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OSAP/financial aid

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides help through loans and grants based on your calculated financial need. Learn more about eligibility, when to apply, how to apply and more – including other ways to pay your way to graduation.

For the most up-to-date information regarding changes to the OSAP program, please visit the OSAP website. Questions? Contact Financial Aid and Awards.

What is OSAP?

OSAP is a government-funded financial aid program that can help you pay for college.

OSAP offers funding through:

  • grants
    • money you don’t have to pay back
  • student loans
    • money you need to repay once you’re done school with interest

OSAP can help you pay for:

  • tuition and ancillary fees
  • books, supplies and equipment
  • living expenses (full-time students only)
  • child care (full- and part-time students with children)
OSAP logo

How much OSAP funding will I receive?

The amount of OSAP funding you’re eligible to receive depends on whether you’re single, married, in a common-law relationship, and if you have dependents.

The amount of assistance you may receive will be determined by assessing your financial need. This is done by adding together the costs for your education and living expenses, and then subtracting any financial resources that may be available to you.

OSAP offers an aid estimator tool to help you determine your educational costs and get an estimate of the financial aid you could receive. As well, maximum amounts of aid are listed on the OSAP website.

Who is eligible for OSAP?

To be eligible for OSAP, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a protected person
  • be applying for an approved postsecondary program at Georgian
  • Be enrolled in an eligible course load

Approved programs at Georgian

Micro-credentialsGeorgian College Chevron

OSAP is available for select micro-credentials at Georgian.

Please check the Micro-credentials Portal for the list of micro-credential programs that are eligible for OSAP funding.

Please visit the Government of Ontario website dedicated to OSAP funding for these programs for more information.

Part-time programs Georgian College Chevron

If you’re interested in applying for part-time OSAP, please be advised that only the programs listed below may be eligible.

If you’re registering for any of the eligible programs and wish to apply for OSAP, eight weeks prior to registering for your first course, please contact financialaid@georgiancollege.ca to determine your individual eligibility and course load requirements and/or restrictions.

Additional information for part-time studentsGeorgian College Chevron

You’re in part-time studies if you’re taking between 20 and 59 per cent of a full course load. Your full course load percentage is defined by your school.

Part-time OSAP provides assistance to students studying on a part-time basis. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
  • take between 20 and 59 per cent of a full course load
  • study at the postsecondary level – Ontario college degree, diploma or certificate program
  • have a total family gross income that falls below the applicable maximum based on your family size

Applications are completed on a per-term basis, and you must be registered in courses before applications can be processed by the Financial Aid and Awards office.

Ineligible offeringsGeorgian College Chevron

The following types of programs are not eligible for OSAP funding:

  • Academic upgrading
  • Continuing Education courses
  • High school equivalency
  • Full-cost recovery program
  • Transfers between college and university
  • General studies, exploratory studies, open studies, independent undergraduate studies or non-degree/special or unclassified students
  • Open learning
  • Apprenticeship training
  • Pre-apprenticeship programs
  • Modified apprenticeship programs
  • Law Society of Ontario

Questions about OSAP eligibility?

We’re here to help!

Reach out to Georgian’s Financial Aid and Awards team:

• Email financialaid@georgiancollege.ca
• Call 705.722.1530

When do I apply for OSAP?

The 2024-25 OSAP application is now open!

OSAP applications open in the spring (April/May) of each academic year. It’s recommended you complete your online application and submit all the necessary documents a minimum eight to ten weeks prior to your program start date.

Please see below for individual application deadlines by student type and intake, as well as deadlines to submit documentation to support your application.


