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Financial aid and OSAP

Below are our most frequently asked questions about financial aid and OSAP:

  • Why hasn’t my OSAP been confirmed yet?

    Confirmation of enrolment will begin no sooner than 10 days before the start of classes for the upcoming semester. Your enrolment will be confirmed automatically as long as you meet the following criteria:

    • All required supporting documentation in your OSAP account has been submitted and approved.
    • Your program, course load and year of study indicated on your OSAP application match your school file.

    Once your enrolment has been confirmed, it typically takes 5 to 10 business days for your funding to be released.

  • What is the deadline to apply for OSAP?

    We recommend you apply for OSAP 8 to 10 weeks before the start of your study period. You can also apply before you are accepted into your program. The online application includes information about all of the OSAP deadlines. If you miss these deadlines, your application will not be processed.

    • Application deadline: Submit your OSAP application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.
    • Required documentation deadline: Our Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) office must receive your required documents (e.g. proof of income, letter of explanation of your financial situation, signature pages) no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
    • Review deadline: Our SAFA office must receive all OSAP appeals/review requests no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
  • How do I know if I have an OSAP deferment or am eligible for one?

    You can check your account detail by term on MyOntarioTech and view your tuition fees. Then, check your OSAP account to see the amount of OSAP funding set to be distributed for the semester. If your OSAP funding is greater than your tuition, and you have submitted all required supporting documents, you do not need to take any further action—we will place a deferment on your account for you. If you have less OSAP funding than tuition, you will need to pay the difference by the payment deadline.

    To view your Account detail by term - OSAP students: 

    1. Go to MyOntarioTech.
    2. Select the Current students box.
    3. In the Paying your fees box, select Account detail by term - OSAP students.
    4. If prompted, login using your network credentials.
    5. Review your account details. 
  • I applied for a bursary, but I have not heard back yet. What do I do?

    General bursary applications will be assessed following the application deadline. All assessments will be completed in the order in which they are received. Prior to this date, applications will not be assessed unless you are facing a financial emergency.

    If you are experiencing a financial emergency, contact us to book an appointment with a financial aid officer.

    View your application

  • How do I apply for bursary?

    We offer a variety of supports to help you finance your education and time at university, including bursaries, donor awards, scholarships and on-campus employment.

    Apply now

    Award applications for the upcoming academic year are posted towards the end of August. In the meantime, you can check out the Student Awards and Financial Aid website for information and criteria for awards that will become available.

  • I am considering dropping to part-time studies (one or two courses) for this semester, but my OSAP has already been released. What do I do?
    Contact Enrolment Services as soon as possible to discuss how dropping courses will affect your status with OSAP.
  • I withdrew from my courses and I see that my refund was sent to National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). Why did I not receive the refund directly?

    If you withdraw from courses and receive either a full or partial refund for the dropped course(s), the refund must be sent back to the NSLSC to help pay back any funding that was released, for which you are no longer eligible. Make sure to register for an online NSLSC account—this is where you can view the total amount of loan funding that has been released, as well as any payments that have been made.

  • I would like to take courses during the spring/summer term. How can I receive OSAP for this?

    If you will be studying full-time in the spring/summer semester (three or more courses over the entire semester) and you received full-time OSAP for the fall/winter semesters, you are eligible to complete an OSAP summer extension. This does not require a new online application. The OSAP extension form will be available on MyOntarioTech after spring/summer registration has started and can be found in the Student awards and financial aid box.  Instructions are on the form for students to follow once registered. 

    If you will be studying part-time in the spring/summer semester (one or two courses over the entire semester), you are eligible to apply for part-time OSAP by completing a new application online. Make sure to upload all required supporting documents directly to your OSAP application in order to have your application assessed.

  • I am a co-op student trying to select the right program code for my OSAP application. What does "study term" and "work term" mean?
    Study term refers to the terms in which you are enrolled in your regular program course requirements. Work term refers to any term in which you are completing your co-op placement.
  • I am a co-op student, why does it matter whether I select "study term" or "work term"?

    There are different tuition and fees associated with your co-op "work term". Selecting the right program code will ensure the correct tuition and fee amounts are reflected in your OSAP assessment.

    osap

  • I will be going on a co-op for a term. Am I eligible for full time OSAP funding?

    If you are taking a co-op work term you may be eligible for OSAP funding or continuation of interest-free status (CIFS) on your previous OSAP loans.

     To qualify, your program must be in a co-op stream where co-op is part of your degree requirements within an approved OSAP funded program. This means you cannot get your degree without completion of a co-op work term.  If your program is not a co-op stream and the co-op or internship is optional, it means there is more than one pathway to obtaining the degree, and in this case you are not eligible for OSAP funding or interest free status.

     You have two choices if you plan to go on a “required” work term:

    • Apply for full-time OSAP:

    You can apply to be considered for full-time OSAP funding for your working term.  Your program name can be searched by the word "work" and the course load should be entered at 100%.  Students are required to apply for OSAP for every four-month working term (ie. September to December or January to April).  Students are required to report income earned while on their co-op term.

    • Apply for Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS):

    If you choose not to apply for full time funding, you can be considered to keep previous loans interest-free and out of repayment by applying for Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) though your OSAP portal.  Students should apply at the start of their co-op work term to avoid interest from accumulating. Our office will review your application and update the NSLSC accordingly. Be sure to submit your CIFS application within the deadline dates on the form.

     NOTE: Internships are not mandatory degree requirements at Ontario Tech University and are not OSAP or CIFS eligible.  If you are out of full-time studies for more than six months, you will enter repayment at the end of your six-month grace period.  The NSLSC will contact you via email with details on methods of payment.  Please watch for this communication through your account with the NSLSC.

    Faculties with co-op options are the following:

    Faculty of Business and Information Technology

    Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

    Faculty of Science

  • What is an OSAP Micro-credential?

    Micro-credentials are rapid training programs offered by postsecondary education institutions across the province that can help you get the skills that employers need. Micro-credentials help people retrain and upgrade their skills to find new employment.

    Micro-credentials:

    • Typically take less time to complete than degrees or diplomas.
    • May be completed online and may include on-the-job training.
    • They are often created with input from business sectors, so the skills being taught match employer needs.

    To find out more, view here: OSAP Micro-credentials

  • Where can I find more information/resources about financial assistance?

    Our Student Awards and Financial Aid team is dedicated to helping you achieve financial success throughout your studies.

    To view Student awards and financial aid options:

    1. Go to MyOntarioTech.
    2. Select the Current students box.
    3. In the Student awards and financial aid box, click any of the options below:
    • View your application
    • Apply for student aid/university works
    • View my student aid
    • University works time sheet
    • External awards
    • OSAP forms
    • OSAP information 
    • Further information

Can't find your question? Visit our Student Awards and Financial Aid website for more information.