Advice & Guidance on
Making Applications to
Canadian Universities
West Island School
Y12 Higher Education Evening
5 June 2014
ellie.tang@wis.edu.hk
University destinations of West
Island School students in 2013-14
Canada, 7%
GY/Mil/Job
12%
Others 2%
UK 40%
Australia 8%
USA 12%
HK 17%
Presentation rundown
1. Rankings
2. Entry requirements and typical offers
3. Main application deadlines
a) The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC)
b) The British Columbia Universities ‘ Application Centre
(ApplyBC)
4. Tuition fees
5. Scholarships
6. Alternative pathways – Diplomas / Associate Degree / University
Transfer Programs
7. Useful websites
8. Q & A
Canadian universities and world rankings
{Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014}
UNIVERSITY
World ranking
University of Toronto
20
University of British Columbia
33
McGill University
33
McMaster University
92
University of Montreal
106
University of Alberta
109
University of Ottawa
185
Group of Thirteen – G13 Universities
(Canada’s leading research-intensive
institutions)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dalhousie University
Laval University
McGill University*
McMaster University*
Queen’s University*
University of Alberta
University of British Columbia*
University of Calgary
University of Montreal
University of Ottawa
University of Toronto*
University of Western Ontario*
University of Waterloo
* Popular with WIS students
General Entry Requirements
•
IB Diploma applicant
Full diploma – consistent all-round academic performance (e.g.
between Level 4 and 7 in ALL six subjects). Credit transfer in IB HL
subjects at Faculty’s discretion at some universities.
•
ID applicant
Check with individual university / faculty. Some universities won’t take
BTEC / vocational qualifications (e.g. McGill, UBC and UT)
•
All applicants
- To check specific programme requirements (e.g. Toronto: IB Maths
SL or HL and two IB sciences (Physics and Chemistry) are frequently
needed for Engineering and Science (Genetics – Biology and
Chemistry)).
- Submit SAT scores if you have them and feel they will help. (E.g.
Toronto’s expected SAT: 1800+, SAT Subject Tests: 500+).
- Possible IELTS (6.5) or TOEFL (e.g., Toronto: Internet-100+22 Writing)
result needed from those who have English as a second language.
Some typical offers received in 2014
by WIS students as of 5/6/14
Degree course
University
Offer
Engineering
Waterloo
Maintain predicted IB pts
Liberal Arts/Social
Science
Toronto
Maintain predicted IB pts
York
Maintain predicted IB pts
Simon Fraser
Maintain predicted IB pts
Western Ontario Maintain predicted IB pts
Science (Physics)
McGill
Science
UBC
(Biology/Microbiolo McGill
gy/Marine Bio)
Dalhousie
Toronto
Maintain predicted IB pts
Minimum 24 IB pts
Maintain predicted IB pts
Maintain predicted IB pts
Maintain predicted IB pts
Some typical offers received in 2014
by WIS students as of 5/6/14
Degree course
University
Offer
Politics and
History
McGill
Maintain predicted IB pts
Concordia
Maintain predicted IB pts
Commerce
UBC
Minimum 24 IB pts
McGill
Maintain predicted IB pts
Toronto
Maintain predicted IB pts
Simon Fraser
34 IB pts
Western Ontario
Maintain predicted IB pts
York
Maintain predicted IB pts
Some typical offers received in 2014
by WIS students as of 5/6/14
Degree course
University
Offer
Linguistics
UBC
Maintain predicted IB pts
McGill
Maintain predicted IB pts
Computer Science
Toronto
Minimum 28 IB pts
Music
Acadia
Maintain predicted IB pts
Psychology
UBC
Minimum 24 IB pts
APPLICATION DEADLINES – (some
examples and 2014 dates for guide)
UNIVERSITY
APPLICATION PERIOD
Dalhousie
15 March (for scholarship)
1 April (for regular application)
McGill
15 January
McMaster
1 April
Simon Fraser
1 February – 30 April (check with
individual faculty)
Toronto
21 January – 1 April (check with
individual faculty)
UBC
31 January (check with individual
faculty)
Applying to Ontario Universities - OUAC
From January to September of their application year, students register online
with OUAC www.ouac.on.ca to create an account to apply to universities in
the province of Ontario (can apply up to 3 courses for each university except
University of Toronto).
