About OSAP

OSAP provides access to loans and grants to students who require funding to complete their education.  OSAP should not be relied upon to pay for education, but added onto what you already have available.  To learn more about the program and the process click on the links below:

What is OSAP?

OSAP is a joint program that distributes funds on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario.  It is run by the Student Financial Assistance Branch (SFAB) of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), and in Ontario, by all post-secondary institutions (Financial Aid Offices; FAO). 

The ministry accepts applications on behalf of qualified students through an online portal, (ontario.ca/osap) and based on the information you provide, will determine the available funding for each application.  Once your application has been assessed, the FAO will help administer the remainder of the program.

Unless otherwise stated, when a full-time application for OSAP is submitted students will be automatically considered for all sources of funding associated with the program.

The following is a list of funding programs that you will be considered for the 2023/24 academic year that only requires one application, the OSAP full-time application:

Listed below are specific programs for the 2023/24 academic year that may require separate or supplemental applications:

Full-time application (funding):

Full-time application (interest and payment free status):

Part-time application (funding; must complete the OSAP for Part-time student application available online at ontario.ca/osap):
*Please note funding availability for the part-time application differs than the full-time application.  You are only eligible to receive full-time or part-time funding, not both at the same time.

  A part-time application will provide consideration to the following sources of funding:

  • Part-time Canada Student Loan
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Studies
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependents
  • Ontario Part-time Grant

  A separate application is required to be considered for the following sources of funding while 
  registered as a part-time student:

OSAP for micro-credentials are available for some courses offered at Lakehead University.  These courses are typically short-term courses.  To learn more about OSAP for micro-credentials please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/micro-credentials-ontarios-postsecondary-schools

For a complete listing of eligible OSAP for micro-credential courses offered by Lakehead University, please visit: https://microlearnontario.ca/mc-search/?k=%22Lakehead+University%22#/?k=%22Lakehead%20University%22&itemTypes=13&sortCol=1

For a list of frequently asked questions please visit: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/studentcentral/financing-budgeting/apply-to-osap/about-osap/osap-mc-faq

When you are in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works (OW) funding, you may not be entitled to receive living supports from OSAP.  Please speak directly with your caseworker to understand the implications that may result in your ODSP or OW being reduced as a result of the funding that you receive from OSAP while you study.  Until July 2023, the federal government has doubled the grants offered to students to help offset economic loss of students from the global pandemic.  The doubling of grants has resulted in some student being reassessed and having their ODSP or OW reduced or removed entirely.

Repayment:

To learn more about any of the programs please review the information in the links above.  If you have further questions please visit Student Central.