• Education
• Colleges, Universities and Institutes
• Apply for Post-Secondary Education

How do I choose the right university or college for me?

There are no real "rules" about how to choose a school and a program, but these general guidelines can help make the process easier:

• Program availability
• Type of school - for example, university, college, vocational school or institute
• Type of degree - for example, certificate, diploma, or degree
• Location
• Size of school and how many students are usually in a class
• Reputation of school and job placement rate of graduates
• Quality of facilities and resources - for example, libraries and technical equipment
• Opportunities for work experience - for example, is there a cooperative ("co-op") program?
• Fees and financial aid options - for example, scholarships and grants
• Admissions requirements
• Faculty, staff
• Ability to accommodate special needs - for example, access to equipment for students with physical disabilities, special arrangements for students with learning disabilities
• Recreational and other activities - for example, sports, clubs or school newspaper

Get course calendars from the schools that you are interested in and visit their websites. Depending on what you want to study, there may be few schools or many schools to choose from.

It is important to research the institution, especially when your money is involved. Try to talk with someone at the institution.

Canada does not have an official university ranking system. Some magazines and newspapers publish rankings, but these are not official. Many universities do not participate in these rankings, and therefore it is difficult to say if these rankings are accurate.

You can contact a community agency for more information. To find help in your area, go to Services Near Me.

For More Information

• Search for programs at Canadian Universities - Use this database to search for programs by location, field, language of instruction and more.
• Search for programs at Ontario Colleges - Use this database to search for programs by location, program length, availability and more. You can also apply for programs online.
• List of Ontario Private Career Colleges - Use this online tool to find approved private career colleges in Ontario.
• Studying in Canada - Information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for people planning to come to Canada as international students.