LEARNING IN ONTARIO
FAQs for Students
- What's the difference between college and university?
- How do I choose the right postsecondary school for me?
- What are the requirements and/or restrictions for entering college or university?
- How do I apply?
- What about financial support? Do I qualify for a scholarship, grant or loan?
- Are postsecondary courses offered by correspondence?
- How do I transfer from one postsecondary institution to another?
- What about private career colleges?
- I'm not from Ontario. How do I apply?
- How do I get an evaluation of postsecondary documents from outside Ontario?
What's the difference between college and university?
There are 19 public universities in Ontario, including the Ontario College of Art and Design. Each university offers undergraduate (bachelor) degrees, and most offer graduate (master's and doctorate) degrees.
Ontario's 24 public colleges of applied arts and technology, with more than 100 campuses across the province, provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills that can lead to rewarding careers in business, applied arts, technology, and health sciences.
Most college programs are either diploma programs (which may be either two or three years in length) or certificate programs (which run one year or less). Some courses of study lead to official certification in skilled trades that are regulated by professional associations.
How do I choose the right postsecondary school for me?
This is a time of big choices. Researching your options can make them less intimidating. A good place to start is the general brochure Choosing your course for life after high school.
For details on programs offered by the province's universities and colleges of applied arts and technology, visit their individual websites.
For a program-by-program snapshot of the employment experience of Ontario's college graduates six months after graduation, see the college Employment Profile.
You may also want to investigate the "key performance indicators" – collected data covering areas such as graduation rates, employment rates and OSAP loan default rates at Ontario colleges and universities.
Data is also available on graduation and employment rates at private career colleges and other private and public institutions in Ontario.
What are the requirements and/or restrictions for entering college or university?
Selection criteria vary. You can find general information on the College Admission Requirements page of this website and more detail on the Ontario College Application Services website and on individual college websites.
For information about university programs, admission requirements, fees and residences, refer to the calendars of each university. These are available at secondary schools, public libraries, and through individual university admissions offices and websites.
You apply to university through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre.
You apply to college through Ontario College Application Services. Visit this page for general information about the application procedure.
What about financial support? Do I qualify for a scholarship, grant or loan?
Check with the student awards office at the institution you hope to attend to determine which scholarship, bursary or financial assistance programs you may qualify for. University and college libraries, as well as public libraries, are good sources of information on scholarships offered by private companies and other governments. Many bursary programs, often for specific disciplines or institutions, are also listed on the Internet. Check the Ministry of Education's Career Gateway page called Financing Your Education for some helpful links.
Be sure to visit the website of the Ontario Student Assistance Program for information on provincially administered loans and bursaries.
Are postsecondary courses offered by correspondence?
Many colleges and universities offer distance education courses that students can complete at home for credits. For information about courses offered by universities, visit Distance Education Opportunities at Ontario Colleges and Universities, a database of distance education credit courses.
At the college level, OntarioLearn.com is a consortium of 21 Ontario community colleges which have formed a partnership to develop and deliver online courses. Contact the institution offering the courses you are interested in for more details and to get application forms.
How do I transfer from one postsecondary institution to another?
Before you enrol in a new postsecondary institution, make sure you speak with staff in the department in which you will be studying, to find out how many credits you will be granted for your previous studies. Keep in mind that the various college and university programs in Ontario have different requirements and prerequisites. As part of the enrolment procedure you will need to request that official transcripts be sent directly from your current school to the one you are applying to enter. Once you are accepted into a new program, ensure that you have cancelled your enrolment in your old school.
What about private career colleges?
This site contains a list of the private career colleges registered with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Such schools are privately owned and are operated as commercial enterprises. As potential consumers, students should exercise caution when choosing a program and signing a contract with the institution. For more information, see our registered private career colleges page.
I'm not from Ontario. How do I apply?
Each Ontario college and university publishes an annual course calendar giving details of its programs and admissions requirements. Many Ontario colleges, universities and some private career colleges also have information available on the World Wide Web. Ontario has a centralized application centre for colleges, the Ontario College Application Service. Prospective university students will want to visit the Ontario Universities' Application Centre website
How do I get an evaluation of postsecondary documents from outside of Ontario?
If you began your postsecondary education outside Ontario and want to pursue your studies at a college, university or other postsecondary institution here, you should apply to that institution directly for an evaluation of your education documents. The institution will determine how your prior education has prepared you for continuing your studies in Ontario. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities plays no role in the evaluation or acceptance of candidates.
A number of services provide Academic Credentials Assessment and evaluations for employment purposes. You can also visit the Support for Internationally Trained Individuals page for information about having your professional qualifications recognized in Ontario.
