Glossary
Prime rate
The prime rate is used as a base to calculate the interest applied to a Canada Student Loan. The prime rate is the annual interest rate Canada’s major banks and financial institutions use to set interest rates for loans. For more information, visit the Bank of Canada website.
The prime rate in Canada is currently 3.95%.
Fixed rate
Fixed rate is a stable rate of interest. If you negotiate a fixed rate, you will be charged the same interest rate throughout your repayment period.
The current fixed rate is 5.95% (prime + 2%).
Variable rate
Variable rate is a rate of interest that varies over time with the prime rate. If you negotiate a variable rate, the interest you are charged during repayment of your loan will increase and decrease along with the prime rate.
The current variable rate is 3.95% (prime).
What interest rate will I pay?
Note: Effective April 2021, the Government of Canada has suspended the accumulation of interest on Canada Student Loans until March 31, 2023.
The interest rate for the Canada portion of your integrated student loans is either a variable interest rate or a fixed rate.
The Canada portion of your integrated loan will automatically be charged the variable interest rate unless you choose to change to the fixed rate. Switching from a fixed to a variable rate is not permitted.
No interest is charged on all B.C. government-issued student loans.
Number of monthly payments
If you take advantage of the six month non-repayment period, 114 monthly payments represent a total repayment period of 9.5 years (10 years x 12 monthly payments less your six month non-repayment period).
If you do not take advantage of the six month non-repayment period, 120 monthly payments represent a total repayment period of 10 years (10 years x 12 monthly payments).
You can select a shorter repayment period by entering a lower number of monthly payments.
Note: The information you enter is not shared, saved, stored in a database, or used for any other reason. This tool is based on the
CanLearn.ca tool.