I need some help! Can I talk to someone about my financial situation?
Yes. You can obtain assistance over the phone or you can visit the Financial Aid Office in person (our hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m Monday to Friday). No appointment is necessary - students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Davis Campus Room B200, 905-459-7533, ext. 5061

• Trafalgar Road Campus Room D100, 905-815-4060

• Hazel McCallion Campus TBA
  

When Should I apply for OSAP?
Apply early!! 8 - 10 weeks prior to your study period start provides ample time to process your application, and if there are any errors, time to make corrections. Incoming high school students who wish to be considered for the Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship must submit their OSAP application (online or booklet) no later than June 17, 2011.

It is best to wait until you confirm your offer before you apply for OSAP. If you choose to apply for OSAP before you receive official notification, keep in mind that you will be required to submit a separate application at each institution for which you are applying for OSAP assistance. To avoid delays in receiving your OSAP, you should try to limit the applications you submit to your first and second choices. A typical application will normally take 6 weeks to process. An application which requires special consideration may take 8-10 weeks to process. Application deadlines are published on the OSAP web page at osap.gov.on.ca and in the OSAP application package.

I have enough savings to last until the end of first semester. When should I apply for OSAP?
You should apply for OSAP as soon as possible (do not wait until you have run out of money!). There are penalties if you apply late for OSAP.

What are the eligibility criteria for OSAP funding?
In order to apply for OSAP funding, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• You must be a Canadian citizen, protected person or permanent resident (landed immigrant) of Canada.
• You must be an Ontario resident according to OSAP criteria
• You must be enrolled in an OSAP-approved program.
• You must be taking at least 60% of the credits identified as a full course load (40% for students with a permanent disability).
• You must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Any previous government-issued student loans must be in good standing (you must not have defaulted on a previous student loan).

How do I apply for OSAP?
There are two ways to apply for OSAP:

• The recommended method is to apply online at http://osap.gov.on.ca. Print and sign your signature and declaration pages, and send them to the Sheridan Financial Aid Office. Faxed signature pages are not acceptable. All required supporting documentation (e.g. copies of Permanent Resident card, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificate, divorce certificate, etc) must be included with your signature and declaration pages.
• Submit the OSAP booklet application – available for download from the OSAP website. Send your completed application and all required supporting documentation to the Sheridan Financial Aid Office.

Please refer to the OSAP website for important application deadline dates.

What is the OSAP Tuition Deferral?
Sheridan Students who apply for assistance from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) are eligible to defer payment of fees until receipt of their funding. All OSAP students who wish to defer their tuition fees have the option make a $300 down payment by the fee payment deadline date specified on their Fee Invoice (failure to do so may result in the loss of the student’s space in the program or the student may incur a late fee).

The $300 down payment may be made only after the student has submitted an OSAP application. There is a $50 fee for this service, which will be applied to the student’s first term fees. If a student applies for OSAP online, it normally takes 48 hours from the time the student submits an application until it can be viewed by Financial Aid Office staff. Students using a paper application should allow sufficient time for the Financial Aid Office to receive the application in the mail. Students should allow 4-6 weeks for their OSAP applications to process. It is recommended that students apply as early as possible.

OSAP tuition deferrals are available only for OSAP applicants. Paying the OSAP tuition deferral by the due date confirms your intention of studying at Sheridan. Please note that students are responsible for full payment of fees, regardless of ineligibility for OSAP funding, or not receiving sufficient OSAP funding to cover fees.

 I live in another Province. Can I apply for OSAP?
Unfortunately, no. If your home province is not Ontario, then you must apply to the Ministry or Department of Education in your home province for financial assistance.

Will OSAP Cover all of my expenses?
No. Assistance from OSAP is intended to supplement the financial resources available to students from their parents or spouses, from summer savings or from other resources. You may find that what OSAP allows for expenses is less than what your actual expenses may be. You should be aware that the current MAXIMUM assistance available through OSAP is $360/week for single students and $560/week for students who are married or sole support parents.

Visit the Financial Aid and Awards Office to review your application for possible appeals if your OSAP assessment is zero or if it is insufficient to meet your needs (and you are not receiving the OSAP maximum amounts noted above). Please note that there are limited appeal options available.

How do I know if my OSAP loan has been processed?
You can check the processing status of your OSAP application on the OSAP website: osap.gov.on.ca. You will need to know your Ontario Access Number (OAN) as well as your password to access this information.

If your OSAP application has been processed, you can also check the amount you are eligible to receive from the government for this academic year. When claiming OSAP loan/grant certificates, you must be registered as a full-time student and have finalized your fee payment arrangements.
You can check the OSAP web site to check the processing status of your application. You will need to know your password (or PIN) as well as your social insurance number to access this information.

