OSAP/financial aid

Need help paying for school?

Check out the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). OSAP provides help through loans and grants based on your calculated financial need.

Applying to OSAP

Check out our step-by-step how to apply for OSAP page.

Changes that may affect 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less than 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with a permanent disability), you are considered withdrawn and no longer eligible for the rest of the study period. You:

  • will be required to repay your loans six months after the withdrawal
  • 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 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:

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 office.

How to apply

Applications are available online at ontario.ca/osap. Information regarding income thresholds, funding maximums, and application deadlines can also be found online.

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.

Starting September 2017, eligible students from families with incomes of $50,000 or less will receive free average tuition. This includes:

  • dependent students (those with less than four years out of high school)
  • married students
  • single parent students

Single independent students (those who have been out of high school for four or more years and who are not married or have children) will be eligible for free average tuition if they earn $30,000 per year or less.

The government is consolidating a number of OSAP grants into one upfront grant called the Ontario Student Grant.

What does “free tuition” mean?

“Free tuition” means OSAP grants would equal or exceed:

  • actual tuition for a regular college diploma program across the program
  • actual tuition for an undergraduate arts and science program at an Ontario university
  • average tuition for a high-cost college or university program, such as dental hygiene or engineering*

*Additional support for OSAP students in high-cost programs is often available through the Student Access Guarantee.

The Government of Ontario considers postsecondary education a shared investment and responsibility between students, their families, the government, and postsecondary institutions.

Students are expected to help contribute to the costs of their own postsecondary education.

This contribution is automatically waived for:

  • students with children
  • Indigenous students who self-identify
  • crown wards
  • other students with eligible status with a children’s aid society
  • in situations where a student or their spouse is on the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works

Paying back OSAP

You will need to repay your loan through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). Here, you can:

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.

View video on how to repay OSAP.

Student Access Guarantee

Ontario requires colleges and universities that receive public funding to provide enough financial aid to cover a student’s assessed needs for expenses directly related to his or her program, including books, tuition, and mandatory fees that are not fully met by OSAP.

Schools provide this funding through a combination of non-repayable sources, including bursaries, scholarships, work study programs, or summer employment programs.

  • if you are applying to a first-entry program at a college or university directly from high school:
    • you will automatically be considered for the Student Access Guarantee aid based on your OSAP application
    • if you qualify, the Ministry will notify your school of how much aid they gave you
  • if you are in a second-entry program (e.g., graduate certificate program) and you need additional financial support:
    • you must apply to your school’s financial aid office

Please contact the Financial Aid 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:

Upon acceptance of employment, your manager/supervisor will provide the Georgian Work Study application. Complete it in full, demonstrating a financial need (original application required) and hand it in to your department manager/supervisor.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact the Financial Aid Office at FinancialAid@GeorgianCollege.ca

Quick Links

Contact Financial Aid

The Barrie Campus Financial Aid office is located within the Office of the Registrar. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff members in the Office of the Registrar at our other campus locations are available to assist with general inquiries.

The Orillia Campus Financial Aid office is located in Room A100A within the Office of the Registrar. Office hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. NOTE:  you are encouraged to call ahead and book an appointment if you are travelling to our campus for service.

Georgian College Financial Aid staff