Glossary

Issued following the failure to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements. If issued an academic warning, students will be placed on an academic probationary period lasting one academic year, during which time they are still eligible for OSAP funding.

For more information please view the OSAP academic progress requirements.

Failure to meet OSAP’s minimum academic progress requirements while on academic probation will result in your probation being upgraded to a restriction. A restriction may last 1-5 academic years, during which a student is ineligible to receive OSAP funding.

The term(s) for which you are currently registered as a full time student. Your academic period may be fall or winter only, fall and winter, or summer.

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.

Financial assets to be reported on your OSAP application include:

• savings accounts
• tax-free savings accounts
• provincial savings bonds and Canada Savings Bonds
• corporate bonds, stocks, term deposits
• GICs, treasury bills and mutual funds

Do not report assets or savings from the following sources:

• value of your vehicle(s)
• money your parents or spouse transferred to you as their financial contribution to your studies
• Total Value of Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) and/or scholarship trust funds
• Registered Disability Saving Plans (RDSPs)
• the value of your principal residence and any other owned real estate
• clothing, furniture or personal belongings
• non-economic loss and/or pain and suffering awards
• savings through the Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent program

As outlined in the Ontario Family Law Act, you’re living in a common-law relationship if you and your spouse:

• have cohabitated continuously for a period of at least 3 years or
• are in a relationship of some permanence and are the natural or adoptive parents of a child

Compulsory fees include service and education-related 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.

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.

A document mailed to you, 6-8 weeks before the end of your grace period, by the National Student Loan Service Centre which outlines;

• Your total loan amount
• Your interest rate
• Your repayment term (how long it will take you to repay your loan)
• Your monthly payment
• Your first payment date

Note: Your first payment will be due on the last day of the month marking your “Consolidation Date”

Example: Mike’s Consolidation Date is November 1; his first payment is due November 30.

The first day of the seventh month following the month you ceased to be a full time student. On this day, all of your outstanding loans are consolidated.

Example 1: Johnny finished being a full time student at the end of April, when he graduated. His consolidation date is November 1.

Example 2: Sally withdrew from full time studies in October for medical reasons. Her consolidation date is May 1.

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

The amount of OSAP you have been approved to receive for the academic session based on the assessment of your application and supporting documentation. The amount you qualify for is called your entitlement. Your entitlement is based on information

• you provide on your application
• from your postsecondary school, and
• verified with third parties (for example, the Canada Revenue Agency)

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

OSAP is a needs-based program. This means that financial aid for full-time students is based on a formula that compares your education costs with expected financial contributions.

The formula is:

OSAP allowable educational costs & allowances MINUS Expected Financial Contribution = Financial Need

OSAP allowable educational costs & allowances 

• tuition and compulsory fees
• books and supplies
• equipment
• computer
• personal living expenses
• child care
• transportation

Expected Financial Contribution

• student income
• student assets
• parental or spousal income
  (if applicable)
• spousal assets
  (if applicable)

Source: OSAP definitions

You’re considered a Francophone student if:

• your mother tongue is French or
• you studied in French at the elementary or secondary level or
• you are/were enrolled in a postsecondary program offered at least partially in French

Source: OSAP definitions

To be considered for the full-time student assistance program (Full-time OSAP), you must be taking at least 60% (1.5 credits) of a full course load. If you have a registered disability, you may choose to be considered a full-time student if you’re taking at least 40% (1.0 credits) of a full course load.

Note: Students completing a work-term for a co-operative program are considered full-time for OSAP purposes.

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 costs, dependent care, basic living costs, and any other 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.

The six month period immediately following the end of your full-time studies. You will be charged interest on the Ontario portion of your loan during your six month grace period. This interest will be added to your loan balance.

All income is verified with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If there’s a discrepancy between the income on file at OSAP and the information received from CRA, we will use the income from CRA to reassess your application. That means that the amount of your funding could change. If there is a significant variance, you could be restricted from getting OSAP.

If you (spouse/parents, if applicable) haven’t filed a Canadian Income Tax Return for the years that are being verified, then the verification process cannot be completed and you won’t be eligible. Therefore, it’s important to ensure all tax returns are completed in a timely manner.

Your Income

If you are asked to provide income information from a prior tax year, it will be verified with CRA. You may also have to provide income from the current tax year, which cannot be verified until next year (after you submit your income tax return). You will receive notification the next summer if there are any changes to your funding.

Parent’s Income

The income that your parents (if applicable) provided for the prior tax year will be verified with CRA and any changes will be used to recalculate your funding.  If there is a change to your funding, you will be notified.

Spouse Income

The income that your spouse (if applicable) provided for the prior tax year will be verified with CRA and any changes will be used to recalculate your funding.  If there is a change to your funding, you will be notified.

Source: OSAP Verification of Income

If you’re applying to OSAP as a full-time student, you’re considered a single independent student if both of the following are true:

• you’re not currently married or in a common-law relationship
• you don’t have any dependent children

AND if at least one of the following applies to you:

• you have been out of high school for:
  • 6 or more years at the start of your study period (applies to the provincial funding calculation only)
  • 4 or more years at the start of your study period (applies to the federal funding calculation only)
• you have worked full-time for at least 24 months in a row
• both your parents are deceased
• you are currently a child in Extended Society Care or in the care of the Crown just prior to age 18
• you are currently receiving a Continued Care and Support for Youth program allowance from your Children’s Aid Society

Source: OSAP definitions

Allows you to postpone repaying your loans while you are registered as a full time post-secondary school student. The Government of Canada and/or the Province of Ontario will pay the interest on those loans on your behalf. This is contingent on you, the student, notifying the National Student Loan Service Centre of your enrollment.

