Check here for updates to the information available in Ready to Launch, such as new website links, changes to deadline dates, and modifications to post-secondary program information.
2025 Deadlines for acceptance of offers of admission to colleges and universities
Students who applied to Ontario colleges for programs starting in the fall typically have a May 1st deadline for accepting or declining their offer, though some offers may be extended. A tuition deposit will be required in June; the tuition deadline and the payment amount may be included with the offer or sent later, so it is very important to read the details in all messages sent from the college.
Students who applied to Ontario universities by the January equal-consideration deadline will receive a response (an offer of admission, refusal or deferral) by May 29th. Students given offers of admission (as well as scholarships and offers of residence) are usually required to accept or decline the offer(s) and pay the necessary deposit(s) by June 2nd, although certain offers may include extensions.
GED testing for high school diploma equivalency will end in May, 2024
The GED test for high school equivalency is being discontinued. A new version is in the works, but its release date is not yet known. For those who did not graduate from high school but want to enter a post-secondary program or internship, there are other options available (see the Ready to Launch blog post, “How can you get to college now that GED testing is discontinued?“).
New post-secondary application fees and deadline dates for fall 2024 programs
Colleges:
The Ontariocolleges.ca application fee for programs that will start in the fall of 2024 or later has been increased to $125. This fee still includes up to five college programs on one application (with a maximum of 3 programs at one college). The online college application portal will open on October 1, 2023. The application due date for equal consideration into a program is February 1, 2024, and the deadline to confirm your acceptance of an offer of admission is May 1, 2024. Tuition deposit due dates vary, but are typically in June of 2024.
Universities:
The application portal at OUAC.on.ca is now open for applications for programs starting in 2024. The fee for applying is $156; this fee includes three program choices, and other program choices can be added for an additional $50/program. The application deadline for high school students is January 15, 2024, and universities must send applicants an offer, refusal or deferral by May 29, 2024 at the latest. Typically, applicants must accept or decline an offer of admission by June 3, 2024, though this may vary.
Changes to Ontario universities online application form coming in fall, 2023
As of September, 2023, the Ontario Universities Application Centre will no longer have two separate online undergraduate application forms for high school students (currently called a “101” application) and all other applicants (a “105” application). With this change, all applicants will complete the same Undergraduate Application when applying for university programs.
Upon entering the initial information requested on the online form, the system will generate and display the appropriate fields for each applicant to complete in accordance with their demographic and educational background. All further steps in the application and admission process will remain the same.
© Janet Hilliard, 2023