Funding for Courses Within Extended Education

Students who are registered in Division of Extended Education programming have limited and specific funding opportunities. If you do not believe you would qualify for the funding sources listed below, you may wish to explore the option of a student line of credit through your bank. To discuss this option further, please contact your bank directly. 

Awards and Scholarships          

Various award and scholarship opportunities are available throughout the year. Applicable courses/programs, eligibility criteria and deadlines will vary. View our current opportunities.

Student Loans

Government student loans are available for students enrolled in the following Division of Extended Education programs:

• Pre-Employment 
• Health Care Aide Certificate 

Click here for more information on student loan eligibility and application steps.  

If you are enrolled in a course or program that is not listed above, or if you do not believe you qualify for government student loans, you may wish to explore the option of a student line of credit through your bank. To discuss this option further, please contact your bank directly. 

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Foundational Learning Assistance for LESI Students

Foundational Learning Assistance offers grant funding to adult learners enrolled in Red Deer Polytechnic's Life and Employment Skills for Independence (LESI) program.

Basic Funding Eligibility: 

• You must have an Alberta address 
• You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee 
• You must be 18+ years old, or be 16-17 and a single parent, legally married, in a cohabitating relationship or pregnant.
• You must be unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week
  • If you are employed more than 20 hours per week, you will need to obtain Counsel To Leave Employment approval. Contact the Student Connect Centre to discuss this process. 

How do I access this funding?

• To begin the funding process, you will first need to enrol in the Life and Employment Skills for Independence (LESI) program. To do so, please contact the Division of Extended Education at 403.356.4900 or extended [dot] ed [at] rdpolytech [dot] ca (extended[dot]ed[at]rdpolytech[dot]ca).
• Once you have enrolled, you will be advised to complete a Foundational Learning Assistance (FLA) Request Form.
• One to two weeks after completing your FLA Request Form, you will receive an email from foundational [dot] learning [dot] assistance [at] gov [dot] ab [dot] ca (foundational[dot]learning[dot]assistance[at]gov[dot]ab[dot]ca) which will include a link to access your funding application. Be sure to check your spam, junk and promotion folders so you don't miss this message. You will also be contacted by an RDP Student Connect Centre advisor to discuss your next steps and schedule a funding appointment for assistance completing your application. 
  • Should you wish to proceed without attending a funding appointment, you can complete the Foundational Learners Assistance application yourself.
• Before attending your funding appointment, you will need to ensure you have a verified Alberta.ca Account. You will also need to bring the following to your funding appointment:
  • Your Alberta.ca Account login information (keep this information private, but ensure you know your username and password and are able to log in during your appointment)
  • Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • Your Alberta Student Number (ASN)
    • Not sure what your ASN is? Look it up. 
  • Your banking information for direct deposit purposes
• Be sure to monitor your mail and email for important follow-up information, and stay in touch with the RDP Student Connect Centre. Feel free to contact the Student Connect Centre should you have any questions about your funding. 

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Alberta Supports Exposure Course Funding

If you are employable, but lack a specific skill which could be obtained by attending a short-term training course, you may be a suitable candidate for Exposure Course Funding.

• Is your training less than two weeks in length (if attending full-time) or less than 6 weeks in length (if attending part-time)?
• Are you unemployed or marginally employed?     
• Are you job ready, except for certain job-specific skills?
• Are you committed to obtaining employment at the conclusion of your training?
• Are you an Alberta resident, Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or convention refugee (and legally entitled to work and train in Canada)?

If so, contact the Alberta Supports at css [dot] ds-central [at] gov [dot] ab [dot] ca (subject: Exposure%20Course%20Funding%20Inquiry, body: Hello%2C%20my%20name%20is%20FIRST%20AND%20LAST%20NAME.%0AI%20reside%20in%20TOWN%2FCITY.%20I%20am%20seeking%20Exposure%20Course%20Funding%20for%20COURSE%2FPROGRAM%20at%20Red%20Deer%20Polytechnic%20and%20would%20like%20to%20discuss%20my%20eligibility%20and%20application%20process.%20I%20can%20be%20reached%20at%20PHONE%20NUMBER%20and%20EMAIL%20ADDRESS.%20%0AThank%20you.%20) (css[dot]ds-central[at]gov[dot]ab[dot]ca) with the following information: 

• Your name
• Your phone number and email address
• The town/city you reside in
• The course(s)/program(s) you are seeking funding for

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Canada-Alberta Job Grant

Are you an employee looking to develop your skills and achieve greater success in the workplace? Are you an employer who is interested in sending their employee(s) for additional training?  

This government program will help employers invest in employees. Employers can apply for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant in order to send an employee for training. The Canada-Alberta Job Grant will reimburse up to two-thirds of the direct training costs for qualifying programs and courses, with the employer paying the remaining third.  

If you are employed and are interested in furthering your education in order to enhance your current professional capacities, talk to your employer about the Canada-Alberta Job Grant today! 

If you are an employer wishing to provide your employees with an opportunity for training, but are not sure where to start, contact RDC’s Division of Extended Education at 403.356.4900 for a complimentary training needs assessment. 

Click here for more information on the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, including applicant, employer and program eligibility as well as application steps.

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