OSAP Changes & Ongoing Support at Trent

The announced changes apply to OSAP funding for the 2026–27 academic year and beyond. This means they affect students who apply for OSAP for study periods beginning August 1, 2026 or later. OSAP funding for the 2025/26 academic year, including Spring/Summer 2026, is not affected by these changes.

OSAP will continue to be assessed based on financial need, as it has in previous years. What is changing is the way the provincial portion of OSAP is structured.

Under the new model:

• A greater share of provincial funding may be provided as loans rather than grants
• The maximum provincial grant portion will be capped at 25 percent
• There is no indication at this time that students will receive less OSAP overall

Because OSAP includes both federal and provincial funding, and most students receive a larger share from federal sources, the overall impact will vary by individual situation. Specific assessed amounts will not be known until the 2026–27 OSAP application is released.

The announced OSAP changes apply to all students who apply for OSAP for study periods beginning August 1, 2026 or later, whether they are new or returning students. 

For both groups, OSAP will continue to be assessed based on financial need, and federal funding remains a significant portion of most OSAP packages. What may differ is how the provincial portion of funding is structured. 

New and prospective students are encouraged to review all available funding options at Trent, including guaranteed entrance scholarships, bursaries, and paid work opportunities, and to connect with Financial Aid if they have questions as they plan.

Based on the information available so far, there is no indication that students will receive less OSAP overall, and Trent remains committed to supporting students’ ability to continue their education.

While the mix of grants and loans within the provincial portion of OSAP will change, current information does not suggest a reduction in total funding. For example, a student receiving $8,000 in total OSAP funding this year will likely still be assessed for $8,000 in total funding next year (with some assumptions made). What may change is how that funding is structured, rather than the overall amount.

We recognize that OSAP is a critical source of funding for many Ontario domestic students, and uncertainty about changes can be stressful. While individual impacts cannot be confirmed until the 2026–27 OSAP application is released, students are encouraged to review all funding opportunities available at Trent while we wait for final details.

Many students combine OSAP with other supports such as bursaries and awards, scholarships, paid co-op or internship opportunities, and on-campus employment. These supports are designed to help address gaps where OSAP alone may not fully cover costs.

If you are concerned about your ability to continue your studies, connecting with Trent’s Financial Aid team once more information is available can help you understand your options and plan next steps.

An important step to understanding the announced OSAP changes is to review your current OSAP assessment. To do so:

• Log into your OSAP at www.ontario.ca/OSAP
• Click on your 25/26 full time OSAP application
• Select the blue button that says “View the amount of your funding”
• Scroll down below the Green, Blue and Orange funding circles to the “Funding Amounts”
• Under “What you’re eligible for:” you can read what is Ontario Student Grant, Canada Student Grant and Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan
  • You may see other funding sources listed

No. The announced changes to OSAP will not impact your existing funding. The announced changes apply only to OSAP funding starting in the 2026/2027 application year.

There have been no announced changes to OSAP repayment rules or interest rates as part of the current update.

Key features remain in place:

• No loan payments or interest is accumulated while studying full time. You must have a current full time or interest-free application confirmed by Financial Aid.
• No interest on federal student loans while studying or while in repayment.
• The Repayment Assistance Program is available to help students with flexible repayment options including reduced or delayed payment plans.

These protections remain an important part of how OSAP supports students.

Yes. OSAP remains one of the most accessible ways to fund postsecondary education.

Key features of OSAP remain unchanged:

• Grants are still available
• No loan payments or interest accumulates while you are studying full time
• Repayment assistance programs remain available after graduation to help manage payments

OSAP continues to be an important foundation for many students’ funding plans.

If your OSAP estimate looks different than what you received in past years, this does not necessarily mean you will receive less funding overall.

Estimates reflect the information available at the time and may change as program details are finalized and applications are fully assessed. Changes to the mix of grants and loans within the provincial portion of OSAP may also affect how funding appears.

If you have questions about your estimate or are unsure how to interpret it, Trent’s Financial Aid team can help you understand what you are seeing and what it may mean for your planning.

