Ontario residents

Full-time OSAP

The deadline to submit your online OSAP application is 60 days before the end of your study period. Please note that the end of a study period is the end of the final exam period for a term.

The deadline to submit your supporting documents is 40 days before the end of your study period.

Example: If your study period ends on April 27, your application deadline would be February 26. Your deadline to submit all documents would be March 18.

Part-time OSAP

If your study period is four to 20 weeks: Submit your online part-time OSAP application and supporting documents no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.

If your study period is 21 weeks or longer: Submit your part-time application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period and supporting documents no later than 40 days before the end of your study period. 

To determine the type of application you must submit based on course load and spring-summer study period, use the spring-summer financial aid tool.

Summer OSAP

The deadline to submit the OSAP Spring-Summer Extension form is 40 days before the end of your full-time spring-summer study period. Applications submitted after these deadlines can’t be processed.   
   
Example: If you’re submitting a OSAP Spring-Summer Extension form and your study period is from May 2 to June 16, your application deadline would be May 7.

You can use the OSAP Aid Estimator for Full-time Students to see approximately how much OSAP you’ll be entitled to. The amount of your loans is based entirely on your financial need, as calculated by OSAP. Under exceptional circumstances, students may appeal the loan amount. For information and to get the appeal forms, visit the OSAP website. You must submit your appeal forms to the University of Ottawa Financial Aid and Awards Service.

OSAP payments are automatically applied to your university fees

Your OSAP funds are transferred directly to the University of Ottawa to pay your university fees. This process is called “redirection”. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will send all or part of your OSAP funds directly to the University to pay your university fees on your behalf.

If your OSAP funding does not fully cover your university fees, you must pay the difference by the due date indicated in the Important academic dates and deadlines. For information on how to pay the balance of your fees, please see Payment of fees.

OSAP net billing process

This tutorial describes and explains the OSAP net billing process. You will learn how to find out how much OSAP intends to transfer to the University to pay for your tuition fees. You will also learn how to check that these amounts are reflected in your statement of account.

How do the funds get transferred?

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will ask uOttawa’s Financial Aid and Awards Service to confirm your enrolment. We will confirm your enrolment and let OSAP know how much money must be redirected to the University of Ottawa to pay your university fees. This information will then be transmitted to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC), which will then direct your payment to the University.

I submitted an OSAP Application for Part-Time Students, will my funds be redirected to the University?

No. The redirection of funds only affects OSAP applications for full-time students. You must pay your university fees by the due date.

When does this process begin?

This process begins at the earliest 15 days before the start of the term; therefore, we recommend that you complete your OSAP application, including all mandatory signature pages, by early July. This will ensure that you are eligible for the grace period and that you receive the fall installment of your OSAP funding in September.

Make sure that your uOttawa course selection matches your OSAP course load

To avoid delays, we strongly recommend that you check that your uOttawa course selection matches the OSAP course load you indicated on your OSAP application. If the two do not match, contact Financial Aid and Awards immediately to let us know that you have changed your course load: otherwise, your Confirmation of Enrolment will be delayed, which will delay your OSAP payment.

Where can I check how much OSAP funding has been redirected to the University?

This amount will be displayed in your Student Account. To view this information, log into uoZone. Under Applications, click Statement of Account. Then click on the OSAP net billing tab. Note that this function will be available in August.

What if I have funds left over?

If there are any OSAP funds remaining after your fees have been paid, the remaining funds will be deposited into your bank account.

What happens if the University doesn’t forward the information the Ministry needs to redirect my OSAP payment, and my tuition fees are not paid?

In your OSAP application you made the following declaration: “I must have financial assistance to continue my postsecondary studies, and I will use this financial assistance to pay my academic fees first and then to cover educational and living costs related to my studies.” 

If, for any reason, the University of Ottawa does not forward the information the Ministry needs in order to redirect your OSAP payment, your OSAP funds will be deposited directly into your bank account. If this occurs, you are responsible for ensuring that your tuition fees are paid by the deadline specified in your statement of account.

To continue receiving OSAP funding throughout your studies, you need to complete a new application each year. You'll need to update your personal information such as income, marital status and contact information at the same time. Failure to do so when submitting a new application can result in complications with your eligibility to receive future OSAP loans. Complete your new application online through the OSAP website using your OSAP access number and password. It can take from six to eight weeks to process your new application.

CO-OP students

Starting with your first work term, you must submit a separate OSAP application for each individual term (including your work terms) for which you wish to request financial aid. 

If you are an undergraduate student, note that your scholarships and bursaries are only payable when enrolled in a study term (no payment during work term).

If you have received OSAP assistance in the past, are attending university full time but are not going to receive OSAP assistance for this term, be sure to apply for a Continuation of Interest-Free Status by accessing your OSAP account online before the deadline. If you fail to do so, you will be required to start repaying your student loans even if you are still attending university.

