Grants for Ontario students: OSAP, federal grants and bursaries
Grants for Ontario students: what OSAP and Canada Student Grants offer, extra grants for dependants and disabilities, plus school bursaries.
Ontario students have access to several kinds of non-repayable funding: Ontario grants through OSAP, federal Canada Student Grants assessed through the same application, and bursaries and scholarships from schools and communities. This guide maps them out and points to the official sources.
Start with OSAP
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is the single application that assesses you for Ontario and federal grants and loans. If you are an Ontario student who needs help paying for college or university, OSAP is step one. Applying is free and done on the official OSAP website.
Before applying, use the OSAP Aid Estimator, linked from the official OSAP page, to get a sense of what you might receive.
Ontario grants
Ontario grants are part of your OSAP package and are awarded based on your assessed financial need and eligibility. The amounts depend on your family income, program costs and personal situation. Because Ontario's grant rules can change between years, use the OSAP page and your assessment notice as the authority on what you qualify for.
Ontario's OSAP page also describes the Student Access Guarantee, under which eligible students may have their tuition and some other costs covered by grants and loans, subject to program rules.
Federal grants through OSAP
When you apply through OSAP, you are automatically assessed for Canada Student Grants. According to canada.ca:
- Full-time students could receive up to $4,200 per school year until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year.
- Part-time students could receive up to $2,520 per year until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year.
- Full-time students with dependants could receive $280 per month, or $2,240 per year, for each eligible dependant.
- Part-time students with dependants could receive up to $2,688 per year.
- Students with disabilities could receive $2,800 per year.
These grants have income thresholds and other conditions. See Canada Student Grants explained for details.
School bursaries and scholarships
Ontario colleges and universities offer their own financial aid:
- Bursaries, usually based on financial need.
- Scholarships, usually based on academic achievement, leadership or specific criteria.
- Emergency funding for unexpected hardship.
Many schools have a single online awards application. Check your school's financial aid office website early in the year.
External scholarships
Community organizations, employers, unions, professional associations and foundations offer scholarships to Ontario students. Search carefully and avoid any scholarship that charges a fee. See scholarships and bursaries in Canada.
Grants for specific situations
- Students with disabilities may qualify for federal and provincial supports for disability-related services and equipment, in addition to grants. Contact your school's accessibility office as well as the financial aid office.
- Students with dependants should report dependants on their OSAP application.
- Part-time students can apply for part-time aid. See part-time student aid in Canada.
- Indigenous students may have access to additional funding through their community or Indigenous organizations, as well as school-specific awards.
Timing and renewal
Ontario advises applying at least 60 days before the end of your study period, or 40 days for part-time study periods of 20 weeks or less. In practice, applying well before your program starts is best. You must reapply each academic year, and your grants are reassessed each time.
Protect your grants
To keep grant funding:
- Stay enrolled in the required course load.
- Make satisfactory academic progress.
- Report changes in income, family or enrolment promptly.
If you withdraw, you may have to repay some funding. Talk to your financial aid office first.
Frequently asked questions
Do Ontario students need to apply separately for federal grants? No. OSAP assesses you for both.
Are OSAP grants taxable? Tax treatment of student funding depends on your situation. Check with the Canada Revenue Agency or a tax professional.
Can I get grants if my parents earn a high income? Eligibility depends on whose income counts and the thresholds. Use the Aid Estimator and apply to find out.
Where can I get help with my application? Your school's financial aid office can help.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Use the official application site, never a paid third-party service. Applying for government student aid is free.
- Check the current year's deadlines on the official page and on your school's financial aid site.
- Gather your ID, tax information and, if required, a parent's or spouse's information before you start.
- Apply every year you need aid. Most programs require a new application for each school year.
- Read your award notice to see which parts are grants and which are loans.
- Keep your school's financial aid office in the loop. They can explain your package and point to bursaries or scholarships you may have missed.
- Watch for scams: no legitimate program charges a fee to get a grant or scholarship.
Questions to ask your financial aid office
Your school's financial aid staff see hundreds of situations like yours every year. Before you accept an offer or make a big decision, ask them:
- Which parts of my package are grants or scholarships, and which are loans or work-study?
- Are there school bursaries, scholarships or emergency funds I have not applied for yet?
- What happens to my aid if I drop a course or change my program?
- What do I need to do to keep this funding next year?
- Can my aid be reviewed if my family's income has changed?
Write down the answers and the name of the person you spoke with, so you can refer back to them later.
Keep exploring on GrantSift
Find student funding that fits you
Official aid pages are the source of truth, but scholarships, bursaries and grants are scattered across governments, schools and foundations. GrantSift brings student funding from official sources in the US and Canada into one place, with a short student check that matches programs to your province or state, level of study and field. Every listing links to the official page, and student aid that is a loan is labelled as a loan. Search scholarships and student grants or see plans and pricing.