OSAP - Ontario Student Assistance Program
What is OSAP
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