Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) advised that homeschooled students are eligible for both Ontario and Canada Student Loans (Canada Student Loans are administered via OSAP).
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) offers one scholarship - the "Aiming for the Top Scholarship." Homeschooled students are not eligible for this scholarship because a share of these awards is allotted to each high school based on provincial enrollment figures. The awards are for inspected high schools only (i.e. those that offer the Ontario highschool diploma). The OFTP volunteer who gathered this information wrote, "In addition, the awards are determined by plugging marks into a computor - it is apparently not possible to do in-depth assessments of prior learning. I was advised that suggestions for change could only be considered at the Ministry level. (Despite the negative news the contact here was actually quite friendly)."
OSAP info line for students wishing to attend post-secondary institutions outside of Ontario: 1-800-667-4938.
Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation offers awards based on financial need (a bursary) and on merit (the Excellence Award scholarships). Homeschooled students are eligible for both (merit is based on a range of criteria - not just transcript marks).
Scholarship database websites
The following websites are searchable scholarship database sites which require the student to register with them (generally for free) and which will then conduct a search for scholarships on the student's behalf:
- www.studentawards.com (telephone: 1-866-729-2737)
- www.scholarshipscanada.com
- www.fastweb.com (predominantly U.S.)
- www.wiredscholar.com (predominantly U.S.)
- www.college-scholarships.com (predominantly U.S.)
Financial aid from Ontario colleges and universities
The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has compiled two pages of links to the financial assistance webpages of post-secondary education institutions in Ontario:
- Scholarships & Financial Aid at Ontario Colleges
- Scholarships & Financial Aid at Ontario Universities
Youth Path
Youth Path is a Government of Canada website that includes a page on Awards, Bursaries, Fellowships, Grants and Scholarships.
It also includes the online version of Youth Link, a publication issued by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. According to the website, "Many organizations are willing to help eager young people with the rising cost of post-secondary education. Youth Link will help you find them. It also has information on Canada Student Loans." For a free copy of the publication in print, call 1-800-935-5555
Canadian Guidance Services
Canadian Guidance Services offers a 250 page book for $26.70 (this includes shipping and tax) which lists scholarships and awards and is updated every two years.
Canadian Guidance Services
2042 Coral Crescent
Burlington ON L7P 3K5
Phone: 1-905-332-008
