OSAP & aid

Full-time OSAP funding may be available if you take 60% or more of a full course load. If you have a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability, you may choose to be considered as a full-time student if you’re taking at least 40% of a full course load.                

Eligibility

To be eligible for OSAP, you must be:                

• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• A resident of Ontario (you have lived in Ontario for 12 months before commencing your post-secondary education)
• Taking an OSAP-approved program that is at least 12 weeks long.

Tuition deposits and OSAP

All full-time students must pay a $500 non-refundable tuition deposit each academic year to secure their place in the program. For more information, visit Payments & invoicing.                

Confirmation of enrolment for release of OSAP funding

Confirmation of enrolment takes place automatically for registered students at the beginning of the term.                

Following confirmation, you will receive your OSAP funding in seven to ten business days. The amount for your tuition will be sent directly to the college, and the remainder (if applicable) will be deposited into the bank account you indicated with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).                

Receiving your funding     

When you receive OSAP funding, the amount to cover your tuition will be sent directly to the college, and the rest will be deposited into the bank account you indicated when completing your NSLSC profile.                

If you are not receiving enough OSAP to cover your fees, you must pay the difference by the deadline indicated in the Student Portal, or you may be subject to a late fee.                

Your enrolment will be confirmed with OSAP when the following have been completed:                

1. You have paid your deposit
2. Your OSAP application is complete, and you have received an assessment that will cover all or part of your fees
3. You have an approved ONE Card photo on file
4. You do not have outstanding fees from previous terms (returning students)

Deadlines

Application deadline: 60 days before the end of your study period.
Supporting documentation/review deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.

2023-2024 full-time OSAP deadlines

Note: these dates may vary depending on your program. To confirm your study period date, consult your timetable in the Student Portal.                

Conestoga-McMaster BScN Students

Course load and enrolment changes may impact your OSAP funding and/or eligibility for OSAP funding. Students in receipt of OSAP must report course load changes or changes to enrolment via email to BScN enrolment and Student Financial Services as soon as possible.

Full-time definition: 9/15 units = 60% course load

Students with a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability may be considered full-time at a 40% course load, which is 6/15 units.

Deadlines

BScN and diploma Registered Practical Nurse to BScN programs follow the McMaster academic dates.

Application deadline: 60 days before the end of your study period.
Supporting documentation/review deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.

2023-2024 full-time OSAP deadlines for CoMac BScN students

All part-time students must pay their tuition upfront to be registered in their courses before part-time funding is released.
Part-time OSAP funding is available if you take between 20% and 59% of a full course load.
If you have a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability, you are considered a part-time student if you’re taking a course load between 20% and 39%. Please see students with disabilities for more details.

Eligibility and applications

Students must submit a new part-time application for each term that they need funding.
To be eligible for part-time OSAP, you must be:

• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
• A resident of Ontario (you have lived in Ontario for 12 months before commencing your post-secondary education)
• Taking an OSAP-approved program that is at least 12 weeks long.
• Continuing Education Courses are not eligible for OSAP funding.

Receiving your funding

Part-time funding is released after the course add/drop deadline. Students must pay their tuition fees upfront to be registered in their course(s) each term. After your OSAP application has been reviewed and approved, your funding will be deposited to the bank account you indicated when completing your NSLSC profile.                  

Deadlines

Application deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.
Supporting documentation/review deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.

2023-2024 part-time OSAP deadlines

Note: applications must be complete with all required documents, including the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA), by this date. Applications and documents received after these dates will not be considered.                  

Conestoga-McMaster BScN students

Course load and enrolment changes may impact your OSAP funding and/or eligibility. Students in receipt of OSAP must report course load changes or changes to enrolment via email to BScN enrolment and Student Financial Services as soon as possible.                  

Part-time definition: course load of 20-59%                  

Students with a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability may be considered full-time at a 40% course load, which is 6/15 units.                  

Deadlines

BScN and diploma Registered Practical Nurse to BScN programs follow McMaster academic dates.
Application deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.
Supporting documentation/review deadline: 40 days before the end of your study period.

2023-2024 part-time OSAP deadlines for CoMac BScN students

Note: applicants must be complete with all required documents, including the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) by this date. Applications and documents received after these dates will not be considered.                  

