The Ministry of the Government of Ontario responsible for the administration of laws relating to post-secondary education is known as the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU). They are also responsible for providing financial assistance to post-secondary school students through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Think of the MCU as the “brain” in the OSAP process.

As a government loan borrower in Canada (i.e. OSAP and out-of-province funding), it is very important for you to know about the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).

The NSLSC is an independent, third-party agency responsible for the disbursement and collection of student loan funding in Canada. Think of the NSLSC as the “banker” of student loans. As the “banker” of student loans, this means the NSLSC manages the issuing and repayment of Ontario Student Assistance Program part-time and full-time loans. Once Northern College confirms your enrollment and releases funding, the official issuing of those funds is managed by the NSLSC.

You can find detailed information related to your overall student loans through your personalized and secure NSLSC account. We encourage students to familiarize themselves with the NSLSC website, as it is quite user-friendly, and the information provided can help answer any questions or concerns you may have about your loans.

You can use the NSLSC portal to:

• Check your student loan status and balances
• Track your student loan funding disbursement
• Update your banking information
• Make a payment towards your student loan
• Access loan statements for tax purposes
• Update your contact information
• Apply for repayment assistance
• Request a change to the terms of your repayment

It is important that you proactively monitor your NSLSC account for any changes to your profile information and enrolment (such as study period start and end dates, program information, etc). We recommend checking your NSLSC portal on a weekly basis so you don’t miss out on important updates.

Contacting the NSLSC
Questions about your funding disbursement, repayment, or repayment assistance? The NSLSC is the lender of student loan funding, and can answer these questions. Contact the NSLSC by visiting their website or check the NSLSC’s YouTube Channel for tools and tips to help you successfully manage your student loan(s).

Northern College’s Financial Aid Office (FAO) is responsible for administering the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Program.

This includes:

• Providing OSAP consultation
• Reviewing all Northern OSAP applications submitted to student OSAP portals
• Releasing funding to eligible OSAP applicants

If you have questions about your OSAP application, we encourage you to reach out to the Financial Aid Officer on your Campus. They are responsible for managing the OSAP program for Northern students. Your FAO is there to assist you from the beginning to the end of your OSAP journey – just reach out!