The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) is a legal agreement between you and the federal and Ontario governments. It outlines your responsibilities and the terms and conditions of accepting and repaying student loans. It’s a lifetime loan agreement that you agree to once (some exemptions apply).

For more information on how to complete and submit your MSFAA, please view the MSFAA page on the OSAP website.

Undergraduate Students

To be considered for Full-time OSAP, you must be taking 60% or more of a full course load. For undergraduate students, this means a minimum course load of 1.5 credits per term. Students with a permanent disability are eligible for Full-time OSAP when taking a 40% course load (1.0 credit per term)

Overview: Course Load Requirements

Graduate Students

For full-time studies, you must be designated as a full-time graduate student by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

For part-time studies, you must be designated as a part-time graduate student by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Online Graduate Program Students

Please review the online graduate programs page for more information about your course load.

Undergraduate Students

To be considered for Full-time OSAP, you must be taking 60% or more of a full course load. For undergraduate students, this means a minimum course load of 1.5 credits per term. Students with a permanent disability are eligible for Full-time OSAP when taking a 40% course load (1.0 credit per term)

Graduate Students

For full-time studies, you must be designated as a full-time graduate student by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

For part-time studies, you must be designated as a part-time graduate student by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Online Graduate Program Students

Please review the online graduate programs page for more information about your course load.

Also referred to as the Ministry, the MCU is responsible for the administration of laws relating to education and skills training programs in the province of Ontario, this includes;

1. Distributing funds allocated by the provincial legislature to colleges and universities
2. Providing financial assistance programs to post secondary school students (i.e. OSAP).

The National Student Loans Service Centre administers student loans funded by the federal and/or Ontario governments. This includes:

• processing your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)
• arranging for your loan and/or grants to be deposited to your bank account
• keeping track of your loan debt and repayments
• giving you your repayment schedule
• administering the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

Source: OSAP definitions

Full-Time Students

• have always lived in Ontario or 
• Ontario is the last province you have lived in for 12 months in a row without being a full-time post-secondary student or
• you live in Ontario now AND have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row

If you are married/common-law, you can be considered an Ontario resident if:

• your spouse has always lived in Ontario or
• your spouse has lived in Ontario for the last 12 months in a row without being a full-time post-secondary student or
• All of these statements are true:
  • you now reside in Ontario
  • you’ve lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row
  • your spouse has lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row

If you qualify as a dependent student, you’re considered an Ontario resident if:

• Ontario is the last province in which your parent(s) have lived in for at least 12 months in a row or
• All of these statements are true:
  • you now reside in Ontario
  • you’ve lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row
  • your parent(s) have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row

Part-Time Students

• have always lived in Ontario or 
• Ontario is the last province you have lived in for 12 months in a row without being a full-time post-secondary student or
• you live in Ontario now AND have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row

Occurs when you have been issued more OSAP funding than you are entitled to have received. This may happen because;

1. You have increased your personal resources (e.g. more employment income than expected)
2. You withdrew from your program, or reduced your course load while receiving OSAP

NOTE: If you have been notified of an overpayment, contact the Awards & Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.

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.

A student who is enrolled in a post secondary institution and is taking a course load which is less than 60% (1.5 credits) of a full course load, or less than 40% (1.0 credits) for a student with a registered permanent or persistent/prolonged disability.

For OSAP, a permanent disability is any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation that:

• restricts your ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force
• is expected to remain with you for your expected life

A persistent or prolonged disability is any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation that:

• restricts your ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force
• has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with you for your expected life

At Carleton University, students with a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability are encouraged to contact the Paul Menton Centre.

Source: OSAP definitions

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

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a savings account that is registered by the Government of Canada and allows money deposited for postsecondary education to grow tax-free until the person named as beneficiary enrols in postsecondary studies after high school. Withdrawals from RESPs may be Educational Assistance Payments (EAP) and Refunds of Contribution (ROC). A student can receive funding from an RESP through the EAP (amount cashed in or withdrawn for the student) and the ROC (amount withdrawn by RESP contributor such as a parent), which can be forwarded to the student. When entering income from a RESP on your OSAP application, enter only the EAP amount you have received or will receive for this study period even if you receive it before the start of the study period.

The period during which you are making monthly payments on your student loan(s). This may be the time after your grace period has ended and you are not, or have not notified the National Student Loan Service Centre that you are, a full time student, or after being notified of mandatory repayment (e.g. failed to meet satisfactory academic progress more than once).

Our page on repaying your government student loans details the repayment process.

Assists borrowers who are having difficulty repaying their loans. There are two stages of this program; Interest Relief & Debt Reduction. During periods of repayment assistance you will either be exempt from making monthly payments or asked to make affordable monthly payments.

For eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions, visit the Repayment Assistance Plan page on canada.ca.

For the purposes of OSAP, this refers to you,

• Completing each OSAP-funded term in full
• Achieving passing grades in the minimum required course load
• Progressing in your program of study

For more information please view the OSAP academic progress requirements.

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

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, 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.