At Trent, OSAP is just one part of a broader network of financial support. Students may also access:

• Bursaries and awards: More than $4.4 million in bursaries and awards are distributed annually. Every student who applies and is assessed as having unmet financial need receives a bursary. These funds do not need to be repaid. Bursary applications are available each term and open within the first week of classes (Fall, Winter, and Summer) through the myTrent portal under the Finances tab. These non-repayable funds are designed to help address unmet financial need.
• Paid co-op opportunities: Trent offers 35 paid co-op streams across arts, sciences, and professional programs, with additional opportunities launching in Fall 2026.
• On-campus employment: Thousands of on-campus student jobs are posted each year, including through the Work Study program, helping students earn income while balancing their studies. Student positions are posted year-round on the Trent student job board.
• Renewable scholarships: Trent offers strong guaranteed and renewable entrance scholarships, as well as in-course scholarships for continuing students. Students who do not receive an entrance scholarship in first year are automatically assessed for in-course scholarships in later years, with no quotas or competition.

Many students combine multiple sources of support to fund their education.

If you’re feeling unsure about how upcoming OSAP changes might affect you, a helpful first step is to review your current OSAP assessment in your OSAP account under “View the amount of your funding.” This can give you a clearer sense of your individual funding mix, including how much of your funding comes from federal and provincial sources, and the supports you already receive.

More detailed information about the 2026/27 OSAP program is expected when the application opens in late spring. Once that information is available, students will be able to see updated estimates and better understand how the changes may apply to them individually.

In the meantime, there are a few practical things you can do:

• Plan to apply for OSAP early once the application opens
• Complete all Trent bursary and award applications each term through the Finances tab in the myTrent portal
• Check ontario.ca/osap for updates as new information becomes available

If you have questions or concerns, or if reviewing your current funding raises uncertainty, Trent’s Financial Aid team is available to help you understand your options and plan next steps when appropriate. They can help you make sense of information as it becomes clearer.

Trent bursary and awards applications are available to students each term and are designed to help address unmet financial need.

• Applications open within the first week of classes each term (Fall, Winter, and Summer)
• Students can apply through the myTrent portal, under the Finances tab
• The general bursary program is designed to help supplement educational costs and support students when they experience unexpected expenses in their studies.
• Bursaries and awards are non-repayable funds that you never need to pay back

Trent’s bursary and awards program is intentionally flexible and is reviewed each year to ensure it continues to respond to areas where students are experiencing financial pressure. Students are encouraged to apply each term, even if they have received support in the past.

Trent’s Financial Aid team is your best point of contact. While Trent does not set OSAP policy, our Financial Aid team administers the program and has supported students through many OSAP changes over the years. They can help you:

• Understand how OSAP works
• Review your current funding
• Plan for the 2026–27 academic year once details are confirmed
• Identify additional supports you may be eligible for at Trent

Contact Trent Financial Aid:
Email: financialaid@trentu.ca
Phone: 705-748-1524

If you are feeling uncertain or worried, you are not alone, and support is available. We strongly encourage students who are concerned about affordability to reach out early rather than making decisions based on incomplete information. It is important to note that total student funding amounts are not being decreased from OSAP. A conversation with Trent’s Financial Aid team can help clarify what is known, what is still to come, and what supports may be available to you.

In many cases, students find that a combination of OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, and employment opportunities helps bridge gaps. Trent’s teams are here to help you explore those options and plan ahead as details become clearer.

Trent closely monitors changes to student financial assistance programs and reviews how those changes may affect different groups of students. While institutional supports cannot be finalized until full OSAP details are released, Trent’s Financial Aid team, in collaboration with other student support areas, reviews data, identifies potential impacts, and adjusts bursary and support programs where possible to respond to student need. Supporting access and affordability is a long-standing priority at Trent.

Students and families are encouraged to reference official sources for updates and to connect with Trent Financial Aid with questions. Official updates, including the 2026–27 OSAP estimator and application, will be posted by the province on the OSAP website: ontario.ca/OSAP

Parents, guardians, and supporters are encouraged to review the information on this page and the official OSAP website at ontario.ca/OSAP.

While OSAP applications and funding details are specific to individual students, Trent’s Financial Aid team is available to provide general information about how OSAP works, what changes have been announced, and how students can access support. Students are also encouraged to involve their supporters in planning conversations where helpful.