03/24/2026
On February 12th, during Winter Reading Week, the Ontario provincial government announced changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding model.
These changes significantly alter how financial aid is distributed by reducing the proportion of non-repayable grants and increasing reliance on loans.
The proposed changes will take effect in the upcoming academic year (Fall 2026).
• Current model: Up to 85% grants, minimum 15% loans
• Proposed model: Up to 25% grants, minimum 75% loans
Western Engineering students disagree with the proposed changes. Education should be accessible to all willing and qualified students.
Students deserve an OSAP that meaningfully reflects their financial reality. At its core, OSAP exists to reduce financial barriers and ensure equitable access to post-secondary education.
Reductions in grant funding will result in many Western Engineering students receiving substantially less non-repayable aid, forcing them to take on increased debt or reconsider their ability to continue their studies.
With already high tuition, demanding workloads, and limited capacity for part-time and co-curricular work, these changes place additional burden on students already stretched thin.
Think about the lab partner you sit beside, the classmate you turn to when the professor makes no sense, the people who shoot pool in the UES lounge, and the students who call the CLMP shop home. These are not abstract cases, but the direct result of policy decisions that shape who is able to access and remain in engineering.
Ultimately, these impacts extend beyond current students and speak to the future of the engineering community. By taking this stance, the UES affirms its dedication to a post-secondary environment where all can succeed.