Ontario Learn and Stay Grant
Learn about funding to cover the costs of tuition, books and other direct educational expenses and how to apply.
Applications open
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,
- 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:
- successfully apply to and enrol in the first year of an eligible program in a priority community
- be an Ontario resident who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- commit to fulfilling a service agreement and work in the same region where you studied after you graduate
- not be receiving funding from any of the following government programs:
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 boundaries
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.
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
Institution | Campus location(s) | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|
Algonquin College | Perth, Pembroke, Ottawa | East |
Cambrian College | Sudbury | North |
Canadore College | North Bay | North |
Collège Boréal | Sudbury, Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Nipissing | North |
Collège Boréal | Windsor | Southwest |
Confederation College | Atikokan, Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Longlac, Marathon, Nipigon, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay | North |
Fanshawe College | London, Woodstock | Southwest |
Georgian College | Owen Sound | Southwest |
La Cité Collégiale | Ottawa | East |
Lambton College | Sarnia | Southwest |
Loyalist College | Belleville | East |
Northern College | Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Timmins | North |
Sault College | Sault Ste. Marie | North |
St. Clair College | Windsor, Chatham | Southwest |
St. Lawrence College | Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston | East |
Paramedic
Institution | Campus location(s) | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|
Cambrian College | Sudbury | North |
Collège Boréal | Sudbury | North |
Confederation College | Thunder Bay | North |
CTS Canadian Career College Inc. | North Bay | North |
CTS Canadian Career College Inc. | Sault Ste. Marie | North |
CTS Canadian Career College Inc. | Sudbury | North |
Northern College | James Bay Education Centre Campus in Moosonee, Timmins | North |
Seven Generations Education Institute (partnered with Durham College) | Fort Frances, Kenora, Sioux Lookout | North |
Medical Laboratory Technology/ Medical Laboratory Science
Institution | Campus location | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|
Cambrian College | Sudbury | North |
St. Clair College | Windsor | Southwest
|
Undergraduate programs
Bachelor or Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Institution | Campus location(s) | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|
Algonquin College | Ottawa, Pembroke (collaborative with University of Ottawa) | East |
Cambrian College | Sudbury | North |
Canadore College | North Bay, Parry Sound | North |
Confederation College | Thunder Bay | North |
Fanshawe College | London | Southwest |
Georgian College | Owen Sound | Southwest |
La Cité Collégiale | Ottawa | East |
Lakehead University | Thunder Bay | North |
Lambton College | Sarnia | Southwest |
Laurentian University | Sudbury (3 stand-alone programs, 1 English and 2 French at LU Sudbury and another collaborative with Northern College) | North |
Loyalist College | Belleville | East |
Nipissing University | North Bay | North |
Northern College | Timmins (collaborative with Laurentian University) | North |
Queen's University | Kingston (one regular and one accelerated standing track) | East |
Sault College | Sault Ste. Marie | North |
St. Clair College | Windsor and Chatham (collaborative with University of Windsor) | Southwest |
St. Lawrence College | Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston | East |
University of Ottawa | Ottawa (two stand-alone in Ottawa and three collaborative with Algonquin College in Ottawa and Pembroke) | East |
University of Windsor | Windsor (stand-alone) and Chatham (collaborative with St. Clair College) | Southwest |
Western University | London (Nursing Compressed Program and regular program collaborative with Fanshawe College) | Southwest |
Master’s programs for Nursing
Program | Institution | Campus location(s) | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|---|
Master of Public Health: Nurse Practitioner Specialization | Lakehead University | Thunder Bay | North |
Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner Specialization | Lakehead University | Thunder Bay | North |
Master of Nursing: Advanced Practice | Lakehead University | Thunder Bay | North |
Master's in Nursing (MSc) | Laurentian University | Sudbury | North |
Nurse Practitioner MSc Nursing | Laurentian University | Sudbury | North |
Advanced Practice Nursing Stream: MSc Nursing | Laurentian University | Sudbury | North |
Master of Nursing Science | Queen's University | Kingston | East |
Master of Nursing (Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner) | Queen's University | Kingston | East |
Master of Science Nursing | University of Ottawa | Ottawa | East |
Master of Science Nursing with Graduate Diploma Primary Health Care for Nurse Practitioners | University of Ottawa | Ottawa | East |
Master of Nursing | University of Ottawa | Ottawa | East |
Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) | University of Windsor | Windsor | Southwest |
Masters of Nursing (MN) – Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioner | University of Windsor | Windsor | Southwest |
MScN: Master of Science in Nursing | Western University | London | Southwest |
Master of Nursing – Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner | Western University | London | Southwest |
Postgraduate programs for Nursing
Program | Institution | Campus location(s) | Ontario Learn and Stay Grant region |
---|---|---|---|
Postgraduate: Nurse Practitioner Diploma | Queen's University | Kingston | East |
Postgraduate: Graduate Diploma: Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner | University of Windsor | Windsor | Southwest |
Postgraduate: Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma | Western University | London | Southwest |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Free tuition refers to grants that will cover the cost of tuition, books, compulsory fees and other direct education costs, such as supplies and equipment.
- footnote[2] Back to paragraph The regions shown in the Health Services Locator Map are identical to Ontario Public Health Units. View website using a desktop or laptop.