The Foundational Learning Assistance (FLA) program (formerly known as Alberta Works) offers grant funding to adult learners enrolled in high school level upgrading courses. Review the application procedure and eligibility criteria below and contact the Student Connect Centre should you have any questions or require any assistance. 

Determine whether you will be a full-time or part-time student

You can check the number of academic credits for your courses by reviewing each course on the RDP Timetable.

Determine whether you are eligible for funding

Please note the following questions reflect basic eligibility only. The Foundational Learning Assistance program will perform a more elaborate eligibility assessment upon receipt of your application. 

Basic 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 

Additional Requirements for Full-Time Applicants: 

Full-time students must be unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week to be eligible for Foundational Learning Assistance.

If you are working 20 hours or more per week, you must be approved for a Counsel to Leave Employment before leaving your job to attend school. Submit the online application for Full-Time Foundational Learning Assistance indicating you work more than 20 hours per week. You will receive a Counsel to Leave Employment Approval letter if approved. 

Please note students are able to receive a maximum of 50 months of full-time Foundational Learning Assistance funding during their lifetime.

Students must also maintain academic progress to continue receiving Foundational Learning Assistance funding.

Additional Requirements for Part-Time Applicants: 

Your family’s (yourself, your spouse/partner and dependent children) combined income from the previous year must be less than the Net Income Threshold below: 

 Ensure you are registered in your upgrading courses

Before applying for funding, you must register in your intended course load. If you will be applying for part-time funding, you must be enrolled in a part-time course load. If you will be applying for full-time funding, you must be enrolled in a full-time course load. 

Students admitted to the Academic Upgrading program: Review the recommended course plan emailed to you by the Student Connect Centre and register in courses accordingly. 

Students admitted to a post-secondary program: Register in the upgrading courses required or recommended for your goal program. 

 Complete the Foundational Learning Assistance Request Form

Completing a Foundational Learning Assistance Request Form is the first step in applying for Foundational Learning Assistance (FLA). The information you provide on this form will be used to create your student file with the FLA program. Once Red Deer Polytechnic enters your personal information with the FLA program and confirms your enrolment, you will receive an email to the address you provided on this form. This email will contain a link to the online FLA application. Please ensure the information you provide on this form is complete and accurate.   

Complete the online application for Foundational Learning Assistance

You will receive an email from the Foundational Learning Assistance program approximately 3-7 business days after you’ve submitted your Foundational Learning Assistance Request Form. This email will contain a link to the online FLA application. To complete the application, you will require:

• A Verified Alberta.ca account
• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your Alberta Student Number (ASN)
  • Not sure what your ASN is? You can look it up here.
• Banking information for direct deposit

Important Dates

Stay connected with the Red Deer Polytechnic Student Connect Centre

Be sure to monitor your email for important follow-up information. 

If you have any questions about the application you submitted or would like an update on the status of your application, please contact the Student Connect Centre.