Current Students (Page 1 of 2)

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Osgoode Hall Law School offers a great variety and easily accessible financial assistance programs designed to assist students in funding their law school studies. Most programs are based on a student clearly demonstrating financial need. Application to a Government Student Loan Program, application for a Student Line-of-Credit, and a well documented bursary application are basic to student financial assistance at Osgoode.

Make sure you are aware of all relevant deadlines. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material contained in our Fees and Financial Information Guide, 2009-10.

 

Financial Information for Current Students:
A. OSAP
B. Available Funding
C. External Funding
D. Proper Budgeting
E. Tuition
F. Tax Tips & Forms
G. Students Going on Exchange

 

What You Need to Know While a Student at Osgoode

Please note that it is expected that many students will accumulate educational debt both before and while at law school. Osgoode's goal is to have viable financial programs accessible and in place that will assist you in keeping your debt load at a minimum. However, you must take full responsibility for your own financial situation while you are at Osgoode. The steps in the process are as follows:

  1. Be Aware Of And Take Advantage Of All Available Funding;

  2. Search Out Sources of External Funding While At Osgoode;

  3. Create And Implement A Financial Plan For Daily Living Expenses;

  4. Stay Informed Of Your Financial Responsibilities.

 

 A. OSAP 

Complete your OSAP application ASAP!
Students should complete the OSAP application as soon as possible in the late spring to early summer. Applications must be completed by June 30th in order to be eligible to have your Osgoode tuition fees deferred until you receive government funding. If the application is not completed prior to June 30th the first half of your tuition will be due on August 10th, which is before you receive any OSAP funding.

The current maximum funding available through OSAP per academic year is $11,900 for a single student with no dependants, and $18,350 for a sole-support parent or married student. Students are encouraged to visit the OSAP website for complete information.

Students going on exchange in the fall may have additional requirements. Please review this.

Financial Document Tracker
York's online document tracker informs you whether your government funds have been received, where to pick them up, what identification you need and, for your convenience, allows you to set up an appointment online so that waiting time is minimal. Track your documents at http://sfs.yorku.ca/services/tracker/.

Please note: York University handles all OSAP related inquiries (Osgoode Student Financial Services does not handle any OSAP inquiries).  If you have any questions you can contact York Financial Services at 416-872-9675.

 

B. Available Funding

1. Take advantage of Osgoode's Scholarships and Awards Program

  • Remember to keep yourself apprised of the scholarships and awards that are available in upper years as you complete your studies at Osgoode. Make time to apply for any awards that are not automatic and for which you may be eligible.
  • For most scholarships and awards, students are automatically eligible. Please note that financial need is important for most upper year scholarships.
  • Review available scholarships and awards here.

2. Government Student Loan Programs

  • Apply to the Government Student Loan Program in the province in which you are a resident.
  • Apply Early - namely, as early as late spring and early summer to ensure that your approved loan documents will be available before you arrive at Osgoode.
  • Government Student Loan information is crucial to Osgoode's bursary process; it is the student's responsibility to document whether you have a loan in place and the amount of the loan.
  • Students from Ontario can apply for OSAP. Please review the OSAP website.
  • Links to all Provincial and Territorial loan websites can be found here.

3. Royal Bank Student Line-of-Credit

  • Osgoode has a special arrangement with a local Royal Bank branch located at Highway 400 and 7, to make it easier for law students to put a student line-of-credit in place.
  • It is recommended that you apply for a line-of-credit early in the summer in order to have it in place for the bursary application in September.
  • During the first two weeks of term, the Royal Bank will have professional representatives onsite at Osgoode to address all your financial needs.
  • Loans can be applied for by contacting: Ms. Cindy Wong at (905) 738-4405 or cindy.wong@rbc.com. Please note that you may apply for a student line-of-credit at any financial institution of your choice.
  • For additional information please review the student line of credit section under "How to Fund Law School".

4. Osgoode's Bursary Program

  • Osgoode administers a very significant Bursary Program, distributing well over $2 Million in non-repayable funds to more than half the student population on the basis of financial need.
  • An on-line bursary application will be available when you begin classes in September.
  • You are required to document your government student loan or provide a letter outlining why you were declined;
  • You are required to document your student line-of-credit or provide a letter outlining why you were declined;
  • In both cases, if you prove you have been officially declined, you may still be considered for a bursary;
  • Most importantly, you must complete the bursary application and submit it with all required supporting documentation by the specified deadline;
  • Please Note: Late applications will not be considered;
  • Students will be notified in November of their bursary awards which are then applied directly to their York University Student Accounts.
  • For additional information, please review the bursaries section under "How to Fund Law School".

5. Osgoode's Emergency Funding Program

  • If you have exhausted all the sources of funding listed above and encounter a serious financial crisis, you may contact Penny Spence, the Director of Student Financial Services in Room 131C, Osgoode.
  • Emergency funding is meant to be short term in order to help students work through a financial crisis. It is a last resort when no other sources of funding are available.
  • Arrangements are usually in place to repay the loan in the academic term in which it is extended.
  • For additional information, please review the emergency funding section under "How to Fund Law School".

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