Admissions Policy

To provide a framework for admission to Seneca’s full-time postsecondary programs, including Ontario College certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, degrees and graduate certificates.

This policy applies to all applicants to Seneca and includes all full-time postsecondary Seneca programs.

Three terms of study beginning in September and concluding in August of the following year.

An individual unit of instruction offered at a postsecondary institution.

A sequence of courses leading to an Ontario college credential offered in two-to-eight prescribed groupings.

An individual applying to a certificate, diploma or advanced diploma program has reached, or will reach, the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program to which they applied.

A mature student applying to a postsecondary program.

A credential awarded upon successful completion of a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, degree or graduate certificate program that meets the minimum requirements articulated in the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive Framework for Programs of Instruction.

A provincially recognized credential earned on successful completion of secondary school requirements established by the Ministry of Education. Also known as a Secondary School Graduation Diploma (SSGD) or a Secondary School Honours Graduation Diploma (SSHGD).

A course that must be completed before taking a course.

1. In accordance with the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive for Admissions Criteria, an applicant must meet one of the following requirements to be considered for admission to a program:
   • hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
   • have mature student status
   • possess a lesser minimum admission requirement for the specific program as established by Seneca’s Board of Governors.
2. In addition to the Admission Requirements stated in section 2.1 of this policy, an applicant must also meet the following requirements established on a program-specific basis:
   • successful completion of prerequisites
   • for degree programs, successful completion of a minimum of six university and/or university/college preparation level courses in Grade 12, with a minimum average of 65 per cent
   • for graduate certificate programs, possess an Ontario college diploma or degree, a university degree or equivalent
   • possess language proficiency appropriate to the credential level
   • successful completion of any other requirements, such as specific courses, portfolios, tests, auditions, certifications, credentials or specialized fields of study.
   • for certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs, prerequisites must be taken at the college, university or university/college preparation level or equivalent
   • for degree programs, prerequisites must be taken at the university or university/college preparation level, and the applicant must have achieved a minimum final grade of 65 per cent
3. Meeting minimum admission requirements for a program does not guarantee an offer of admission to that program.
4. Seneca shall make publicly available the admission requirements established on a program-specific basis.

1. Mature applications to certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and degree programs must reach the age of 19 by the start of the program to which they have applied. 
2. Mature applicants should disclose all previous postsecondary transcripts, which may be used in admission decision. 
3. Mature applicants to apprenticeship or diploma-apprenticeship programs require an OSSD, General Education Development certificate or equivalent.
4. Mature applicants must meet all program-specific admission requirements.
5. Mature applicants to certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs who are unable to provide transcripts showing program-specific academic requirements may be permitted to complete pre-admission English and/or mathematics tests to demonstrate proficiency in those subjects. Mature applicants to degree programs are required to have completed program-specific academic requirements or equivalents, as admission testing options are not available for degree programs.

1. Applications received by February 1 prior to the academic year in which a program begins are given equal consideration.
2. Applications received after February 1 are considered on a first come first served basis if space remains in the program.
3. Qualified applicants will be selected to receive an offer of admission based on the following priority:
   • residents of Ontario
   • residents of Canada
   • all other applicants.

If a program is oversubscribed after the above residency prioritization, qualified applicants will be ranked according to predetermined, measurable, program-specific criteria.

1. Applications are assessed by the Registrar’s Office, which, on behalf of Seneca, accepts, declines or defers the admission of applicants to programs.
2. Applicants will be advised of Seneca’s decision in writing by the Registrar’s Office.
3. Admission to a Seneca program means that a student is only admitted to that program and specified admit term.
4. Admission to one program is not a guarantee of admission to another program or of admission to the same program in a different semester.

1. Applicants who provide proof of enrolment in courses and/or programs that will satisfy the admission requirements of a program may receive a conditional offer of admission to the program.
2. Applicants will be advised of the conditions of admission in writing.
3. Applicants who do not meet the conditions of admission prior to the start of classes will be removed from the program.
4. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide final transcripts showing successful completion of the required courses and/or programs prior to the start of classes.

1. Academic transcripts from other provinces and/or countries may be considered as equivalents to the admission requirements of a program.
2. The Registrar’s Office may require translations and/or evaluations of documents from non-Canadian institutions by recognized evaluation services. The evaluation service must authenticate the documents and recommend the comparability of the education earned outside of Canada to the Canadian education system.
3. For programs of study where a previous postsecondary credential is required, Seneca may consider granting an equivalency for significant partial completion of a credential, partial completion of a credential and related work experience, or significant related work experience.

1. Seneca shall provide a process for reviewing admission decisions, specifically declines, for any full-time postsecondary program. This method would not include admission decisions related to part-time courses or programs that register on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Upon request, the Registrar’s Office will provide an applicant with further explanation of the reason for a decision to decline admission.
3. If an applicant is not satisfied with the explanation provided by the Registrar’s Office for the decision to decline admission, they may request a formal review or appeal, in writing, to the Registrar, or designate, within 30 days of the admission decision.
4. Admission appeals must be based on procedural error or unfairness of admission process. Admission appeals cannot be based on stringency or nature of admission requirements.
5. Admission appeals that are received less than five days prior to the start of classes will only be considered for the next available intake of the program.

• None

• Academic Appeal Policy

• Admissions Criteria Minister’s Binding Policy Directive
• Framework for Programs of Instruction Minister’s Binding Policy Directive

Approval Date: May 2018

Last Revision:  May 2018