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Frequently Asked Questions

Mature Students

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or its equivalent is one of the admission requirements for all post-secondary programs. Applicants who are at least 19 years of age may apply to most of these programs, even if they do not have the OSSD or equivalent, by applying as a "Mature Student". (Applicants to the BScN Nursing Program must be 21 years of age.)

If you have the OSSD and the majority of credits in Grade 11 and 12 are at the C or U levels (or before 2003 at the G, A or OAC levels), you are considered a high school graduate rather than a Mature Student.

Once you have applied as a mature student, you may be invited to write the Mature Student Entrance Test(s). Please note the following:

  •  if the program you applied for requires Grade 12 English and/or Mathematics, you will write English and/or Mathematics tests.
  • if the program you applied for requires Grade 12 Chemistry, Physics or Biology, you will be asked to submit transcripts showing that you have successfully completed these required subjects.


If you do not have these science credits, there are several options available for you to obtain them:

  • Seneca's Faculty of Continuing Education and Training offers course equivalents at the C or U level (check the admission requirements of your program so you will be aware of what courses you must complete) at www.senecac.on.ca/ce.
  • Check with local Boards of Education to investigate what subjects are available through night school.
  • Check with local Boards of Education to enquire about the nearest Adult Learning Centre.
  • Check with Seneca's Academic Upgrading Programs.
  • Newnham: (416) 491-5050: ext. 6620
  • Yorkgate: (416) 491-5050: ext. 4772
  • Newmarket: (905) 898-6199: ext. 228
  • Markham: (905) 201- 8662
  • Check with the Ministry of Education's ILC (Independent Learning Centre) for the availability of secondary school courses that may be studied at home (www.ilc.org).

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Internationally Educated Applicants

Seneca welcomes applications from persons educated outside of North America. During the application process you may have submitted your documents to the Ontario Colleges Application Services (OCAS) and paid a fee to have the documents assessed. This assessment will be sent to the College electronically. The OCAS assessment is conducted by:

International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)


Some students may have already had their credentials assessed by another recognized assessment body, World Education Services – Canada (WES). Applicants will receive a print copy of the WES assessment. It is a good addition to a resumé portfolio and allows potential employers to understand your education in Ontario standards. Please forward a copy of your WES assessment to Seneca College. Applicants with a WES assessment are not required to have any additional assessments through OCAS. To enquire further about a WES evaluation, you may contact:

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English Proficiency

Please note Seneca's English Proficiency Requirements for students educated in countries where English is not the only common language. You will be required to submit successful scores in a recognized language test such as IELTS or TOEFL, or for some programs you may opt to write the Mature Student English Test.

For English proficiency requirements please see www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/stuserv/intnainfo.html

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Current High School Students

If you applied as a secondary school applicant, your guidance department has submitted grades for the subjects you have completed and has informed us of the subjects you are currently taking. If you are planning on taking any of the courses needed for admission through night or summer school, please inform the Admissions Office.

If you fail or drop a subject, or fail to obtain your Secondary School Graduation Diploma, it is essential that you contact the Seneca Admissions Office immediately. There are options available which may allow you to qualify for admission. If you do not notify us before your program starts, you may forfeit your space in the program and your tuition fees.

If you are no longer attending school, please contact your school or Board of Education to arrange for your secondary school transcripts to be sent to OCAS.

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Pre-Admission Testing

There are two main reasons for pre-admission testing, although all applicants are not required to take a pre-admission test. The first reason is to complete the Mature Student Entrance Test for those without a Grade 12 credit (or equivalent) in English and/or Mathematics. The second reason applies to applicants who selected an oversubscribed program. Test results and other information will result in a rank-ordered list of candidates. Acceptances are issued to the top students. (See next section on over-subscribed post-secondary programs.)

There is a pre-admission test fee of $50.00. Please note that it is usually not necessary for an applicant to attend more than one pre-admission test session. If you are writing a test as a Mature Student and have already taken a test at another college, it may not be necessary to attend the Seneca test. If you are invited to write a test for more than one program at Seneca, please contact the Admissions Office immediately to see if both tests are necessary. Usually one test is sufficient.

Due to the thousands of students who require testing, we ask that you make every effort to attend your test on the date your letter indicates. Further details will be included in the information sent with the test invitation.

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Oversubscribed Post-Secondary Programs

Seneca has many programs where the number of qualified applicants is far greater than the number of seats. As a result, the college uses additional means to select applicants such as mandatory preadmission tests and/or orientations. Secondary school grades may also be used in the selection process.

There is no need to call the Admissions Office to request an orientation or testing date. You will be notified by mail if you are required to attend either. Please read the Pre-Admission Testing section in this flyer for more information on testing.

For a complete list of Seneca College's oversubscribed programs, click here.

If you have applied to a program that is not oversubscribed and you have already submitted documentation to show that you are, or will be, qualified before the first day of classes, you will not be required to attend any mandatory orientations. Grades will be used to assess your application and a letter will notify you of your acceptance, non-acceptance or waiting list status.

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Applicants with a Complete or Partial Post-Secondary Education

Applicants to Seneca's Graduate Certificate Programs, where the admission requirement is a degree or diploma, should refer to the section on Graduate Certificate Programs and the section on College & University transcripts. Many applicants to post-secondary programs where the admission requirement is a high school diploma have already completed some post-secondary level studies.

