Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Event
Navigating OSAP: Your guide to applying for financial aid
Are you a domestic student at Sheridan looking to navigate the ins and outs of OSAP? Join us for an informative webinar where we will guide you through the process of applying for financial aid to support your postsecondary education.
What is OSAP?
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial assistance program funded by the provincial and federal governments. Eligible students can receive grants and loans to help them pay for postsecondary education.
When you apply for OSAP, you're automatically considered for both grants (money that you don't have to pay back) and loans (money that you do have to pay back).
Funding is available for both full-time and part-time postsecondary students, and is based on several factors. See the "OSAP assessment" section below for details.
For assistance with OSAP applications, view our video series.
OSAP deadlines
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Full-time application deadlines
Submit your full-time OSAP application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.
The Financial Aid and Awards Office must receive the following no later than 40 days before the end of your study period:
- Supporting documentation (e.g., signature and declaration pages)
- Request for review (if applicable)
2024–2025 academic year
Semester Deadline to apply Deadline to submit supporting documents Fall only
October 14, 2024
November 3, 2024
Fall and Winter
February 16, 2025
March 8, 2025
Winter only
February 16, 2025
March 8, 2025
Winter and Spring/Summer
June 16, 2025
July 6, 2025
Spring/Summer only
June 16, 2025
July 6, 2025
Spring/Summer – Compressed Session A
April 21, 2025
May 11, 2025
Spring/Summer – Compressed Session B
June 16, 2025
July 6, 2025
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Part-time application deadlines
Submit your part-time OSAP application no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
2024–2025 academic year
Semester Deadline to apply Deadline to submit supporting documents Fall only
November 3, 2024
November 3, 2024
Winter only
March 8, 2025
March 8, 2025
Spring/Summer only
July 6, 2025
July 6, 2025
Spring/Summer – Compressed Session A
May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025
Spring/Summer – Compressed Session B
July 6, 2025
July 6, 2025
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Supporting documents deadline
The Financial Aid and Awards Office must receive the following no later than 40 days before the end of your study period:
- Supporting documentation (e.g., signature and declaration pages, etc.)
- Request for review (if applicable)
Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) deadlines
The BSWD helps eligible full-time and part-time postsecondary students with the costs of educational services and equipment related to their disability.
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Full-time and part-time application deadlines
Submit your BSWD application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.
-
Supporting documents deadlines
Submit your BSWD documentation no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
2024–2025 academic year
Semester Deadline to apply Deadline to submit supporting documents Fall only
October 14, 2024
November 3, 2024
Fall and Winter
February 16, 2025
March 8, 2025
Winter only
February 16, 2025
March 8, 2025
Winter and Spring/Summer
June 16, 2025
July 6, 2025
Spring/Summer only
June 16, 2025
July 6, 2025
OSAP assessment
The OSAP assessment considers several factors, including:
- Educational expenses (e.g., tuition, books, supplies and equipment)
- Personal expenses (e.g., living costs)
- Resources (e.g., family income and scholarships)
- Course load*
*Course load, for OSAP purposes:
- Full-time studies: students taking 60% or more of a full course load, or 40% or more for students with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability
- Part-time studies: students taking 20–59% of a full course load
Additional funding may be available for under-represented learners.
Find out the maximum amount of OSAP assistance that you may be eligible to receive.
What to do after you apply
You can check the status of your OSAP application as soon as you submit it by logging in to your OSAP account.
Your OSAP account contains important information about your application, such as:
- the status of your application/whether it has been processed
- whether you need to provide any additional information or documents
- how much OSAP assistance you're eligible to receive
- when your OSAP assistance will be available
How to submit your documents
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1. Scan each document separately
For optimal quality, please follow the scanning instructions below:
- Scan your document as a black and white
- Select “TEXT” format option from your scanner
- OPTIONAL: for “dpi” option, set it to 150 or 200
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2. Upload your documents directly to OSAP
- Scan document and create PDF file
- Click "Upload" for the corresponding document
- Using the "Browse" button, locate your PDF file
- Select the file and click "Open"
Notes:
- The uploading function will only work with PDF file format
- The file can’t be more than 2MB in size
Declaration and Signature pages
- All four (4) pages must be scanned and uploaded.
- For signing, please use dark blue or black ink.
- Student, spousal and parent’s declaration and signature forms must be scanned separately and uploaded into their corresponding links.
Confirmation of enrolment
Confirmation of enrolment is an automated process that is done before the start of the term. If your application status indicates that a confirmation of enrolment is required after the start of term, please make sure you've submitted the following:
- signature and declaration pages
- online Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)
- any other documentation requested through your OSAP account
If all documents have been submitted and a confirmation of enrolment is still required, please contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office at any Sheridan campus:
- Davis Campus (Brampton): Room B212I
- Hazel McCallion Campus (Mississauga): Room A147
- Trafalgar Road Campus (Oakville): Room D100
Phone or in-person: Join our QLess kiosk for support.
OSAP appeals
If your OSAP assessment is $0, or is insufficient to meet your needs (and you are not receiving the OSAP maximum amounts), please visit the Financial Aid and Awards Office to review your application for possible appeals. Please note that there are limited appeal options available. Appeals may be made only after your application has been processed and completed by the Financial Aid and Awards Office and after the 10th day of classes.
Continuation of Interest-Free Status
If you’re in school full-time, have previous OSAP loans, and are not currently receiving OSAP, then you must make sure your OSAP loans are placed into interest-free status. When your loans are in interest-free status, you're not required to make loan payments.
Full-time OSAP recipients
Complete a Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) form if you're currently studying full-time but NOT applying for OSAP and/or have not yet received your funding. This will ensure any previous OSAP loans remains interest-free.
Part-time OSAP recipients
Complete a Schedule 2 form if you're currently studying part-time but NOT applying for OSAP and/or have not yet received your funding. This will ensure any previous OSAP loans remains interest-free.
How to apply for Continuation of Interest-Free Status
Log in to your OSAP account and complete the online application. You can monitor the status of your application online.
- The earliest you can apply is 15 days before the start of your study period.
- Applications must be submitted no later than 21 days before the end of your study period.
Out-of-province loans
If you're an out-of-province student attending Sheridan and want to apply for government funding, you'll need to apply through your home province.
- Alberta: Alberta Student Aid
- British Columbia: StudentAidBC
- Manitoba: Manitoba Student Aid
- New Brunswick: Student Financial Services
- Newfoundland: Student Aid
- Nova Scotia: Student Assistance
- North West Territories: NWT Student Financial Assistance
- Nunavut: Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students
- Prince Edward Island: Student Loans, Bursaries, Grants & Awards
- Quebec: Loans & Bursaries Program
- Saskatchewan: Student Loans
- Yukon Territories: Student Financial Assistance