Planning to study in Ontario in 2025–26 and worried about paying for tuition and rent? OSAP combines federal and provincial grants and loans into one application, and most of the work is online.
The 2025–26 OSAP applications are open for full-time, part-time, and micro-credential programs.
This guide keeps things simple: who’s eligible this year, the real deadlines that matter, a clean application walkthrough, and what happens with interest and repayment once you’re done.
How OSAP works in 2025–26
OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) is government financial aid for Ontario residents. It:
- Combines Canada Student Grants/Loans and Ontario grants/loans into one package
- Bases funding on financial need, program type, and course load
- Can be used at approved public colleges, universities, and many private or out-of-province schools.
Your OSAP funding can include:
- Grants – you don’t repay these, unless they’re later converted to loans
- Loans – you repay these after you leave full-time studies
OSAP is not first-come, first-served, but deadlines are strict.
Who’s eligible for OSAP in 2025–26?
You’re generally on the right track if all of these apply:
- You’re a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
- You meet Ontario residency rules for OSAP
- You’re in an OSAP-approved program at an approved school (full-time, part-time, or micro-credential)
- You’re not in default or on OSAP restriction, and you’re within lifetime funding limits
- You maintain satisfactory academic progress while on OSAP.
If you’re unsure about residency (for example, you moved provinces recently), it’s worth asking your school’s financial aid office to help you check.
2025–26 OSAP deadlines you actually need to know
For most full-time students (college/university):
- Application deadline: submit your OSAP application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period
- Documents/signatures deadline: your required documents must arrive no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
- For micro-credentials and some part-time programs, the timing is similar but can vary based on very short study periods (some schools use “by the last day of the course” rules).
Simple rule:
Apply as soon as you have your admission and program dates. That gives time for:
- OSAP to assess your application
- You to sign your MSFAA
- Your school to confirm your enrolment.
How to work through the OSAP application (first-timer version)
You don’t have to do this all in one night, but this is the order most students follow.
1. Check that your school and program are OSAP-approved
- Use the OSAP school/program lookup for 2025–26 to confirm your program appears.
- This applies for full-time, part-time, and micro-credential funding.
If you can’t find your program, talk to your school’s financial aid office before assuming you’re ineligible.
2. Create or sign in to your OSAP account
- Go to ontario.ca/osap and sign in or create an account.
- Start the 2025–26 application that matches your situation:
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Micro-credential.
Have handy:
- Program name and campus
- Exact start and end dates for your study period
- Tuition and fee amounts (estimates are okay at first)
- Basic info for parents/spouse if required
You can also use the Aid Estimator first to get a rough idea of your range before you submit.
3. Fill out the application as accurately as possible
Take your time here:
- Enter your income and your family’s information honestly
- Double-check your program dates and course load
- Tell OSAP if you have dependants or a permanent disability, as this can affect grants
Small errors can cause delays later, so it’s worth an extra five minutes to review.
4. Upload required documents
Common documents include:
- Proof of identity and status (citizenship/PR/protected person)
- Income documents if asked (e.g., tax info, explanations if you didn’t file)
- Marriage/separation or dependant documentation if applicable
Follow the upload instructions in your OSAP account and make sure everything is in well before the 40-day document deadline.
5. Sign your MSFAA online (through MSCA → NSLSC)
The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) is your long-term loan agreement.
As of May 25, 2025, you access your NSLSC account through My Service Canada Account (MSCA):
- Your old NSLSC username/password no longer work
- You must sign in or register with MSCA and then connect to NSLSC
- From your NSLSC dashboard, you complete the MSFAA online.
If you need a Personal Access Code (PAC) for MSCA, it may arrive by mail and could delay funding, so it’s smart to set up MSCA early.
You only sign an MSFAA once for full-time loans (unless you’ve been out of school for a long time and are told to sign a new one).
6. Wait for your school to confirm enrolment
OSAP won’t release money until your school confirms you’re fully enrolled in the program and course load you listed.
After that:
- Tuition may go directly to your school
- Any remaining funds are deposited into your bank account
Processing time varies, but many schools say to expect several weeks from a complete application to full release of funds.
7. Keep your OSAP file up to date
Once you’re in:
- Update OSAP if your course load changes (e.g., you drop a course)
- Tell them about income changes, marital status changes, or new dependants
- Respond quickly if OSAP or your school asks for extra documents or a review form.
Ignoring messages is one of the fastest ways to lose or delay funding.
What your OSAP funding might look like
Exact amounts depend on:
- Program type and length
- Your tuition and fees
- Your income and your family situation
- Whether you have dependants or a disability
OSAP sets yearly maximums for grants and loans in each category, and your assessment shows how much of each you’re getting.
A typical package might include:
- Federal grants
- Ontario grants
- Federal loan
- Ontario loan
You can choose to take less loan than offered, or even decline the loan portion entirely.
Repayment, interest, and keeping loans interest-free while in school
Grace period
You normally have six months after you graduate or leave full-time studies before you must start repaying OSAP loans. This is your grace period.
During that time:
- Ontario (provincial) portion: interest still builds and is added to your balance
- Canada (federal) portion: interest does not accrue anymore; the Government of Canada permanently eliminated interest on Canada Student Loans effective April 1, 2023.
Staying interest-free while you’re still studying
If you stay in full-time studies but stop taking new OSAP funding, you can keep your loans in non-repayment by submitting a Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) request through your OSAP account or school.
That tells NSLSC you’re still full-time, so your existing loans don’t slip into repayment mid-degree.
A simple example: Akshar’s 2-term diploma (2025–26)
Program: 2-term college diploma
Dates: September 3, 2025 – April 24, 2026
Here’s how Akshar keeps things smooth:
- June 2025: Applies for full-time OSAP with exact program dates and estimates for books and living costs. This is months before the 60-day cutoff (around late February 2026).
- July 2025: Uploads requested documents (ID, income info) and watches the OSAP portal for updates.
- August 2025: Registers for courses; signs the MSFAA online through MSCA → NSLSC.
- Late August: The college confirms enrolment electronically.
- Early September: OSAP pays tuition directly to the college; the remaining amount lands in Akshar’s bank account to cover rent and books.
When the program ends in April 2026, Akshar’s six-month grace period runs roughly to October 2026. No interest builds on the federal portion during that time; interest continues only on the provincial portion.
If Akshar returns to full-time studies in Fall 2026 and applies for OSAP again, repayment on existing loans is postponed.
