OSAP/financial aid
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides help through loans and grants based on your calculated financial need.
Questions? Contact Financial Aid and Awards.
For the most up-to-date information regarding changes to the OSAP program, please visit the OSAP website.
On this page:
- Applying to OSAP
- Changes that may affect OSAP funding
- Keeping my OSAP funding interest-free
- OSAP for part-time students
- OSAP Access Number (OAN) password reset and/or OAN retrieval
- Documentation
- Ontario Student Grant
- Paying back OSAP
- Student Access Guarantee
- Georgian’s Work Study Program
- Contact Financial Aid and Awards
Applying to OSAP
Check out our step-by-step how to apply for OSAP page.
Applications are available online at ontario.ca/osap. Information regarding income thresholds, funding maximums, and application deadlines can also be found online.
Changes that may affect OSAP funding
If you withdraw or drop a course(s) and are taking less than 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with a permanent disability), you are considered withdrawn and no longer eligible for the rest of the study period.
As a result:
- you will be required to repay your loans six months after the withdrawal
- you may have to repay money you’ve already received (called an overpayment) before you can receive future OSAP funding
In addition, please see the information on academic progress restriction and probation.
Keeping my OSAP funding interest-free
Your OSAP loans will not accrue interest in some situations. If you’re getting OSAP for full-time students, you will automatically be interest-free once your school confirms enrolment.
You can apply to be interest-free on a previous loan if you’re continuing in part- or full-time study and NOT receiving full- or part-time OSAP:
- full-time students should use the Continuation of Interest-Free Status Application
- part-time students should submit a Canada Student Loans Program Confirmation of Enrolment Schedule 2 form from Employment and Social Development Canada (part-time students)
OSAP for part-time students
You’re in part-time studies if you’re taking between 20 and 59 per cent of a full course load. Your full course load percentage is defined by your school.
Part-time OSAP provides assistance to students studying on a part-time basis. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- take between 20 and 59 per cent of a full course load
- study at the postsecondary level – degree, diploma or certificate program
- have a total family gross income that falls below the applicable maximum based on your family size
Applications are completed on a per-term basis, and students must be registered in courses before applications can be processed by the Financial Aid and Awards office.
OSAP Access Number (OAN) password reset and/or OAN retrieval
Students who forget their OSAP Access Number (OAN) and/or password have two self-service options to quickly retrieve the information needed:
- online using their challenge questions
- by email (providing the student completed the email validation process)
However, if this is not possible, students can request a temporary password and retrieve their OAN from the Financial Aid and Awards office.
To retrieve this information, please visit the Financial Aid and Awards Office during our office hours. You will be required to provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) card and government issued photo ID. Please note that this process applies to the student only and does not include anyone you have authorized to have access to your information. If you have any questions, please call 705.722.1530 for assistance.
Documentation
To view what documents you need to provide, click on View Application Details on your OSAP online account.
Please note: Incomplete applications cannot be processed.
Ontario Student Grant
Visit ontario.ca/osap to use the OSAP calculator and find out how much financial aid you could be eligible for. Find information on funding maximums.
Students have the option of accepting all of their OSAP funding (grants and loan), or only the grant. You can do this through your online OSAP account after your application is assessed. If you change your mind, you can request the loan online, up to 40 days before the end of your study period.
Paying back OSAP
You will need to repay your loan through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). Here, you can:
- see the status of your loan
- update your contact information
- change your monthly payment amount
- apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan
You will receive a notice in the mail that your loan repayments are about to begin.
If you don’t receive notice by mail, make sure you contact NSLSC before your six-month non-repayment period is over. You’ll want to review all aspects of your loan(s) and finalize details concerning repayment.
Student Access Guarantee
The Student Access Guarantee (SAG) is a partnership program between the ministry and Ontario’s public colleges and universities. Through SAG, Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities are required to ensure that financial need is not a barrier to accessing education. If OSAP doesn’t cover a student’s assessed needs for expenses directly related to their program (e.g. books, tuition and mandatory fees,) a student may be eligible for additional financial aid. Schools provide this funding through a combination of non-repayable sources, including bursaries, scholarships or work study programs.
You will automatically be considered for the Student Access Guarantee based on the information on your full-time OSAP application.
Please contact the Financial Aid and Awards office for additional information
Georgian’s Work Study Program
The Work Study Program helps students at provincially-assisted universities and colleges of applied arts and technology in Ontario to meet their educational costs by working part-time during the year. On-campus job opportunities, also known as “Work Study,” potentially provide students with an excellent opportunity to work part-time while participating in college life. Working on campus is a great way to make additional money to put towards your expenses while gaining meaningful employment to help build your skills and boost your resume. Wages and the type work opportunities vary.
Eligibility requirements
- Be working part-time on campus in a position that encourages self-help and self-development and gives students a way of enhancing their resumes in preparation for the transition to full-time employment and loan repayment.
- Be registered in an approved post-secondary program as a full-time student or on a co-op placement.
- Be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
- Complete the Georgian Work Study application in full, demonstrating a financial need (original application required).
Benefits of the Work Study Program
As a Work Study student, you are an important part of the college community. Not only are you a student, but a valuable employee! Check out the benefits of working on-campus through Work Study:
- Valuable professional development opportunities at convenient on-campus locations
- Job variety that may be related to your field of study
- Provides you with important life and work experience
- Flexible hours that work around your school schedule
- Additional funding to ensure you can fully fund your educational expenses
Applying for a Work Study position
During the employment application process, you will need to complete a Work Study application, which may be given to you by your manager/supervisor, or you may download the application here. Complete it in full, demonstrating a financial need (original application required), and submit it to both your potential employer and the Financial Aid and Awards Office.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact the Financial Aid and Awards office.
Contact Financial Aid and Awards
Financial Aid and Awards provides a centralized service located at the Barrie Campus within the Office of the Registrar.
Phone: 705.722.1530
Fax: 705.722.5136
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The services above are available both in person and remotely. Please be sure to include your full name and student number in your email or voicemail.
