Second Career@Seneca
Second Career is a program funded by the Government of Ontario to help laid-off workers train for jobs in growing fields. As a qualified applicant, you can receive financial assistance to cover some of the costs associated with your education.
Eligibility for the Second Career program is determined by the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit the Employment Ontario Website and visit an Employment Ontario Assessment Centre in your area.
Step 1
Make an appointment with a Government Employment Counsellor at your local Resource Centre. They will determine if you are eligible to participate and provide you with information about getting back to work.
This process can take several months to complete, so remember to start early. Our programs can fill up quickly.
Step 2
After meeting with a Government Employment Counsellor, you can then attend one of our Second Career information sessions to speak with a Seneca Student Recruitment Officer one-on-one. Upcoming session dates and times are available here.
Step 3
You’ll need to submit a research package to apply for Second Career. If you require information for your research package, please visit the Cost Breakdown Estimate & Sessional Dates page. Here you can access details by program to answer the training research questions in your application to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).
Step 4
Select an available Seneca program and apply online at OCAS. Make sure to select the box that indicates that you’re applying as an agency-sponsored Second Career Applicant in the Financial Assistance section of your application profile. There is a $95 non-refundable fee to apply. If you have any questions about your online application, contact Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) at 1-888-892-2228.
Step 5
After completing the OCAS application and paying the $95 processing fee, Seneca will receive your application the next business day.
Step 6
If required, you’ll be mailed a letter that explains how to complete pre-admissions testing for English and/or Math through Seneca’s Test Centres. Please ensure to indicate that you are a Second Career applicant.
Step 7
Once you have been admitted to your program, an Offer of Admission will be issued by the Seneca Admissions Office. As a Second Career applicant, you are expected to make a $500 non-refundable deposit towards your tuition by the due date appears on your tuition and fees notice. You must pay the remainder of your tuition fees in full by the first day of classes or a $150 late fee will be added to your fees. If you $500 deposit is not received, you will lose your guaranteed seat in the program.
Step 8
If you have received a Seneca Offer of Admission, please attach it to your Second Career application package and submit it to your Government Employment Counsellor. This will then be sent by your Government Employment Counsellor to the MTCU for funding review.
Step 9
Once you sign and receive a copy of your approved MTCU Second Career Contract, bring it to the Seneca Admissions office.
If your contract has NOT been approved by the MTCU but you have received a Seneca Offer of Admission, you can look into other means of financial assistance including:
Step 10
If you have questions about Seneca, you can attend one of Seneca’s Second Career Information sessions and have your questions answered by a Seneca Student Recruitment Officer. These sessions provide further information on:
- General Second Career information
- How to find the nearest Employment Ontario Assessment Centre to your home
- How to apply online for a program offered at Seneca
- Admission requirements
- Academic upgrading
- General OSAP information
- Government access grants
- Scholarships, bursaries
For cost break-downs, tuition fees, books and supply costs, start and end dates and refund policies, please visit the Second Career: Cost Breakdown Estimate & Sessional Dates page.
For information on options to help fund your education, please visit Seneca’s Financial Aid office.