If you need help paying for school, you can apply for OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program). OSAP is a government loan that helps you pay for school. If you qualify for OSAP, you can apply online. Apply early so you get your loan when you need it. If you are approved, you can pick up your loansMoney awards that you must pay back. at your school’s Financial Aid Office.
Do I qualify for OSAP?
To be considered for OSAP, you must be:
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- A resident of Ontario
- Enrolled in an approved post-secondary school taking an approved program
- Taking at least 60 percent of a full course load, or 40 percent if you have a permanent disability
- Taking a program that will go on for 12 or more weeks
You also need a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to apply for OSAP.
How can I apply for OSAP?
You can apply for OSAP funding online. Have your SIN number ready!
When do I apply for OSAP?
The deadline for an OSAP application is 90 days before the end of any academic year. If you are applying for the first time, and starting school in September, most schools recommend that you apply by June to ensure that your loan is ready when you start school in September.
How can a Financial Aid Office help me?
Have questions about getting your OSAP cheque? Contact the financial aid office at your school. They can answer your questions. It is also where you pick up your OSAP loan cheque if you are approved.
To find your school's financial aid office, check the school’s website, or ask someone at your student centre.
At your school's financial aid office you can:
- Find out about aid available through your school
- Ask your OSAP-related questions
- Sign your confirmation of enrolment
- Pick up your loan/grant certificate if you are approved for OSAP funding
- Request a review of your OSAP assistance if you think you are getting the wrong amount of money from your loan (too much or too little)
- Update your personal info, like your marital status, financial information, assetsThings you own that could be turned into cash. The best example is real estate like a house, that can be sold for money., etc
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Comments
MY application status says
MY application status says "Your file has been updated with additional information and your OSAP funding has been recalculated."
Does this mean i can pick up my cheque?
Re: MY application status says
Hi Anonymous,
Any questions or issues you may have regarding your OSAP application status are best answered by your school's Financial Aid office. Simply show them the letter OSAP has sent you and they will be able to provide you with more information, including if your loan is ready to be picked up.
Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, let us know.
Major problem
I have read online many student comments which say that they are not finding the name of their programs when applying for OSAP on the OSAP website, and unfortunately i faced the same problem, my progam name is "honours bachelor of science with major in biology" and i didn't find something which matches it, and there is another choice which lets you just type your program name but it is not recommended, so please tell me what to do???
Re: Major Problem
Hi Anonymous,
There could be a number of reasons why your program is not showing up.
For starters, just because your school is approved by OSAP does not mean your specific program will be too. Check with the Financial Aid office at your school to make sure your program is approved by OSAP.
Also, try searching for Bachelor of Science separately from your major in Biology. OSAP requires that you apply to each program separately.
But contacting the Financial Aid office at your school is a good place to start.
Hope this helps.
When to apply?
I will be starting my 2nd year as an university student this Fall term (Sept.)
I have never applied for OSAP, because I was never eligible. But now I think I might be.
When is the deadline to apply? Is it still 90 Days before the term ends?
Thanks,
Re: When to apply?
Hi Anonymous,
You can apply for OSAP right now.
The OSAP website has all the information to apply. You will need to create an account and register.
For this, you will need to know the name of your program and the name of your school and provide other documents.
For more information, if you are a full-time student or a part-time student, you can find step-by-step instructions right on the OSAP site.
Good luck!
OSAP applicant
Im a newly landed immigrant and wanted to spply for OSAP for the first time. Is it possible to apply for OSAP eventhough im not applying to any programs on colleges yet (im applying for next year)? I just wanted to make things set in advance. Is that possible?
Re: OSAP applicant
Hi Mike,
When you apply for OSAP, you will need to already have a letter of acceptance from the school you will be attending. You will also need to provide OSAP with the name of the program and if you will be studying on a part-time or full-time basis.
So it is not possible to apply for OSAP before applying to a college.
However, you can find out how much money you may be able to get from OSAP’s estimator.
Hope that helps.
Deadlines in 2 days but i dont have the school dates
My osap deadline is in 2 days and im applying they ask for the start and end dates of my courses or my course load. i dont have any information about this just yet, so i cant move on with my application what do i do?
Re: Deadlines in 2 days but i dont have the school dates
Hi Anonymous,
The first thing you need to do is find out the start and end dates of your courses immediately. You can do this by contacting your school or the program to which you've applied. You can also find this information on your acceptance letter. OSAP needs this information so they can determine the amount of your loan and if you qualify as a full-time student. If you need more information, you can find it on the OSAP website.
If you want to know more about the type of information OSAP needs from your school, you can find it here.
Hope this helps and good luck!