If your college or university transcript does not clearly indicate that you meet the admission requirements, you will be required to submit your high school transcripts. For example, if the program you have applied for requires Grade 12 Mathematics and your college or university transcript does not show a post-secondary level credit in Mathematics, please submit your high school transcript. If you do not have a mathematics credit at the Grade 12 level you may be allowed to write the Mature Student Entrance Test in Mathematics. Note that Accounting and Economics are not considered equivalents for a Mathematics pre-requisite.

Applicants with a complete or partial post-secondary education who apply for post-secondary programs may be eligible for advanced standing in general education subjects, English, and professional subjects. For professional subjects, if you are transferring to a Seneca program and you have post-secondary credits in similar subjects, you may be eligible for advanced standing in those subjects. Applicants in this situation are encouraged to look at the on-line Seneca Calendar to review the curriculum: www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime

From this page you may click on the alphabetical list, and then click on the letter that represents the first word of the title of your program. For Computer Engineering Technology, click on C and then on the program name.You will see a listing of all the subjects you are required to complete. If you click on one of these subjects you will see a brief description of the course. If you click again, you will see a detailed course outline. Reviewing the detailed course outline may allow you to determine whether or not you may be eligible for advanced standing in that course. Normally, general education credits do not require a similar curriculum. You may for example use a university credit in Psychology as a general education elective at Seneca. Once you have been accepted you may complete and submit the Advanced Standing Request Form.

A transcript and a detailed course description of the subjects you have already completed must be attached to the form. This form can be submitted to the Admissions Office.

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Graduate Certificate Programs

There are mandatory orientations for most of Seneca's graduate certificate, accelerated or articulated programs. These programs require a university degree or college diploma as part of the admission requirement. If your program is oversubscribed, you will be contacted about a pre-admission orientation session where you may be required to complete one or more assignments.

Please arrange for Seneca to receive post-secondary transcripts for diplomas and/or degrees. Read the next section on Ontario College and University Electronic Transcripts. OCAS will not accept paper transcripts from any Ontario college or university.

For a complete listing of our Graduate Certificate programs, click here.

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Ontario College and University Electronic Transcripts

If you are applying online and have attended or are currently attending an Ontario college or university, you can request official transcripts by completing the online OCAS Transcript Request Form that is located on the Online Services Main Menu screen at www.ontariocolleges.ca (click on "My Transcripts"). OCAS will not accept paper copies of post-secondary transcripts from Ontario colleges or universities.

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Citizenship Status

The college application form asked you to identify your current citizenship status in Canada. If you identified yourself as someone other than a Canadian Citizen or Person with Aboriginal Ancestry, then in accordance with provincial guidelines you must submit documentation to confirm your status in Canada. This documentation could be a copy of your Permanent Resident Card, Landed Documents, Study Permit, Refugee Status, etc.

The College uses this information to determine the tuition fees that apply. Some applicants will be required to pay international fees rather than domestic fees. Note that if you are offered admission to Seneca and you have not submitted the required documents, you will be charged international fees. It is important to submit your documentation as soon as possible.

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Fees

Fees vary by program. You may review the current fees by visiting: www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/stuserv/0809_dm_s1.html. Note that there will be increases for programs starting September 2009.

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Contact Us

Please contact us with any questions about your application. For Seneca programs at the Newnham, Seneca@York, Jane or Markham campuses, please contact:

  •     Newnham Campus Admissions Office:

                1750 Finch Ave. East
                Toronto, ON
                M2J 2X5
                416-491-5050 ext. 2800
                Email: admissions@senecac.on.ca
                Fax: (416) 493-3958

                Telephone Hours:
                Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

                In person:
                Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM
                Fridays: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
                Saturday and Sunday: Closed
  • For programs at King Campus, please contact King Campus Admissions Office:

                13990 Dufferin Street
                King City, ON
                L7B 1B3
                (416) 491-5050 ext. 5013
                or 905-833-3333

                Open:
                Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
                Fridays: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
                Saturday and Sunday: Closed
  • International Admissions Office:

                1750 Finch Ave. East
                Toronto, ON
                M2J 2X5
                416-491-5050 ext. 2364
                Email: internationaladmissions@senecac.on.ca
                Fax: (416) 491-9243

                Telephone Hours:
                Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

                In person:
                Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM
                Fridays: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
                Saturday and Sunday: Closed

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Seneca College Calendar on the Web

In addition to program admission requirements, you will find information on how to contact the Admissions Advisor or the Program Co-ordinator by accessing the program information in the web Calendar: www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime

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Campus Tours

Find out more about Seneca with a free tour and get a glimpse of on-campus living. Current students will guide you and be available to answer questions. Simply call us to book a time:

  • Newnham: (416) 491-5050 ext. 2925
  • Seneca@York: (416) 491-5050 ext. 3014
  • King: (416) 491-5050 ext. 5048
  • Jane: (416) 491-5050 ext. 2925
  • Markham: (416) 491-5050 ext. 7190

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Degree Transfer

Students who do not meet the admission requirements for one of our degree programs may enrol in a diploma program and eventually transfer to a Seneca degree program.

Many Seneca students go on to study at a university. Seneca was the first college to open a University Transfer Office to provide students with advice and assistance in pursuing further studies. The Full-time Calendar also outlines the formal agreements Seneca programs have with other educational institutions. Whether your program has a formal agreement or not, there are many opportunities for students to go on to university study. The University Transfer Office is located at the Newnham Campus.

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