University offers students the opportunity to study an academic area in-depth without the program necessarily being tailored to a specific career. The first degree completed upon entry from secondary school is an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate degrees are offered at all Ontario universities and can also be earned at many Ontario colleges.
The university pathway may be a great fit for students who:
- Would like to focus on theoretical, abstract and critical thinking;
- Want to develop a broad background in a particular subject area that is not always specific to a particular occupation;
- Prefer lecture format with an emphasis on independent learning and research; and
- Want to pursue further postgraduate studies that require an undergraduate degree such as a masters program, medical school or law school.
Post-Secondary Destination: University
Ontario universities provide students with a theoretical foundation of a subject area they are interested in exploring in greater depth. This video provides an overview of the different credentials offered by universities, application requirements and processes, financial planning, and pathway planning resources for university.
Program Requirements
All university programs require ENG 4U (Grade 12 University English) plus five other Grade 12 university/mixed courses. Please be sure to check that you have the required prerequisites for the program you are considering. The required courses differ with each university program. This information can be found under “Requirements” under each program found on the
Ontario
Universities website.
Programs may also have additional non-course requirements that could include:
- Auditions
- Interviews
- Tests
- Portfolios
- Supplementary Applications
Note: When you are selecting your Grade 11 courses be sure to select the required prerequisites for your chosen university program. For example, if the university program you are interested in requires SPH 4U (Grade 12 University Physics) then make sure to select SPH 3U (Grade 11 University Physics) for your Grade 11 year.
Program Duration
There are many types of undergraduate degrees. An undergraduate degree generally requires three or four years of full-time university study to complete.
Application Process
View the Ontario Universities' Application Centre’s
Undergraduate – How to Apply webpage for a detailed description of the application process.
Application Fees
View the Ontario Universities' Application Centre’s Undergraduate - Fees page for the current application fees.
Additional Supports for Students
- View the Ontario Universities’ Info website for
University Student Transition Resources to learn more about programs that will help you to transition to university. These programs are designed to help reinforce the skills needed for academic success in university, and are available to all students attending Ontario universities.
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources
- Check out this website to learn more about each university’s commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
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Accessibility for Students
- If you are interested in the accessibility resources available at Ontario universities, check out this webpage. Ontario universities are committed to creating equal access to higher education for all academically qualified students.
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Extenuating Circumstances
- If your grades were adversely affected by health or personal reasons some universities may take these extenuating circumstances into consideration when making admission decisions.
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Indigenous Student Resources
View this webpage if you are an Indigenous student to learn more about the supports that are available to you at each university.
The Government of Canada’s
Post-Secondary Student Support Program webpage provides information regarding the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) financial assistance available to First Nations college and university students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs.
Note: When you complete your university application, you may choose to declare your Indigenous ancestry or heritage – First Nation (status or non-status), Inuit or Métis. This allows the universities you choose to reach out to you with information about supports and resources for Indigenous students.
Explore - HDSB Guide to Post Secondary