Bursaries

Bursary Program

Learning at Aquest is always free. Registering for a course costs a few gold-backed Arta Coins (one per quiz question, refunded for every answer you get right), and the bursary program grants those coins so cost never stands between a low-income learner and the courses they want.

What a Bursary Covers

An approved bursary grants you the gold-backed Arta Coins to register for courses, drawn from donations for your country and group, so you can enrol at no cost — and you earn coins back for every question you answer correctly. Your courses and certificate are exactly the same as anyone’s — same credential, same standing, no asterisk. A bursary does not restrict which courses you take or how many certificates you earn. It is valid for one year and renewable annually.

Eligibility

You may apply if you meet at least one of the following:

• Your household income falls below the Low Income Measure (LIM) threshold for your province or territory
• You receive AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), Alberta Works / Income Support, or an equivalent provincial income assistance program
• You hold a means-tested government benefit (seniors’ transit pass, subsidised housing benefit, or equivalent)
• A credit bureau or government agency has formally classified your income or credit rating as Low

How to Apply

1. Complete the application — the online form takes about five minutes.
2. Upload one supporting document — a PDF or image confirming low-income status: a CRA Notice of Assessment, government benefit letter, AISH or Income Support confirmation, credit rating report, or equivalent.
3. Wait for review — our volunteer team responds within 5–10 business days.
4. Receive a decision by email — approved applicants are enrolled immediately. If declined, we explain what additional documentation would strengthen a re-application.

Supporting documents are used only to assess your application and are deleted from our servers within 30 days of the decision. Your application is confidential — never visible to other learners or instructors.

Common Questions

How long does a bursary last?
One year from the date of approval. Re-apply annually if you continue to meet the criteria.

What if my circumstances improve?
If your income rises significantly, please let us know so we can redirect bursary funds to learners who still need them.

Is there a cap on bursaries granted?
We grant bursaries based on the available fund balance, sustained by donations and a portion of certificate-fee revenue. Widening access is central to our mission: a credential only the financially comfortable can obtain would defeat the point of teaching freely in the first place. No applicant is ever turned away over their views or their worldview. If demand exceeds capacity, we keep a waitlist and work actively to grow the fund.

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Help grow the bursary fund. Donate to Aquest