Reforms this year to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) should make it easier for students from middle-income families to get loans. But it puts fresh limits on eligible recipients.

        Last year, OSAP figured a two-working-parent family with one child and an income of $50,000 could contribute $7,300. Assuming the student made $3,000 over the summer and had no other income from scholarships or other sources, OSAP would lend her $2,015. That's to cover yearly costs of $10,435 for a full-time undergraduate.

        Until this year, parental requirements had not changed for 15 years, says financial aid administrator Joyce Sutton. Now OSAP is more accessible to students from middle-income families, she says.

        This year, OSAP has lightened the burden on parents and raised its estimate of the costs of one year at university to $11,053. A similar family would be expected to contribute $1,105. The student would get $7,810, more than three times the amount for which they were eligible last year.

        By the same token, OSAP has tightened the rules for student eligibility. They are restricted to earning a maximum of $600 during the academic year; 80 per cent of anything more is deducted from their loans. They must declare all assets -- bank savings, registered retirement savings plans, cars -- something they never had to do before. And they must successfully complete 60 per cent of a full-time course load -- never before enforced. They will be expected to contribute $130 -- up from $70 -- a week from summer earnings. And they must register for a minimum 60 per cent (three full courses at Trent) load.

        More is expected of students, says Sutton. "The government expects students to assume more responsibility" for financing their education. "Kids with money in the bank really aren't complaining," she says.

        Another change may help them budget better. Instead of getting 80 per cent of their loans in September and 20 per cent in January, students will now receive it in instalments of 60 and 40 per cent.

        OSAP announced these reforms in June and many students were probably not aware of the changes until they applied for OSAP in September, said Sutton. The reforms "are so harsh" that Sutton expects a lot of appeals.