OSAP for micro-credentials is available for approved micro-credential programs.                

Approved programs

• Acute Care Nursing Skills
• Community Care Nursing Skills
• Creating Accessible Digital Documents
• Data Analyst
  
• Infusion Nursing Practices
• Maintenance Work Management
• Mental Health & Resiliency
• Modern Board: Board Governance
• Municipal Risk Management
• Occupational Health and Safety Essentials
• PLC Programming

Eligibility

To be eligible for OSAP, you must be:                

• Registered in a ministry-approved micro-credential that is less than 12 weeks long.
  
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
  
• A resident of Ontario (you have lived in Ontario for 12 months before starting your post-secondary education)

Tuition deposits and OSAP

All micro-credential students must pay their fees upfront to be registered in the program. For more information, visit Payments & invoicing.                

Receiving your funding

After your OSAP application has been reviewed and approved, your funding will be deposited into the bank account you indicated when completing your NSLSC profile.                

Deadlines

Application deadline: last day of your study period.
Supporting documentation/review deadline: five days after the last day of your study period.                  

Your OSAP loans are an important part of your financial life. Everything you need to know about your OSAP can be found on the OSAP website. It is the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource that you need. While there, familiarize yourself with information about eligibility and status, the interest-free period, repayment, and more.          

Upon receiving any OSAP funding, you assume the following responsibilities:           

1. To read and follow all the terms and conditions in the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)
2. Agree to use this funding to first pay your tuition and fees, then to cover other educational and living expenses related to your studies.
3. Report changes to your personal status and program information to OSAP
4. Maintain academic progress
   
5. Make appropriate repayment arrangements with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) when you cease full-time studies.

The provincial and federal governments take these responsibilities very seriously, and so should you. If you fail to meet the obligations of your OSAP funding, the possible consequences include:          

• Reassessment and/or reduction of your OSAP entitlement
• Grant to Loan conversion
• Refusal of future OSAP assistance
• Additional interest charges
• Collection proceedings
• Impacts on credit rating

Reporting changes on your OSAP application 

Any changes to your studies, personal circumstances, or financial situation may impact your OSAP eligibility or assessment. You must report the following changes as soon as possible.          

Changes to your course load
If you have added or dropped courses, upload a completed OSAP Change Request form (pdf) to the OSAP Portal. Any changes must be reported to OSAP and may result in a reassessment of your funding. 

Reducing your course load from full-time to part-time
If you have dropped below a 60% course load (40% for students with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability), you are considered a part-time student. Your OSAP application will be updated to reflect the date you dropped to part-time status, and your OSAP funding may be reassessed. 

Increasing your course load from part-time to full-time
If you have applied for part-time OSAP and are taking a course load of 60% or greater (40% or greater for students with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability), you may be eligible for additional funding. 

Change your program of study
For students who applied for and received OSAP funding in their first term and are now changing programs or repeating the same term, you must submit a new OSAP application for your current term. 

Withdraw from your studies
You will need to submit the Withdrawal Request form through the Student Portal. We will update your OSAP application and refund any balance on your student account back to the National Student Loans Service Centre on your behalf.

Personal changes
Personal changes may include:

• marital status
• personal or familial financial situation
• birth of a child
• name change
• any major life event which would have an impact on your finances

Upload a completed OSAP Change Request form (pdf) and the appropriate supporting documentation to the OSAP Portal.      

Income changes
You can adjust your earnings through the Income Update link in the OSAP Portal during your study period. An update is only required if the expected income exceeds $5,600 per term. You may also upload an OSAP Change Request form (pdf) to the OSAP Portal. You must outline the amount of your income, the period for that income, and where that income is coming from (i.e., government funding, employment, scholarships, etc.). Be as accurate as you can, as this information is verified by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Failure to progress academically

You must complete and submit your Acknowledgement of Academic Probation form (accessed via the OSAP Portal) if you are continuing your studies in the next term. Transcripts may also be required, please check communication in the OSAP Portal to confirm. It is recommended that you review the information on OSAP Academic Progress.      

Interest-free status

To avoid unnecessary interest, understand your student status and payment obligations. If your study plans change or you drop a course and lose your full-time student status, your eligibility for OSAP may change and require repayment. Visit the OSAP website to learn about retaining your interest-free status.      

