Studying at university in Canada

How the Canadian system is organized

Education in Canada is a provincial and territorial responsibility. There is no federal ministry of education and no single national application form. Each province decides how its public universities are funded, how high school diplomas are structured, and, in some cases, how students apply. The result is a system that looks similar from a distance but differs in the details that matter to applicants: which courses count, when marks are sent, and which portal you use.

Universities are mostly public institutions with a great deal of independence. They set their own admission averages, prerequisite courses and program caps. A few private universities exist, often with a religious affiliation, and colleges, polytechnics and institutes also grant some degrees. Many colleges offer diplomas and university transfer programs, which can be a lower-cost first step toward a degree in provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta.

Canada is officially bilingual, and that shows up in higher education. Quebec has French-language universities as well as English-language ones, and there are French-language or bilingual universities in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta. Most students study in English, but French-language study is a real option.

Where to apply: the route in each province and territory

The table below shows the usual route for a first-year undergraduate applicant. Always confirm on the university's own admissions page, because individual institutions can use their own portal even when a provincial service exists.

If you are applying to Ontario from outside the province, our guide to OUAC 101 vs 105 explains which form applies. For Quebec, see what the R-score is and how it is calculated.

Timeline for fall 2027 entry

Most Canadian universities admit students for September. Applications usually open in the fall of grade 12 and close between December and March, with some competitive programs earlier. Universities often make early conditional offers based on grade 11 and first-semester grade 12 marks, then confirm the offer once final marks arrive in the summer.

In Ontario, OUAC lists January 15, 2027 as the deadline for current Ontario high school students (Group A) applying for fall 2027. Those applicants can expect a response by May 28, 2027, and universities will not require a decision or deposit before June 1, 2027. Applicants outside that group have no OUAC-wide deadline; each university sets its own. Other provinces publish their dates on each university's site, so build a list of deadlines in one place early.

1. Grade 11: check program prerequisites and plan grade 12 courses to match.
2. September to December of grade 12: research programs, open accounts on the right portal, and note supplementary application deadlines.
3. January to March: submit applications and any supplementary forms, essays or portfolios.
4. February to May: receive offers, often conditional on final marks.
5. May to June: accept an offer and pay a deposit; apply for residence and scholarships.
6. Summer: send final transcripts. International students should apply for a study permit as early as possible.

Entry requirements and degree types

Canadian universities admit mainly on academic marks. Most four-year programs look at an admission average built from a set of grade 12 courses (in Ontario, typically six 4U or 4M courses), and each program names required courses. Engineering usually expects advanced functions or calculus, chemistry and physics; health sciences often want biology and chemistry. If you are still choosing courses, our post on grade 12 courses for engineering shows how prerequisites work in practice.

Some programs add a supplementary application, a personal profile, an audition, a portfolio or an interview. Medicine and law are second-entry programs in most of Canada, so students complete an undergraduate degree first. Health and professional programs sometimes use multiple mini interviews; the MMI preparation guide covers that format.

US high school graduates are usually assessed on their high school transcript, GPA and course rigour, and many Canadian universities also accept AP and IB results for admission or transfer credit. SAT or ACT scores are optional or not used at most Canadian universities, but each school publishes its own rules for US curriculum applicants. Students from other countries should look for a country-specific requirements page on each university's site.

Undergraduate degree types include the bachelor of arts (BA), bachelor of science (BSc), bachelor of commerce or business administration, bachelor of engineering or applied science, and others. In some provinces you can choose a three-year general degree or a four-year honours degree; honours usually involves a thesis or more advanced courses and is the standard route into graduate school.

Co-op, academic year and grading

Co-operative education is a distinctive part of many Canadian programs. A co-op program alternates academic terms with paid work terms, which can add a year to the degree but gives students several months of relevant work experience. Co-op is common in engineering, computer science, business and some science and arts programs. Admission to co-op can be competitive and sometimes happens after first year, so read each program's rules.

The academic year normally runs from September to April in two terms: fall (September to December) and winter (January to April). Spring and summer terms are optional for most students, though co-op students often work or study in them. A full-time course load is usually five courses per term.

Grading is not uniform. Ontario universities use percentages and letter grades, with several different GPA scales; Alberta institutions commonly use a 4.0 scale; some universities use a 4.3 or a 9 point scale. Admissions offices and scholarship committees convert marks in their own ways. Canadian GPA scales explained shows how the main scales compare.

Costs and funding

Tuition depends on the province, the program and your status. Statistics Canada's Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey reported that average undergraduate tuition for Canadian full-time students rose 1.4% to $7,734 in 2025/2026, and that the average for international undergraduates rose 2.5% to $41,746 (preliminary figures released September 10, 2025). In that release, Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest average for both groups, and Ontario had the highest average for international undergraduates. Statistics Canada released its 2026/2027 tuition tables in September 2026; use them or the university's fee page for current numbers.

Programs such as engineering, dentistry and business often cost more than arts or science. Quebec charges different rates to Quebec residents, Canadian students from other provinces and international students, and those rules have changed in recent years, so check the university's fee page. Budget separately for housing, food, books, a student association fee and health insurance.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for federal and provincial student aid through their home province or territory. Most universities offer automatic entrance scholarships based on admission average, plus separate awards that need an application. International students are usually not eligible for government aid, but some universities offer international entrance awards.

Study permits for international students

Most international students need a study permit for a program longer than six months. Canadian citizens and permanent residents do not. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) generally requires you to apply online before you travel. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States are among the few groups that may apply at a port of entry; check the IRCC study permit page to confirm what applies to you.

• Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, which the school must validate.
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) in most cases, issued by the school after you accept your offer. Students going to Quebec need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead.
• Proof of funds for tuition plus living costs. For a single applicant outside Quebec, IRCC requires $23,448 a year for living expenses on applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, in addition to tuition and travel.
• Identity documents, and in some cases a medical exam, police certificate or biometrics.

Canada introduced a cap on study permit applications in 2024. For 2026, IRCC announced on November 25, 2025 that it expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits, of which 155,000 are for newly arriving students. From January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need a PAL/TAL, but undergraduate applicants still do. These rules have changed every year since 2024, so read the current IRCC notices before you apply.

Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during regular terms. After graduation, some students qualify for a post-graduation work permit. None of this is immigration advice; IRCC's pages are the authority, and a licensed representative can help with complicated situations.

Language tests

English-language universities ask applicants whose first language is not English, or who did not complete several years of schooling in English, to prove proficiency. Commonly accepted tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, CAEL and others, but the list and the minimum scores differ by university and sometimes by program. Some universities waive the test if you studied in English for a set number of years.

French-language universities assess French in their own way, often through a test or a French course placement. Bilingual universities may let you choose your language of study but expect a level of comfort in both. If academic English is a stretch, the academic English flashcards are a free way to build vocabulary before first year.

Tips and StudyBrix resources

Start with the program, not the university. Two programs at the same school can have very different prerequisites, averages and deadlines. Make a spreadsheet of each program's required courses, supplementary steps and the portal you will use.

• Read our high school to university guide for a year-by-year plan.
• Learn the vocabulary of offers, conditional admission and deposits with the Canadian applications glossary.
• Prepare for what changes in first year with first year of university: what changes.
• Browse other countries from the universities hub, including the United States guide.