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Admission Requirements

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York considers for admission applicants who present successful academic credentials earned at recognized/accredited institutions around the world. In addition, York requires minimum overall average grade requirements and course prerequisites. Some programs also require supplementary admission information. Visit http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/ for further details. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the University. If you feel that your academic record does not reflect your abilities, you are invited to present documentation outlining circumstances that may have affected your academic performance. All information will be taken into consideration.

The following information describes the types of academic preparation York University recognizes.

Academic Preparation

Secondary School

British Columbia and Yukon: High-school diploma with four academic courses, including Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites at the Grade 12 level. Academic courses do not have to be provincially examinable courses. Grade 12 subjects with no or limited academic content (e.g. Communications, Career and Personal Planning, Tourism, Textiles, Child Care, Auto Technology, work experience) are not acceptable.

Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut: High-school diploma with five academic courses including Faculty- or program-specific prerequisite courses numbered 30 or 31.

Saskatchewan: High-school diploma with five Grade 12 academic subjects numbered 30 including English Language Arts A30 and B30, and Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites at the Grade 12 level.

Manitoba: High-school diploma with five Grade 12 academic subjects, including Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites, including English 40S plus three additional 40S-level subjects. The remaining credit must be 40S or 40G. We will accept AP Calculus in place of Pre-Calculus.

Ontario: Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and six 4U or 4M courses including ENG4U*, all Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites.

*Francophone applicants can present FRA4U, FIF4U or FEF4U.

*Les étudiants qui fréquentent une école secondaire de langue française peuvent remplacer ENG4U par FRA4U, FIF4U ou FEF4U.

Quebec (CEGEP): One year of CEGEP with a minimum of 12 academic courses, including Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites. (high-school equivalent courses not accepted). Extra courses will be assessed for transfer credit. Applicants with the DEC may be awarded up to one full year of transfer credit.

Quebec (Grade 12): Grade 12 Certificate of Graduation with six academic (university-preparation level) courses including Grade 12 English and Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites.

Quebec (Secondary V): May be admissible to Glendon. Quebec Secondary School Diploma, five Secondary V courses, English and French recommended. For Business Economics, Economics, Information Technology, Mathematics and Math for Commerce, a math background is strongly recommended.

New Brunswick: High-school diploma with six academic courses with Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites at the Grade 12 level (college preparatory: 120, 121 or 122) including English. We will accept Calculus 120 in place of Advanced Math Intro to Calculus 120.

Nova Scotia: High-school diploma with five courses (university preparatory academic or advanced), including English, with Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites at the Grade 12 level.

Prince Edward Island: High-school diploma with five academic courses, including English, with Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites at the Grade 12 level (numbered 621 or 611).

Newfoundland and Labrador: High-school diploma with eleven credits at the 3000 level, including English 3201 as well as Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites.

International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma required with passes in six courses (including Faculty- or program-specific prerequisites):

  • Three passes at the Standard Level and three passes at the Higher Level; or
  • Two passes at the Standard Level and four passes at the Higher Level.

Minimum diploma point scores of 30 or higher recommended (scores of 28 will be considered). Certificate students will be considered individually and on the basis of their high-school diploma. Math Studies will not satisfy prerequisite requirements listed below.

Transfer credit may be granted for Higher Level IB courses with final grades of 5 or better, to a maximum of 30 credits, depending on the program.

Baccalauréat français: Baccalauréat général with a minimum overall score of 10 (mention passable) from a French lycée accredited by the Ministry of Education or an accrediting agency in France. Transfer credit of up to 30 credits granted for grades of 12 or better depending on program.

Advanced Placement Courses: Transfer credit of up to 30 credits may be granted for final scores of 4 or 5 on the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams, depending on the programs to which you apply. Students must also meet Faculty-specific requirements of the program they are applying to.

General Certificate of Education (GCE): Minimum of two Advanced Level (A-level) passes and three GCSE or IGCSE Ordinary Level (O-level) passes. Two Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-level) courses may be substituted for a maximum of one Advanced Level course. A minimum average of "C" is required on Advanced Level and Ordinary Level passes. Higher grades required for certain programs. Transfer credit of up to 18 credits may be granted for Advanced Level courses with final grades of "C" or better, depending on the programs applied to. Students must also meet Faculty-specific requirements of the program they are applying to.

