Applying for OSAP - Summer 2013 Session

OSAP application deadlines must be met in order for your summer OSAP funds to be processed in time. The chart below highlights the critical dates.

As the summer session is short, your time to access summer funding is very limited. It is important that you provide accurate information when applying as it does not allow much time to gather all the necessary supporting documentation.

• Processing of summer applications takes about four to six weeks from the date you submit your application; but, it could take longer if there is any missing documentation.
• The government will not issue any OSAP funds within the last 10 days of your summer study period end date.
• If you check your summer application status on the OSAP website about six weeks after applying and there is no indication of a summer assessment, please check with Student Client Services to verify if there are any problems with your application.

• Changing your courses: your OSAP entitlement is based on the number of courses in which you are enrolled. If you drop or change courses after you apply, it will affect your OSAP entitlement and may cause delays in receiving your funding.
• Income changes.
• Applying as a part-time student and then changing to full-time status: Once you are assessed and receive a Part-Time Student Loan during the summer session, you cannot be reassessed for full-time status if you add courses (this means that any tuition and book costs for the additional course(s) will not be considered).

If any information changes after you submit your summer application, you must advise Student Financial Services in writing so that your OSAP file can be updated. Do not submit an additional online application to report changes, as this will complicate and delay the processing of your file. For information and forms to report changes, read the Report Any Changes section of the York OSAP site.

If you received more OSAP than you were entitled to during the fall/winter academic session, your summer OSAP entitlement will be reduced by the amount of the overaward from the fall/winter session.

If you have two overawards on your OSAP account, you will be unable to receive any further assistance until you repay the amount of your most recent overaward to the National Student Loans Service Centre. Once the repayment is made, they can provide you with an official receipt showing the amount and date of payment, which you can then take to Student Client Services so that your OSAP record can be updated.

As all OSAP students, you are required to successfully complete summer courses to demonstrate that you are meeting the government’s minimum expected academic progress requirements. Once the summer grades are available, Student Financial Services will identify students who have not met this requirement. For more information on how academic probation affects your funding, read the Academic Progress and OSAP Eligibility page of the York OSAP site.

• Summer OSAP funds will be available within 5 - 10 days of the first day of your summer classes, provided you followed the above application deadlines and are still registered in the courses you specified on your OSAP application.
• As soon as classes begin in May (provided you are enrolled in SU term courses), the government will ask York's Student Financial Services to confirm your registration status.
• Once this is done electronically (which depends on how quickly you enrol in your courses), the government will authorize the release of your summer OSAP funds and send a payment to York if you agreed to re-direct OSAP money on your application.
• Any remaining balance will be deposited into your bank account or mailed to you by cheque. With the OSAP changes this year, students are no longer required to come to the Bennett Centre to pick up a paper loan/grant certificate form.

Note: if you are not taking SU term courses, but only short courses that begin in June or July, your registration status will not be confirmed until then, and OSAP funds cannot be released until your classes begin.

Students may qualify for a maximum of two Ontario Tuition Grants per academic year. If you received one in the Fall 2012 Term and one in the Winter 2013 Term, you are not eligible to receive one for summer.

Otherwise, you can apply for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant during the summer term if you meet all of the following criteria:

• you are an undergraduate student in a first entry program,
• you are taking at least a 60% (9 credits) or 40% (6 credits) course load and
• your summer study period is at least 12 weeks in length.

For complete information and the application form, please visit the 30% Off Ontario Tuition website.