2024-25 application deadlines

Full-time studentsGeorgian College Chevron

For all full-time students, submit your OSAP application no later than 60 days (about two months) before the end of your study period:

TermApplication deadline
Fall 2024Oct. 14, 2024
Winter 2025Feb. 17, 2025
Summer 2025June 16, 2025
Part-time students with study periods of 21 weeks or moreGeorgian College Chevron

For part-time students with study periods of 21 weeks (about five months) or more, submit your OSAP application no later than 60 days (about two months) before the end of your study period:

TermApplication deadline
Fall 2024Oct. 14, 2024
Winter 2025Feb. 17, 2025
Summer 2025June 16, 2025
Students in micro-credential programsGeorgian College Chevron

For students in micro-credential programs, submit your OSAP application no later than the end of your study period:

TermApplication deadline
Fall 2024Dec. 13, 2024
Winter 2025April 18, 2025
Summer 2025Aug. 15, 2025
Students applying for Continuation of Interest-Free StatusGeorgian College Chevron

For students applying for Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) , the deadline to submit is:

TermApplication deadline
Fall 2024Nov. 22, 2024
Winter 2025March 28, 2025
Summer 2025July 25, 2025

2024-25 document deadlines

For full-time and part-time students, Financial Aid and Awards must receive all documents no later than 40 days (about 1 ½ months) from the end of your study period:

TermDocument deadline
Fall 2024Nov. 3, 2024
Winter 2025March 9, 2025
Summer 2025July 6, 2025

How do I apply for OSAP?

Step-by-step guide to apply for OSAP

Check out our step-by-step how to apply for OSAP page.

Applications are available online at ontario.ca/osap. Information regarding income thresholds, funding maximums, and application deadlines can also be found online.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the Student Access Guarantee?Georgian College Chevron

The Student Access Guarantee (SAG) is a partnership program between the ministry and Ontario’s public colleges and universities.

Through SAG, Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities are required to ensure that financial need is not a barrier to accessing education. If OSAP doesn’t cover a student’s assessed needs for expenses directly related to their program (e.g. books, tuition and mandatory fees,) a student may be eligible for additional financial aid. Schools provide this funding through a combination of non-repayable sources, including bursaries, scholarships or work study programs.

You’ll automatically be considered for the Student Access Guarantee based on the information on your full-time OSAP application.

Please contact the Financial Aid and Awards office for additional information

If I withdraw from course(s) or my program, how is my OSAP funding impacted?Georgian College Chevron

If you withdraw or drop a course(s) and are taking less than 60 per cent of a full course load (40 per cent for students with a permanent disability), you’re considered withdrawn and no longer eligible for the rest of the study period.

As a result:

  • you’ll be required to repay your loans six months after the withdrawal
  • you may have to repay money you’ve already received (called an overpayment) before you can receive future OSAP funding

In addition, please see the information on academic progress restriction and probation.

If you’re thinking about changing your course load, watch this video to find out how this may affect your OSAP funding.

How can I keep my OSAP funding interest-free?Georgian College Chevron

Your OSAP loans will not accrue interest in some situations. If you’re getting OSAP for full-time students, you’ll automatically be interest-free once your school confirms enrolment.

You can apply to be interest-free on a previous loan if you’re continuing in part- or full-time study and NOT receiving full- or part-time OSAP:

What do I need to know about OSAP repayment?Georgian College Chevron

You’ll need to repay your loan through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).

Here, you can:

You’ll receive a notice in the mail that your loan repayments are about to begin.

If you don’t receive notice by mail, make sure you contact NSLSC before your six-month non-repayment period is over. You’ll want to review all aspects of your loan(s) and finalize details concerning repayment.

View video on how to repay OSAP.

MORE ways to pay your way to graduation

In addition to OSAP, you can also help your way to graduation through part-time jobs, paid co-op, budget planning, personal savings, as well as the following options.

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Awards, scholarships and bursaries

Close to $4 million in awards, scholarships and bursaries is awarded to Georgian students each year. Many external opportunities are available, too.

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Work Study Program

Earn while you learn! Take an on-campus job and work part-time while you complete your studies through the Georgian’s Work Study Program.

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Student line of credit

Did you know that most banks offer student loans? Contact yours to learn about student line of credit options, procedures and deadlines.

Contact Financial Aid and Awards

Financial Aid and Awards provides a centralized service located at the Barrie Campus within the Office of the Registrar.

Phone: 705.722.1530
Fax: 705.722.5136
Emailfinancialaid@georgiancollege.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The services above are available both in person and remotely. Please be sure to include your full name and student number in your email or voicemail.

two female students and one male student sitting outside on the grass in front of the Georgian sign at the Barrie Campus main entrance