Frequently Asked Questions

What is OSAP?
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a needs-based program that combines provincial and federal funding. It’s meant to supplement financial resources provided by you or your spouse.

OSAP includes two types of funding:

• Grants: money you don’t have to pay back
• Loans: money you need to repay

How do I apply for OSAP?
Apply online on the OSAP website. It’s free and available 24/7. The application only takes 10-15 minutes.

Am I eligible for OSAP?

• You must be a Canadian citizen, protected person, or permanent resident of Canada.
• You must be an Ontario resident (living in Ontario for at least 12 months immediately prior to your study period).
• For full-time OSAP, you must be registered in full-time studies taking at least a 60% course load (40% for students with a permanent disability).
• Any previous OSAP student loans must be in good standing.

When should I apply for OSAP?
The sooner, the better! We suggest applying at least 3 months before the start of your study period to avoid delays with your funding.

How to submit your documents:

1. Print and sign (if applicable) your supporting documents
2. Scan each required document into a PDF
3. Upload your documents to your OSAP application
4. Monitor your application

I have uploaded my documents, but they are still showing as required. Did I do something wrong?
The status of your documents will only change after they are reviewed. If you submitted your documents and the status didn’t change, it means that the documents are waiting to be processed. Current processing time is 6 weeks.

When will I get my OSAP funding?
There are a lot of factors that determine when your funding will arrive. First, you need to apply well in advance. Next, you need to make sure that your supporting documentation is submitted (don’t worry, the OSAP application will give you all the details). If everything is received, processed, and approved 6-8 weeks before the start of your study period, your first installment of funds should be issued within the first 10 days of class.  

If you have been assessed for OSAP for two semesters, you will receive 60% of your OSAP funds in the first semester. The remaining 40% of your OSAP funds will be issued in your second semester once we confirm your eligibility for this funding.

When is the deadline to apply for OSAP?
You need to apply for OSAP at least 60 days before the end of your study period, and your supporting documents need to be received at least 40 days before the end of your study period.

Example: If you are in a two-semester program that runs from September to April, you need to apply for OSAP by the end of February, and make sure all of your supporting documents are submitted by the middle of March.

Note: Your OSAP funding won’t be released until your complete application and supporting documents are received. We suggest you finalize your application as soon as possible so you get your money sooner.

Will I receive OSAP funding for every semester of my program?
You will receive funding at the beginning of each semester as long as you have an active OSAP application covering that semester. A single OSAP application only covers 1 or 2 consecutive semesters in the same academic year. If you are in school for 3 consecutive semesters, you will need to submit 2 OSAP applications (e.g., one application will be for Fall and Winter semesters combined; second application will be for the Spring semester). In some cases, (such as AC Online students) you will need to submit a new OSAP application for each semester separately.

How will I get my OSAP funding?
Your OSAP funding is automatically applied to your account balance at Algonquin College. If you are receiving more OSAP than what you owe Algonquin, the remainder will be deposited into your bank account.

Example: If your tuition and fees for your first semester are $2,500, and you are receiving $3,000 from OSAP, your balance at Algonquin will be paid by OSAP automatically and the remaining $500 will be deposited into your bank account.

Here’s a helpful video to help you through the process.

How can I check the status of my OSAP application?
Log on to the OSAP portal to check the status of your application – the most up-to-date information is there (we promise!). If we need more information from you, we’ll send a message through the OSAP portal. No news is good news, so sit back and relax if you don’t hear from us.

Can I apply for OSAP if I am going on a Co-op placement?

If you are registered in a co-op term, you can submit a full-time OSAP application.

When you apply, it is very important to include an estimate of your income (this will include co-op income and any other income you are receiving during the co-op term). It is usually expected that your gross income is above $5600.00 for 4 months if you are working full-time.

If you decide not to apply for OSAP, you should apply for Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) through your OSAP account so that your previous loans remain interest-free during your co-op term.

How do I apply for OSAP if one of my terms during the academic year is a co-op term?

Each co-op term will need a separate OSAP application. For example, if Fall 2021 is your study term, and Winter 2022 and Spring 2022 are co-op terms, you will have 3 OSAP applications: one application for Fall 2021 study term, one application for Winter 2022 co-op term and another application for Spring 2022 co-op term.

My program runs from September 2024 until August 2025, but I can only find September 2024 – April 2025 in OSAP. What should I do?
You will need to submit 2 applications: 1 for Fall 2024 /Winter 2025 and another – for Spring 2025. You can submit both at the same time.

Students can submit legal affidavits completed virtually (electronic signatures).

Please note that Commissionaire of Oath services offered by the City of Ottawa re-opened July 15, 2020.

1. There are two available locations (Ben Franklin Place, next to the college and City Hall, Downtown)
2. Cost is $16.00
3. Students must book an appointment.

What if I need to make a change to my OSAP application?
The only change you can make online is your address. If you need to make any other changes, they need to be submitted to our Financial Aid office. Get in touch here.

