A full-time student for OSAP purposes is: Enrolled and studying in an eligible full-time program AND Registered in a minimum 60% course load AND/OR Students with a documented and approved disability on their OSAP profile are eligible to take a 40% course load or more and still retain eligibility for full-time OSAP Course load is calculated based on number of credit hours, not number of classes. If you do not meet the minimum course load requirement for Full-Time OSAP, you may qualify for Part-Time OSAP. Students must be registered in a 60% course load (40% if there is a documented permanent disability on the OSAP profile) to be considered full-time for OSAP purposes. Students are automatically considered for both loan and grant funding.Once the application is processed, students receive a Notice of Assessment which outlines eligible funding, who it is coming from (loan/grant) and when payments are expected to be released. Students are encouraged to check the status of their OSAP application frequently by logging in to their online OSAP account. How to Apply to OSAP For specific details, visit the How to Apply page on the OSAP website. Uploading supporting documents for your OSAP application is the fastest and most efficient way to provide documents. Refer to the instructions on the OSAP website for assistance with this process or contact the Financial Aid Office. Be sure to include the student number on the OSAP application. Failure to provide your student number during the application process may result in a delay in the release of your funds. Students who are unable to upload their documents can drop off their documents at the Financial Aid Office. Financial Aid Coaches at Durham College Students should always consult with the Financial Aid Office if you: Are accepting grant-only funding from OSAP Changing course load which may impact OSAP funding Planning funds distribution, especially in a 3-semester program where funding installments do not align with tuition payment timelines Are concerned about the amount of funding you have received Are experiencing financial challenges Are unable to provide parent information to complete your OSAP application Have a restriction on your OSAP account preventing your application from processing Have filed a bankruptcy or initiated a related event (consumer proposal) and are applying for OSAP to assist with your education costs You can schedule a meeting with a Financial Aid Coach here. FAQs My OSAP is not enough to cover tuition and other expenses. What are my other options? If you think your OSAP funding might not be enough, reach out to the Financial Aid Office as early as you can. Our Financial Aid Coaches can review your OSAP application to catch any missing information or mistakes that could affect your assessment. They can also help refine your financial plan and look into additional financial aid options that might be available to support your studies. What happens if a student has not lived in Canada for at least 12 months prior to applying for OSAP? If you have questions about meeting OSAP’s residency requirements, contact the Financial Aid Office. We can assist in reviewing your situation and confirming your residency status for OSAP. For students with separated parents, is information from both parents required on the OSAP application? No. You only need to provide information for your most recent custodial parent and their spouse, if applicable. For example: If you live with your mother and she has remarried, you must provide information for your mother and your stepparent. If your custodial parent is single or widowed, only that parent’s information is required. Can a student apply for OSAP without including their parents’ information? Students can request for their OSAP application to be processed without parental information if they are estranged from or disowned by their parents. This applies when there has been a severe and/or permanent breakdown in the relationship. If you think this applies to you, contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance with the documentation needed for an Extenuating Parental Circumstances Review. When do I apply for OSAP? You should apply as early as possible to allow time to submit any required documents. Applying late or submitting documents close to the start of the term may delay the release of your funding due to high processing volumes. How do I check the status of my OSAP application? Log in to your OSAP account at ontario.ca/osap using your OAN and password. From your account, you can view your application status and check for messages from the Financial Aid Office in your OSAP Message Centre. When will I get my OSAP funds? OSAP is usually disbursed in two instalments. For instance, if you attend school from September to April, your funds will be released in September and January. If your application is complete (all supporting documents approved) and the details on your student record match the information on your OSAP application (like your year of study, program name, student number), your funds will generally be released within the first two weeks of the study period. HOW WILL I GET MY OSAP FUNDS? OSAP includes both federal and provincial loans and/or grants. Your funds may arrive as one or two deposits over several business days. You can review the total amount you are expected to receive by checking the status of your funding in your OSAP account. Who do I contact if I have questions? If you have questions, please contact the Financial Aid & Awards office directly for assistance. OSAP does not provide direct phone support to students, they will redirect you to your financial aid office. How long does it take to process the OSAP application? Document processing typically takes 3 to 6 weeks from the date of submission. Documents are reviewed in the order they are received. After review, your OSAP account will show whether each document has been approved or denied. Students should review the list of acceptable documents carefully to ensure they upload the correct files. OSAP supporting documents are accepted until 40 days before the end of your study period—documents submitted after the deadline cannot be processed. How do I update my bank information? Students who need to update their bank information for their OSAP can do so online through their NSLSC account. What if I need to make a change to my OSAP application? Once your application is submitted, only the Financial Aid Office can update your information. Please contact us to determine what is required. I forgot my OAN and password. How do I retrieve it? You can use the online troubleshooting tools on the OSAP website to recover your OAN or reset your password. If you cannot complete