In order to get admitted in a Canadian tertiary education institution there are requirements students will have to meet, whether it Is an undergraduate or a postgraduate program. Depending on the field of studies, programs and other relevant factors competition can vary.

 

The main difference between Colleges and Universities is in that, if you are looking forward to an applied career you will enroll in a College whereas if you aim for an academic career your choice would be the University.

 

High school grades are rather an important parameter when applying in either a College or University in that the majority of tertiary institution will acquire 70% and over average grade (*Some prestigious colleges will require an average of 85% and above) in order to consider your further documentation.

 

Undergraduate Programs

Tertiary institutions have a limited number of students that are accepted yearly in various departments thus, it’s common to get quite competitive among generations. High school students pose the greatest risk since everything they already know is fresh, they are psychologically and morally prepared and very eager to get in.  The two essential criteria are thus, high school grades/performance as well as language skills be it English (in most of the provinces) or French in francophone ones.

 

If indecisive of what your major subject will be, you can apply for a general program and decide upon a specific field later on which is very beneficial in the nowadays chaos of diversity and alternatives.

 

The major subject remain, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Business and Arts yet once you decompose them, a bubble full of different subcategories will burst leaving you with unlimited options which can be confusing.

 

Graduate admission criteria

Although an undergraduate degree is commonly mandatory to continue the postgraduate studies this might not always be the case. Commonly graduate degrees involve research upon a specific subject not having a degree doesn’t make you unfit for the program as long as you have all the necessary theoretical and literature knowledge packed. Normally in a postgraduate program you have a mentor that supervises all your doings just as they are charged to evaluate via interviews and other means if you are suitable for engaging in the program.

 

Funding might post a problem in graduate programs as students must prove that they will have all the necessary funds to maintain themselves during the course of the program in order to be admitted. Funds however can come from various sources like, project grants, individual bursaries or even financial aid.

 

International Students and Professionals

International students are required to submit an essay and a personal statement of what they think they are fit for enrolling in the designated program together with documents stating their work experience (if any) up to the date. Of course documents like reference letters, extracurricular activity certificates and other proof of skills is always a bonus and very much appreciated.

 

In the case of mature students (those older than 25, and out of school for at least 2 years) tertiary education admission requirements vary mostly on their practical and theoretical skills acquired due to employments, individual interests and intellectual maturity regardless of having a diploma or not.

 

Professional programs such as Medicine, Law and Engineering require a previous degree before applying for a postgraduate program, as well as accreditation of every certificate and academic record, as well as national examination to prove fit to practice professionally.

 

International Diploma Students

If you are concerned if the high school diploma you’ve earned in your home-country will be considered legit in Canada, worry no more since any student possessing a government-accredited high school diploma from their home country may apply for admission to a Canadian University. Of course internationally recognized degrees are accepted all around the world as well as in Canada without prior accreditation.

 

As for a postgraduate degrees, in most countries there are educational institutions that offer an International Baccalaureate diploma, an internationally recognized diploma accordingly with the criteria. This can be a single certificate or additional to the government – issued diploma.

 

Canadian universities do accept these international diplomas in accordance with the predisposed standards. If you have a high score IB Diploma it can translate into university credits and thus, diminish the amount of credits acquired for a University diploma in Canada.

 

Language Requirements

If you want to apply for direct entry to a degree at university in Canada, and your native language is not English, you must provide proof of your proficiency.

 

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are the most common language requirement for American universities. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam scores are the most common language requirement for Canadian universities. But most universities will accept either test as proof of your English language ability. You can take TOEFL and IELTS exams at testing centers worldwide.