Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

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What Is the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)?

OSAP is a financial aid program that can help you pay for college or university. 

OSAP offers funding through:

Grants: money you don’t have to pay back
Student loan: money you need to repay once you’re done school (6 months after your study period ends)

When you apply for OSAP, you are automatically considered you for both grants and a loan. If you don’t want to take a loan, and you’re a full-time or part-time student, you can decline it after your application is approved. Students who are approved for OSAP funding are responsible for paying the minimum deposit in order to confirm registration. Your deposit is not paid by OSAP. All students are responsible for ensuring their tuition is paid in full by the deadline date noted in the academic schedule. When completing an OSAP application, students are applying for assistance funded by the provincial government and/or the federal government. Other sources of financial assistance for which you must fill out a separate application, are listed in the OSAP Forms & Documents section of this site, with more detail listed on the OSAP Website.

OSAP has more financial aid available when it comes to replaying your loans (Click here)

 

(Click image for OSAP calculator)How OSAP is determined

Who is Eligible for OSAP?

Full-Time Students

  • You must be a Canadian citizen, protected person or permanent resident of Canada.
  • You must be an Ontario resident (living in Ontario for at least 12 months immediately prior to your study period).
  • You must be registered in full-time studies taking at least 60% course work load (40% for students with a permanent disability.)
  • You must maintain academic progress.
  • You must be in good academic standing.
  • Your program of study must be at the post-secondary level (degree, diploma or certificate program)
  • Your total family gross income falls below the applicable maximum based on your family size.


Part-Time Students

  • You must be a Canadian citizen, protected person or permanent resident of Canada.
  • You must be an Ontario resident (living in Ontario for at least 12 months immediately prior to your study period).
  • You must be registered in a full-time studies taking at least 20-59% course work load.
  • Students taking less than 20% of their course load are not eligible for OSAP.
  • You must maintain academic progress.
  • You must be in good academic standing.
  • Your program of study must be at the post-secondary level (degree, diploma or certificate program)
  • Your total family gross income falls below the applicable maximum based on your family size.

Please note: Part-time OSAP only covers the cost of tuition, books, transportation and child care costs if applicable. 
 

How and when will I get my OSAP money (grants and loans)?

A student starting school in September for a two-term program (fall and winter terms) can expect to receive two payments: the first in September and the second in January. Your OSAP funding will be released in two installments. You'll receive 60% at the beginning of your study period, and 40% in your final semester. If your application is reassessed and more money is available, you may receive an additional payment that is paid out at another point during your study period. 

For students in three semester classes (IE if you are enrolled in school for the Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer courses. You will only receive TWO installments:

  • the first, when you start your study period (usually in September)
  • the rest, halfway through your studies (usually in January)
  • The two installments are released as, 60% at the beginning of your study period and the remaining 40% in the winter semester.

If you require financial aid, we have External Scholarships and Awards and also internal scholarships, bursaries and awards most are available all year-a-round.

Uploading Supporting Documents 

To view what documents you need to provide, click on View Application Details on your OSAP online account (OSAP will let you know what documents you require). PLEASE NOTE: Incomplete applications cannot be processed.

Once you’ve gathered and completed your required documents, you can upload, mail or deliver them directly to your financial aid office, or email to <[email protected]>. Except for your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA).

OSAP will let you know if you need a Full-Time or Part-Time MSFAA. The National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) will also send you an email when it’s time for you to register for your online account and complete your MSFAA online.

OSAP ID Requirements

You are required to bring the following identification (ID) for any in-person appointments relating to OSAP (including the issuing of OSAP password reset or OAN retrieval):

Government-Issued Social Insurance Card, or:

  • A Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment
  • A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions, or
  • A confirmation of Social Insurance Number from Service Canada

Government-Issued Photo ID:

  • A valid driver’s license
  • A valid Canadian passport
  • A provincial health card with a photo, or
  • A valid permanent residency or citizenship card

Basic eligibility requirements for OSAP

  • Citizenship Status

    • A student must be a Canadian citizen, a Permanent Resident or a Protected Person
    • If an individual is registered under the Indian Act (Canada), and chooses to not identify as a Canadian citizen, they can be considered for federal part-time funding only.

  • Permanent Resident Status

    • Required documentation for Permanent Resident status is housed within the Student Profile. If the documentation requirement is not approved, it will impact the processing of the student’s application.

  • Protected Person Status

    • A valid copy of the student’s temporary Social Insurance Number (SIN) card and a valid copy of one of the following documents are required
    • Verification of Status
    • Notice of Decision issued by the Immigration and Refugee Board
    • Protected Persons Status Document (issued prior to January 1, 2013)
    • Refugee Travel Document.

Note: This document is not eligible for carry-forward consideration

  • Provincial Residency

    • they have always lived in Ontario
    • Ontario is the last province where they resided for 12 months in a row without being a full-time postsecondary student
    • they live in Ontario and have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row.

Only the student’s residency history is considered, even if the student is married or in a common-law relationship

  • Incarcerated Students

    • Being incarcerated does not, in itself, impact a student’s eligibility for PT OSAP. However, a condition of their incarceration may prevent them from negotiating any type of loan

OSAP Password Reset and OAN Retrieval

Forgot your OSAP password or Ontario Access Number (OAN)? Please refer to the section "Forgot Your Password" or "Forgot Your OAN" on the OSAP website. Or fill out Forgot Password and/or OSAP Access Number.

Repaying Your OSAP 

The OSAP Repayment Presentation

Repayment starts when there is a 6-month break in full-time study. During this 6-month grace period, you will:

  • Not be charged interest on the Canada portion of your loans.
  • Be charged for the interest on the Ontario portion of your loans.
  • You will be making your payments back to the National Student Loan Service Centre.

Here, you can:

  • see the status of your loan
  • update your contact information
  • change your monthly payment amount
  • apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan

You will receive a notice in the mail that your loan repayments are about to begin.

If you do not receive notice by mail, make sure you contact NSLSC before your six-month non-repayment period is over. You’ll want to review all aspects of your loan(s) and finalize details concerning repayment.

Your Responsibilities 

Upon receiving any OSAP loan aid, you assume the following responsibilities:

  • To read and follow all the terms and conditions in the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) form.
  • Agree to use this loan aid first to pay your tuition and fees to Confederation College, then to cover other educational and living expenses related to your studies

Visit the Hub/Financial Aid office (807-475-6637) to:

  1. reduce your course load
  2. change your program of study
  3. fail to progress academically
  4. withdraw from your studies
  5. experience a change in marital status
  6. experience a change in your personal or familial financial situation.

If you fail to meet loan obligations the possible consequences include:

  • Reassessment and reduction of your OSAP entitlement
  • Refusal of future student loan assistance
  • Poor credit rating
  • Additional interest charges
  • Collection proceedings
  • Legal action
  • Loss of income tax refunds.

If you want someone to have access to information about your OSAP application, you need to give permission first (Granting Consent).

To Grant Consent~ Fill out the Release of Information to Others section in your profile. You can do this online or on your paper application.

Your consent gives the person access to all information in your OSAP file for a five-year period.

To update or delete consent Log into your OSAP account. Update or delete your consent through “Release of Information to Others” in your profile.

Income Tax Literacy

It's important to file your income tax each year.  Read information on Student Tax and The Benefits to Filing your taxes