The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program that can make it easier for students and families to go to college or university.

The program offers funding for school through two kinds of money:

• grants: money you don’t have to pay back
• a student loan: money you need to repay

Funding is available for both full and part-time postsecondary students, and is based on a number of factors, including your family income. Some students may get their tuition covered by OSAP.

For the loan portion, there are also programs to help you repay your student loan once you’re done school.

Both the Ontario government and federal government provide this money.

OSAP can assist with your college and university costs, such as:

• tuition
• books, equipment and supplies
• mandatory student fees a school may charge
• living expenses (full-time students only)
• child care (for students with children)

OSAP is open to Ontario residents who are:

• Canadian citizens
• permanent residents, or
• protected persons

Who is not eligible

You may not be eligible for OSAP if you:

• have enough financial resources to cover your expenses allowed by OSAP
• receive other government aid that covers your postsecondary education expenses
• don’t meet the academic progress requirements
• report income on your OSAP application that is significantly different from what you reported to the Canada Revenue Agency
• have defaulted on a student loan
• have multiple loan overpayments outstanding
• have outstanding grant or bursary overpayments
• failed a credit check
• declared bankruptcy or consumer proposal, or consolidation orders under the Orderly Payment of Debts
• have reached your lifetime limit of student loan funding

You can get OSAP to go to public or private postsecondary school anywhere in the world, as long as it’s been approved.

Search the name of your school to see if it’s on our list of schools approved for OSAP.

 Search your School

The amount of money you can get depends on your:

• education expenses – the amount of money you need for tuition, books, child care, personal living expenses (full-time OSAP only), supplies and equipment
• personal financial situation – how much you and your family are expected to contribute, based on income, family size and other factors

If you receive social assistance, you need to speak with your caseworker about your educational plans and OSAP funding.

Use our calculator to find out how much you could get. OSAP Calculator

​How to Apply for OSAP

Go to    Applying for OSAP​

Updated: March 29, 2017

Published: March 29, 2017

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