College Pathway

Degree programs offered at both universities and colleges focus on theoretical learning.  This means that:

• Learning is abstract and conceptual; you will learn mostly from textbooks, articles, and journals.

• You MUST be able to work independently to understand course material and complete work.

• Your professor or instructor will expect you to come to class having completed readings and/or other assigned work so they can explain in more depth. 

• You will be learning in large class sizes ranging from 50-1000 people.

 Each degree program will differ in their specifics for type of learning required, how long the program is, and what it costs.  Here are the main facts:

• Most degree programs are between 3-4 years long. 

  • Some special programs are 5-6 years long, but typically grant you two degrees instead of just one.  Concurrent Education is an example. 

• Some programs will include optional or mandatory work experience in the form of co-op or internship.  These can be paid or unpaid.

• Average tuition cost per year is  approximately $8,000. 

You will earn a “degree” when you finish your studies.  Examples include:

• BA - Bachelor of Arts

• BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration

• BCom - Bachelor of Commerce

• BEd - Bachelor of Education

• BEng - Bachelor of Engineering

• BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts

• BSc - Bachelor of Science

The type of person that best enjoys a degree program is someone who:

• Is interested in exploring academic, theoretical, and conceptual learning.

• Is willing to independently review course materials and manage academic challenges.

• Has a minimum 75% average in 6 grade 12 “4U” (University) or “4M” (Mixed) courses.

• May benefit from a degree to apply to a professional school (e.g. Teaching, Medicine, Law, etc.) or a post-graduate Masters program (e.g. Social Work, Physiotherapy, etc.).

Admission Requirements

Admission to a degree program at a college or university is based primarily on the calculated average grade in your top 6 grade 12 “4U” and “4M” level courses.

• Prerequisites specific to a program are almost always included in the top 6;

• Minimum averages in specific courses may be required (e.g. 70% in ENG4U or MHF4U);

• Courses taken outside of day school (e.g. summer school, private school) MAY be treated differently;

• You must complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD);

• Some programs will require an audition, portfolio, or supplementary application to ensure you have the appropriate entry skills and/or applicant profile.

You can find information about the specific admission requirements for each Ontario degree program at:   http://ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca/programs

Once accepted…

All offers made by colleges and universities are conditional.

• Admission offer will state a minimum average you must meet by the end of grade 12.

  • failure to maintain the stated conditions will result in the withdrawal of an offer.

  • failure to graduate (including completion of your 40 hours of Community Involvement) will result in the withdrawal of an offer.

Diploma and Certificate programs at colleges focus on hands-on learning.  This means you will: 

• Learn from books AND through doing.

• Explore academic and practical applications of course materials.

• Develop skills and knowledge to prepare you for a job or industry (e.g. dental hygiene, pilot, supply chain management).

• Independently review course material and manage academic challenge with some support from your instructor.

• Learn in relatively small class sizes ranging from 30-100 people. 
   

Each Diploma or Certificate program will differ in their specifics for type of learning required, how long the program is, and what it costs.  Here are the main facts:

• Each program is between 1-3 years long.

• A vast majority of programs have a “co-op” or work experience opportunity.  This provides students the opportunity to engage in work experience connected to learning.

• There is often flexibility if you want to work on your studies part-time or full-time. 

• Average tuition cost per year is $3,000, but tuition costs depends greatly on the program. 
   

Many students who complete a Degree program at a University or College decide to complete a Diploma or Certificate program as well.  These are some of the main reasons: 

• They are pursuing a career path(s) that require a diploma and/or specific hands-on training which their Degree program did not offer.

• They are interested in gaining additional skills to help them be more competitive when applying for jobs. 

• They are eligible to earn a “diploma”, "advanced diploma" or "certificate" once they have finished their studies.

Requirements

Admission to a certificate or diploma program at a college is based on the specific entrance requirements for that program.

• Usually, grade 12 English (4U or 4C) is required;

  • Often colleges prefer a strong grade 12 College English (ENG4C) mark over a mediocre grade 12 University English (ENG4U) mark.

  • Will sometimes require other specific courses from grade 12 and/or grade 11;

    • Grade 11 or 12 math (MCF3M, MCT4C, or MAP4C).

    • Biology (SBI3C), Physics (SPH4C), or Chemistry (SCH4C).

  • Minimum average of 65% is usually required, but competitive programs are much higher (85%+);

  • You must complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD);

  • Some programs will require an audition, portfolio, or supplementary application to ensure you have the appropriate entry skills and/or applicant profile.

Once accepted…

All offers made by colleges and universities are conditional.

• Admission offer will state a minimum average you must meet by the end of grade 12.

  •  

    • failure to maintain the stated conditions will result in the withdrawal of the offer.

    • failure to graduate (including completion of your 40 hours of Community Involvement) will result in the withdrawal of an offer.

Collaborative programs combine the best of College and University opportunities!  This means you will:

• Earn 2 credentials:  a Bachelors Degree and a Certificate or Diploma!

• Allows for academic/theoretical learning AND practical experience and skill development.

• Learn in both a college and university settings, with class sizes ranging from 30-500 people. 

• Complete many compulsory courses to meet the requirements of both the degree and the diploma/certificate.

Each Collaborative program will differ in their specifics for type of learning required, how long the program is, and what it costs.  Here are the main facts:

• Each program is between 4-5 years long.

• You will spend part of your time at a College and part of your time at a University, usually 2 years at each.

• Most programs have a “co-op” or work experience opportunity.  This provides students the opportunity to engage in work experience connected to learning.

• Average tuition cost per year is $5,500.

Completing a Collaborative Program saves students at least one year of time to earn 2 credentials!  It is also cheaper because they are combined in your yearly tuition! Learn more about collaborative programs.