About the grant
The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant provides funding for students in priority postsecondary healthcare programs in underserved and growing communities across the province.
The grant covers the cost of:
- tuition
- books
- compulsory fees
- other educational costs (for example, supplies and equipment)
This funding further expands the province’s skilled healthcare workforce by meeting critical labour demands in Ontario regions that need them the most.
There are two active funding streams for the 2026–2027 academic year:
- Health Human Resources
- Medical Education
Health Human Resources
The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for Health Human Resources provides funding for students in programs at eligible postsecondary institutions at the diploma, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level, including:
- Nursing
- Paramedic
- Medical Laboratory Technology/Medical Laboratory Science
You can also apply for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to help pay for other expenses, such as living costs.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this grant, you must:
- successfully apply to and enrol in an eligible program at a college or university
- be an Ontario resident
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person (for example convention refugees or humanitarian-protected persons abroad)
- fulfill a service commitment and work in the same region where you studied after you graduate
- not be receiving funding from any of the following government programs:
Service commitment
You must agree to fulfill a service commitment after you graduate to receive this grant.
As part of the agreement, you must work in the same service region where you studied for at least 180 days (6 months) for every full year of study funded by the grant.
If you do not fulfill your service commitment, the grant will be converted into a repayable loan.
Eligible regions include public health units located in Northern, Southwestern and Eastern Ontario.
Find out which regions you must work in.
Apply for funding
You must register for an OSAP account if this is your first time applying for OSAP or the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant.
You can apply up to 60 days before the end of your study period if you are enrolled in an eligible program at an approved institution.
Learn more about eligible programs, postsecondary institutions and regions.
Medical Education
The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for Medical Education provides funding to medical residents in postgraduate family medicine programs who agree to work as a family doctor in Ontario upon completion of residency training.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this grant, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- be an Ontario resident
- have lived in Ontario for 12 consecutive months without being in full-time postsecondary studies
- have completed an undergraduate medical degree at one of the following eligible Ontario medical schools:
- McMaster University
- NOSM University
- Queen’s University
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- University of Ottawa
- University of Toronto
- Western University
- be enrolled in the first year of a postgraduate family medicine residency program at an Ontario medical school
- commit to practising comprehensive primary care as a family doctor in Ontario for 5 years under an approved comprehensive primary model or eligible employer
Service commitment
To receive the grant, you must commit to practising comprehensive primary care as a family medicine physician anywhere in Ontario for 5 years.
Upon graduation, you must practise as a family medicine physician under one of the following approved comprehensive primary care models or eligible employers:
- Family Health Organization
- Family Health Network
- Family Health Group
- Comprehensive Care Model
- Rural and Northern Physician Group Agreement
- Blended Salary Model as part of a Family Health Team
- Community Health Centre
- Indigenous Primary Health Care Organization
- Weeneebayko Area Health Authority
- Rural Generalist Model
- Sioux Lookout Regional Physicians Services Inc
- Group Health Centre
If you do not fulfill your service commitment, the grant will be converted into a repayable loan.
Apply for funding
The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for Medical Education is administered through OSAP. You must use an OSAP account to apply for the grant.
Only applicants in the first year of a postgraduate family medicine residency program at an Ontario medical school in 2026-2027 are eligible.
More information about future application cycles will be available before applications open for each academic year.