The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides both loans and grants to help pay for the costs your post-secondary studies. This program is funded both by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada.
- Grants - money that does not need to be repaid
- Loans - money that needs to repaid after your studies
The amount of OSAP that you can receive is based on your financial situation. Students may apply for the Grants only, so they don’t need to repay anything. OSAP can be used to help pay for your tuition, textbooks, rent, food and other living expenses while you are studying at school.
Last Updated on: March 10, 2025
- You must be enrolled Full time / Part time in a Ministry approved program in a post-secondary institution in Ontario.
- You must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent resident, or a protected person.
- You must be an Ontario resident.
Previous recipients of OSAP must maintain good loans standing, and good academic standing.
1. Submit Application
Complete and submit your OSAP application online on the OSAP website.
2. Submit the required documentation for your OSAP application.
New applicants must submit all documentation as requested. You can submit the documents directly to the OSAP website, or to Student Financial Services at our myCentennial website
Previous applicants of OSAP generally do not need to submit anything, however it is possible that you will be asked to submit additional documents.
3. Register for classes.
Register for you classes, and build your timetable.
Full time students will have to make a minimum deposit of $250. This deposit will allow you to apply for classes while we wait for your OSAP to arrive.
Part time students will have to pay for their classes, in order to register.
4. Confirmation
Centennial College will confirm that you are enrolled at our school, and you will receive your OSAP funds. Confirmation typically begins two weeks before classes start.
If you would like to view the status of your OSAP application, you can check it on the OSAP website, or you can contact the Centennial Financial aid office.
5. Receive OSAP Funds
The National Student Loans Service Centre will send your OSAP funds to pay off your tuition balance for the semester. The remainder of your OSAP funds will be sent to your bank account to pay for your other educational and living expenses.
It is the student’s responsibility to maintain good standing with their OSAP account, so they can continue to receive future funding.
If you have applied for OSAP before and plan to come back to school, you can apply for OSAP again.
If you do not wish you apply for OSAP again, but plan to return to school, you can get a Confirmation of Interest-Free Status. This status allows you hold repaying your OSAP until you are finished school. Interest on your OSAP loans will not accumulate while you are receiving this status. Students can apply for this status on the OSAP website.
Typically, students must remain a minimum course load to maintain good standing with OSAP. If you withdraw from your classes after receiving the funding, your OSAP account may be placed on probation, and you may lose your ability to receive future OSAP funding. Students who receive OSAP grants may also have their grants converted into a loan.
Students are expected to pass a minimum number of courses to maintain good standing with OSAP. If you do not pass enough classes, your OSAP account will be placed on probation, and you may lose your ability to receive future OSAP funding.
Any fraudulent activity, or inaccurate information on your OSAP application may lead to funds repayment and/or an indefinite hold on your OSAP account.
Students do not need repay their OSAP loans while they are attending school. If you complete your studies, or stop attending school, you will be asked to start repaying your OSAP loans.
Six months after you stop attending school, the National Student Loans Service Centre will contact you about repaying your OSAP loans in monthly installments. You can view the status of your previous OSAP balance at the National Student Loans Service Centre website.
Students who do not have the funds to start repaying their OSAP loans should consider applying for the Repayment Assistance Plan. This plan will review your financial situation to determine if they can reduce your monthly installment. Some students can receive another six months before they need to start repaying their loans.
If you would like to inquire about the balance of your OSAP loans, or further questions about repaying your OSAP, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre.
If you have forgotten your OSAP Access Number / password for OSAP, you can retrieve your information here: Missing OSAP Info.
If you are unable to retrieve your Missing OSAP information online, you can contact our Student Financial Services office via phone at 416-289-5300 Option 5. We will ask you some security questions and we can retrieve your information.
Alternatively, you may visit one of our Student Financial Services branches with your Social Insurance card and your government-issued photo identification to retrieve your information.
If you have any questions about OSAP, please contact us with the links below:
Current students can contact us through Centennial Access to Student Services (CASS) on the myCentennial website.
If you do not have a student number, and would like to ask a general question about OSAP, please sign up for a CASS account to submit your question at the CASS Prospective Student sign up.
Our phone number is: 416-289-5300 Option 5.