OSAP eligibility for degree students
To apply for full-time OSAP aid, you must:
- register in full-time studies for a study period of at least 12 weeks.
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have protected person status; international students are ineligible.
- have Ontario residency, that is, have lived in Ontario for at least 12 months immediately prior to your study period.
- register in an OSAP-approved degree program. Most degree programs at York are OSAP approved.
- be neither in default on a previous OSAP student loan nor on OSAP restriction.
- maintain satisfactory academic progress while receiving OSAP aid.
- have demonstrated financial need as calculated by the government. Gross family income as well as student resources and assets are taken into consideration.
Eligibility for Certificate, Non-Degree and Students on Exchange
Calculating course load
Course load refers to the number of registered course credits for a session.
For undergraduate students without a permanent disability, a 100% course load in the Fall/Winter session is 15 credits in each term. This is not necessarily equivalent to registering for 30 credits in the Fall/Winter session, unless exactly half of your registered credits are in each term.
Registered credits for full-year (Y term) courses are split evenly in the fall and winter terms. For example, if you are registered in one Y term course worth six credits, then assign three credits to your fall term course load and three credits to your winter term course load.
Your tuition, compulsory fees, and book costs in the OSAP assessment are calculated based on the course load. Incorrect course load information will delay receipt of your aid.
| Category of student | Course load needed to apply for full-time OSAP | Course load equivalent in registered credits |
| Undergraduates without a permanent disability |
At least 60% course load |
At least 9 credits in each term |
| Undergraduates with a permanent disability |
At least 40% |
At least 6 credits in each term |
| Graduate student |
Registered as a full-time student (show 100% course load on OSAP application) |
Credits are not considered |
Factors that may affect OSAP eligibility and aid
The following may affect your OSAP eligibility and aid:
- Dropping courses.
- Dropping to part-time status during the year.
- Withdrawing from your program.
- Increases in your income, awards or other resources.
- Reporting incorrect income information (student, parents or spouse) on your original application.
- Receiving more OSAP aid than you were entitled to in two academic years.
- Failing courses
To remain eligible for OSAP aid, the government expects you to successfully complete and pass your courses. Frequent or multiple program switches, drops, withdrawals or repeats of programs funded by OSAP aid may be interpreted as signaling a lack of academic progress and direction.
The government’s minimum requirement for academic progress is that you must pass at least 18 credits during the fall/winter session; if you are a student with a permanent disability, you must pass at least 12 credits during the fall/winter session.
If you take summer courses and apply for OSAP, your summer grades are also reviewed.
When fall/winter grades are posted, Student Financial Services reviews your academic progress and, based on government guidelines, issues warning or restriction letters in July. Summer grades are reviewed at the end of the summer.
You may be required to complete and submit an Academic Progress Explanation Letter.
The chart below lists the consequences for not meeting the government’s minimum required academic progress while receiving OSAP aid:
| Failing to meet academic progress standards for… | …means the student… | …and to fix that he or she: |
| 1 period of study | Is placed on OSAP probation for 12 months (1 year) but remains eligible for OSAP aid. | Must succeed in all following academic periods to maintain OSAP eligibility. |
| 2 periods of study | Loses OSAP eligibility for a minimum of 12 months (1 year). | Must maintain outstanding student loans in good standing with lending institution during the 12-month period. |
| 3 periods of study | Loses OSAP eligibility for a minimum of 36 months (3 years). | Must maintain outstanding student loans in good standing with lending institution during the 36-month period. |
| 4 periods of study | Loses OSAP eligibility for a minimum of 60 months (5 years). | Must maintain outstanding student loans in good standing with lending institution during the 60-month period. |
| 5 periods of study | Loses OSAP eligibility. | Must repay all outstanding student loans prior to obtaining new loans. |