Canadian citizens living
and studying outside of
Canada
Complete the OUAC 105D
application
International school
students who are not
Canadian citizens
Complete the OUAC 105F
(International) application
Ontario institutions of higher education
Brock University
Carleton University
Dominican University College
University of Guelph
Lakehead University
Laurentian University
McMaster University
Nipissing University
Ontario College of Art & Design
University of Ontario Institute of
Technology
University of Ottawa
Queen’s University
Redeemer University College
Royal Military College of Canada
Ryerson University
University of Toronto
Trent University
University of Waterloo
University of Western Ontario
Wilfrid Laurier University
University of Windsor
York University
http://www.ouac.on.ca/ugrad-tutorials-ouac-105/
Applying to BC Universities – ApplyBC
From mid December to February of their university application year, students
register online with ApplyBC http://applybc.ca to apply to universities in the
province of British Columbia.
Canadian citizens
living and studying
outside of Canada
Social Security
Number information
required
International school
students who are not
Canadian citizens can
use ApplyBC or apply
directly to the
university
BC institutions of higher education
British Columbia Open University
Camosun College
Capilano College
College of New Caledonia
College of the Rockies
Douglas College
Institute of Indigenous Government
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Kwantlen University College
Langara College
Malaspina University College
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
North Island College
Northern Lights College
Northwest Community College
Okanagan University College
Royal Roads University
Selkirk College
Simon Fraser University
University College of the Cariboo
University College of the Fraser Valley
University of British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
University of Victoria
Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design
https://applybc.ca/demo/applybc/index.html
Tuition Fees (Example: UBC 2013/14)
{Source: UBC: http://www.students.ubc.ca/coursesreg/tuition-feesdeposits/tuition-fees/}
Degree
Credits taken Canadian
in 1st year
student (C$)
International
student (C$)
Engineering
35
5,705
27,998
Arts
Commerce
30
30
4,890
7,245
23,999
26,890
Music
Int’l
Economics
34
30
5,542
7,823
27,198
28,492
Science
30
4,890
23,999
Scholarships
Type of award
Various agencies and organizations
Domestic
student
International
student

See list at Ontario School
Counsellors’ Association website:
www.osca.ca >students>
scholarships and financial
assistance
Online search at Association of
Universities & Colleges of Canada
website: www.aucc.ca > programs &
scholarships
Individual university awards
(See university website for
information)


Alternative pathways to university Diplomas / Associate Degree / University
Transfer Programs
BC Province
Stage 3
Student transfers to
university – Year 2
undergraduate
programme
- Kwantlen University College
- Langara College
- Malaspina University College
- Douglas College
- The University College of Cariboo
Stage 1
ID/BTEC graduate
enters community
college*
Stage 2
Student completes
specialised
professional or
vocational programme
Ontario
- Sheridan College
- Humber College
- Centennial College
- Seneca College
- George Brown College
*Some colleges have Bachelor degree awarding status. Always
check with colleges on university transfer opportunities.
Alternative pathways: application and costs
General entry requirements
Completion of our Y13
Application timeline
BC: mid Dec 2014 to Feb 2015
Make direct application to college
Ontario: Dec 2014 to Feb 2015
Make direct application to college
Tuition fee
E.g. Sheridan College 2013-14
Domestic student: C$1297 per term
International student: C$6399 per
term
Scholarships
Available - check with individual
college
Useful websites
Below is a list of websites which have been referred to in this presentation.
1. University search engine: http://www.aucc.ca
2. Community College search engine: http://accc.ca
3. University rankings website:
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/rankings/
4. College scholarship search engine:
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/scholarship-finder/
5. Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC):
http://www.ouac.on.ca/
6. TOEFL: The Official TOEFL Homepage: http://www.toefl.org/
7. British Columbia Universities Application Centre (ApplyBC)
http://applybc.ca
Q&A