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Adult Learner Skills

Government Financial Aid

  1. OSAP: Ontario and Canada Student Loans, Scholarships and Grants

Canada Student Loans, Grants, Bursaries and Scholarships are open to all Canadians.

Those who are a Canadian citizen and an Ontario resident for at least 12 months could be eligible for OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program) and other financial aid programs.

Canadian students living outside of Ontario can also apply for financial aid through their home province or territory.

International students can apply for scholarships offered through the federal government, community agencies and colleges and universities directly.

What is OSAP?

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) offers two kinds of money:

  • grants: money that does not have to be payed back
  • student loans: money that must be payed back

Both the Ontario government and the federal government provide this money.

Through one OSAP application, students have access to a mix of different financial aid programs, depending on their circumstances.

 

Students can get OSAP to attend a public or private postsecondary school located anywhere in the world, as long as it’s approved for OSAP.

There are different OSAP aid programs – grants, scholarships, bursaries and loans. OSAP considers students for all programs when they apply online as a full-time or part-time student.

OSAP is open to Ontario residents who are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person. When determining if someone is eligible, the government considers:

  • their status (e.g., married or a dependent student)
  • the school they attend/will attend (a school needs to be approved for OSAP)
  • program of study
  • course load (full or part-time)
  • study period
  • academic progress
  • education expenses
  • their financial contribution and their family’s financial contribution

  1. OSAP - Bursary for Students with Disabilities

The Bursary for Students with Disabilities provides financial assistance for educational-related costs associated with a permanent disability. Funding could be granted for services and equipment such as tutoring, Learning Disability Assessments, and specialized equipment, including computer hardware/software.

  1. Ontario Special Bursary Program (OSBP)

The Ontario Special Bursary Program (OSBP) is a student financial aid program that offers bursary assistance to help cover educational costs. Students are eligible for such assistance if they are taking postsecondary courses on a part-time basis because they are unable to attend school full time and they have a low family income. Students may also be eligible to receive a bursary if they have a low family income and are taking postsecondary courses on a full- or a part-time basis to upgrade their academic skills. The bursary does not have to be repaid if students complete the course(s) in which they registered.

  1. First Generation Bursary

First generation bursary provides monies for postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need. A first generation student is defined as a student whose parents have not participated in postsecondary studies.

For more specific information, please visit the following OSAP websites: https://osap.gov.on.ca/

https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/index.htm

  1. CanLearn (Canada Student Grants): http://www.canlearn.ca/eng/loans_grants/index.shtml

    • Grant for Part-Time Studies

The Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies is a government grant available to those enrolled in a part-time program that is at least 12 weeks long within a 15-week period. Students can get this grant for each year of their studies (including undergraduate and graduate levels) as long as they still qualify.

Eligibility

Students could be eligible for this grant if they apply and:

  • are a part-time student in financial need
  • are a part-time student in a qualified program at a designated school
  • have successfully completed the courses they have been given a grant for in the past; and
  • their total family income is less than the income threshold below

  1. Apprenticeship Grants

Apprentices can receive up to $6,000 in grants to pay tuition, travel, tools, or other expenses. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/apprenticeship/index.shtml

  1. Apprenticeship Incentive Grant

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year/level, up to a maximum of $2,000. This grant helps registered apprentices in designated Red Seal trades get started. Please consult the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) program page for more information.

  1. Apprenticeship Completion Grant

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) is a taxable cash grant of $2,000. This grant helps registered apprentices who have completed their training become certified journeypersons in designated Red Seal trades. Please consult the Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) program page for more information.

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