To be eligible for government student financial aid programs including including the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) or OSAP interest-free status, provincial and territorial funding or U.S. Student Funding you must be registered in an OSAP-approved degree program.

All new programs are reviewed for eligibility and approval through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.   Only Laurier programs receiving government grant funding are eligible for student financial aid funding.  Part-time programs with no full-time equivalent program are deemed non-eligible.

The following programs are ineligible to receive financial aid funding (including OSAP or OSAP interest-free status, provincial and territorial funding or U.S. Student Funding):

• BA Policing (part-time professional program, not in combination with second major)
• BA Public Safety
• Diploma in Business Administration (part-time program)
• Graduate Diploma in Accounting
• Graduate Diploma in National Security
• Graduate Diploma in Border Strategies
• Graduate Diploma in Countering Crime
• Graduate Diploma in Emergency Management
• Graduate Diploma in GIS and Data Analytics
• Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program
• Laurier International College
• Master of Computer Science (online only professional program)
• Master of Finance
• Master of Finance (MFin) and MSc in Management in Analytics (MMA) double degree
• Master of Public Safety
• MSc in Management in Technology: Executive 
• Toronto MBA programs (Toronto campus)
• general graduate studies
• non-degree certificate programs
  • Certificate in Global Crime and Justice
• post-degree studies
• qualifying year
• unclassified studies

List of programs is subject to change. U.S. student financial aid programs may have additional ineligible programs not listed.

OSAP for Micro-credential programs that are not quality-assured and ministry approved are ineligible.  A list of OSAP-approved microcredential programs is available online.  All other micro-credential programs not listed by OSAP online are ineligible.

Students who submit Financial Aid applications (including the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), provincial and territorial funding or U.S. Student Funding) are required to provide official supporting documentation to complete their application (ex. Marriage certificates, proof of dependents custody, proof of Indigenous status etc).   In specific instances, students will be allowed to submit an affidavit confirming the required information.  

An affidavit is a document where the contents have been sworn or affirmed to be true.

It is sworn by you and/or a family member (if applicable) and signed before:

• A lawyer
• A person who is not a lawyer but who is a commissioner of oaths or
• A notary public  

A commissioner of oaths is usually available at:

• Courthouses
• Community legal clinics
• Municipal or city/township offices, or
• Law offices

Some documents can be sworn before a commissioner for free at the nearest ServiceOntario (ensure the ServiceOntario location offers 'Authentication of Documents Service' before going in) or with your local MPP. 

Laurier's Financial Aid Office has a Commissioner of Oaths at the Waterloo campus who can provide this service for free to students who require an affidavit for their OSAP or Financial Aid application.   To book an appointment for an affidavit for OSAP application requirements please submit your request in writing through the Service Laurier webform. All correspondence must go through your MyLaurier account, include your full name, student ID number and identify the change that is required on your application.

REMINDER about what to include in the affidavit:

• Make sure the statement you are providing includes everything listed as required on your financial aid application.  For OSAP students, your required OSAP supporting documentation lists ‘acceptable documents’ and what must be included.
• Your statement should be written in advance of your appointment, but DO NOT sign your statement until you are before the Commissioner of Oaths
• Affidavit must include your name, date, WLU Student ID#
• The affidavit must be dated, signed and stamped with the official commissioner stamp to be valid
• OSAP students can upload the completed affidavit to your OSAP account (under Required Documents - Optional Uploads for Review) and the Financial Aid office will review to complete this outstanding document

If you have concerns regarding the level of service that you have received from any member of the Financial Aid Office, your concerns may be noted in writing and forwarded to:

Associate Registrar, Student Finance and Client Services (Necia Martins)
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5

A student’s letter of concern must contain the following information:

• Date that the incident took place (and approximate time if possible).
• Name of the staff person (if known).
• The situation that was being discussed or addressed by the student and staff.
• The nature of the student’s concern.
• Letter must be signed by the student and dated.
• Appropriate return address/e-mail in order to direct a response.

If you do not wish to address your concern to the associate registrar, student finance and client services, you may direct your concern as outlined above to the AVP: Enrolment Services and Registrar (Jennifer Casey) using the mailing address above, or contact the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management.