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Fixed rate of 5.95% — no processing fees
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Payments while you study
Interest-only
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Career coaching
Included, free
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Credit building
Reported to bureau
This program is designed for a specific group of newcomers, so it helps to know upfront whether you qualify. Windmill Microlending funds internationally trained immigrants who need training or credentials to work in their field in Canada.
This program is not available to international students, live-in caregivers, or refugee claimants. If that describes your situation, our admissions team can walk you through other ways to fund your training.
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Are a Permanent Resident, Protected Person, Convention Refugee with a notice of decision, Provincial Nominee, or Canadian citizen
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Were trained outside Canada, with post-secondary education abroad or at least one year of post-secondary work experience before arriving
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Are currently living in Canada (all provinces and territories are served)
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Have no undischarged bankruptcy
A Windmill career loan is built to be affordable, not to trap you in high interest. Windmill is a registered charity, so the terms are friendlier than a payday lender or most banks.
Borrow up to $15,000
A low fixed interest rate of 5.95%
No processing fees, so more goes toward your goals
Interest-only payments while you study
Free career coaching, mentorship, and budgeting support
Reported to a credit bureau, so you build Canadian credit
Training is more than tuition. A Windmill loan recognizes that, and can be applied to the full range of costs that come with launching your trades career.
Skilled trades funding shouldn't be the barrier between you and a career you're qualified for. Skilled Trades College trains you for in-demand trades that Canada is actively hiring for. A Windmill loan can help you cover that training, whether you’re re-entering a trade you practised abroad or building Canadian credentials for the first time.
Say you trained as an electrician back home, or you're starting fresh in plumbing or HVAC. This loan can cover the tuition, tools, and exam fees that come with getting certified at Skilled Trades College, so the cost of retraining doesn't hold you back. And if you're not sure where your background fits, our admissions team will sit down with you and help match your experience to the right program.
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Review the criteria above, or take Windmill's short pre-application to confirm you qualify.
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Once your funding is in place, connect with admissions to lock in your program and start date.
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The application takes about 10 minutes and comes with no obligation.
No. Windmill loans are not available to international students. If you are studying on a study permit, contact our admissions team about other funding options at Skilled Trades College.
OSAP is Ontario's government student aid program. It's based on your income and residency, and it combines grants with loans you pay back, but it only applies to OSAP-approved programs. A Windmill loan works differently. It's open specifically to internationally trained newcomers, so there are no income thresholds to meet. You get a single loan at one low fixed rate instead of a grant-and-loan mix, and it can cover things OSAP usually won't, like credential assessments, professional association fees, and relocation.
If you're eligible for both, it's worth comparing them, since they can fund different parts of your training.
No. Your loan application and your STC enrolment are separate, so you can talk to admissions at any point.
You're borrowing from Windmill, not from Skilled Trades College. STC is your training provider, and this page is here to point you toward funding you may be eligible for. That means your loan agreement, approval, and payments are all handled directly by Windmill.
Windmill loans for newcomers to Canada are only one way to pay for your training. STC students can also draw on scholarships, grants, and bursaries to help cover tuition. If you're not eligible for microlending, talk to our admissions team, and we'll walk you through the options that do fit your situation.
You built your career once. Funding shouldn't be what stops you from continuing it in Canada. Find out whether a Windmill loan can help you get there.
