Emergency Loan Program

At this time, Emergency loans are not available to first-year students at the U of S. However, the program is continually reviewed in order to serve students better and this may change at some point in the future.

The Emergency Loans Program assists students experiencing temporary financial crisis, through the provision of short-term interest-free loans that allow students to complete the academic year. Emergency loans are available to students who meet eligibility criteria—those facing financial stress as a result of unanticipated and unplanned circumstances and for whom other sources of funding are not available.

The Emergency Loan Program is entirely separate from the Federal or Provincial student loan programs. The Program is funded by alumni donations and the availability of funds depends on students repaying their loans in full by an agreed-upon date—usually a time period not exceeding six months.

Contact Student Central for more information.

Eligibility Criteria

Flexible repayment terms are determined by the Loans Officer (for example, lump sum repayment or monthly installments). No interest is charged on outstanding emergency loans as long as the repayment schedule and terms are followed.

A student’s financial history will be considered in the decision to grant an emergency loan. To be eligible for an emergency loan, a student must

• be enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan when applying for an emergency loan and must have an academic record sufficient to suggest promotion eligibility (60% or higher);
  
• demonstrate that financial resources are becoming available in order to ensure that the loan will be repaid;
  
• generally, be a full-time, returning student (registered in 9 credit units per term during the Regular Session or 2 credit units per quarter in Spring/Summer Session);
  
• not have overdue fees or fines—emergency loan funds cannot be used to cover debts from other University departments (e.g. tuition, fees, library fines, etc.); and
  
• use all available assets and resources to support their education prior to application for an emergency loan.

Emergency loans cannot generally be used to cover past due bills (e.g. overdue credit card bills, utilities, etc.).