OSAP: what it means for students
Ontario Student Assistance Program. What it means, who decides it and where to check the official source.
OSAP is Ontario's student aid program for residents attending approved schools; the province and federal government decide who receives what.
In more detail
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is the provincial student aid system for people who live in Ontario. It is run by the Government of Ontario together with federal student aid.
Applications are made through the official OSAP site. What a person receives, and whether they qualify at all, depends on the assessment of the application by the program.
OSAP is for domestic students. International students follow a different path and are usually not able to use it. A counsellor can help you organize your documents and questions, but cannot predict an assessment.
Who decides
The Government of Ontario, with federal student aid, assesses applications.
Where to check
- Ontario.ca OSAP
Official application and information pages.
What to ask a counsellor
- Which documents should I have ready before opening the OSAP application?
- What should I ask the school's financial aid office?
Questions about a term?
Bring it to a free counselling session. We explain how schools and programs work and help you prepare questions. We do not give immigration advice.
Independent advice
- Study Master Canada is an independent education counselling firm. We are an authorized agent of certain colleges and universities, directly and through recruitment partners, and the institutions compensate us. Our counselling is free to you.
- We help you choose a program and connect you with the college.
- We do not determine eligibility or funding, and we are not affiliated with any government.
- Regulated immigration work is done only by Visa Master Canada, a licensed RCIC partner, and only when you retain them directly.