Apply Online: This is by far the best way! The application is free and the computer checks for accuracy and completeness. Your application is submitted directly to the Ministry where it is processed. Paper applications take much more time to edit, send to Thunder Bay and get entered into the computer for processing. The web address is http://osap.gov.on.ca/.
OSAP Access Number (OAN) & Password: Guard this information with your life - it's worth the value of your OSAP loans. Write this info down and store it in a secure place. If you forget your OAN and/or password, work through the online process on the OSAP website to retrieve the information. If the online process doesn't work, this information can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office at any publicly funded post-secondary institution. Another option is to submit the Request for OSAP Access Number form and/or the Request for a Temporary Password form - OSAP will mail you the requested information.
Read everything carefully: Answers that are submitted the first time are easily accepted. Making changes after submitting the application requires proof and are time consuming. You can Save & Exit your application at any time and return to it later. Pay especially close attention to the supporting documentation that may be required to finish the application. Take note of important deadline dates.
Accuracy: Enter your name as it appears on your Social Insurance Number (SIN) card. All income figures are verified with the Canada Revenue Agency - taking numbers from the Notice of Assessment is best. Vehicle ownership is verified with the Ministry of Transportation.
Student Number: Type in your Redeemer Student ID number which can be found on your offer of admission letter.
Program of Study: Under 'Option 1', type in your intended major or click on the “Search Now” bar and choose from the list of programs that appears. YR-1 means Year 1 for 2012-2013. If you are still deciding what your major will be, choose Bachelor of Arts.
Study Period:
- Start date: Sept. 4, 2012
- End date: April 26, 2013
Percentage of full course load: If you are enrolled (or plan to enroll) in 4 or 5 courses in the Fall Semester, enter 100. If you are enrolled in 3 courses in the Fall Semester, enter 60. If you are enrolled in a different percentage of a full course load for the Winter Semester, a change will be sent to the Ministry in the fall.
Parent's marital status: If your parents are divorced (or separated), then you must report the marital status of the parent with whom you are living. If
that parent has remarried, then you must answer "Yes" to the first question in the marital status section: "Are either of the above two statements true?"
Parent's income: You must enter your parent's 2011 income information as it appears on their Notice of Assessment. If your parents' income for 2012 is expected to be lower than 2011's due to extenuating circumstances (i.e. parent is recently unemployed, etc.) then you can file a review after your application has been submitted requesting that your OSAP application be reassessed based upon your parents' estimated 2012 income. Complete a
Request for Assessment on Parent's Estimated Income form and submit it along with the required supporting documentation to the Financial Aid Office at Redeemer.
Parent's home within 40 km of Redeemer’s campus: OSAP automatically classifies you as living at home if your parents live within 40 km of campus. This may limit your entitlement, which could be less than if you were classified as living away from home. If you will be living away from home and there is no public transportation from Redeemer to your parents’ home, and if you do not receive the maximum amount of funding, then you can submit a request for review to OSAP asking to be classified as living away from home. Complete the
Request for Review: Adjust Living Allowance form and submit it along with a letter of explanation (include your parents' address and the detail of no public transportation) and proof of your 'away from home' living expenses (i.e. rental agreement, utilities, etc.) to the Financial Aid Office at Redeemer.
Getting an Estimate: At the end of the application, you are given an opportunity to get an estimate of what you may qualify for in government funding. Accuracy depends on the information you enter.
- Do not enter an amount for housing as it is accounted for in the OSAP calculations
- Tuition is $13,740 for full-time students
- Compulsory fees are approximately $505 for full-time students
- Number of study weeks is 34
Supporting Documentation Cover Sheet: Must be submitted to our office along with your supporting documentation. Fill in the 'Student Information' section and then list all of the supporting documents you are required to provide. Forward the cover sheet and all supporting documents to Redeemer's Financial aid Office.
Signature Pages: Mail your signature pages, and any other supporting documentation that is required to complete the application, along with a Supporting Documentaiton Cover Sheet (see above), to Redeemer’s Financial Aid Office.
Identification: It is required that all students receiving OSAP loans show proof of identification before their OSAP loan documents can be released to them. Students must show their Social Insurance Number (SIN) card along with a form of government-issued photo ID. Valid forms of government-issued photo ID include: provincial driver’s licence, Canadian passport, permanent residency or citizenship card and provincial health card. If you do not have a valid photo ID, contact the
Financial Aid Office for alternatives.
Questions: If you have any questions about your OSAP application, contact the
Financial Aid Office anytime. You can save and exit your application at any time and go back to it after your questions have been answered.