Repaying Your OSAP

• You must start paying back your OSAP loans six months after you leave your studies.
• The provincial loan portion starts accruing interest immediately at the end of the study period.
• The federal loan portion is interest free.
  

Repayment assistance
Under some circumstances, you may be eligible for repayment assistance (based on family income, employment income, etc.). The National Student Loans Service Centre provides guidance on all repayment and interest inquiries.

To remain eligible for full-time OSAP, a student must make satisfactory progress in their program of study. Students must achieve passing grades in a minimum of 60% (40% course load for students with a permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability) of a 100% course load based on the expectations of your specific program.        

Students must also progress through the successive years of their program of study.  The following actions are all considered failure to progress academically:       

• Multiple program switches
• Dropping from a full-time course load to a part-time course load
• Withdrawing from your program
• Repeating courses
• Failing to actively participate in courses (not attending classes, not submitting assignments, not writing exams)

Academic progress

Students may be required to provide proof of academic progress for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:       

• Changing programs
• Breaks in studies
• Repeating courses/levels
• You have submitted multiple OSAP applications in an academic year 

What to do if you need to submit an Academic Progress Letter  

1. You must complete an Academic Progress Letter (pdf)
   
2. If you have previously been enrolled in a college/university program, you must submit transcripts of your grades:
   • Conestoga Students – provide a copy of your Achievement Record from the Student Portal
   • Studies at another college or university - submit transcripts from the other institution(s).
     • Official transcripts may not be required. The document must include the school's name and your full name.
     • OCAS screenshots/transcripts are not accepted.
3. Upload the letter and your transcript(s) to the OSAP Portal.

Repeating a course

Students who are progressing through their program would generally receive OSAP funding only once for each course in their program. In some circumstances, students may be considered for OSAP funding to repeat one or more courses once provided that they are making academic progress. For example:

• A student who has failed a course can receive OSAP funding one additional time to try for a better mark. Any additional attempts will not be funded.
• A student who has not achieved the minimum average or grade required for advancing to the next level of their current program may repeat one or more courses to bring up their average once. Any additional attempts will not be funded.
• A student has taken an extended break in their studies and, due to significant changes in the program content, they are required to repeat one or more course(s) that were completed before the break.
  • A letter from the program coordinator outlining the need to re-take the courses is required in these cases.
    

Periods of study plus one

Students may apply for full-time OSAP for the number of periods of study normally specified by the institution for completion of that program of study plus one (1) study period. For example:       

• A student in a 1-year certificate program can receive a maximum of two years of full-time OSAP assistance.
• A student in a 2-year diploma program can receive a maximum of three years of full-time OSAP assistance.
• A student in a 4-year diploma program can receive a maximum of five years of full-time OSAP assistance.

A student who has reached the study period maximum for their program is not eligible for further full-time OSAP for that program.  This means that some students who take less than a 100% course load each year, or have failed and have had to repeat courses, may be unable to complete their program before they become ineligible for further full-time OSAP.

Notes:     

• A study period is defined as one academic year.
• Periods of study in which a student did not receive full-time OSAP funding from Canada or Ontario are not included.
• Students with permanent disabilities and students with confirmed persistent or prolonged disabilities are exempted from this policy.

Consequences of failure to meet requirements

If students do not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, their eligibility for further OSAP assistance is impacted.       

Academic probation
The first time you do not meet satisfactory academic progress for OSAP purposes, you will be placed on academic probation for at least 12 months from the date of your unsatisfactory academic progress status.

You may be on academic probation for one or more of the following reasons:        

• Your course load dropped below the required minimum 60% of a 100% course load during your full-time OSAP-funded study period (or 40% for students with a documented permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability)
• You withdrew from the college during your OSAP-funded study period.
• You did not pass a minimum 60% of a 100% course load during your full-time OSAP-funded study period (or 40% for students with a documented permanent disability or persistent or prolonged disability)
• You have changed your program of study too many times without earning a credential.

Note: the criteria for OSAP academic progress may differ from the academic progress for your program at Conestoga. You can be in good standing for your program at Conestoga and not meet the OSAP funding requirements, or vice versa.       

