still available, NAIT will register you in the Government of Alberta’s Foundational Learning Assistance Program system. You will be notified via email.
  • You must complete the Government of Alberta’s application to apply for funding – see step 4 below.

Funding waitlist

If all funding has been issued to eligible students, you may be placed on a funding waitlist for that term. If more funds become available, you may be contacted but funding may be fully distributed before we reach the entire waitlist. 

• Students on a waitlist are reviewed in the order their applications were received.
• Waitlists do not carry over to the next term.
• If you were previously on the waitlist and want to be considered for funding for a future term, you must fill out NAIT’s web form again.

If NAIT registers you, you'll get an email from the Government of Alberta’s Foundational Learning Assistance (FLA) program with a link to the FLA funding application. 

You have 30 days to complete this application, or it will be cancelled and the funding may be given to another student. 

For the application, you will need:

• A verified account through Alberta.ca Account – if you need help
• An Alberta Student Number – look up your number
• Your Social Insurance Number – learn more

Once approved, you must email the Funding Decision Letter you received to fundingadvisors@nait.ca. 

• Financial Aid will review and update your student account within 7 business days.

Deadlines

• Academic Upgrading students must inform NAIT of funding before the tuition deadline to avoid being dropped for non-payment.
• ESL students must inform NAIT of funding before the first day of classes.