the reset online, you may visit any publicly funded college or university. You must have with you: Governmentissued photo ID (e.g., driver’s licence, passport, permanent resident card, citizenship card) Your SIN card or official SIN letter Note* knowing your SIN by memory is not accepted My OSAP status is waiting for the school to confirm my enrolment. What do I do? Ensure that the details on your OSAP application (such as your program and year of study) match the information on your student record. Your enrolment will be confirmed automatically once the term begins, as long as you have selected your timetable and meet the required course load. Course Load Requirements Part-Time OSAP: 20–59% Full-Time OSAP: Minimum 60% Students with a documented disability: Minimum 40% Note: Course load is determined by credit hours, not by the number of classes. My documents were denied. What do I do now? Check your OSAP Message Centre. We will always send you a message explaining why the document was denied and what steps you need to take to resubmit, if applicable. Can I get OSAP during my co-op work term? Yes. Coop work terms qualify for FullTime OSAP. When applying, you must accurately report your expected income. Incorrect or missing income information may lead to granttoloan conversion, overpayments, or restrictions. I’m in a three-semester program – will OSAP pay my tuition automatically for all three semesters? No. OSAP is released in two instalments, even if your program has three consecutive semesters. Your OSAP will only be redirected to pay fees that are owing at the time each instalment is released. Students in three-semester programs must plan to pay for their third semester using funds deposited directly into their bank account from OSAP or by applying for institutional bursaries, if eligible. I can’t pay my deposit by the deadline. What are my options? All students must pay their tuition deposit to secure their seat and enable timetable selection. If you’re experiencing financial difficulty, contact our office as early as possible to discuss your options. I paid my deposit and selected my timetable. My OSAP isn’t going to released until after the tuition deadline. Should I be concerned? Students receiving sufficient OSAP funds to cover their fees will automatically have their tuition payments deferred until their OSAP is released. It is your responsibility to check the status of your OSAP application and ensure your application is complete within 60 days of the start of the term. What if my OSAP is not enough to cover my tuition and book costs? If your OSAP funding is insufficient to cover your tuition and books, and you do not have access to other resources, connect with our office to explore your options. When can I apply for bursary funding? The bursary application opens within the first two weeks of each study period. You can access it through MyDC under the Financial Aid section. Visit our Forms page if you need help navigating. My OSAP application says I need to submit parent information, but I can’t provide it. You may request to have your OSAP application assessed without providing information or consent from one or both parents if you are estranged or have been disowned. This applies in situations where a serious and lasting breakdown in the relationship has occurred. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for guidance on the documentation required to complete this review. I’ve applied for OSAP but receive an error message when I try to pick my timetable. Students must pay their tuition deposit before they can select their timetable. If you have not yet paid your deposit, please refer to the tuition deposit information for assistance. My OSAP is expected to arrive after studies begin but I need my books before then. What can I do? OSAP funds generally arrive within 1–3 weeks after the start of classes. We encourage students to have a short-term financial plan to cover book costs until funding is released. If your funds are delayed for reasons beyond your control, contact our office to discuss possible options. My OSAP is not enough to cover my expenses. Meet with a Financial Aid Coach to review your OSAP assessment. We can check for missing or incorrect information, determine whether you qualify for any reviews, and help explore additional financial supports. I’m overwhelmed with my course load and want to drop a few of my classes, will this affect my OSAP? Yes—it may. Contact the Financial Aid Office before dropping any classes. Students must maintain a 60% course load (or 40% for students with disabilities documented with OSAP) to remain eligible for full-time funding. Dropping below these thresholds may result in grant-to-loan conversion, academic probation or restriction, and/or funding overpayments. Note: Course load is calculated based on credit hours, not by number of classes. I HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM MY PROGRAM. WILL I BE ABLE TO GET OSAP WHEN I RETURN TO FULL-TIME STUDIES? Withdrawing after receiving OSAP may result in academic probation, restrictions, or overpayments, which can affect future eligibility. Meet with Financial Aid to review your situation and discuss next steps. If your withdrawal was due to circumstances beyond your control, you may qualify for a review. How do I notify OSAP that I have an exceptionality or need accommodations? Students can declare a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability on their OSAP application. This will generate a Disability Verification Form, which must be completed by a regulated healthcare provider. Once approved by the Financial Aid Office, students may be considered for disability‑related OSAP grants. Having a verified disability on record also allows students to take at least a 40% course load while remaining eligible for full-time OSAP. Students may also qualify for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD), which assists with the costs of assistive technology, services, or supports. The initial step is to meet with our Access & Support Centre, as we work closely with their team to administer the BSWD program and ensure the necessary supports are identified. Do I submit disability documentation to OSAP, the college, or both? To qualify for disability-related OSAP supports—including a reduced course load and access to disability grants—you must submit a completed OSAP Disability Verification Form. This form must be completed by a regulated healthcare provider and uploaded to your application. Students can also submit documentation to the Access and Support Centre to help identify appropriate academic accommodations and supports during their studies.
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