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)
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
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.
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.
Diploma programs
- Automotive Business (AUBU)
- Business (BUSN)
- Business – Accounting (BACN)
- Business – Marketing (BMKN)
- Civil Engineering Technician (CVET)
- Computer Programming (CMPG)
- Computer Systems Technician – Networking (CSTN)
- Developmental Services Worker (DSWR)
- Early Childhood Education (ECED)
- Environmental Technician (ENTN)
- Flight Services (FLIE)
- Game – Design and Simulation (GAME)
- Golf Industry Management (GLFI)
- Interactive Media Design – Web (IMDW)
- Interior Decorating (INDC)
- Jewellery Design, Bench Skills and Business (JDBB)
- Law Clerk (LCLR)
- Practical Nursing (PNRS)
- Protection, Security and Investigation (PSIN)
- Recreation and Leisure Services (RELN)
- Visual and Digital Media Arts (VDMA)
Graduate certificate programs
- Artificial Intelligence – Architecture, Design, and Implementation (AIDI)
- Autism and Behavioural Sciences (ATBS)
- Big Data Analytics (BDAT)
- Business Management (BMGT)
- Cybersecurity (CYBE)
- Digital Content Creation and Strategy (DGCC)
- Event Management (EVNT)
- Food and Nutrition Management (FDNM)
- Human Resources Management (HRMN)
- Kitchen and Bath Design (KBDE)
- Marketing Management (MKMN)
- Mental Health – Interprofessional Practice (MHCC)
- Mobile Application Development (MDEV)
- Project Management (PRJM)
- Research Analyst (RAPP)
- Retirement and Assisted Care Management (CARE)
- Therapeutic Recreation (TREC)
Certificate programs
- Art and Design Fundamentals (AADF)
- Bookkeeping (BOKP)
- Business Fundamentals (BSFN)
- College Foundations (COLF)
- Gas Technician (GAST)
- General Arts and Science – Liberal Studies (GASL)
- General Arts and Science – Liberal Studies Foundation (GASF)
- Medical Transcription – Health Records (MDTR)
- Office Administration – General (OFAG)
- Personal Support Worker (PSWR)
Degree programs
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.
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
For all full-time students, submit your OSAP application no later than 60 days (about two months) before the end of your study period:
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Oct. 14, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | Feb. 17, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | June 16, 2025 |
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:
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Oct. 14, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | Feb. 17, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | June 16, 2025 |
For students in micro-credential programs, submit your OSAP application no later than the end of your study period:
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Dec. 13, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | April 18, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Aug. 15, 2025 |
For students applying for Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) , the deadline to submit is:
| Term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Nov. 22, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | March 28, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | July 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:
| Term | Document deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | Nov. 3, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 | March 9, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | July 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)
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 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.
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:
- full-time students should use the Continuation of Interest-Free Status Application (apply online or via the paper application)
- part-time students should submit a Canada Student Loans Program Confirmation of Enrolment Schedule 2 form from Employment and Social Development Canada
You’ll need to repay your loan through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).
Here, you can:
- see the status of your loan
- update your contact information
- change your monthly payment amount
- apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Email: financialaid@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.
