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International Students

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​​​​​​Thank you for your interest in the Halton District School Board​

​​​​The online application portal will open on December 1, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.  The portal will close periodically to process pending applications.  Please check the website regularly to see if the application portal is open.

Apply to Halton District School Board - International Students​

Please note: our application process has changed.  
Review the fields and required documentation carefully to ensure your application can be processed quickly. 

Key Messages for 2021-2022

Covid-19 has certainly changed the ways we operate for the 2020-2021 school year.  We have moved to a Quadmester system for high school with smaller cohorts of students. HDSB is committed to keeping students safe.  We are not sure how things will be in September 2021.  Future applicants should anticipate slower times to obtain study permits, the continued requirement of quarantine or self-isolation upon arrival, and on-going wearing of masks in all school buildings.  At this point, new students are not permitted to participate in their learning from their home countries.  All families and students should monitor HDSB, and national and provincial websites for up-to-date information.  More specific information will be shared at a later date.

In December, HDSB is  launching our new online application portal through True North.  It will look familiar, but it is easier to navigate and is more comprehensive.  Starting this year, students will need to submit both a photograph of themself and a completed Letter of Intent.  Also, vaccination records are required as part of the application. Applications without a photo, a letter of intent, and vaccination records will not be processed.  

Students entering grade 8 will now need to complete the online Pre-Arrival English Assessment and Orientation package.  Students will need their own email in order to complete the assessment and orientation.  Elementary schools offered to grade 8s will reflect the student’s language proficiency and the expected secondary school assignment.

HDSB uses Western Union Global Pay to process all international payments and direct pay from approved Canadian financial institutions.   Payments made through other companies such as Motion Pay will not be accepted and this will delay the processing of your application.

Halton District School Board is continuing its partnership with the Canada Homestay Network to manage homestays for international students. All new students are expected to use Canada Homestay Network for their custodian and homestay services.  Please refer to our Homestay resources page​ for more information.

Reminders

  • A credit card is necessary to pay the application fee and complete the application.
  • Secondary students must complete an online English assessment and orientation and have their own email address.  Students will be contacted through this email to set up a brief “Welcome Interview”.  
  • Students 12 (students born in 2004) need to submit an IELTS result of at least 5.5.   
  • HDSB health insurance is mandatory and will be charged with the school tuition fees.  
  • Please see the admission criteria for detailed information for the International Student Program.


These schools are open to international students

Secondary  Elementary
*Iroquois Ridge Secondary School
*Oakville Trafalgar High School
*Abbey Park High School
White Oaks Secondary School (IB)
Thomas A Blakelock High School
*Garth Webb Secondary School
Burlington Central High School (IB)


*high-demand schools that require high English proficiency
All other elementary schools are open. Please note that families have to live within the catchment area of the school where the student has been accepted.

Families are required to have their own residence and cannot use the address of friends or family.

 These schools have limited availability for international students

Secondary
Acton High School
Georgetown District High School
Aldershot High School
M.M. Robinson High School
Craig Kielburger Secondary School (IB)
Milton District High School



The following schools are closed to international students:

Secondary
Elementary
Dr. Frank Hayden Secondary School
Nelson High School


Maplegrove
Oodenawi
James W Hill
River Oaks
Palermo
Capt. R Wilson
Pilgrim Wood
Single track French Immersion Schools

​Watch: What's it like to live and study in Halton?

​ Your browser does not support the video tag. ​​​​​

​Information on studying in Ontario​ is available in the following languages:​​

​

Link to French version

French

Link to English version

English

Link to Chinese version

Chinese

Link to Spanish version

Spanish

Link to Vietnamese version

Vietnamese

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​Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any question about becoming an international student in Halton.

Halton District School Board
International Students Program
HDSB Welcome Centre
215 Ontario Street South
​Milton, Ontario
L9T4N5

 
Tel: 905-335-3665, ext 3435
Toll free: 1-877-618-3456 
Email: isp@hdsb.ca​​​
Board Office

Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

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Phone: 905-335-3663
Fax: 905-335-9802

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​​​​​​© 2021 Halton District School Board, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON, Canada L7P 5A8, Phone Switchboard: 905-335-3663

Auto Attendant: 905-335-3665, ​Toll Free: 1-877-618-3456, Fax: 905-335-9802