What is University?
• an institution of higher
education and research
• grants academic degrees in a
variety of subjects
• provides both undergraduate
education and postgraduate
education
Some Important Terms
1. Major
-the main field of specialization during a
student’s undergraduate studies
-a certain number of required courses must
be taken in the major area
Example: Sally is doing an undergraduate
degree in General Science and she majors
in Biology
Some Important Terms
2. Undergraduate Degree
-an academic degree achieved by a person who
has completed the required undergraduate
University courses
Some Important Terms
Two Types of Undergraduate Degrees:
A) General Bachelors Undergraduate Degree
-usually three years
B) Honours Bachelors Undergraduate Degree
-usually four years
Some Important Terms
3. Master’s Degree
-one to two-year university program that is
taken after completing an undergraduate
degree
-achieved by taking courses and exams or
by conducting research and presenting a
thesis
Some Important Terms
4. Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
-an advanced academic degree awarded by
universities
-usually requiring three to five years of original
research in a specialized field of study
-the candidate submits a thesis that is an original
contribution to the field of study
-in order to complete the PhD, one must submit a
thesis consisting of original academic research,
which is in principle worthy of publication
-once a candidate receives a PhD, they are eligible
to apply to teach at the university level
(professor)
Some Important Terms
5. Thesis
-a written document submitted in pursuit of a
degree or professional qualification
presenting the author's research and
findings
-can range in length from 20 pages to
hundreds depending on the degree sought
and the length of research
Some Important Terms
6. Professional School
-program of advanced learning that leads to an
occupation governed by a mandatory regulatory
body
-practicing members of the profession must
complete a licensing exam before they can
actively practice and must keep their credentials
current
-professional programs include medicine, law,
teacher education, rehabilitation sciences,
dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, nursing, etc.
Some Important Terms
7. Ontario Student Assistance Plan
(OSAP)
-a government financial loan program that
helps students pay for their education
For more information about OSAP visit:
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal
Some Important Terms
8. Scholarship
-non-repayable monetary grant provided to a
student on the basis of academic merit or
extracurricular involvement
9. Bursary
-non-repayable monetary grant on the basis
of financial need
What do you need?
• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
• 6 - grade 12 U or M credits
• Usually Grade 12 University English is required
• There may be other required courses (maths, sciences, etc.)
Check specific program requirements.
Early conditional offers will be based upon Grade 11
marks.
Things to Consider
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Prerequisites
Program requirements
Cut-off averages
Home or away?
Size and location of city
Size of university
Extra-curricular activities
Atmosphere on campus
Scholarships
Cost of program
Universities in Ontario
Carleton
Lakehead
Nipissing
Ottawa
Queen’s
Algoma
Laurentian
RMC
Trent
UOIT
OCAD
Guelph
UofT
Waterloo
Ryerson York
McMaster
Laurier
Western
Windsor
Brock
Programs Offered
• Visit the Ontario University Guide (eINFO)
website
• Visit the individual universities’ websites to
view University Calendars
How to Apply
• Application is made through the Ontario
Universities’ Application Centre
• 3 choices  $115
• Additional choices  +$38 per selection
Timelines
• Nov/Dec – OUAC access codes sent to SJAM
• Mid-January – deadline to submit the on-line
application and fees to OUAC
• Beginning February – recommended last date
(not a deadline) to submit all information to
OUAC
• End of May – the latest date to receive an offer
of admission, a refusal, or a deferral pending
additional information
Other Important Info
• University info sessions at SJAM
(UW, WLU, McMaster, Guelph,
Western) & Lunch-time Fair (other
Ontario universities) (November)
• UIP – centrally located at a
secondary school with numerous
university reps (October)