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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, or hard of hearing with their eligible education costs that exceed the funding received through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Full-Time Students. This bursary is for students attending a postsecondary school outside of Canada and studying at 40% or more of a full 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 all of the following requirements:

  • You have a verified permanent disability or a verified persistent or prolonged disability on your OSAP profile and confirmed that you are Deaf, deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.
  • You are enrolled in 40% or more of a full 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 eligible educational costs exceed the Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan (COISL) maximums for your study period.
  • You have submitted a 2024-25 OSAP Application for Full-Time Students, including all required documents and have met all eligibility requirements for that program.

Definition: ASL

How to apply

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

  • Proof of your permanent hearing-related disability such as a medical certificate or an audiological report;
  • Proof of your study period room and board costs from your school if you are living on campus in residence (regardless of your method of study (i.e., in-class and/or online/correspondence/distance education)); and
  • Proof of your out-of-country health insurance costs during your study period, if you are studying in person (e.g., a written estimate from your insurance company or your school’s health plan).

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 above will not be considered.

Getting your funding

Your bursary entitlement will be calculated at the beginning of each term/semester. Each instalment will be in the form of a cheque and will be issued in Canadian dollars to the mailing address on your OSAP profile. Your school must confirm your enrolment before the bursary cheque can be issued to you.

Bursary funds must be used to pay the academic fees owed to your institution first.

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)