Advancing Futures – Approved students

Alberta-based recipients who indicated on their 2025/26 application that they do not have alternate health benefits will be issued an Alberta Adult Health Benefits (AAHB) card. Information about the AAHB program can be found at Alberta Adult Health Benefit.

Returning students had the opportunity to apply for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarship in August. There are 25 scholarships, each worth $2000. All applicants will receive a letter by mail in November with the results of their application.

If you are a student living in Alberta, remember to opt-out of your institution-based health and dental plan. Advancing Futures will not cover the costs if you do not opt-out. Recipients who are unsure of how to opt out of their institution’s health and dental plans can contact their Practitioner for assistance.

Recipients who paid an application fee and/or tuition deposit to their institution and were not reimbursed by a professional support can submit receipts for these expenses to their Practitioner for reimbursement.

Before making any changes to your course registration connect with your Practitioner as changing your schedule could impact your funding. Dropping a course and withdrawing from a course are different. If you withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline the withdraw shows on your transcript and tuition fees can be charged. You can locate the add/drop deadline for your courses on your school website, academic calenda or connecting with a support at school.

Advancing Futures recipients must report funding from any other source to their Practitioner. Employment income does not need to be reported.

If you receive your living allowance payments via direct deposit, expect to receive your March payment between February 23 to 27, 2026.

Each practitioner is responsible for a specific group of institutions and setting up student funding is just one part of their role. Throughout the year, practitioners will connect with recipients at least once a month and can provide:

• a friendly face (or ear, or keyboard) to listen to a young adult’s experiences
• coaching and mentoring as young adults plan for their future
• support with problem solving when facing challenges
• transition planning to help young adults achieve their goals
• referrals to resources or agencies that offer supportive services
• help figuring out life as a young adult

Learn more about the role of practitioners.

There are a number of ways recipients and practitioners can connect to make it easier to keep in touch. Recipients can:

• schedule a time to meet at the office
• reach out by phone or text
• meet for coffee
• meet at or near a young adult’s post-secondary institution
• chat over video
• email

Practitioners strive to respond to phone calls and emails within 48 to 72 hours. Recipients are asked to avoid calling repeatedly, leaving multiple voicemails or emailing repeatedly while waiting for a reply from their practitioner.

The Advancing Futures office is open to the public by appointment only. Recipients can schedule a meeting with their practitioner. The Advancing Futures team will also continue to support young adults in person at institutions, in the community or remotely.

Contact us to schedule a meeting or if you have any questions.

Once a recipient’s funding has been approved, a sponsorship agreement will be established with the school. The agreement states that Advancing Futures will cover tuition and mandatory school fees for the academic term(s). The institution will invoice Advancing Futures directly.

All recipients will have their own account created at the school’s bookstore to cover the cost of mandatory books and supplies. All recipients are required to submit a book and supply list at the start of each semester to Advancing Futures.

Recipients are provided with funding to buy basic school supplies at the start of each semester, to a maximum of:

• $50 per year for part-time students
• $100 per year for full-time students

Monthly living allowance payments are deposited into recipients’ bank accounts 5 to 7 days before the first day of each month. The living allowance payment provided at the end of each month is for the next month of study.

Details of the monthly student funding amount to be received can be found on the mailed and e-mailed approval letter. Each time a change is made to funding amounts, an updated letter will be sent.

Recipients are eligible to receive up to 80% of their living allowance amount, to a maximum of $1500 per occurrence, to pay damage deposit charges throughout the time they are funded by Advancing Futures.

To request damage deposit funds, recipients must have their landlord complete the Damage Deposit Assistance Form, or the recipients can submit a full copy of their lease to their practitioner.

The form must then be submitted in person or by email.

Advancing Futures will cover the cost of technology and software that is mandatory or required for online courses up to a maximum of $500. If the technology is not mandatory, recipients may request reimbursement of the cost, up to a maximum of $250. This funding is available one time only throughout the time a young adult is funded by Advancing Futures.

If the software is not mandatory, recipients may request reimbursement of 50% of the cost of software purchases, up to a maximum of $100. Funding for software is available yearly throughout the time a recipient is funded by Advancing Futures.

If a recipient requires specialized technology that is mandatory for their program of study, Advancing Futures will consider these costs when the recipient provides:

• documentation from their institution confirming that technology is required
• confirmation of the mandatory minimum specifications of the technology, and
• a minimum of 3 price quotes for technology matching the required specifications

If a recipient requires specialized software that is mandatory for their program of study, Advancing Futures will consider these costs when the young adult provides proof from their institution confirming that the software is required. Funding for software is available yearly throughout the time a recipient is funded by Advancing Futures.

Recipients are required to request approval of the cost of technology and software prior to making a purchase. Once approved, young adults are required to submit a receipt confirming the purchase.

The Alberta government established this scholarship to commemorate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Royal Visit to Alberta in July 2011. The scholarship recognizes the exceptional educational achievements of students who have been in care.

The $2,000 scholarships are awarded solely to 25 Advancing Futures students each year based on their academic performance the previous year.

Eligibility criteria, application process and selection method information are outlined in the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarship application form (available August 2026).

Recipients are encouraged to apply for scholarships and bursaries through their institution and other sources. Recipients are entitled to keep scholarship and bursary funding unless the funding is designated to be used for educational costs only. Recipients are required to inform their practitioner of any scholarships or bursaries they are selected for.

All funding issued by Advancing Futures is reportable. This includes educational expenses and student funding amounts. A T4A slip will be issued by the program for the amount paid to and on behalf of each recipient. All inquiries related to tax regulations should be addressed to Canada Revenue Agency.

Advancing Futures enrols Alberta-based students who do not have alternate health care benefits in the Alberta Adult Health Benefit program. Their dependents are also eligible for coverage.

All Alberta-based students are required to opt out of their institution-based health and dental benefit plans. Students who opt in to, or fail to opt out of, their institution’s benefits are responsible for paying all fees related to this. Recipients can find opt out instructions on their institution’s website.

Recipients attending an institution outside of Alberta are not eligible for the Alberta Adult Health Benefit program and should not opt out of their institution’s health and dental plans. Advancing Futures will cover the cost of these plans for out of province students.