ESL and Academic Upgrading Funding 

1. Determine your eligibility for funding

Get a head start exploring your eligibility for Foundational Learning Assistance funding. If you can answer "yes" to all of the following questions, you may qualify for funding:

• Are you planning to attend ESL or Academic Upgrading at NAIT?
• Do you have an Alberta address?
• Are you a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee?
• Do you have limited financial resources? 

For complete eligibility criteria and forms, you can visit Alberta Advanced Education: Foundational Learning Assistance.

2. Apply and be accepted to NAIT

Academic Upgrading

You must apply, be accepted, and have enrolled in classes. To be considered a  full-time Academic Upgrading student, you are required to be enrolled in 60% of a full-time course load (minimum of 2 classes). 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

You must have completed the NAIT ESL placement test. To be considered a full-time ESL student, you are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 20 hours of instruction per week (3 classes).

3. Complete the web form

Prior to completing the form below, please read the following:

1. Ensure you qualify as a new or continuing student as it relates to this funding. Please refer to the definitions at the top of this page. 
2. Academic upgrading students need to be enrolled in the classes they are requesting funding for.
3. ESL students need to have completed the ESL Placement test.

Incomplete or ineligible forms will be closed and cancelled. You will need to submit a new web form  once eligibility is met.

Foundational Learning Assistance funding is limited and given on a first come, first service basis to qualified applicants. Funding is not guaranteed.

Once you have been registered in the Foundational Learning Assistance Program system, you will receive a confirmation email or text message from the Foundational Learning Assistance program with instructions on how to apply for funding.

4. Apply for funding

Once you have completed the web form indicating you would like to apply for Foundational Learning Assistance, you will receive an email or text message from the Foundational Learning Assistance program with a link to the funding application. You must have a verified account through Alberta.ca Account (formerly MyAlberta Digital ID).

You have 30 days to complete your application. If not completed within  30 days,  it will be cancelled and the funding may be allocated to another student. 

You can apply for funding up to 12 weeks prior to the start dates of your Academic Upgrading or ESL classes.  Applying late may result in funding not being approved in time.

If you are experiencing difficulties or need additional support, please contact the Foundational Learning and Skills Development Contact Centre at 780.427.3722 (toll free: 1.800.222.6485).

5. Inform NAIT if your funding is approved

Once approved, please email your Funding Decision Letter to financialaid@nait.ca.  Financial Aid will review and determine if a sponsorship indicator can be applied to your account. It can take up to 5 business days to be processed. 

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.

6. While attending NAIT

If you have any changes to your situation, you must update the government by submitting a Change in Circumstance form.