Government Financial Assistance
Provincial Student Loan Programs
The University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS)
Work Study
USA Government Loans
Provincial Student Loan Programs
Students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for financial assistance from their provincial governments. Applications for the fall term are usually available in late May or early June. It is recommended that students apply for student loans at least 10 weeks prior to the start of the new academic year. Please note that students may only ever hold student loans from one province.
Getting Your Money
If your student loan application has been approved, your loan/grant certificate and your Confirmation of Enrolment form will be available for pick-up in early September. Students must report any changes in income and notify Admissions & Awards in writing regarding their guaranteed funding prior to OSAP pick-up in September.
Students in Management, Dentistry, Biotechnology, Social Work, Information Studies and OISE/UT must pick up their loan/grant certificate and Confirmation of Enrolment form from their Registrar’s Office.
All other students can pick up their loan/grant certificate and Confirmation of Enrollment form from SGS' reception desk, located on the first floor of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), 63 St.George Street.
Before the University can release your loan/grant certificate to you, you must:
• provide proof of registration;
• provide proof that the Social Insurance Number entered on your OSAP application form is your own
• provide government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver's licence or passport);
• complete the Confirmation of Enrolment form.
Reporting Changes and Updates to Information
If your circumstances or those of your spouse (if applicable) change while you are in school, you must promptly inform Admissions & Awards of these changes, since the changes may affect the amount of assistance to which you are entitled.
Maintaining the Interest-Free Status on Your Previous Loans
If you have a previous OSAP student loan (or student loans from another province) and you plan to continue your studies, you must ensure that your previous loan(s) are placed in interest-free status. Keeping this interest-free status means that you do not have to repay the loan while you are in school and that the Government of Canada and/or the Province will continue to pay the interest on your loan. If you do not keep your loans in interest-free status, you will be required to start repaying your loan(s) within six months of the end of your last study period.
If you are getting a new OSAP Student Loan:
- Once your completed Confirmation of Enrolment form is processed by your postsecondary institution and by the ministry, the ministry will electronically inform the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) and/or your previous lender(s) that you are still in school.
If you are NOT getting a new OSAP Student Loan and are continuing in full-time studies:
- Submit a completed Continuation of Interest-Free Status/Confirmation of Enrolment form to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), 63. St. George Street. Students in Management, Dentistry, Biotechnology, Social Work, Information Studies and OISE/UT need to submit the completed form to their Registrar’s Office.
Please remember that to avoid being charged interest, you need to complete these forms promptly each time you register. The government will not recognize the form after your study period has ended.
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The information will then be electronically forwarded to your lender and/or the NSLSC. This form is available for printing from the OSAP website only. Go to OSAP Forms.
You can check with your lender(s) to ensure they have up-to-date information on your current registration:
National Student Loans Service Centre: 1-888-815-4514 or http://www.canlearn.ca/
CIBC: 1-800-563-2422
Royal: 1-800-363-3822
Scotiabank: 1-888-284-3044
If you have held student loans from a province other than Ontario, please check the appropriate provincial website for directions on maintaining your interest-free status.
Getting Help
If you have questions about your financial assistance from your Provincial government, please contact Admissions & Awards and/or the appropriate provincial financial assistance website.
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The University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS)
University of Toronto Advance Planning for Students (UTAPS) is a financial aid program for full-time students who are eligible for need-based government student assistance or funding from a First Nations band.
The University’s Policy on Student Financial Support states that students should have access to the resources required to meet their financial needs as calculated by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). For students who are assessed by OSAP as requiring maximum assistance and whose assessed need is not fully covered by government aid, the University will ensure that the unmet need is met.
Students receiving OSAP are automatically considered for funding when they pick up their OSAP loan in the fall and complete the OSAP Confirmation of Enrolment form.
Students receiving funding from another province/territory or a First Nations band are also eligible for consideration. Visit Admissions & Awards for the application and further information.
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Work-Study
This program provides opportunities for eligible University of Toronto students to be employed part-time on-campus.Students must demonstrate financial need to the satisfaction of Admissions & Awards. Students are expected to have applied to OSAP or the financial aid program appropriate to their situation and have the results as the first step in meeting their financial need prior to applying to the Work-Study program.
Please contact Admissions & Awards for more information and application procedures.
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USA Government Loans
Citizens of the United States studying in degree programs at the University of Toronto can apply for financial assistance from the USA Federal Direct Loan Program. For more information on who is eligible and how to apply, please contact Admissions & Awards.
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