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Course Load and Registration Updates
Your course load on your OSAP application is used to indicate the number of courses or credits you’re taking. For OSAP, your course load is expressed as a percentage of a full course load.
To remain eligible for full-time OSAP funding you must remain registered in a minimum 60% course load (40% course load for students registered with a permanent disability). If you will be dropping below a full-time course load, contact the Laurier Financial Aid Office to discuss the financial implications. OSAP’s definition of full-time and part-time status is different than Laurier’s full-time and part-time registration status.
Funding cannot be released until the course load percentage on your OSAP application matches your course registration. It is your responsibility to ensure the course load stated on your OSAP application is correct each term.
Updating Course Load
If you have received a notice on LORIS indicating that your course load does not match your application, this means that the course load you entered on your OSAP application (e.g. 100%, 80%, etc.) does not match your current term's registration.
- If you plan on adding or dropping additional courses that will result in your course registration matching the course load stated on your OSAP application, this error will clear to allow for confirmation of your enrolment once your registration and course load match.
- If you do not plan on changing the number of courses that you are registered in and your course load on your OSAP application does not match, complete the Course Load Update Form (Fall/Winter or Spring) for the correct term(s) to update this information on your OSAP application. This form link is available from the top of this page.
Note: Laurier forms require your Laurier username and password. If you have issues accessing your account, please contact the ICT Service Desk.
Graduate Students
- Full-time registration status = 100% course load (regardless of number of classes).
- Part-time registration status = 50% course load (regardless of number of classes).
Undergraduate Students
- Each 0.50 credit registered for = 20% of an OSAP course load.
- Each 0.25 credit registered for = 10% of an OSAP course load (i.e. 2.50 credits = 100% course load; 2.00 credits = 80% course load).
A more detailed reference chart of undergraduate student (including BEd student) course loads is available below.
| Laurier Credit Weight (per term) |
Course Load % |
| 0.25 | 10 % |
| 0.50 | 20 % |
| 0.75 | 30 % |
| 1.00 | 40 % |
| 1.25 | 50 % |
| 1.50 | 60 % |
| 1.75 | 70 % |
| 2.00 | 80 % |
| 2.25 | 90 % |
| 2.50 | 100 % |
| 2.75 | 110 % |
| 3.00 | 120 % |
| 3.25 | 130 % |
| 3.50 | 140 % |
Impact of Changing Course Load on Application
Course changes throughout the term can result in changes to your funding assessment. Your OSAP assessment considers the number of courses/course load you are enrolled in and the associated costs. As you change your course load, your course costs change and can lead to an increase or decrease in eligibility for funding.
OSAP Minimum Full-time Course Load: 60% course load/1.50 credits (40% course load/1.00 credits for with Permanent Disability status registered with OSAP). OSAP’s definition of full-time and part-time status is different than Laurier’s full-time and part-time student status.
Remain in a Full-Time Course Load
If you change your course registration and remain in a full-time course load, complete a Course Load Update Form (Fall/Winter or Spring) to notify the Financial Aid office of the change so your application can be updated. Once completed your funding will be reassessed for you to review the changes to your assessment. Note: You are required to login to access the Course Load Update Form with your MyLaurier username and password.
Withdraw or Drop Below OSAP's Minimum Full-Time Course Load
If you withdraw or drop below OSAP’s minimum full-time course load, there is a much larger impact to your OSAP eligibility. Students below this minimum course load are considered part-time students by OSAP and are not eligible for full-time OSAP funding effective the date you drop to a part-time course load. If you plan to withdraw or drop below OSAP’s minimum required course load for full-time studies it is very important that you contact the Laurier Financial Aid office to discuss how the planned course change may affect your eligibility for OSAP funding before you drop.
- Complete a Course Load Update Form (Fall/Winter or Spring)to notify the Financial Aid office of the change so your application can be updated. Note: You are required to login to access the Course Load Update form with your MyLaurier username and password.
- Your funding will be reassessed and there will be a large overpayment calculated. If returning to study in another term within the same academic year, your funding for the next term will be reduced by the amount of overpayment.
- An OSAP Academic Progress review will be initiated to determine if you are meeting OSAP’s minimum academic requirements, effective the day you reduced your course load below OSAP’s minimum full-time course.