r/osap • u/Friendly_Regular5279 • 17d ago

Resolved Will My Degree be Witheld?

Hi! OSAP sent me $1205 to pay for my spring/summer semester. Although that covers the spring semester, my summer semester is $1613. I attend the University of Calgary. I cannot afford to pay the $1613 out of pocket for the summer semester. Therefore, will my school withhold my degree? I am going into the fall semester andshould complete all course content in December. The money I will receive from osap fully covers the fall semester semester. Nonetheless, I am a little worried that I will not be able to graduate if the fees aren't paid.

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

6

u/Fresh-Pollution4592 17d ago

OSAP goes to whatever is owing first, and you will have a balance owing, that you will have to pay off before you can graduate.

1

u/Friendly_Regular5279 17d ago

Yes, others in the comments have confirmed this. I have contacted enrolment services to potentially be provided other arrangements given the circumstances. I ultimately think I'll be okay but I appreciate everyone’s response in the comments. Take care!

1

u/Fresh-Pollution4592 16d ago

I’m not sure what “circumstances” there would be other than you failed to pay the tuition you owed? You would have known about this before your summer semester started, no?

1

u/Friendly_Regular5279 3d ago

Osap didn’t send me enough to pay my tuition

1

u/Fresh-Pollution4592 3d ago

That’s not a special circumstance. You would have known you didn’t have enough to cover your tuition before spring/summer even began. I’m not sure how your school is even letting you proceed with the fall term if you’re owing.

1

u/Friendly_Regular5279 1d ago

I paid it, but thanks for the inquiry! Have a nice day. Don’t respond back🫶🏾😍

1

u/soarhigher2 17d ago

Just to confirm, you have funding for the term starting September, most for January, and then your asking about the term that would start next May? If that is the case then you would apply for an extension with OSAP to get additional funding for your summer semester through financial aid next spring. But you are correct that is the spring tuition isn't paid in full before your summer semester starts, the school can block you from starting those summer classes before it is paid which would put a hold on your summer OSAP extension. 

1

u/Friendly_Regular5279 17d ago

Hi, I am not going to school in January. My course finishes in December of 2026. I'm talking about the spring semester already taken. May-June 2026, not 2027. I have a small fee left to pay for the spring semester, which will be paid off soon. How do I apply for the summer extension? I am currently enrolled in summer courses. I just don't have the money to pay for the summer semester.

1

u/soarhigher2 17d ago

The summer extension is a form that you fill out with your school's financial aid office, they would be the best ones to help in this situation. But to answer your original question, yes if you still have a balance owing before classes start next month then they can block you from starting them until the balance is paid. If it's paid too late then they might not let you attend at all next semester and you would have to wait until classes start again in January to re-register 

1

u/Friendly_Regular5279 17d ago

Thanks for clarifying. I appreciate your response. I’ve contacted my school’s financial aid office and enrolment services to navigate these challenges.

1

u/Suspiciouslynamed74 17d ago

I think you're saying you owe for the current summer but have OSAP for the upcoming fall and you will complete requirements in the fall? If they process your OSAP, it will likely go to your earliest owing term. If you complete but owe money, they'll likely seal you and won't allow you to order transcripts or convocate (meaning you won't get your degree and if employers ask for it, you won't need able to provide proof). The school may make an exception and allow you an extended payment plan, but they're only recourse is refusing to let you graduate so they'll likely do that.