Appeals

Changes:

• If an administrative error was made in processing your file, or if you wish to report a change in your circumstances, you may file a declaration of change. This is what you do if, for example, there has been a change in your general or family situation, you are transferring to another educational institution, you are switching programs or you are withdrawing from some or all of you courses.
• You have until March 31 of the award year concerned to report any change in your circumstances. If you cannot meet this deadline because of circumstances beyond your control, you must report the change within 45 days of its occurrence or of your last financial assistance assessment.

Reviews:

• If you feel that the rules of the Loans and Bursaries Program were not properly applied in your case, you may request that your file be reviewed.
• You must forward an application to the Review Bureau within 30 days of the date appearing on the notice which contained the decision you wish to appeal.
• We recommend that you speak to a Financial Aid Advisor at SFAIC before doing this in order to get an initial assessment of the situation.

Exceptional Cases:

• If your studies are in jeopardy because your application for financial assistance was processed following the usual rules and was rejected, you may file an application with the examination Committee for Exceptional Cases. The committee will study your case and make a recommendation to the minister of Education, whose decision will be final. The committee is made up of students, personnel from post-secondary educational institutions and representatives of socio-economic partners.
• The Examination Committee for Exceptional Cases examines applications from:
• eligible students who feel they were awarded insufficient financial assistance due to an exceptional situation;
• students requesting funding for additional terms, who are ineligible because they have received assistance for the maximum number of terms allowed for the program or level of studies, or because they have reached their debt limit.

Complaints:

• Students may file a complaint at all times if they are not fully satisfied with the service they receive from AFE. All complaints must be made in writing to AFE’s Complaints Bureau.

For more information and access to forms in regards to appeals, please visit the Québec Student Financial Assistance website.