Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology

📄 Academic Requirements

🎒 Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma

To qualify for certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs, you must have transcripts showing that you have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or the equivalent, or you must be a mature applicant.

You will also need to achieve minimum grades in certain prerequisite subjects or courses at the (C) college preparatory level. Program-specific prerequisite courses are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. The minimum grade for prerequisite courses is 50% unless stated otherwise.

🎓 Graduate Certificate Programs

To qualify for graduate certificate programs, you must have transcripts showing that you have completed an Ontario college or university degree, diploma or the equivalent.

📚 Degree Programs

To qualify for degree programs, you must have transcripts showing that you have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or the equivalent with a minimum of six courses at the university (U) preparatory or mixed college/university (M) level and a minimum average of 65%, or you must be a mature applicant.

You will also need to achieve minimum grades in certain prerequisite subjects or courses at the (U) university preparatory or (M) mixed level. Program-specific prerequisite courses are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. The minimum grade for degree prerequisite courses is 65% unless stated otherwise.

🚀 Accelerated or Articulated Programs

To qualify for accelerated or articulated programs where you can complete a diploma in fewer than the usual number of semesters, you must have transcripts showing that you have completed a postsecondary credential such as a university or college degree or diploma. Prerequisite programs and courses are listed.

🦉 Additional (non-academic) Admission Requirements

Some programs have additional non-academic requirements such as questionnaires, essays, portfolios, auditions or tests. Additional requirements are listed with admission requirements on program websites.

When you apply to a program that has additional requirements, we will contact you by mail and email with details of when and how to submit, and when and where to attend special on-campus sessions. If you live more than 100 km from the Greater Toronto commuting area, we can help arrange distance testing for you.

Additional requirements are mandatory. For some highly-competitive programs, additional requirements may determine the ranking of applicants. It is in your best interest to complete these requirements as soon as possible.

💯 Equivalent Credentials

📃 Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Equivalent

Seneca recognizes credentials from applicants who attended secondary (high) school in another province or country and who can provide official transcripts.

• Secondary School Graduation Diploma at General Level or equivalent from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Saskatchewan
• Quebec Secondary School Diploma Granted General Education/Diplôme d’Etudes Secondaires (DES)
• Yukon Graduation Certificate
• Nunavut Secondary School Diploma
• Northwest Territories Secondary School Diploma
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, including English and any other required courses with passes in at least six subjects:
  • Three Higher Level and three Standard Level
• United States of America:
  • Grade 12 (A minimum of 16 units of credit at the Secondary School level; at least four English credits)
• Great Britain:
  • General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE or IGSCE) with four O-level subjects
  • General Certificate of Education
  • Advanced or Advanced Supplementary Levels (GCE-A or AICE or GCE-AS) with at least 2 A-levels
• Secondary school diploma from all other countries will be considered on a case by case basis

Transcripts from outside of Canada must be accompanied by a course-by-course credential evaluation from a recognized agency such as ICAS, WES, ICES or IQAS.

📃 Ontario College or University, Degree or Diploma Equivalent

Seneca recognizes credentials earned at all recognized Canadian public postsecondary institutions. Seneca will consider credentials earned at Canadian private colleges, depending on the duration and relevance of the program and as long as the institution is in "good standing.”

Seneca also recognizes postsecondary credentials earned outside of Canada that are accompanied by a document-by-document (general) assessment from a recognized agency such as ICAS, WES, ICES or IQAS. Some programs require previous postsecondary study at a specific level or in a specific discipline. In these cases, a course-by-course evaluation will be required.

Seneca may consider partial completion of a postsecondary credential and/or significant program-related work experience. This is at the discretion of the college. In this case, applicants will be asked to submit a resume detailing relevant work and professional references.

💬 English Proficiency: Canadian Applicants

International applicants, please review your English proficiency requirements.

At Seneca, all courses are taught in English and to be successful in a program, your English communication, listening, comprehension, reading and writing skills must be at a level to meet the demands of your program.

Applicants to graduate certificate programs, the Practical Nursing Diploma (PND), Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology degree (FPR) and Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN) must demonstrate overall proficiency in English through one of the following:

• Three years of successful full-time study in a secondary school (English as a Second Language "ESL" courses will not be considered) from a country where English is an official or the only language of common usage; or,
• Three years of successful full-time study in a Canadian curriculum high school outside of Canada; or,
• Three years of successful full-time study in a French high school in Canada with three consecutive years of English
• Two full-time years of successful study in a college or university undergraduate program in an institution and country where English is an official or the only language of common usage
• Successful completion of a college postgraduate certificate or university postgraduate degree, in an institution and country where English is an official or the only language of common usage
• For PND, Seneca will accept successful completion of a Pre-Health Certificate from an Ontario College as proof of proficiency.

Seneca will accept the following recognized tests and scores to demonstrate proficiency.

The information above is not applicable to Accelerated programs.

📅 Critical Admission Dates

Seneca admits new students to programs three times per year. September (fall intake), January (winter intake) and May (summer intake).  Not every program is offered for each of these intakes. Start dates are listed on program websites. Some popular or highly-competitive programs fill very early. To be sure that you are considered for your program, take note of the dates below.

For programs starting in September

For programs starting in January

For programs starting in May

✅ Program Admission Sessions

There are a number of Seneca programs that have additional admission requirements. These requirements must be completed before an offer of admission can be granted. Depending on the program, you may need to submit a portfolio, complete a drawing or writing test.

Upon receiving your invitation to attend a program admission session or to complete an online admission assignment, you are encouraged to take the necessary steps as early as possible.

✨ Waitlist

Applications will be considered depending on the number of applications received. Applicants will be processed in the order of the date, provided the program is still open.

Seneca reserves the right to refer, limit or cancel any program as a result of changes occurring subsequent to the publication of this program status document.