How Your 2012-2013 OSAP Funding is Released

OSAP is Changing this Year

The process of lining up at your school’s financial aid office to get your OSAP loan document before each term is ending. Canada and Ontario are implementing a lifetime loan agreement that will cover you for all the time you are in full-time postsecondary studies. This lifetime loan agreement is called the “Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)”.

You’ll be able to print your personalized MSFAA anytime after you submit your OSAP online application and then you submit it along with identification to a designated Canada Post outlet in your area. This only needs to be done ONCE, and will be in place throughout your time as a full-time postsecondary student.

The other change you will notice is that once your OSAP application and MSFAA are submitted, funding will be deposited directly into your bank account after your school confirms your enrolment. For your second term funding, we only ask that you update your estimated income.

Follow these 4 steps to get your OSAP funding. For more information visit “Getting OSAP” section on the OSAP website.

Step 1: Submit Your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)

    Print, complete, and sign your MSFAA

    After you submit your online OSAP Application for Full-Time Students, print your MSFAA. You can also ask the ministry to mail it to you, but we recommend that you print it yourself. If you applied for OSAP using a paper application, your MSFAA will be mailed to you. Read the terms and conditions, then complete and sign your MSFAA.

    Take your MSFAA to a Canada Post Outlet

    Take page 1 of your MSFAA to a designated Canada Post Outlet right away (keep the other pages as reference as they outline the terms and conditions). Please ensure that it prints legibly. You don’t have to wait for classes to begin. You may also take your MSFAA to a NSLSC kiosk, but they are only available at certain times of year. You must present the following two pieces of documentation to prove your identity:

      • Proof of your Social Insurance Number (SIN):
        • Your Social Insurance card or
        • An official Government of Canada document that contains your Social Insurance Number (e.g., a Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, a Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions, or a Confirmation of Social Insurance Number from Service Canada).
      • One piece of valid photo ID issued in Canada by the federal, provincial or territorial government. Examples of acceptable ID: Canadian passport, permanent resident or citizenship card, Ontario photo card, valid driver's licence or provincial health card with photo. Student ID cards are not acceptable forms of photo ID.

    Note for Students Studying Outside of Canada:

    If you can’t go to a designated Canada Post outlet (or NSLSC kiosk) because you’re not in Canada, in a remote area, or don’t have a designated Canada Post outlet nearby, you can mail page 1 of your MSFAA and photocopies of two pieces of documentation to prove your identity (see list of acceptable documentation above) to: National Student Loans Service Centre, PO Box 4030, Mississauga, ON L5A 4M4.

Step 2: Submit All Required OSAP Documents

    All required documents listed at the end of your online OSAP application must be submitted to your financial aid office before any funding can be disbursed to you. For your personalized list of required documents, log on to your OSAP account on the OSAP website and go to the “View App Details” section.

Step 3: School Confirms Your Enrolment

    Your school must confirm your enrolment before your funding can be disbursed to you. This confirmation will happen for each disbursement. For most students, this will happen at the start of their studies (e.g., September) and then again halfway through their study period (e.g., January). For information about your disbursements and funding, log on to your OSAP account on the OSAP website and go to the “Check Status” section.

Step 4: Confirm Your Income

    You must confirm your income before the release of your second disbursement, which is generally halfway through your study period (e.g., January). Instructions will be sent to you about a month before your second disbursement.

Important Points

        • You’ll be provided with only one MSFAA for all your 2012-2013 OSAP applications. You’ll be presented with your MSFAA at the end of each of your online applications, but you only need to print one copy and submit it once, as described above.

        • Once your MSFAA is submitted, it’s good for the duration of your full-time studies. You won’t have to submit it again if you apply for OSAP next year.