Graduate students

If you received OSAP assistance in 2020-2021, check the study period start and end dates on your OSAP application. You don't need to submit a request for the Spring/Summer term if your application was assessed for the period ending in August. If your application wasn't assessed for the Spring/Summer term, you need to complete a new application for OSAP.

Keep your contact information, income information and any other information in your student file up to date

Update your personal information with OSAP and the Financial Aid and Awards Service every year. You must be sure to update your contact information, income and marital status if there are changes as they can have an impact on your loan situation.

Repay loan overpayments

A loan overpayment happens when you received funds that exceed your entitlement for that academic year. Situations that can lead to an OSAP overpayment include a change in your course load, marital status or income as well as correction of inaccurate information on your application such as your income or income of a parent or partner and withdrawing from your program. You'll be notified in writing if a loan overpayment occurs. You'll be asked to repay the full amount to the National Student Loan Service Centre. When making a payment, be sure to request a receipt and submit a copy to the Financial Aid and Awards Service.

Maintain a satisfactory academic standing

You must meet the academic requirements of your program in order to remain eligible for financial assistance. Switching programs multiple times, reducing your course load from full time to part time, withdrawing from courses or too many course failures constitutes unsatisfactory academic progress and could affect your future eligibility for financial aid. Each time you cancel or drop courses resulting in a change in course load or study period, your OSAP will be reassessed. This can result in a loan overpayment, which you must repay.

• If you withdraw from your studies or decide to attend another university before you receive your OSAP funds, you must advise the National Student Loan Service Centre. If you withdraw from university after receiving your funds but prior to attending any classes, you must reimburse the full amount advanced to you.
• If you withdraw from your program, you must inform the Financial Aid and Awards Service as soon as possible. The amount of your loans will be recalculated based on the number of weeks you attended university full time. Your interest-free status will be withdrawn and you'll be required to make arrangements to start repaying your outstanding loans within six months. If you return to school full time within that six month period, you must again notify the Financial Aid and Awards Service in order to stop interest from accruing on your loan balance.
• If you're temporarily ill or disabled, you may be exempt from the satisfactory academic standing policy for the period of your illness or disability. If you find yourself in one of these situations, please contact the Financial Aid and Awards Service to make an appointment with a counsellor to discuss your situation. Please provide the Financial Aid and Awards Service with a written explanation of your situation.

Other conditions for the Spring/Summer term

Once you've submitted your Spring/Summer OSAP application, it can be reassessed only once following the addition of any courses. Any other change will result in your Spring/Summer OSAP application being reassessed. You must submit a completed OSAP Spring/Summer Modification Form (PDF, 209KB) as soon as possible after adding or dropping any courses.

Be sure to advise Financial Aid and Awards of any change to your income by submitting a completed OSAP Spring/Summer Modification Form (PDF, 209KB) as quickly as possible following your income change.

Paying back your OSAP loans

You're required to begin making loan repayments six months after one of the following:

• you complete your program;
• you change your status to part-time;
• you withdraw from your studies altogether;
• you interrupt your studies for more than six consecutive months;
• you reached your lifetime limit for financial assistance.

However, if you decide to return to full-time studies again, you may not be required to continue making your payments during the time you are studying. Unless you've reached your lifetime OSAP limit, you may be able to postpone repayment of any loan debt you incurred for previous studies to a future date.

Interest

Although you aren't required to make a payment for six months from the date you complete your studies, interest begins to accrue as soon as you complete your program or withdraw from your studies. This grace period is commonly known as the "non-repayment period." You can, however, begin repaying your loan during this time if you wish.

Continuation of Interest-Free Status

If you have received OSAP assistance in the past and are attending university full time without receiving OSAP assistance, be sure to complete a Continuation of Interest Free Status Application before the deadline. If you fail to do so, you will be required to start repaying your student loans even if you are still attending university.

Contact your lender

Contact your lender to make your repayment arrangements. Some lenders do contact students before the six-month grace period ends. However, if the lender is unable to reach you, you're responsible for contacting the lender to set up a loan agreement and for managing your loan payments. If you don't contact the lender, you may find your loan payments are being automatically withdrawn from the same bank account where your loans were deposited. If you don't have the funds to cover the payments in that account, you risk going into default, which will negatively affect your credit rating for years.

Tips to repay your loans

• Make payments while you're studying if at all possible. Even the smallest contributions significantly reduce the overall amount you repay.
• Make lump sum payments. Your loan principal decreases more quickly, resulting in less interest in the long run.
• Make payments during the non-payment (grace) period. Any payments will reduce the interest that has accrued since you finished university. You'll also be able to claim the interest payments on your income tax returns.
• Increase the amount of your monthly payments. This will reduce the total outstanding loan amount and reduce the interest you'll pay on your loans.
• Choose weekly or bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments. This will help reduce the interest you pay and shorten the time required to pay off your loan.

Resources to help you repay your loans

• OSAP: How to repay your student debt
• Paying back your Canada Student Loan
• Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses