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Ontario Out-of-Country Bursary for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Purpose

The Ontario Out-of-Country Bursary for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing assists postsecondary students who are Deaf, deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing with their educational costs. It’s for students attending a postsecondary school located outside of Canada studying at 40% or more of a full-time course load in an eligible program where the only or principal language of instruction is American Sign Language (ASL) or Langues de Signes Québécoises (LSQ).

How much can I get

The amount of your bursary depends on your outstanding eligible educational costs after your funding from OSAP for Full-Time Students is calculated.

Eligible education costs can include:

  • tuition and ancillary fees,
  • health insurance,
  • books and supplies,
  • return travel to Ontario and
  • living costs.

Who is eligible

You may be eligible for this bursary if you meet the following requirements:

  • You have identified as having a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability on your OSAP profile and confirmed that you are Deaf, deaf, deafened or hard of hearing;
  • You’re enrolled in 40% or more of a full-time course load at a postsecondary school located outside of Canada that is approved for OSAP purposes;
  • You’re enrolled in an eligible program of study where the only or principal language of instruction for your program is ASL or LSQ (see the application for more information on eligible programs and schools);
  • Your OSAP Application for Full-Time Students has been assessed and you met the eligibility requirements for that program;
  • Your outstanding eligible educational costs are higher than the Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan (COISL) maximums.

Definition: ASL

How to apply

You’ll have to provide supporting documents with your bursary application, such as:

  • Proof of your hearing disability, such as medical certificate or an audiological report;
  • Proof of your study period room and board costs if you are living on campus in residence; and
  • Proof of your out-of-country health insurance costs if you are studying in person.

Send your completed application and supporting documents to the Student Financial Assistance Branch.

Deadlines

Your application must be received by the Student Financial Assistance Branch no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.

All required documents as well as any review requests must be received by the Student Financial Assistance Branch no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.

Applications, documents and review requests received after the deadlines indicated will not be considered.

Getting your funding

Your bursary is issued by cheque. Your enrolment must be confirmed by your school before your funding is released.

Your bursary will be issued in two or three instalments at the start of each semester/term, depending on the length of your study period. No funds are released until or after your study period start date.

Any of the following can impact your aid:

  • You reduce your percentage of study to less than 40% of a full-time course load;
  • You withdraw (or are withdrawn) from your current study period; or
  • You become ineligible for OSAP for Full-Time Students.

Checking your application status

If you have any questions regarding this application, you may contact the Student Financial Assistance Branch.

Telephone service is also available Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Eastern Time).

  • TTY: 1-800-465-3958
  • Non-TTY: 807-343-7260 or toll-free in North America: 1-877-OSAP-411 or 1-877-672-7411
  • Fax: 807-343-7278 (Attention: Administrator, Out-of-Country Bursary for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing)