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Part-Time Funding
Students enrolled in a 20% — 50% course load may be eligible for part-time funding for educational costs through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Eligible students must apply for funding on a term-by-term basis by following the step-by-step application process.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for funding through the part-time OSAP program, you must meet the criteria below as well as certain residency and income requirements specified on the OSAP website:
- Registered in an OSAP-eligible program.
- Previous OSAP loans must be in good standing (i.e. you have not defaulted on a student loan and/or you are not restricted from participating in financial aid programs).
- You have maintained satisfactory full-time and part-time OSAP academic progression requirements while receiving prior government financial aid.
Application Process
The part-time OSAP student application is submitted online and must be submitted for each registered term individually. Applications submitted for the full year will be adjusted by our office to reflect the current term only. New applications for each term must be submitted online and all required documentation must be received by the Financial Aid Office no later than 40 days before the end of the term study period.
Don't forget to provide your Laurier student ID number on your application to help ensure we can process your application as quickly as possible!
After you have submitted your application, carefully review the required document section of your OSAP application. All required documentation must be submitted no later than 40 days before the end of the term study period. Required documentation may include: Ontario Student Assistance Program for part-time students consents, instructions, declaration and signature pages, an explanation of financial situation or proof of income (a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency is required) and a Part-time Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (PT-MSFAA).
- Part-time Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (PT-MSFAA): An email will be sent to you by the National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) and your online Required Documents listed will provide a link and your PT-MSFAA number within a few days from your application submission date. The PT-MSFAA is required even if you have previously submitted a Full-time MSFAA.
- Transcripts: To demonstrate you have met part-time OSAP academic progress requirements you may be required to submit a transcript document to your application. Unofficial transcripts (i.e. a copy of your unofficial record of course work from LORIS) are acceptable for this and must show the grade for all courses from your previous part-time OSAP funded term before submission.
Required documents for your OSAP application must be submitted through upload directly to your OSAP application.
Documents can be scanned using a scanning app on your Apple or Android phone, or free scanning is available on campus at any PrintMe Self-Serve locations.
To upload documents to the OSAP Portal:
- Scan the required document corresponding to the upload link and create a PDF file.
- Click on the Upload button corresponding to that document.
- Locate your pdf file using the “browse” button.
- Select the file and click on “open”
If you are experiencing difficulties with upload, please carefully review the troubleshooting tips below.
- You can only upload a file that is a PDF format - Ensure your scanned document is clear and easy to read before saving it as a PDF (.pdf ) file format.
- You cannot upload a file that is password protected.
- PDF file should not be larger than 2MB. The exception is declaration and signature pages, which can be up to 5MB.
- If your file size is too large, you may need to upload partial documentation as two separate files. If doing this, we recommend putting a note on the top of your upload indicating multiple file submissions.
- Optional documents can be uploaded by selecting the link that indicates 'Click here if you have other (optional) documents to upload' and selecting 'Go to optional uploads'.
If unable to upload documents directly to your application, they can be mailed through Canada Post or sent by courier (Laurier Financial Aid Office, 75 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5) however receipt and processing of mailed documents will take longer than those submitted through direct upload.
To protect your personal information, we do not accept document submission over email or through in-person drop off. Online submission through your OSAP application is required for security and fastest processing. All documents must be received prior to the deadlines indicated on your OSAP application and are processed in the date order received.
Please Note: Important Application and Document Deadlines and affidavit document requirements.
Once you have completed the online application and have submitted all required documentation, Laurier will confirm your enrolment for funding release. This process is completed automatically by the Laurier Financial Aid office starting the first day of classes each term for completed applications to ensure the applicant is enrolled part-time for the study period applied for and is registered in the same course load that is indicated on the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) application.
Please allow 1-3 weeks from the start of term for all completed part-time applications to be confirmed. Once your part-time enrolment has been successfully confirmed, eligible funding is typically received within 4-7 business days.
Review Paying Laurier Fees for additional information on how OSAP funding is directed to pay outstanding Laurier fees.