How do I receive my funding?
OSAP loan/grant certificates are available for student pick-up at the start of each semester from the Financial Aid and Awards Office at the Trafalgar, Davis and Hazel McCallion campuses. Students who are attending the Skills Training Centre should pick up their funding from the Trafalgar Campus.

• Log into myStudent Centre using your Sheridan username and password
• Go to the Finances section and click Event Registration
• Click on the Register button beside OSAP Pickup
• Choose a date and time from the list. You will be able to select one time slot only.
• Review the information for the selected session carefully. Click the Confirm button to finalize your choice, or click the Return button to make another selection.

What documents do I need to bring with me to pick up my OSAP funding?
In order to pick up your OSAP loans, you’ll be required to show the following:

• Proof of your SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER, i.e. your Social Insurance card (a legible photocopy is acceptable)or an official Government of Canada document that indicates your Social Insurance Number (e.g. Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions, Confirmation of Social Insurance Number from Service Canada).T-4, T-4A and T-5 documents are NOT acceptable.
• VALID PHOTO IDENTIFICATION (i.e. has not expired) issued in Canada by the federal government or a provincial or territorial government. Examples include Canadian Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Driver’s Licence, Age of Majority Card, Citizenship card, etc). Student ID cards are NOT acceptable.

How is my OSAP released to me?
Your OSAP funding is released to you in two installments.

• If you are attending two consecutive study terms: You will pick up your first loan/grant certificate at the start of your first study term and your second loan/grant certificate at the start of your second study term. It is your responsibility to pick up all installments of your loan/grant certificates and have them processed through the National Student Loans Service Centre prior to the end of your current study terms.
• If you are attending one study term only or enrolled in a co-op program (i.e., study term Sept-Dec, work term Jan-April): You pick up your first loan/grant certificate at the start of your study term and your second loan/grant certificate in the same study term, approximately 3-4 weeks after you pick up your first installment. It is your responsibility to ensure that you pick up all installments of your loan/grant certificates and have them processed through the National Student Loans Service Centre prior to the end of your one study term.

• Income prior to and/or during the study period (e.g. part-time work, external scholarships and awards)
• Financial situation (for you and/or your family)
• Marital status (yours or your parents)
• Place of residence during the school year (e.g. living at home or away)
• Other changes to your personal information (e.g. vehicle purchase, driver’s licence, children information)
• Course Load (i.e., dropping courses or applying for Advanced Standing) – speak to a Financial Aid Advisor BEFORE making any changes to your course load as it may affect your eligibility for OSAP funding.
• Program of study - speak to a Financial Aid Advisor BEFORE making any changes to your program as it may affect your eligibility for OSAP funding.
• Academic progress (i.e., withdrawal from full-time studies, failure to progress academically)

• You Are Getting a New Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan. Once you pick up your OSAP funding, your completed Confirmation of Enrolment form is processed by the Financial Aid and Awards Office and by the ministry. The ministry will electronically inform your previous lender and/or the NSLSC that you are still in school.
• You Are NOT Getting a New Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan or there will be a delay in receiving your OSAP funding this semester. Provide the Financial Aid and Awards Office with a signed Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) form as soon as your semester begins. The CIFS form is available from the OSAP website under Forms or from the Financial Aid and Awards Office. Once the Financial Aid and Awards Office has processed your CIFS form, the information will be electronically forwarded to your lender(s) and/or the National Student Loan Service Centre.

1. Because of our semester system, you may be required to submit a Continuation of Interest Free Status Form each and every term.
2. We cannot process a Continuation of Interest Free Status Form BEFORE the first day of your semester or AFTER the last day of your semester.

1. Go to myStudent Centre (log in using your Sheridan username and password)
2. To access the bursary application, click on the Apply for Bursary on the drop down menu under the Finances section
3. Please review the on-screen instructions to complete the application. The “next” button on the left side of the screen will take you through each section of the application.
4. Before submitting your application for processing, be sure to review the information you have provided in each section carefully. Once you hit the submit button, you will not be able to make any changes to your application.

1. Visit the Awards website at http://awards.sheridaninstitute.ca and review the list of ‘Scholarships and Bursaries Available.’ It is important to review this website on a regular basis as information is updated throughout the academic year.
2. Scroll through the list and review the Eligibility Criteria:• Is there a bursary/scholarship available which is specific to your program or open to all programs?

• Is it year specific, and are you in the appropriate year?
• Do you meet all the stated criteria?