Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
When OFTP enquired in 2004, 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).
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 in 2004 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.
See their website for more details and up-to-date information.
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal
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
- www.scholarshipscanada.com
- www.fastweb.com (predominantly U.S.)
Canadian Guidance Services
Canadian Guidance Services offers a book that lists scholarships and awards and is updated every two years. (288 pages for $27.50 for the 2014 edition)
CGS Communications, Inc.
(Canadian Guidance Services)
2521 Nicklaus Court
Burlington ON L7M 4V1
Canada
Phone: 1-905-332-008
Fax: 1- 905-319-1641