What to do if you have been placed on academic probation         

1. You must complete and submit your Acknowledgement of Academic Probation form (accessed via the OSAP Portal) if you are continuing your studies in the next term.
2. Upload the completed form to the OSAP Portal.
3. Connect with Student Success Services for additional support like academic advising, tutoring, and counseling.
4. Once your academic probation period has passed, your progress will automatically be reviewed to determine your next steps.

Academic restriction
If there is a second instance of unsatisfactory academic progress, you may be restricted from receiving OSAP funding for at least 12 months.​ After your restriction period has ended, you may be eligible for funding for your next study period. Subsequent failures to progress academically will result in longer restrictions up to a final decision of a restriction from receiving all future OSAP funding.

What to do if you have been placed on academic restriction     

If you choose to remain enrolled full-time during the restriction period:0;     

1. You must fund your studies yourself.
2. You can submit a Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) application at the start of your study period.​ This will stop interest charges and prevent prior OSAP loans from going into repayment for the duration of your full-time study period while on restriction.
3. Connect with Student Success Services for additional support like academic advising, tutoring, and counseling.
4. Once your restriction period has passed, email Student Financial Services to request to have the restriction downgraded.

If you do not remain enrolled full-time during the restriction period:     

1. You must maintain your previous loans with the National Student Loans Service Centre.
2. You must repay your loans as scheduled or apply for Repayment Assistance.

Academic progress reviews

Students who fail to meet academic progress requirements due to circumstances beyond their control may appeal the decision by requesting a review for OSAP Academic Probation or OSAP Academic Restriction.        

Acceptable circumstances include the following:       

• Medical conditions
• Family crisis
• Disability
• Pregnancy complications or unexpected parental leaves
• Code was put on the file in error

To request a review of your academic progress, please email Student Financial Services.       

Students with permanent disabilities, or persistent or prolonged disabilities may have access to additional funding though OSAP related programs. Students with disabilities may also be eligible to take a reduced course load.         

To identify as a student with a disability on your OSAP application, complete the following steps:         

1. Complete a full-time or part-time OSAP application
2. Select ‘Yes’ to the disability question on the OSAP application
3. Download and print the Disability Verification Form (DVF) from the required documents section of your OSAP Portal and bring it to your health care provider to complete.
4. Upload the completed form to the OSAP Portal

Reduced course load for students with disabilities

Students with a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability, may be eligible to take a reduced course load of 40% or greater and receive full-time OSAP funding.          

To be eligible for this you must have an approved Disability Verification Form on your OSAP account before your course load is reduced.         

Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities

The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities provides aid to post-secondary students who have self-identified as having a disability on their OSAP application. The grant provides eligible students up to $2,800 per academic year and is released as part of the student’s OSAP funding to help students pay for education-related costs.          

Once your OSAP application is reviewed, and you have an accepted Disability Verification Form on file, you will be assessed for this grant as part of your complete OSAP funding package. No additional application is required.         

Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) / Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE)

The Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) helps full and part-time postsecondary students with the costs of their disability-related educational services and equipment.          

By submitting a BSWD/CSG-DSE application, you may receive assistance for the disability-related accommodations you need, such as note-takers, tutors, interpreters or technical aids while you’re in postsecondary studies.         

Eligibility

Funding consideration is based on your disability status. For the BSWD and/or CSG-DSE, you must have a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability and you must be eligible for funding from one of the following sources for your current study period          

• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Full-Time Students
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Part-Time Students

Note: students in micro-credential studies are not eligible for BSWD or CSG-DSE          

To apply             

The BSWD/CSG-DSE is available to students with financial need as demonstrated via the assessment of their OSAP application and who have disability related educational costs that are not covered by another agency or service.         

1. Apply for OSAP and have an assessment.
2. Register with Accessible Learning and meet with an Accessibility Advisor to discuss the application for BSWD/CSG-DSE.
3. Your Accessibility Advisor will review your documentation and consult with you regarding your needs for education-related equipment or services.
4. The application will be completed in conjunction with your Accessibility Advisor and submitted to Student Financial Services on your behalf.

Deadlines             

Your completed application must be received by Student Financial Services no later than 60 days before the end of your study period. All supporting documentation must be received no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.