How do I change my address?
If you want to change your address with OSAP, log on to the OSAP portal. 

How do I retrieve my OAN or get a new OSAP PIN?
You can retrieve your OAN or get a new OSAP PIN online here.

OR

Go to the Registrar’s Office with two pieces of I.D. :

• A piece of valid photo I.D. issued in Canada by the federal, provincial or territorial governments.
  Examples of acceptable photo ID are a valid driver’s license, passport, provincial health card with photo, permanent residency or citizenship card. AND
  
• Government-issued Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) card or letter.

You can also go to any Financial Aid office at any post-secondary campus in Ontario.

I made a mistake on my OSAP application. How can I correct it?
If you made a mistake on your OSAP application, you need to upload a letter to your application explaining what needs to be changed. You should upload this request letter through your online OSAP account, using the ‘Optional uploads’ link on the ‘Required documents’ page and then selecting the ‘Updates to your application’ queue.

My OSAP Status Says: On Hold – Pending Confirmation of Enrollment by the School. What should I do?
There is nothing you need to do. Your enrollment with be confirmed automatically by us.

I submitted my document a couple of weeks ago and there is no change in the status. Should I be concerned?
The status of your documents will only change after they are reviewed. If you submitted your documents and the status didn’t change, it means that the documents are waiting to be processed.

Documents are processed based on the date of submission. The current processing time is 6 weeks from the date of submission. Please check your OSAP Message Centre regularly as all communication and requests for additional information will be sent there.

I have submitted a bankruptcy-related document to my Fall OSAP application and waiting for a long time to get it reviewed. Do I need to submit it again for my Winter application?
If you had to provide documents associated with your Bankruptcy or a Bankruptcy related event (when applying for your Fall 2021 OSAP funding) and you are now submitting a new OSAP application for your Winter 2022 term, please contact your Financial Aid Officer (if these Bankruptcy documents are not processed by December 15, 2021).

If you are not submitting a new OSAP application for your Winter 2022 term, you do not need to take any actions on your file regarding your Bankruptcy documents.

I have received a message that my grants will be converted to loans because my income hasn’t been verified, but I submitted documents a month ago. What should I do?
This is a generic message sent to all OSAP applications whose income hasn’t yet been verified. If you have submitted your documents and haven’t received any communication from the Ministry via your OSAP Message Centre for additional information, this means that your documents are still in the queue to be processed by the Ministry.

What are my funding options if I’m from out of province?
To qualify for OSAP, you must meet the OSAP residency requirements.

If you are considered a resident of another province or territory within Canada, you may be eligible for student loans even if you move to Ontario to study. Visit the financial aid website for your province or territory to learn more about available resources.

When can I expect to receive my provincial or territorial funding if I’m from out of province?
There are many factors that contribute to when you’ll receive your funding – which province or territory you’re from, how quickly you submit your application and supporting documents, and more.

Will my OSAP be affected if I withdraw from my program?
If you withdraw from your program before your OSAP funds are released, we will automatically close your OSAP application and there are no consequences to your withdrawal.

If you withdraw after your funding has been received, we will make adjustments to your file and you may be placed on OSAP probation or restriction. At this point, we would strongly advise you to return your OSAP funding to the National Student Loans Service Centre.

What happens if I withdraw from a course?
As long as you maintain a 60% course load (40% for students with a permanent disability), you will remain eligible for full-time OSAP. Your course load on your OSAP application may need to be updated which may trigger some changes to your OSAP funding. If your course load falls below the minimum requirement, you are no longer eligible for full-time OSAP funding and your OSAP application will be withdrawn.

What if I fail a course?
From an OSAP perspective, failing one course is probably OK – but you need to pass 60% of your course load (40% for students with a permanent disability) in order to maintain satisfactory progress and avoid an academic penalty. If you don’t meet the academic criteria for OSAP, you may be placed on OSAP probation or restriction.

What if I need extra financial help?
The first step is creating a budget — see our budgeting resources below! So you know where your money is going, but there are also many ways to get a financial boost. Did you know that you can make up to $5,600 per semester without that income affecting your OSAP? There are lots of jobs on or around campus, check out AC Hire or hit the pavement with your resume.

You can also apply for a bursary once per semester (we’ll email you when the bursary application opens!). If you are in an emergency financial situation, please visit us to talk about your situation.

When do I need to start paying back my OSAP?
You will need to start paying back your OSAP six months after you graduate or leave full-time studies.

Note: You will still be charged interest on your loan even if you’re not obligated to start paying your loans back if you are not enrolled full-time. We suggest starting your repayment as soon as possible – even if it’s just a few dollars off each paycheque.

You don’t need to start paying back your OSAP loan if you continue in school full-time for the next study period and OSAP approves your full-time OSAP application OR grants a continuation of interest-free status.  

I received a notice from the NSLSC that the end of my study period is approaching, and my repayment will begin six months later. What should I do? This notice is just for your information. If you are returning to school full-time during the 6-month period, you should either submit a full-time OSAP application or Continuation of Interest-Frees Status application through your OSAP account. Both will inform NSLSC that you are a full-time student, and your study period end date will get updated. If you are not returning to school during this time, this informs you when repayment will start.