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE): Completion of the CAPE diploma with a total of at least six units, including prerequisites, and grades of 1, 2 or 3 in each unit. A minimum overall average of 3 out of 7 is required. Higher grades required for certain programs. All prerequisites must be presented at the 2-unit level. Transfer credit granted for courses passed at the 2-unit level with grades of 1, 2 or 3, depending on the program (maximum of 18 credits).

International High School: For admission requirements from other educational systems, visit http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/intl.

University Transfer

  • University transfer students who have completed a minimum of four full-year courses or one year of accredited full-time degree studies or equivalent with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 on a 4-point scale (C/60 per cent or equivalent) may be considered for admission.
  • In addition, all Honours-level programs require a minimum overall grade point average of 2.30 on a 4-point scale (C+/65 per cent or equivalent).

All courses taken, including failed courses, will be used to calculate the admission average. If a student’s transcript shows repeated courses, the second grade achieved is the grade that will be used for the purpose of calculating average(s). Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the University. Some programs will require higher minimum averages. All Faculty- and program-specific requirements must also be met.

University courses taken may be assessed for potential transfer credit. For more information, see the Eligibility for Transfer Credit section.

College Transfer

  • Transfer students who have completed a minimum of two full semesters or one year of full-time study in an academic program from an Ontario College or Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (ITAL) in Ontario with a minimum overall average of 3.00 on a 4-point scale (B/70 per cent), including all attempted courses, may be considered for admission; or
  • A minimum of one year of full-time study in an academic program at an accredited/recognized college outside of Ontario with a minimum overall average of 3.00 on a 4-point scale (B/70 per cent or equivalent), including all attempted courses, may be considered for admission.

If a student has not graduated from a college program and the transcript shows repeated courses, the second grade achieved in the course(s) is the grade that will be used for the purpose of calculating average(s). Some programs will require higher minimum averages for admission. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the University. All Faculty- and program-specific requirements must also be met.

Academic college courses may be assessed for potential transfer credit. For more information, see the Eligibility for Transfer Credit section.

Mature Students

To be considered for admission under the University’s “Mature Student” regulations you must:

  • be at least 21 years of age or older as of the first day of classes of the session for which you have applied;
  • have been out of full-time high-school studies for at least two years or have returned to upgrade after a two-year absence;
  • have attempted less than one full year of studies at an accredited university or college;
  • not have an unfavourable academic record; and
  • have demonstrated potential for success through academic, professional or volunteer activities and other accomplishments.

For entry to the Faculty of Science, the Lassonde School of Engineering and Nursing programs, science and math prerequisites must normally be completed within the last five years prior to application. You may also be considered for admission as a mature student if you have completed a York University pre-university course, offered through the Division of Continuing Education or a Women’s Bridging course, with a minimum grade of B, if you also meet specific program and language-proficiency requirements. Note that students admitted to the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies may be awarded transfer credit (3.0 credits maximum) for bridging and pre-university courses. Visit http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/access_bridging for more information.

Senior Citizens

Senior citizens who wish to be admitted to the University (as candidates in a degree program or as visiting students) are evaluated as mature students unless they have completed previous postsecondary studies (see the appropriate sections above).

In order to be eligible for a domestic tuition fee waiver, applicants must be Canadian citizens/permanent residents and 60 years of age or older by May 1 for the summer session or September 1 for the fall/winter session. The fee waiver is capped for senior citizens to the level of tuition fees assigned to domestic, non-professional undergraduate arts, science and other programs as defined in the tuition fee guidelines from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The tuition fee waiver for an eligible senior citizen is restricted to a maximum of one undergraduate or graduate degree. Eligible senior citizen tuition waiver students are required to pay all other fees attached to a course or program, or required during the process of registration (including centrally collected ancillary fees, fees approved by student referenda, material fees, financial penalties etc.).

Please visit http://sfs.yorku.ca/fees/waivers/ for additional information.