Applying to School

Each college and university sets its own admission standards. These standards may change from year to year. If you are thinking about applying to a university, look at the standards from previous years. They can often be a helpful guide.

When applying to a college or university in Ontario you need to submit, along with your application:

• All academic transcripts: original or certified copies of your high school record and, if applicable, postsecondary education records, including the courses you took and the grades you achieved.
• Proof of English-language or French-language proficiency. Most Ontario institutions require you to demonstrate proficiency in their language of instruction - either English or French. You'll need to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or another internationally-recognized English language assessment test such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment.
• An application fee

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) provides useful information and referrals if you want to have your credentials assessed. You may also consult the World Education Service, a not-for-profit organization specializing in foreign credential evaluation.

You should aim to apply before February 1 for programs beginning in September. The admission process can take as long as nine months so be sure to submit your application form as early as possible.

Universities

To apply to an Ontario university, including the Ontario College of Art and Design and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, you will need to fill out an application form on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) website. You will need to pay an application fee for each application.

The OUAC is a central office that is responsible for receiving, recording and processing applications for admission to Ontario's public universities. OUAC will forward your application to any university and/or program to which you apply. However, it is up to the individual university to make admission decisions.

For more information about applying to a specific program at a university you may also contact the university directly.

To apply for graduate programs, students must apply directly to individual institutions. The Ontario Council on Graduate Studies provides a link to each institution.

Colleges

To apply to an Ontario college, you should contact the institution you are interested in directly.

You may also apply to a specific program at an Ontario college using the Ontario College Application Services (OCAS). OCAS is the agency that processes all of the applications for the public colleges in Ontario.

OCAS provides comprehensive information on how to apply to any of Ontario's colleges, the application deadlines and fees.

You can apply to any of Ontario's colleges, the Michener Institute for Health Sciences and Ontario's three agricultural colleges using the OCAS college online application or mail-in paper application form. You will need to pay an application fee along with your application. You will also need to send a non-refundable International Document Assessment fee to have your transcripts evaluated for admissions purposes (if you wish to have these documents returned to you another fee will apply).

Most students who are not landed residents in Canada or Canadian citizens need a study permit to study in Canada. Following your acceptance into a program, you will receive a letter of acceptance from the college or university. This letter will show the name of the college or university, confirmation of your acceptance and registration as a student, the course of study, and the duration of the academic program. You can apply for a study permit as soon as you receive this letter.

The sooner you apply to a program, the better, as the time needed to process your study permit application may vary at different offices. You should consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website to find out to which international visa office you should apply for a study permit.