Limits of Assistance

In addition to maintaining eligibility for education assistance there are certain limits to assistance that you must be aware of and take into account when making decisions about your education plan.

Some of these limits have already been mentioned in this guide. A summary of the limits to assistance follows:

• Education allowance assistance is for one diploma and/or degree per level (stepped/concurrent programs excepted).
• Assistance for the completion of one level of post secondary education is the maximum assistance provided for students studying in accredited private institutions or accredited institutions outside of Canada.
• There is a 60 month interval before you are eligible to apply for education allowance for a second diploma or degree at the same level of education - even if you completed the first diploma or degree without education assistance.
• For level 1 and 2 study, students who started programs prior to September 1, 2006 - the maximum number of months for education allowance is the official length of the academic program plus one academic year (buffer year) provided education assistance is not suspended or discontinued for other reasons. 
• Effective September 2006, the buffer changes to one academic semester (four months) for all level 1 and 2 students starting a post secondary program.
• The maximum number of months of education allowance for level 3 study (Masters) is three years (36 months); for level 4 (PhD program) it is five years (60 months).
• If you drop from level 2 to level 1, then resume study at level 2, the allowance months (and academic years) already received in level 2 are counted for assistance purposes.
• If you change programs within a level, the months (and academic years) used for each program is counted for calculating the limits of education assistance.
• If you have previously completed a portion of post secondary studies without education assistance then you may receive education assistance for the balance of the program provided this does not go beyond the official length of the program plus one academic year (effective Sept 1/06 the maximum buffer became one academic semester.)
• Tuition assistance for study in an accredited private or post secondary institution outside of Canada is at the same rate as charged by the Canadian public institution nearest to their home with a comparable program.

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