ABOUT OSAP
About OSAP
Welcome to OSAP!
A postsecondary education is a big investment. If you want to attend a postsecondary institution, but need financial help, you have a number of options to consider.
- Your family and your own savings can help you pay for the cost of your postsecondary education.
- You may qualify for financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
- The college or university you are planning to attend may offer grants, loans and scholarships.
- You may qualify for other public and private scholarships and bursaries.
- Financial institutions – such as banks and trust companies – may offer student loans and lines of credit.
What is OSAP?
OSAP is a program run by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and funded by the provincial and federal governments.
OSAP is a needs-based program. This means that it provides loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries based on a formula that compares your educational costs to expected contributions from your parents or your spouse (if applicable) and your own income and assets.
OSAP provides eligible Ontario students with financial assistance to help pay for their tuition, books, mandatory fees, living costs and transportation.
What is it?
Grant/Bursary: A grant or bursary is an amount of money you receive to help finance your education that you typically do not have to pay back. A grant or bursary is usually awarded based on financial need and other factors.
Loan: A loan is money you receive that must be paid back, usually over a period of time.
Scholarship: A scholarship is money you receive that helps finance your education that you typically do not have to pay back. It is usually awarded based on academic merit and other factors.
What can I learn on this website?
OSAP offers a variety of loan, grant, bursary, and scholarship programs. Each program has its own rules and guidelines. The OSAP web site helps Ontario students by providing information about all of these programs in one place, making it easier to apply, receive funding, and repay loans. Through OSAP, students may qualify for:
- A full-time student loan
- A part-time student loan
- A grant, scholarship or bursary
- An Ontario Student Opportunity Grant that limits the amount of student loans you are required to repay.
Did you Know?
Ontario’s Student Access Guarantee ensures that every qualified Ontario student can get the financial help they need to pay for their tuition, books and mandatory fees through OSAP and financial aid provided separately by Ontario colleges and universities.
How Does OSAP Work?
There are a number of steps to take in applying for OSAP assistance. You’ll find that lots of help is available along the way:
OSAP: Through this website, you can learn about financing your education, and applying for loans, grants, bursaries and scholarships.
Schools: The financial aid office of the school you plan to attend can also answer your questions and help you apply for OSAP.
National Student Loans Service Centre: The National Student Loans Service Centre will process your application, allow you to check the status of your account, and make arrangements for repayment. The NSLSC is the first point of contact for your OSAP questions while you are repaying loans.
How Can I Get Started?
If you are thinking about a postsecondary education, the Access Window section of this website is a great place to start. There you can estimate how much OSAP assistance may be available to you, calculate your loan repayments, and much more.
If you are looking for more detailed information, use the main menu on the left side of this page to learn about:
- Planning to finance your postsecondary education and making wise choices
- Applying for OSAP loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries
- Getting your money and maintaining your account information
- Repaying your student loan.
What if I have more questions?
If you need more information, talk to the Financial Aid Office of the school you plan to attend. If you already have a student loan or are repaying your loan, you can also contact the National Student Loans Service Centre for specific information about your account. We wish you the best of success in your postsecondary education!
