Overview

The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant provides funding for students studying in priority programs in priority communities in Ontario. This program:

  • requires you to learn and work in the region where you study
  • responds to labour market needs, including in health care
  • helps communities get the workers they need for in-demand professions

In addition to providing free tuition,footnote 1 the funding will cover the cost of:

  • compulsory fees
  • books
  • other direct educational costs (for example, supplies, equipment)

You can also apply for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to help pay for other expenses, such as living costs.

Eligibility and program requirements

To be eligible for this grant, you must:

Service commitment

To receive this grant, you need to fulfill a service commitment. This means you are required to work in the region where you studied for a minimum of six months for every year of study funded by this grant.

For example, if your program of study is four years long, and you received the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for each year that you studied, you must work in the region for 24 months (two years) after graduation.

Your funding will be converted to a repayable loan if certain conditions are not satisfied, including completing the service commitment.

How to apply

Applications for the grant will be available online or through a paper application in Spring 2023 for eligible programs, institutions and regions of study beginning in 2023–2024.

Paper applications will be available at the financial aid office of the postsecondary institution you plan to attend.

Further information on the online application process will be available in Spring 2023.

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After you apply

If you apply online, you will be able to check the status of your application as soon as you submit it.

You'll find out:

  • if your application has been processed
  • if you have any documents you need to provide
  • if you or your school have to provide information
  • how much money you'll receive
  • when your money will be available

If you apply with a paper application, the ministry will mail you information about the status of your application.

Eligible programs, institutions and regions

The following programs, institutions and campus locations offering nursing, paramedic and medical laboratory technology/medical laboratory science at the diploma, undergraduate, masters and post-graduate levels will be eligible for the 2023–2024 academic year.

Diploma programs

Practical Nursing

  • Algonquin College: Perth, Pembroke, Ottawa
  • Collège Boréal: Sudbury, Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Nipissing, Windsor
  • Cambrian College: Sudbury
  • Canadore College: North Bay, Parry Sound
  • Confederation College: Atikokan, Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Longlac, Marathon, Nipigon, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay
  • Fanshawe College: London, Woodstock
  • Georgian College: Owen Sound
  • La Cité Collégiale: Ottawa
  • Lambton College: Sarnia
  • Loyalist College: Belleville
  • Northern College: Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Timmins
  • Sault College: Sault Ste. Marie
  • St. Clair College: Windsor, Chatham
  • St. Lawrence College: Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston

Paramedic

  • Collège Boréal: Sudbury
  • Cambrian College: Sudbury
  • Confederation College: Thunder Bay
  • CTS Canadian Career College Inc.: Sudbury
  • CTS Canadian Career College Inc.: North Bay
  • CTS Canadian Career College Inc.: Sault Ste. Marie
  • Northern College: James Bay Education Centre Campus in Moosonee, Timmins
  • Seven Generations Education Institute (partnered with Durham College): Fort Frances, Kenora

Medical Laboratory Technology/ Medical Laboratory Science

  • Cambrian College: Sudbury
  • St. Clair College: Windsor


Undergraduate programs

Bachelor or Bachelor of Science in Nursing

  • Algonquin College: Ottawa, Pembroke (collaborative with University of Ottawa)
  • Cambrian College: Sudbury (stand-alone and collaborative with Laurentian)
  • Canadore College: North Bay
  • Confederation College: Thunder Bay
  • Fanshawe College: London
  • Georgian College: Owen Sound
  • La Cité Collégiale: Ottawa
  • Lakehead University: Thunder Bay
  • Lambton College: Sarnia
  • Laurentian University: Sudbury (three stand-alone programs, one English and two French, and one collaborative with Northern College)
  • Loyalist College: Belleville
  • Nipissing University: North Bay
  • Northern College: Timmins (collaborative with Laurentian University)
  • Queen's University: Kingston (one regular and one accelerated standing track)
  • University of Ottawa: Ottawa (two stand-alone in Ottawa and three collaborative with Algonquin College in Ottawa and Pembroke)
  • Sault College: Sault Ste. Marie
  • St. Clair College: Windsor and Chatham (collaborative with University of Windsor)
  • St. Lawrence College: Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston
  • Western University: London (Nursing Compressed Program and regular program collaborative with Fanshawe College)
  • University of Windsor: Windsor (stand-alone) and Chatham (collaborative with St. Clair College)


Master's programs

Master's programs for nursing at the following institutions:

  • Lakehead University: Thunder Bay
    • Master of Public Health: Nurse Practitioner Specialization
    • Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner Specialization
    • Master of Nursing: Advanced Practice
  • Laurentian University: Sudbury
    • Master's in Nursing (MSc)
    • Nurse Practitioner MSc Nursing
    • Advanced Practice Nursing Stream: MSc Nursing
  • Queen's University: Kingston
    • Master of Nursing Science
    • Master of Nursing (Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner)
  • University of Ottawa: Ottawa
    • Master of Science Nursing
    • Master of Nursing
  • Western University: London
    • MSCN: Master of Science in Nursing
    • Master of Nursing – Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner
  • University of Windsor: Windsor
    • Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)
    • Masters of Nursing (MN) – Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner


Postgraduate programs

Postgraduate (post-Master's) Nursing Diploma programs at the following institutions:

  • Queen's University: Kingston
    • Nurse Practitioner Diploma
  • Western University: London
    • Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma
  • University of Windsor: Windsor
    • Graduate Diploma: Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner