Applications open

Learn about how to apply.

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:

How to apply

Applications for the grant can be made online for eligible programs, institutions and regions of study beginning in 2023–2024.

Notice: Scheduled maintenance to the grant application site usually occurs on Sunday mornings. If you find that the application is unavailable on a Sunday morning, please try again later.

Online applications

Register for an account to apply for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant if you do not have OSAP log in credentials.

Log in with existing OSAP credentials to apply for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant.

Bookmark this page to check for more updates.

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

After you graduate

You must fulfill a service commitment after you graduate to receive this grant. This includes working in the same service region of the province where you studied for at least 180 days (6 months) for every full year of study funded by the grant.

For example, if your program of study is 4 years long and you received funding all 4 years you studied, you must work in that same region for 24 months (2 years) after your graduation. The duration of your service commitment will be adjusted to reflect the amount of Ontario Learn and Stay Grant funding you receive. (For example, if you repeat a course and receive additional funding for it, the duration will be longer).

Your funding will be converted to a repayable loan if you do not meet all required conditions, including completing the service commitment.

You will see the full Service Commitment Agreement when you apply for the grant.

Find where you must study and work

If you receive the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, you must study and work in either the north, east or southwest regions in Ontario depending on where you studied.

For example, a student studying at an institution located in a north region can work for an eligible employer in any of the public health units within the north region.

Ontario Learn and Stay Grant regions

The north, east or southwest regions are areas created by groupings based on public health unit boundariesfootnote 2

Find the groupings on the regional map below.
Note: numbers identify specific public health units within each region.

North region

  • Thunder Bay (6)
  • Sudbury (12)
  • North Bay-Parry Sound (21)
  • Northwestern (24)
  • Timiskaming (26)
  •  Porcupine (33)
  • Algoma (34)

East region

  • Kingston Frontenac Lennox and
    Addington (16)
  • Eastern Ontario (20)
  • Ottawa (22)
  • Leeds Grenville and Lanark (23)
  • Renfrew County (27)
  • Hastings Prince Edward Counties (30)

Southwest region

  • Huron Perth/Oxford Elgin St. Thomas (2)
  • Southwestern (4)
  • Lambton (8)
  • Middlesex-London (11)
  • Chatham-Kent (15)
  • Windsor-Essex County (17)
  • Grey-Bruce (19)
  • Haldimand-Norfolk (25)

Ontario Learn and Stay Grant regions

Regions based on Ontario Public Health Unit boundaries.

Image
Ontario Learn and Stay Grant Regions based on Ontario Public Health Unit boundaries The map shows Ontario Learn and Stay regions for the 2023 to 2024 academic year. These regions are North, East and Southwest and are based on Ontario Public Health Unit boundaries.

Download map (PDF 1.3 MB)

Eligible programs, institutions and regions

The following programs, institutions and regional campus locations at the diploma, undergraduate, masters and postgraduate levels will be eligible for the 2023–2024 academic year.

Diploma programs

Eligible programs include:

 

Practical Nursing

InstitutionCampus location(s)Ontario Learn and Stay
Grant region
Algonquin CollegePerth, Pembroke, OttawaEast
Cambrian CollegeSudburyNorth
Canadore CollegeNorth BayNorth
Collège BoréalSudbury, Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing, NipissingNorth
Collège BoréalWindsorSouthwest
Confederation CollegeAtikokan, Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Longlac, Marathon, Nipigon, Sioux Lookout, Thunder BayNorth
Fanshawe CollegeLondon, WoodstockSouthwest
Georgian CollegeOwen SoundSouthwest
La Cité CollégialeOttawaEast
Lambton CollegeSarniaSouthwest
Loyalist CollegeBellevilleEast
Northern CollegeHaileybury, Kirkland Lake, TimminsNorth
Sault CollegeSault Ste. MarieNorth
St. Clair CollegeWindsor, ChathamSouthwest
St. Lawrence CollegeBrockville, Cornwall, KingstonEast

Paramedic

InstitutionCampus location(s)Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region
Cambrian CollegeSudburyNorth
Collège BoréalSudburyNorth
Confederation CollegeThunder BayNorth
CTS Canadian Career College Inc.North BayNorth
CTS Canadian Career College Inc.Sault Ste. MarieNorth
CTS Canadian Career College Inc.SudburyNorth
Northern College James Bay Education Centre Campus in Moosonee, Timmins North
Seven Generations Education Institute (partnered with Durham College)Fort Frances, Kenora, Sioux LookoutNorth

 

Medical Laboratory Technology/ Medical Laboratory Science

InstitutionCampus locationOntario Learn and Stay
Grant region
Cambrian CollegeSudburyNorth
St. Clair CollegeWindsor

Southwest

 

 

Undergraduate programs

Bachelor or Bachelor of Science in Nursing

InstitutionCampus location(s)Ontario Learn and Stay
Grant region
Algonquin CollegeOttawa, Pembroke (collaborative with University of Ottawa)East
Cambrian CollegeSudburyNorth
Canadore CollegeNorth Bay, Parry SoundNorth
Confederation CollegeThunder BayNorth
Fanshawe CollegeLondonSouthwest
Georgian CollegeOwen SoundSouthwest
La Cité CollégialeOttawaEast
Lakehead UniversityThunder BayNorth
Lambton CollegeSarniaSouthwest
Laurentian UniversitySudbury (3 stand-alone programs, 1 English and 2 French at LU Sudbury and another collaborative with Northern College)North
Loyalist CollegeBellevilleEast
Nipissing UniversityNorth BayNorth
Northern CollegeTimmins (collaborative with Laurentian University)North
Queen's UniversityKingston (one regular and one accelerated standing track)East
Sault CollegeSault Ste. MarieNorth
St. Clair CollegeWindsor and Chatham (collaborative with University of Windsor)Southwest
St. Lawrence CollegeBrockville, Cornwall, KingstonEast
University of OttawaOttawa (two stand-alone in Ottawa and three collaborative with Algonquin College in Ottawa and Pembroke)East
University of WindsorWindsor (stand-alone) and Chatham (collaborative with St. Clair College)Southwest
Western UniversityLondon (Nursing Compressed Program and regular program collaborative with Fanshawe College)Southwest

Master’s programs for Nursing

ProgramInstitutionCampus location(s)Ontario Learn and Stay
Grant region
Master of Public Health: Nurse Practitioner SpecializationLakehead UniversityThunder BayNorth
Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner SpecializationLakehead UniversityThunder BayNorth
Master of Nursing: Advanced PracticeLakehead UniversityThunder BayNorth
Master's in Nursing (MSc)Laurentian UniversitySudburyNorth
Nurse Practitioner MSc NursingLaurentian UniversitySudburyNorth
Advanced Practice Nursing Stream: MSc NursingLaurentian UniversitySudburyNorth
Master of Nursing ScienceQueen's UniversityKingstonEast
Master of Nursing (Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner)Queen's UniversityKingstonEast
Master of Science NursingUniversity of OttawaOttawaEast
Master of Science Nursing with Graduate Diploma Primary Health Care for Nurse PractitionersUniversity of OttawaOttawaEast
Master of NursingUniversity of OttawaOttawaEast
Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)University of WindsorWindsorSouthwest
Masters of Nursing (MN) – Primary Healthcare Nurse PractitionerUniversity of WindsorWindsorSouthwest
MScN: Master of Science in NursingWestern UniversityLondonSouthwest
Master of Nursing – Primary Health Care Nurse PractitionerWestern UniversityLondonSouthwest

Postgraduate programs for Nursing

ProgramInstitutionCampus location(s)Ontario Learn and Stay
Grant region
Postgraduate: Nurse Practitioner DiplomaQueen's UniversityKingston East
Postgraduate: Graduate Diploma: Primary Health Care Nurse PractitionerUniversity of WindsorWindsorSouthwest
Postgraduate: Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner DiplomaWestern UniversityLondon Southwest