Admission Requirements

The general admission requirements to Canadian Universities are that of successful completion of Secondary School Standing based on Canadian standards.  This, in practice means, that an international student can be admitted to a university with pass-level of his or her national exam system.  However, beyond being admitted to a university, many programs have specific requirements and many programs have competitive admissions.

The minimal secondary subjects requirements include English at a Grade level of C, mathematics at 0-level and three other subjects at a pass-level.  

Advanced Placement (AP)

Applicants who indicate that they are taking AP courses in secondary school will be considered for admission based on their 0-level and mock exam results or Senior 5 results (generally regarded as the equivalent of Canadian Gr. 12). Students must also have completed the specific subjects and average required for the program for which they are applying.

Transfer credit is usually awarded for most AP courses with grades of 4 or higher.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Canadian universities generally recognize the academic excellence of students enrolled in the IB Diploma. Applicants must have completed the diploma with three subjects at the Higher Level and three subjects at the subsidiary Level with an overall average of at least 4. Students must also have completed the specific subjects and average required for the program for which they are applying.  Five subjects will be used to calculate a student’s admission average; subjects always include a Mathematics and Language.

Transfer credit may be awarded for Higher Level subjects with grades of 5 or higher.

General Certificate of Education (GCE)

Applicants are required to present at least five suitable 0-level subjects with grades of C or higher and at least two A-level subjects with grades of D or higher.  Students must also have completed the specific subjects and average required for the program for which they are applying.  A combination of five subject will be used to calculate a student’s admission average; subjects always include mathematics and a first language course.  English is required.

At some universities, applicants may be eligible to receive transfer credit towards a degree for Advanced/Principaal levels completed with a grade of at least C.  

English Proficiency Requirement

Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not received secondary school instruction in English will be required to provide proof of English-language proficiency. Proficiency can be established in different ways:

GCE/IGCSE/GCE or A/AS/AICE English

0-level English, English language, English as a Second Language with minimum Grade of B or GCE A?AS?AICE Level English or English Language with  minimum grade of C

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Internet Based:  overall 80 with a score of 19 or higher on Reading and Listening and 18 or higher on Speaking and Writing.   Paper-based tst:  total score of at least 550.