The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program to help students pay university studies. This program is funded by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada. It is designed to help you pay for tuition and other mandatory fees, books, and living expenses (full time students only).
OSAP offers students funding through:
- Grants – money you don’t have to pay back
- A Student Loan – money you need to repay once you finish your studies
Each student is assessed individually, and the amount of funding you are eligible to receive is based on:
- The amount of your tuition, books and other eligible expenses, and your personal living expenses (full time students)
- Your course load – the number of courses you intend to take
- Personal financial situation – based on you and your family’s income, family size and dependants and other factors
As you plan your finances for the upcoming year, you can use the OSAP Estimator to receive an estimate of the funding you might receive. OSAP has a cap on the amount of funding any student can receive. View the maximum amount of funding for full time studies.
Before you apply
- Determine if you are eligible to apply. Visit the OSAP website to learn more.
- Understand your rights and responsibilities. You are entering into a legal agreement with the Government. View the New User Registration Agreement. Know what is involved in repaying your OSAP debt. Speak to a financial aid advisor to clarify any policy or procedure.
- Know how many courses you will be taking. Apply to either the full-time or part-time OSAP accordingly.
Additional funding may be available if you are:
- Indigenous
- A current or former Crown ward
- A person with a disability
Learn more about students in special circumstances.
