Overpayments
An overpayment is any education assistance payment or expenditure for which you were not eligible.  If an overpayment has or will be put on your GRPSEO student file, it is important to note that a future funding application can continue to be processed, however, if the application is approved, all funds will be on hold until that overpayment is cleared. If it is not cleared by the start of the academic period, the approved application may be cancelled.

An overpayment can occur for any type of assistance including tuition, books and education allowance.  A student may have an accumulation of overpayments for one or more failed courses in a semester, or in some cases for the entire amount of their issued funding. This will vary based on individual student circumstances. If the post-secondary institution does not allow the student to continue in their program of study, GRPSEO funding assistance may be discontinued as well.

Payment of Overpayments
An overpayment must be cleared by the start of the academic period for the next application for education assistance. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of an approved application.
Overpayment payment arrangements for approved Fall or Fall/Winter applications must be in place by August 1st. For successful returning full-time students with overpayments, re-payment may be made through deductions from approved student funds.  

As of September 1, 2025, an automatic 15% tuition discount may apply against the tuition portion only of the overpayment regardless of the payment plan or minimum payment arrangements. Applying an automatic discount towards the tuition overpayment will assist with the student’s repayment and further support student success.  
 

Self-Funding
You can also reduce or completely clear an overpayment through successful self-funding. You can self-fund (through your own means) the same number of courses that you failed. The courses you self-fund must be comparable to those failed. This means at the same academic level, with same credit value and tuition costs as the courses failed. You must complete the courses with final grades that meet the minimum academic requirement of the post secondary institution to continue in the program. You must submit a progress (grade) report verifying successful completion of your courses. The overpayment cannot be adjusted until the progress report is received and reviewed by your Post Secondary Funding Advisor, who will recommend the appropriate adjustments be made to your overpayment. You can self-fund either as a part-time or full-time student.
In addition, self-funding can also change your priority standing for funding.

Self-Funding Part-Time – Priority 
If you successfully self-fund as a part-time student then the priority of your application for the next consecutive semester of your program will depend on whether you are applying for full- or part-time study.
  • A successful, self-funded, part-time student can apply for education funding assistance to continue in part-time studies for the next consecutive semester of their program of study. As a result of their self-funding success, this application will be processed by GRPSEO as a Priority 1b (continuing successful).
  • A successful, self-funded, part-time student can apply for education funding assistance to continue in full-time study in the next consecutive semester of their program of study. As a result of their self-funding success, this application will be processed by GRPSEO as a Priority 4a (part-time switching to full-time).

Self-Funding Full-Time – Priority
A successful, self-funded full-time student can apply for education funding assistance to continue in full-time study in the next consecutive semester of their program of study. As a result of their self-funding success, their application will be processed by GRPSEO as a Priority 1b (continuing successful). 

**Please refer to the Student Policy Guide for further descriptions on how an overpayment can occur.