Student Financial Aid in Nunavut: Loans, Grants and How to Apply
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Apr 20, 2026 • Canadian Universities & Colleges, Canadian Student Aid & Scholarships
Nunavut runs its own student aid program, Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS), instead of the shared federal-provincial system most provinces use. For 2025-26 it covers up to $10,000 a year in tuition, up to $2,500 in books, one return trip home, and more for Inuit students.
💵 Full-time tuition funding up to $10,000 a year, books up to $2,500 (2025-26)
🎓 Inuit students get grants, non-Inuit students get remissible loans
You need 12 straight months of Nunavut residency before applying
📩 Apply every year, funding is not automatically renewed
Disability grant available up to $20,000
How Nunavut Funds Its Students
Nunavut does not use the joint federal-provincial system that funds students in most of Canada. Along with Quebec and the Northwest Territories, the territory runs its own program instead: Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students (FANS), administered by the Government of Nunavut's Department of Education. FANS is built to fund Nunavut residents wherever they study, since the territory's own college offers only a small number of full degree programs.
Who Qualifies
To qualify for FANS you need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in Nunavut continuously for the 12 months before you apply, and be enrolled in a program of at least 12 weeks at a designated post-secondary institution. You must reapply every year. Nothing carries over automatically from one academic year to the next.
What FANS Pays For (2025-26)
Every approved student receives a travel grant covering one return trip between home and school for the student and any dependents, plus a disability grant of up to $20,000 for students who qualify. On top of that, FANS pays tuition, books and living costs:
| Benefit | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | up to $10,000 a year | up to $5,000 a year |
| Books and supplies | up to $2,500 a year | up to $1,250 a year |
| Travel grant | one return trip a year | one return trip a year |
| Disability grant | up to $20,000 | up to $20,000 |
Actual payments are the lesser of these maximums or your documented, verified costs. Funds release per semester once your enrollment is confirmed, not as one lump sum for the year.
Grants for Inuit Students, Remissible Loans for Others
FANS pays the tuition, books and living-cost portion above as a grant to Inuit students. Non-Inuit Nunavut residents receive the same money as a remissible loan, an amount that converts toward forgiveness under conditions FANS reviews through a statutory declaration process. Ask FANS directly what remission requires for your situation before you assume any portion will be forgiven.
Extra Support for Inuit Students
Inuit students get additional benefits on top of the core funding: a holiday travel allowance for one more return trip during the year, transitional living expenses covering two weeks before and after a program, and higher living-expense rates for part-time study.
How and When to Apply
FANS sets separate application windows for the fall, winter, and spring or summer semesters, and applications close ahead of the semester you are funding, so do not wait until the semester starts. Apply as soon as you have an offer of admission. Reach FANS directly at [email protected] or 1-877-860-0680 to confirm the exact deadline for your intake and which documents your program needs.
Repaying a Remissible Loan
If part of your FANS funding is not remitted, FANS sets the repayment terms with you directly rather than through the National Student Loans Service Centre that handles federal-provincial loans. Confirm your interest rate, grace period and repayment schedule with FANS in writing before you graduate.
Combining FANS With Other Support
Because Nunavut sits outside the federal-provincial system, FANS is your primary source of government funding rather than one piece of a larger federal loan package. If you plan to study at an institution outside the territory, check with FANS whether that specific institution and program are on its list of designated institutions before you commit, since funding only flows to designated programs.
Documents to Gather Before You Apply
Proof of Nunavut residency covering the full 12 months before your application
Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence
Your offer or confirmation of enrolment from the institution
A breakdown of your program's actual tuition and book costs, since FANS pays the lesser of the maximum or your documented cost
Banking details for direct deposit of your semester payments
If Your Funding Falls Short
FANS bases its payments on your documented costs up to the listed maximums, so a program with tuition above the cap leaves a gap you cover yourself. Check your program's actual tuition and living costs against the FANS maximums before you commit, not after your first semester bill arrives. If you are short, ask FANS directly what other territorial or institutional bursaries you might combine with your award, since availability depends on your specific program and institution.
Common Mistakes That Cost Students Money
Applying late: FANS closes applications ahead of each semester, and a late application means starting a semester with no funding in place
Forgetting to reapply: FANS does not renew automatically from year to year, even if nothing about your program changed
Assuming any institution qualifies: only designated institutions and programs receive FANS funding, so confirm designation before you enrol, not after
Skipping documentation: undocumented costs above the FANS estimate do not get reimbursed later, so keep receipts and confirmation of enrolment as you go
Where FANS Fits Next to Other Canadian Programs
Students from most provinces build a funding package around Canada Student Grants and Loans, then add a provincial program such as OSAP or StudentAid BC on top. A Nunavut student skips that combination entirely and deals with one program, FANS, for both the grant and loan portions. That makes FANS your single point of contact for aid questions, appeals, and updates, rather than one of two or three offices to track.