OSAP frequently asked questions

What does OSAP stand for?

OSAP is the acronym for the Ontario Student Assistance Program.

OSAP is an integrated student loan made up of both federal and provincial funding to assist students in paying for their post-secondary education. If you require financial aid you should apply online for OSAP assistance. Once an application has been submitted, OSAP will compare your educational costs against your available resources to determine eligibility for funding. 

Everyone can apply for OSAP, but not everyone is eligible. OSAP funding is determined based on a comparison of your financial resources and the cost of your post-secondary education.

There is no fee if you choose to apply for OSAP online. If you print the application and submit a paper application you will be required to pay a $10 processing fee.

You can apply for OSAP online at http://www.osap.gov.on.ca. Although you may choose to do a paper application, the online application is processed much quicker without a processing fee.

The deadline for OSAP application is 90 days prior to the end of your academic year. For first-time applicants starting school in September, we recommend that you apply by June to ensure that your OSAP entitlement is ready for you to pick up when you start school in September.

OSAP assumes that students will work full-time over the summer months. As a result they will automatically add in an expected pre-study income contribution from this period. It is suggested that you keep track of your active job search during the summer - this will allow you to have records of your job search should you not obtain full-time employment over the summer. If this is the case, you may be able to appeal the expected income contribution. In addition, if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from working full-time, you may also have grounds for an appeal on the expected contribution.

If you are a student living away from home during the school year and your home is more than 40 kilometres from your post-secondary institution, OSAP will assess your application using a living away from home allowance including food and shelter. If your parents live within 40 kilometres of your institution, your assessment will be based on an at home living allowance, which does not include food and shelter. There are appeals available for students who must live outside the family home.

Vehicle information must be included with your OSAP application. OSAP uses 'the blue book' value to determine the value of your car, which may affect your OSAP assessment. Certain situations allow for an appeal of this amount.

OSAP does have an appeal process. If you are interested in learning more about the appeal process we recommend that you contact the SAFA office in person and book an appointment. Appeals are individually assessed after you receive your final assessment - your OSAP funding may be re-evaluated based on your personal situation.

OSAP funds single students to a maximum of $360 per week. Sole-support parents or married students may receive a maximum of $560 per week in funding. For a 34-week school year a single student could receive a maximum of $12,240 in funding. A married or sole support parent could receive a maximum of $19,040 in funding. OSAP bases the assessment on the student's assumed resources less their educational costs. Not all students receive the maximum funding amount.

OSAP is a loan that you do need to payback. However, many students are eligible for a variety of grants, bursaries and scholarships available through the OSAP program that may reduce the amount of repayable loan. Under the Check Status (Funding Summary) section of your OSAP account, you can review your funding details, which will outline your loan and/or grant amounts.

If you are temporarily unable to repay your loans because of low income or unemployment, you should contact the National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) to discuss eligibility for programs to assist you. You can call the NSLSC toll free at             1.888.815.4514      .

The SAFA Office provides the following services for graduate students attending UOIT:

• Bursary funding;
• Financial planning and counselling services; and
• OSAP program administration.