For OSAP, the study period is the time period used to determine the amount of OSAP funding you’re eligible to receive for the OSAP academic year. It also determines your deadline dates.

Usually your OSAP study period is the normal school year for your program. It may include one or more terms. Contact us if you are unsure about your study period.

A parent information not available review (formerly known as a family breakdown review) is when you are estranged from your parent(s) due to documented mental, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse or drug or alcohol addiction in your family. We will tell you what supporting documents you’ll need to provide when you apply. If you have any questions about the documents required, contact us for more information.

OSAP expects that you and your family have planned for your full-time postsecondary education. The purpose of OSAP is to supplement, not replace your resources. In general, you’re expected to contribute towards your educational costs. However, your contribution could be waived in some situations (e.g., if you have one or more children or you receive continued care and support from an Ontario Children’s Aid Society, or you self-identify as an Indigenous student). A contribution may also be expected based on your assets and/or your spouse’s (if applicable). A financial contribution may be expected from your parents or spouse, depending on their income. Source: OSAP definitions

Compulsory fees include service and education-related cu_event_costs charged by the school that students must pay. Some examples include:

• co-op fees
• student activity fees
• athletic fees
• health services
• student union fees
• professional fees

Note: it does not include fees such as late registration charges, parking, special tests, or exam fees.

An affidavit is a sworn written statement. You are swearing that the contents written in the affidavit are true. That document is then signed by a lawyer, a commissioner of oaths, or a notary public. An affidavit is generally required by OSAP if you need to provide supporting documentation but are unable to provide an official document. For example, an affidavit may be required to support your relationship status (such as a common-law relationship). You can get an affidavit by booking an appointment at a City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.

• Undergraduate students must be taking 60% or more of a full course load to be considered for the full-time student assistance program (Full-time OSAP). This means a minimum course load of 1.5 credits per term.
  • For Undergraduate students with a registered disability, a full-time course load is a minimum of 1.0 credits.
• Graduate students must be designated as a full-time graduate student by the Office of Graduate Studies and register in at least 0.5 credits.
  • If you are a full-time graduate student, enter 100% as your percentage course load on the OSAP application.
  • If you are a part-time graduate student, enter 50% as your percentage course load on the OSAP application.
  • Online Graduate Program Students. Please review the online graduate programs page for more information about your course load.

There are situations when you will be asked to provide proof of your Social Insurance Number (SIN) such as when you submit your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement at a designated Canada Post outlet, or if you visit the Awards Office to reset your Ontario Access Number. Proof of your SIN can be:

• A Social Insurance Number (SIN) card, or
• SIN Confirmation letter issued by the Government of Canada, or
• Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions, or
• Temporary SIN card

While completing an OSAP application, you will be asked to provide information on the type and amount of government income you expect to receive during the study period. If you receive Second Career, WSIB, or Postsecondary Student Support Program funding, you must enter the full amount of funding you will receive for the study period, including amounts for tuition fees, books, transportation cu_event_costs, dependent care, basic living cu_event_costs, and any other cu_event_costs. Do not include amounts you will receive, if any, for disability-related expenses. If you are an Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works recipient enter the total amount of income support you will receive during your study period. If your spouse or parent(s) are the direct recipient of ODSP or OW, do not enter their income support here. If you are receiving a Canada Apprenticeship Loan for your current study period, you are not eligible to apply for OSAP funding.

Before your OSAP funding can be released each term, the Awards Office must confirm your enrollment at Carleton with OSAP. We attempt to automatically confirm your enrollment at the start of each term. If you are registered in the course load that you indicated on your OSAP application, and have submitted all required supporting documents, there is nothing you need to do. If you have not submitted all required documents or have not registered in the course load you indicated on your application, your OSAP funding will be placed on hold and your enrollment cannot be confirmed.

Note: This definition applies only to the OSAP Application for Full-Time students. If all of the following are true, you are a dependent student:

• you are not married or in a common-law relationship
• you are not separated, divorced or widowed
• you are not a sole-support parent
• you have been out of high school for:
  • less than 6 years before the start of your study period (applies to the provincial funding calculation only)
  • less than 4 less before the start of your study period (applies to the federal funding calculation only)
• you have not worked full-time for at least 24 months in a row

Source: OSAP definitions

A partnership between Carleton University and the Government of Ontario to ensure that no qualified Ontario student should be prevented from attending university due to lack of financial support programs.

For OSAP, you’re a sole-support parent if:

• you have a dependent child or children living with you full-time during your study period and
• you’re single, separated, divorced or widowed

Source: OSAP definitions