How do I pay back my OSAP?
When it’s time to start paying back your loans, you pay the National Student Loans Service Centre, not OSAP.

Sign in to your National Student Loans Service Centre account to:

• check your student loans status and balances
• update your contact information
• apply for repayment assistance
• request a change to the terms of your repayment

Here’s more information on paying back OSAP loans and a helpful video to help you through the process.

How much will my monthly payments be?
The amount of your monthly loan payment will depend on a number of factors – your total loan amount, how quickly you want to re-pay your debt, and the interest rate. Check out the loan payment calculator.

How do I contact the National Student Loans Service Centre?
Complete contact information can be found here.

The National Student Loans Service Centre is now on YouTube and Twitter! Check them out for more information on the support they offer borrowers throughout their student loan experience.

What is a bursary?
A bursary is funding that is awarded based on financial need. You do not need to pay the money back.

How is a bursary different from a scholarship, award, or loan?
A bursary is awarded based on financial need, whereas a scholarship is generally awarded for academic achievement. Awards are issued based on academic achievement plus extracurricular activities or other activities like volunteerism and leadership. Awards can takes various forms, including a sum of money, medal, plaque, books, tools or memberships. Unlike loans, funds that are given as a bursary, award or scholarship do not need to be paid back.

How do I apply for a bursary?
Algonquin’s Bursary program is administered by Financial Aid and Student Awards and is based on criteria defined by bursary donors. The main criterion when awarding bursaries is financial need.

Algonquin’s bursary application cycle opens once at the beginning of each semester on ACSIS – you will receive an email when it’s time to apply.

Note: Many other external bursaries are available – check out scholarshipscanada.com or www.yconic.com to start, but check with your employer, your parents’ employers, or other community organizations to see if they offer bursaries or extra funding.

Note: If you get these types of bursaries, make sure to update your OSAP account (if applicable). 

How much funding could I receive from a bursary?
That depends on your financial situation. If your bursary application is approved, the amount you receive is based on a number of factors:

• Available bursary funds
• Requests received from other students for bursary assistance
• Your overall financial circumstances and total resources compared to your educational costs

The prime focus of bursary funding at Algonquin College is to assist you with your basic educational-related costs, including fees, books, living expenses, transportation and childcare. Other expenses may be taken into consideration in special cases.

Applying for a bursary does not guarantee that you will receive one, as the number of applicants usually outnumbers the amount of bursaries available. Bursary amounts can vary between semesters as the pool of both funds and applicants is constantly changing. You should never include a bursary in a budget as it is not guaranteed you will receive one.

How will I be notified about the bursary decision?
We will email your Algonquin Live email account once we have made a decision about your bursary application, usually within a month of the bursary application window closing. We will email you regardless of whether you qualify or not.

How will I get my bursary funding?
If you qualify for a bursary, it will be applied to your student account to be put towards any money owed to Algonquin College or to your next semester’s tuition.  If you will not owe any money to Algonquin College, the bursary cheque will be mailed to you directly.

If I am an international student, can I apply for a bursary?
Yes, international students can apply for bursaries like all other students. However, there are a number of bursaries that international students cannot receive.

How much should I budget for school?
That’s a big question – and the answer is different for everyone. Tuition and fees vary by program. Living at home can save a lot of money compared to living on your own. Your lifestyle, working situation, and other expenses all play a big role.

Here’s a budgeting template to help you get started. You can also check out our Tuition and Fees Estimator to get an idea of your program costs.

We also like the Mint app – it’s a free way to track your spending and help you stick to a budget.

What’s the best way to save money?
The best way to save money is… wait for it… not to spend it. But we realize that’s hard. Seriously, we get it.

Before every purchase, get in the habit of asking yourself “Do I NEED this, or do I just WANT it?”. Evaluating your needs – and saying “no” to some of your wants – can really help keep your spending in check.

Am I missing out on any great discounts?
Probably! There are tons of student discounts out there. Here are some tips:

• Use your AC Card (student ID) to get discounts at many retailers
• Shop at Loblaws College Square on Tuesdays for 10% off your groceries (that really adds up!)
• Use the Flipp app to see what’s on sale and access other coupons

What if I don’t qualify for OSAP or other provincial/territorial funding?
If you don’t qualify, you can still explore other options. Check with your local bank or credit union for a student loan or line of credit. Ask a family member for financial help (you never know!).

You can also polish up your resume (we can help with that!) and look for a job. If you work full-time during the months leading up to college, you can often earn enough to pay for your first semester. Many students find they can balance 10-15 hours of work each week in addition to their school schedule, but everyone (and every program) is different.

If you or your spouse have contributed to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), you can use some of those savings to pay for school through the Lifelong Learning Plan.

What other resources are available to me?
We’re frequently updating our list of internal and external resources here. You can also check out the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada for information on funding your education.