Government Student Loans
What is OSAP?
Am I eligible for OSAP?
When should I apply for OSAP?
I made a mistake on my OSAP application. What should I do?
I don't live in Ontario. Can I apply for OSAP?
I am new to Canada, can I apply for OSAP?
Do I have to pay interest on student loans?
What happens if I withdraw from studies?
When and where do I get my OSAP funding?
What do I need to bring to pick up my loan certificate?
I lost my Social Insurance Card. Where do I get a new one?
Q. What is OSAP?
OSAP is a term used to refer to provincially and federally funded student financial assistance in Ontario. OSAP provides assistance in various forms to over 200,000 students per year.
NEED FURTHER INFORMATION? Please contact us and speak to one of our advisors.
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Q. Am I eligible for OSAP?
In order to be eligible to apply for OSAP, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Registered in a full-time program in a OSAP approved College (Robetech Institute is an OSAP approved College)
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have protected person status (international students are not eligible)
- Resident of Ontario
- Registered in an OSAP-approved program (most diploma programs at Robetech are eligible).
- Previous OSAP student loans are in good standing (i.e. you must not have defaulted on a student loan or be on OSAP restriction).
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress while receiving OSAP assistance.
- Demonstrated financial need as calculated by the government (gross family income as well as student resources and assets are taken into consideration).
To find out if you are eligible for OSAP, please contact us now and speak to one of our qualified Financial Aid Administrator.
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Q. When should I apply for OSAP?
You should apply as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline. Please contact us now to submit an inquiry form for your questions.
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Q. I made a mistake on my OSAP application. What should I do?
Contact us immediately and our Financial Aid Officer will assist you to correct the mistakes.
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Q. I don't live in Ontario. Can I apply for OSAP?
Unfortunately, you can not. If your home province is not Ontario, then you must apply student loan assistance through your home province for information regarding government assistance.
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Q. I am new to Canada, can I apply for OSAP?
If you have never lived in Canada before moving to Ontario, please contact us now to find out if you are eligible for the funding.
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Q. Do I have to pay interest on student loans?
While you are attending school full time, there is no interest charged to you. It is important to note that you alone are responsible for ensuring that your lending institution is kept informed of your registration status. If you do not negotiate a Canada Student Loan/Ontario Student Loan in each term of your studies, then you must complete a Continuation of Interest Free Status Form (link: https://osap.gov.on.ca/prodconsum/groups/forms/documents/forms/tcont003388.pdf) and submit the form to the Student Financial Aid Office. This will advise the lending institution that you are registered in school full-time. You must complete a Continuation of Interest Free Status Form for each study term that you are attending school full time and not receiving OSAP loans.
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Q. What happens if I withdraw from studies?
If you withdraw from your program, or stop attending classes, your application will be reassessed and your original OSAP entitlement will be recalculated based on the number of weeks you were in attendance. You will immediately lose your interest-free status on your Canada and Ontario Student Loans, and you must make arrangements to begin repayment of your outstanding Canada/Ontario Student Loan debt six months from the month in which you ceased full time attendance. If you return to school within the six-month period and you notify your lending institution of your registration status, your loans will return to interest-free status.
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Picking Up OSAP
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Q. When and where do I get my OSAP funding?
OSAP funding is released once it is approved by the government and once you have started your study. You may sign and pick up your OSAP loan certificate at the Financial Aid Office of our College.
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Q. What do I need to bring to pick up my loan certificate?
Please bring a government issued Photo I.D. and your Social Insurance Card:
- Photo I.D. (e.g. Driver's Licence, or Passport)
- Social Insurance Card (original card, photocopy of Social Insurance Card or the receipt for a replacement card)
- Please note, health card is not an acceptable Photo I.D.
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Q. I lost my Social Insurance Card. Where do I get a new one?
If your SIN card is lost or stolen, you can order a new one at any offices of Human Resources Development Canada.
You will receive a receipt for your card but the actual card will be mailed to you.
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