Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Full-Time Students

Official Guidelines for the 2025–2026 academic year: Updated January 2026

Being a full-time student is no mean feat, especially if you had been working before returning to school. Apart from focusing on the full-time course load, you also have to worry about paying tuition fees, managing living expenses, paying bills, and taking care of dependents if any. Thankfully, full-time students in Ontario have to fret less about finances due to the OSAP scheme offered by the provincial government of Ontario.

Ontario Student Assistance Program for Full-Time Students not just provides student aid to pay for post-secondary education, but it also offers monetary help to pay for personal living expenses and child care for full-time students in Ontario. It offers financial assistance to full-time students in the form of grants and loans.

OSAP, when coupled with other provincial and federal student aid options, offers plenty of financial support to those returning to school full-time. Not convinced yet to pursue higher education full-time? Maybe a little more digging about OSAP for Full-Time Students might help you reconsider.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for OSAP for Full-Time Students, you must meet three major requirements:

• You must either be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident living in Ontario. OSAP is also available to protected persons such as refugees who are allowed in the country based on humanitarian grounds.
• You must be enrolled in a full-time course at a designated college or university.
• You must have a genuine need for student aid from the provincial government of Ontario.

What OSAP Covers for Full-Time Students

Full-time OSAP funding can help pay for several education-related costs, including:

• Tuition and mandatory school fees
• Books, supplies, and equipment
• Living expenses while studying full-time
• Child care expenses (where eligible)

When you apply, you may qualify for a combination of grants and loans depending on your circumstances. Many full-time students receive grant support that does not need to be repaid.

How to apply

The OSAP application process is fairly simple and it generally takes less than 15 minutes to complete it. Here are the steps for a full-time student to apply for OSAP:

• Create an online OSAP account using your Social Insurance Number (SIN). An OSAP Access Number will be generated, which you will need for logging into the account in the future.
• If you are submitting the first application for OSAP for Full-Time Students in a school year, then you need to complete an online interactive module before applying for OSAP. This module helps you understand how OSAP works, what is expected of you if you receive OSAP, and some financial basics about managing money, understanding credit, etc.
• If you require financial funding from OSAP for each year of your full-time study program, then you must start a new application each year.
• Complete the OSAP application by entering details about the following:

    a) Your school and your post-secondary program.

    b) SIN number of your parents/spouse.

    c) Your tax information found in the income tax return.

    d) Your parents’/spouse’s tax information found in their income tax return.

Your family’s annual income is determined using the tax information that you share while applying.

There is a deadline to submit the OSAP application which differs according to the type of OSAP you are applying. Full-time students need to submit their OSAP application at least 60 days before the completion of the study period in a school year.

Please note that the OSAP application that you submit would also be assessed for Federal Student Grants and Loans. OSAP will allocate funding only if the Federal Student Grant doesn’t completely cover the financial need of a student.

Things to do after applying

So, you managed to submit the application for OSAP for Full-Time Students before the deadline. Awesome! But now is not the time to sit back and relax. There are a few important things that you need to do after completing the application process:

1. Check your OSAP account for updates: Once you submit your OSAP application, you can check your OSAP account for updates like the status of your application, additional documents that you or your school may need to provide, how much money you will get, how your OSAP amount will be split between grants and loans, and how soon you can access the funds.
2. Create an NSLSC account: If your OSAP amount has a loan component, then you need to register with the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). This online portal lets you manage your loans and helps with the repayment process.
3. Complete your Full-Time Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement: You need to sign a one-time contract with OSAP called the Full-Time Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) to receive, manage, and repay OSAP loans.
4. Keep an eye out for changes to your OSAP amount: Major updates such as changing your course load or family income may result in your OSAP application being reassessed, which could affect the funding you receive.

How much can you get?

Let’s talk numbers to get you more excited about OSAP. The maximum OSAP amount that you may receive depends on factors such as where you are studying, marital status, dependent children, and your overall financial need.

Ontario publishes official maximum weekly aid amounts for full-time students. These figures are updated each academic year and represent the combined total of grants and loans you may qualify for.

If you study at a public college or university in Ontario (2025–2026):

• Single student with no dependants: up to $525 per week
• Married/common-law partner or sole-support parent: up to $865 per week

If you study at an approved private postsecondary school in Ontario:

• Single student with no dependants: up to $525 per week
• Married/common-law partner or sole-support parent: up to $865 per week

If you study at a public college or university in another Canadian province:

• Single student with no dependants: up to $525 per week
• Married/common-law partner or sole-support parent: up to $865 per week

If you study at a private school in another province or outside Canada:

• Maximum weekly aid: up to $300 per week

Please note that these are maximum aid limits, not guaranteed amounts. Your actual OSAP funding will depend on your personal circumstances, tuition costs, and financial assessment.

The timeline for receiving OSAP funds depends on the correctness of your application, any additional documents required, and confirmation of enrollment. In most cases, funding is released near the beginning of each semester once everything is approved.

Repaying loans

Many of you may be wondering how to go about repaying OSAP loans. Don’t worry, we have you covered! Here are some key aspects of OSAP loan repayments:

• While you are studying full-time, OSAP loans typically remain interest-free.
• There is generally a six-month grace period after leaving school before repayments begin.
• Payments are made through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC), not directly to OSAP.
• You may qualify for repayment assistance or adjusted repayment terms depending on your financial situation.

Next Steps

Reach out today! Contact any school for the most up-to-date information and guidance on the application process. Schools can help you understand available training programs, entry requirements, and timelines, and explain how different options align with your career goals.

Career counsellors and school advisors are trained to assist prospective students at no additional cost, helping you think through the skills you want to develop and how they fit into today’s job market.

If you’re planning to return to school full-time in Ontario, speaking with an advisor is one of the best next steps you can take.