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

How do I apply for admission to a university or college?

Each school (college or university) can decide on admission requirements and select which students to accept.

Generally, you can apply to a college or university in 1 of these categories:

• "Domestic" student - You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• International or "Foreign" student - You are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You will need a study permit.

Generally, international students must pay a higher tuition rate for college and university programs. In some cases, the tuition is double or triple the amount that domestic students pay.

Some colleges and universities have different tuition rates for children and dependents of diplomats, and children or dependents of people with some kinds of work permit.

In Ontario, all children 18 years old and younger can attend public elementary and secondary schools, regardless of their immigration status or the status of their parents. However, this law does not apply to colleges and universities.

Apply to a University

To apply to an Ontario university, you must submit your application to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). The OUAC processes application for all Ontario universities.

The deadline to apply depends on whether you are currently in high school, and which kind of program you are applying to. For example, professional programs usually have different deadlines than undergraduate (Bachelor's) programs. You can find information about application deadlines on the OUAC website.

Apply to a College

To apply to an Ontario college, you must submit your application to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS). OCAS processes the applications for public colleges in Ontario. If you are accepted to a college, you also send your response to the OCAS. The OCAS will respond to the college for you.

Unlike universities, colleges do not have the same kind of final application deadline. Generally, colleges consider all applications that they receive by a certain date together; after that date, they consider applications on a first-come, first-served basis. You can find out information about the application dates on the OCAS webpage - When to Apply.

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

For More Information

• Ontario Universities - A list of Ontario's universities, including website links and contact information.
• Ontario Colleges - A list of Ontario's colleges, including website links and contact information.
• Studying in Canada - Information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for people planning to come to Canada as international students.
• Information for Students Educated Abroad Applying for Admission to Canadian Universities and Colleges - Answers to some basic questions, includes links to relevant organizations and resources.
• International Students - This webpage has information about coming to Ontario as an international student, and working while you study and after you graduate. It is from the Ontario Immigration website.
• Help! I went to a foreign high school - Information about applying to college or university in Ontario, if you went to a high school outside of Canada. From NewYouth.ca, a website for young newcomers to Ontario.