Provincial Government Financial Aid
Even with community funding, scholarships and bursaries, you may need to apply to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
OSAP is a government program that gives you loans to help cover the cost of your postsecondary education and is based on your financial need. The loans are interest-free until 6 months after you graduate from university.
OSAP Financial Aid Programs for Indigenous Students
OSAP offers 2 financial aid programs for Indigenous students:
Indigenous Student Bursary
The Indigenous Student Bursary provides funding for Indigenous students (First Nations, Inuit and Métis).
To be eligible, you must:
- Attend a publicly assisted college or university in Ontario or an approved Indigenous institute in Ontario.
- Be enrolled in a postsecondary academic program (e.g., degree and diploma programs) or training program (e.g., apprenticeships).
- Self-identify as an Indigenous person in Canada (First Nation, Inuit or Métis).
- Meet citizenship and Ontario residency requirements, as outlined on the OSAP Application for Full-Time Students.
- Demonstrate financial need based on the criteria set out by your postsecondary institution.
Some universities may also require you to be enrolled in full-time studies. For more information, contact your university’s financial aid office.
Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant
The Ontario Indigenous Travel Grant can help you with the cost of travelling between your remote First Nations community and the university you are attending.
To be eligible, you must:
- Self-identify as an Indigenous person on your OSAP profile.
- Live in a remote First Nations community in Canada when you are not in full-time postsecondary studies.
- Be enrolled in either a public or private university in Ontario.
- Apply for OSAP as a full-time student, meet all the eligibility requirements and have a calculated provincial financial need of at least $1.
Your university’s financial aid office must receive your application no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.