The University of Prince Edward Island was founded in 1969 and is situated in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada. It is a public liberal arts institution of higher education with a student body of over 4,200 undergraduates and 300 postgraduate students.
The predecessor institutions of the University of Prince Edward Island include Prince of Wales College, Kent College, and St. Dunstan’s University. In fact, today, the university is located where the former campus of St. Dunstan’s University stood, and the campus itself covers more than 130 acres of land.
There are different credit and loan options to finance your education in Canada, from government-sponsored financing and private student loans to lines of credit, student credit cards, secured credit cards peer to peer lending networks.
If you fail to meet the requirements for a scholarship or grant, one option is to apply for a government student loan if you are enrolled at an accredited university or a certificate or diploma program. Only students who are able to demonstrate financial need qualify. If you are a permanent resident, Canadian citizen, or a protected person, then you can try your chances for government-sponsored financing. There are plenty of benefits, among which lower interest payments, fixed rate of interest, and the fact that repayment only begins 6 months after you graduate or leave school.
This is one alternative to government financing offered by local and major banks, online services, credit unions, and other providers. The interest rate is usually variable and higher than government assistance. Students are required to make regular monthly payments while at school, including principal and interest payments. Given that many students have limited or no exposure to credit, a supporting borrower, called cosigner, is usually required.
Many Canadian unions and banks offer student credit cards, including TD Canada Trust, the Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank. There is a wide selection of financial solutions to choose from, including cards with money back rewards, no annual fee, and perks such as free movies, music, and generous discounts. A student card allows holders to build good rating and payment history and then apply for other types of credit solutions. Many issuers advertise cards that go with affordable rates, cash advances, card checks, optional balance protection, car rental discounts, and other benefits and add-ons.
Student debt in Canada is so low because Canadians do not have to pay off their debt before they graduate. The current average student debt is about $19,000, and for the past five years, it has never gone above $20,000. That is compared to the average student debt in the U.S. of $28,000. So if you graduate with a $19,000 student debt, it is a lot less painful to start paying it off now than in 10 years if you have to pay off $28,000. And in fact, the Canadian Student Loans Company has a program called the Debt Freedom Plan.
Many students find themselves deep in debt after graduation because college fees can be as high as $6,000 - $7,000 a year. College costs are constantly on the rise, making it more difficult to meet daily and student-related expenses. Fortunately, there are repayment assistance programs and other ways to deal with debt and make payments more affordable. If you have a government loan and a large outstanding balance you are unable to repay, then you may want to look into different repayment assistance programs whereby borrowers benefit from no or reduced monthly payment. This depends on your current financial situation. Make sure you complete the online application and provide information such as your total outstanding balance, regular monthly payment, gross family income, name of financial institution, and so on. If you have a loan with a private provider, then there are several options to look into, including credit counseling, debt consolidation, debt restructuring, formal proposal to creditors, and negotiating a lower monthly payment with your creditors.
Another option is to apply for an individual voluntary arrangement or try self money management. If you have excessive student card debt, then one option is to consolidate your outstanding balances using a low-interest credit card. Transfer all high-interest balances to a single card with a long promotional period, say 18 months. Shop around for cards with a zero interest during the promotional period to save on interest charges and repay your balances. There are many issuers that offer long grace periods of 25 days which is basically an interest-free period. To repay your debt faster, one option is to find a second, part-time, or seasonal job to increase your income. Think of ways to reduce your expenses, including dining out, grocery shopping, and utility bills.
Overview of University of Prince Edward Island including short history.
University of Prince Edward Island Programs and Courses overview.
Find out about the student experience offered by the University of Prince Edward Island.