Please note: If receiving an Ontario Part-time Tuition Grant, this funding will be sent to you by cheque from the Ministry. This grant amount cannot be applied directly to your fees at Laurier. Please ensure your mailing address on your OSAP profile is correct when applying for funding.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all required information has been submitted to complete their OSAP application and to ensure all fees are paid each term.
It is important that you regularly check your OSAP status online throughout the year. Status information or requirements for release of your funding can change through the year, and this information is displayed in multiple places. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all required information has been submitted to complete the OSAP application process by the required deadlines.
- LORIS: Check here for your current application status with LORIS (Student Awards & Financial Aid menu - View my Aid/Funding), including important information regarding errors that may be preventing your application from completing and/or your funding releasing. Also review your Laurier account balance to verify payment receipts.
- Online OSAP Application: Check here for a summary of the application information you submitted, information about any documents required to complete your application, and your detailed funding summary.
- National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC): Check here for issued loan balances, bank account information for OSAP funding deposits, and messages sent regarding repayment and interest status.
Communication regarding missing information will be sent to your Laurier email account or through your OSAP Message Centre.
Course Load Changes
Any changes to the number of courses you are taking after you have submitted your part-time application will require that your application be adjusted and resubmitted with the correct course load and fee information to reassess your funding eligibility. Ensure you notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if you change your part-time course load after submitting your OSAP application by completing the Course Load Update Form (Fall/Winter or Spring). Please note, you will need to log in with your MyLaurier username and password to access this form.
Course load changes made after the release of your part-time OSAP funding will impact your academic progress eligibility for part-time OSAP in a future term.
Academic Progress Requirements
To remain eligible for future part-time OSAP funding, you must successfully complete and pass all courses included on your application for funding through part-time OSAP. If you do not successfully complete and pass your part-time OSAP funded course(s) in a term, you must self-fund and successfully complete and pass the self-funded course(s) for one term before being eligible for further part-time OSAP funding. As of 2020-21 a pass is considered with a grade of a D- or higher.
Note: If you have previously received part-time OSAP funding (for a 50% course load or less), an unofficial transcript (i.e. a copy of your unofficial record of course work from LORIS showing your grades) must be uploaded as a required document to any new part-time OSAP applications to show successful completion of all courses from your previous part-time OSAP funded term. All submitted documentation is reviewed in the date order received and may take 2-3 weeks for processing in peak periods. If a previous term transcript is required on your application it is recommended that you pay your school fees to Laurier by your original invoice due date because previous term grades may not be available prior to the start of classes which could delay your assessment and release of funding.
Maximum Part-time Canada Student Loan
Your outstanding Part-time Canada Student Loan balance cannot exceed $10,000 at any time. Once you have received this maximum amount, no further loan funding will be available. It is important that you indicate the correct balance of current outstanding Part-time Canada Student Loan on your part-time OSAP application each term. Funding release can be delayed if information provided on your application is incorrect.
Maintaining Interest Free Status for Previous Part-Time Canada Student Loans
If you are enrolled in the current term as a part-time student in an OSAP-eligible program (20-50% course load), interest free status is available if:
- a confirmed part-time OSAP application for the current term, or
- completed a Canada Student Loans Program Confirmation of Enrolment Schedule 2 online with the NSLSC On-Line Service (login to view My Dashboard - Confirm My Enrolment menu. Select 'I have a Part-time Loan' within the options)
Note: If you have previous full-time loans and decide to attend school part-time (50% course load or less) interest will accumulate and you will be required to make payments on your full-time loans; however payments on your previous part-time loans can be deferred.
If you are enrolled in the current term as a full-time student (60% course load or higher, or 40% course load or higher for students registered with OSAP with a permanent disability) in an OSAP-eligible program, interest accumulation of your previous part-time and full-time OSAP loans will be placed on hold if you have:
- a full-time OSAP application for the current term, or
- completed a Continuation of Interest-Free Status application for full-time students