OSAP Academic Probation & Restriction
Academic Probation and Restriction
Your academics can affect your Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Learn what it means and what to do if you end up on OSAP academic probation.
In order to maintain your Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), there are certain requirements you need to meet. These requirements are different from any that Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) may have for your program. You can be in good academic standing at TMU and still not meet OSAP academic progress.
This sounds serious, and it is, but we’re sharing all the OSAP academic progress requirements below so you know what’s expected. If you think anything might jeopardize your funding (or your progress at TMU), we encourage you to connect with an OSAP advisor at the ServiceHub or with your academic program advisor straight away to explore what can be done.
As a full-time OSAP recipient, you're expected to maintain successful OSAP academic progress. Full-time OSAP academic progress is maintained by the following 2 conditions:
You're required to successfully maintain and complete a full-time course load. OSAP doesn't check your grade point average for this. OSAP academic progress is assessed on a pass/fail basis each term where you receive full-time funding.
This means passing at least a 60% course load (3 courses) or a 40% course load (2 courses) if you have a registered permanent, persistent or prolonged disability with OSAP.
You're also required to successfully progress through your program with no interruptions. The following actions are common examples of failing to meet OSAP academic progress:
- Changing programs
- Changing institutions
- Dropping from a full-time course load to a part-time course load
- Withdrawing from a program (temporarily or permanently)
- Failing courses
- Repeating courses
- Taking additional years to complete a program (e.g. enrolling for a fifth year for a 4-year program), including adding multiple majors and/or minors
- Private extensions
- Failing to actively participate in courses (i.e., not attending classes, not submitting assignments, not writing exams)
Failure to maintain academic progress will have you placed on OSAP academic probation. If you fail to achieve academic progress for 2 consecutive years, you'll be placed on OSAP academic restriction.
Full-Time OSAP Academic Probation
During the first instance of failing to meet satisfactory OSAP academic progress, you're placed on OSAP academic probation for a minimum of 12 months from the date of your incomplete academic progress status.
Once on OSAP academic probation, you're still eligible to apply for either part-time OSAP or full-time OSAP. To be considered for funding while on academic probation, you must submit an OSAP Acknowledgement of Academic Probation form with your OSAP application. This form can be found on the Required Documents page in your OSAP portal.
To be removed from your academic probation status, you must pass a full-time course load in the following academic year and not have any interruptions with your studies.
Common reasons why you may be placed on OSAP academic probation include, but are not limited to:
- Not successfully completing a 60% course load each term (40% course load for students with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability)
- Dropping courses
- Withdrawing from full-time studies
- Switching programs of study
- Switching educational institutions
- Extending your studies
You received full-time OSAP in the 2025-2026 academic year.
- Fall 2025 term: You dropped to one course and passed the course
- Winter 2026 term: You enrolled in 5 courses and passed 2 out of 5 courses
Only 3 courses were completed over 2 terms, so you would be placed on OSAP academic probation.
Full-Time OSAP Academic Restriction
If you can't meet satisfactory OSAP academic progress for 2 consecutive years, your probation status will be upgraded to academic restriction.
Once on academic restriction, you lose eligibility for both part-time and full-time OSAP for a minimum of 12 months.
During the restriction time, you must maintain your previous loans in good standing.
- If you're still studying full-time, you must submit a Continuation of Interest-Free Status (CIFS) application at the start of each study period
- If you're not studying full-time, you must maintain your repayment schedule or apply for Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) (external link) from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) via your NSLSC account (external link)
After the restriction period has passed, you must submit an OSAP Acknowledgement of Academic Probation form with your next application for funding. This document will be listed on the Required Documents page in your OSAP portal when you next apply for funding.
- You're placed on your first instance of OSAP academic probation starting May 2025. You'll be on academic probation from May 2025 to May 2026 (i.e. the 2025-2026 academic year)
- You return to full-time studies and receive full-time OSAP for the fall 2025 and winter 2026 semesters, which runs from September 2025 to April 2026. You fail to maintain academic progress over these 2 terms (i.e. 2025-2026 academic year)
- You'll be restricted from OSAP funding from April 2026 to April 2027 (i.e. for the 12 months of the 2026-2027 calendar year)
As a part-time student, you’re expected to maintain OSAP academic progress by passing 100% of the courses that you’ve received part-time funding for.
If you drop one or more courses during a term where you received part-time OSAP or you don't pass all the courses you took while receiving part-time OSAP, you'll be placed on part-time OSAP academic probation.
Part-Time OSAP Academic Probation
Part-time OSAP academic probation requires you to self-fund for the next semester during which you apply for part-time OSAP and pass all the courses you take that semester. Check out some external funding options below to help with your educational costs, whether on OSAP academic probation or not.
Part-time OSAP academic probation doesn't impact on your full-time OSAP eligibility.
- During the fall 2026 term, you receive part-time OSAP and then drop one course
- You apply and receive full-time OSAP during the winter 2027 term
- You then re-apply for part-time OSAP during the fall 2027 term — you'll need to self-fund during the fall 2027 term
AwardSpring
TMU's dedicated online awards, scholarships and bursaries platform houses over 1,300 awards.
External Awards
There are many external scholarships websites to explore like Student Awards by Yconic and Scholarships Canada.
Career Boost
Career Boost provides campus jobs to eligible full-time students at TMU. Earn while you learn, network and develop your professional skills.
Student Line of Credit
Consult with a trusted bank or private lender on your options for a student line of credit.
To help you stay on track while you’re studying, TMU offers many student services and supports. We have Student Wellbeing that encompasses a variety of health, wellbeing and academic services and supports. We also have Student Life and Learning Support, which includes tutoring, skill-building opportunities and more. These services may be able to help you navigate personal and academic issues that can lead to OSAP academic probation.