Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
The Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provides bursaries of up to $5,000 to cover direct education costs (tuition, books and equipment) for participants attending non-OSAP approved, current or former Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) funded bridge training programs offered by Ontario colleges, universities and the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences (Michener Institute). Internationally trained professionals with financial need are eligible to apply for an OBPAP bursary if they are enrolled in MCI approved bridge training programs that are: Bursary assistance is limited to program tuition, book and equipment costs reported by the postsecondary institution offering the bridge training. The OBPAP bursary applicant must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person living in Ontario. The bursary covers up to $5,000 in direct education costs. The OBPAP bursary maximum is the lesser of $5,000 or tuition, book and equipment costs reported by the college/university/Michener Institute for the bridge training. The maximum amount available for each bridge training project is outlined in Question 19. OBPAP bursary eligibility is based on student financial need. The postsecondary institution offering the bridge training establishes financial need based on their policies regarding student financial need. Students with assessed financial need are eligible to receive an OBPAP bursary to cover eligible educational costs. The bursary covers participant bridge training costs (tuition, books and equipment) reported by the postsecondary institution (college, university or the Michener Institute) that is offering the program. Your postsecondary institution receives funding to provide bursary assistance through OBPAP. No. Application for OBPAP bursary assistance must be made before or during the bridge training period. No. The OBPAP bursary only covers direct education costs (tuition, books and equipment) that participants pay for the bridge training. No. No. Given that participants can only receive one OBPAP bursary and some bridge training programs entail a series of courses that can take more than one year to complete, postsecondary institutions may set aside the bursary maximum for a bursary recipient to cover his/her 2011-12 and future year education costs. Yes. However, in such circumstances, the other forms of financial assistance must first be applied to offset eligible bridge training costs prior to using OBPAP funds to cover any remaining costs. For example, if a student with $5,000 in eligible OBPAP bridge training costs were to receive a $3,500 institutional bursary, that bursary would first be applied to cover these costs. The remaining $1,500 in eligible bridge training costs could be covered through OBPAP. The OBPAP bursary cannot be combined with OSAP funding (see questions 17 and 18 for further details). In this case you would receive $8,500 in combined bursary assistance. The $3,500 bursary would first be applied to reduce eligible education costs and the balance would be covered up to the OBPAP bursary maximum established for your bridge training program (in this case $5,000). Please see question 19 for a listing of OBPAP bursary maximums by bridge training program. If your bridge training consists of a series of courses, you will have to pay to repeat the course that you failed. If your bridge training consists of a single course you will have to pay to repeat the course. OBPAP bursary assistance is not renewable. If your bridge training consists of a series of courses you will have to pay to repeat the course that you dropped. If your bridge training consists of a single course you will be considered, for the purposes of OBPAP, as having withdrawn from the program and you will have to pay to repeat the course. Participants who have their tuition fees covered through OBPAP and subsequently withdraw from their program will be required to return unused tuition fees to the postsecondary institution offering the bridge training. No. OBPAP bursary assistance is intended to allow participants to access bridge training which will allow them to practice in the profession for which they were trained. As such, OBPAP bursary assistance is not intended to fund retraining in other fields/professions. No. OBPAP bursary assistance is only available to students enrolled in non-OSAP approved bridge training programs. While OSAP student loans are repayable, student loan recipients derive many benefits that can exceed OBPAP bursary amounts. For instance, students in two-term programs can have annual repayable loan amounts reduced to $7,300 and $10,950 for three-term programs through the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant (OSOG). Students with low incomes may also be eligible to receive non-repayable provincial grants to help cover tuition costs and federal grants for living/study expenses. OSAP student loans are also interest free while you are in school, attending bridge training. The following approved college, university and Michener Institute bridge training programs will be offering OBPAP bursary assistance in 2011-12. The bursary maximum specified for each program reflects direct education costs reported by the bridge training institution for the program. Each college and university as well as the Michener Institute is responsible for submitting timely and accurate program information to MCI.
Applications for an OBPAP bursary can be made through the Financial Aid Office of your postsecondary institution. If you are awarded an OBPAP bursary, the postsecondary institution will take the bursary funding and apply it against tuition, book and equipment costs that you would otherwise have to pay to the college, university or Michener Institute for the bridge training. Any remaining funds will be issued to you (based on receipts submitted) to reimburse you for mandatory program book and equipment costs. No. Each college/university and the Michener Institute is responsible for submitting timely and accurate program information to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI). Students in such circumstances should contact the Financial Aid Office of their institution to determine if they are eligible for other forms of financial assistance (e.g., bursaries or grants). Alternatively, postsecondary institutions can contribute funds to increase the amount of OBPAP bursary assistance. In-session 2011-12 bridge training programs starting on or after April 1, 2011 are eligible for OBPAP bursary assistance. If you are enrolled in an MCI approved bridge training program and qualify for an OBPAP bursary, the bursary will be directed to you to reimburse you (based on submitted receipts) for the eligible education costs that you paid. No. No. Contact your Financial Aid Office or the National Student Loan Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 to determine which programs may be available to help you keep your student loans in good standing while in bridge training programs. |
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