Admissions

1. Introduction and Purpose 

Loyalist College is committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities to prospective students. In order to do so in a transparent and equitable manner, the college is guided by the binding policies and directives of the Ministry, the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board standards, as well as the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

This policy establishes a clear, consistent, and equitable framework governing admission to standard post-secondary programs offered by the college.

2. Application

This policy governs admission to all standard post-secondary programs offered by Loyalist College.

The requirements for applicants seeking consideration for prior learning experiences are covered within AOP 221 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing, Articulation Agreements and Exemption.

3. Definitions

Advanced standing. The status granted to a student with approved external transfer credits for admission into an upper semester of a program of study (semester two or higher).

Applicant. An individual who applies for admission to a program of study at Loyalist College.

Credential. An Ontario College Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate, or Degree, awarded upon the successful completion of a program of study in accordance with the Ontario Qualifications Framework.

Deferral of admission. An approved request to postpone the start of studies from the intake specified in an offer of admission to a future intake.

Direct Entry. Entry into an upper semester of a program (typically Semester 3) or a bridge opportunity to complete a defined set of additional courses that allow the completion of a second program of study, granted to students who have successfully completed a designated Loyalist College program.

Highly competitive program. A program of study for which the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of available spaces. These programs are also referred to as oversubscribed programs.

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

Non-academic requirement. Mandatory requirements unrelated to academic performance which must be satisfied in order to be eligible for an experiential learning activity in a program of study, such as a clinical or field placement. (e.g., immunization record, criminal record check, vulnerable sector check, first aid certification).

Non-standard post-secondary program. A program of study leading to an Ontario college credential delivered through open enrolment in which students register on a course-by-course basis.

Program of study. An official list of all the required courses and experiential learning components within all semesters of an approved graduate certificate, degree, advanced diploma, diploma, or certificate program, developed in compliance with standards established by the Ministry.

Semester. A defined set of courses within a program of study that are intended to be taken together during a specific academic term.  

Standard post-secondary program. A program of study leading to an Ontario college credential with a prescribed progression plan (block course registration by semester, and a defined study/break term sequence). 

Term. A defined period of time within an academic year when courses are offered. The academic year is comprised of three terms – Fall, Winter, and Spring.

4. Policy Statement

Loyalist College evaluates each applicant’s eligibility based on their academic qualifications, verified credentials and any other applicable admission requirements in order to make fair, consistent and transparent admissions decisions. Each Loyalist program of study establishes specific academic, language, and status requirements that applicants must satisfy.

Program-specific admission requirements, including academic and any additional non-academic requirements, are published on the college’s website. The website is the authoritative source of admission information and will be considered the definitive resource in the event of a discrepancy with any other source. Loyalist College reserves the right to correct published admission information and make admission decisions based on the correct admission requirements.

Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s overall qualifications, the availability of space in the program, the date of application, and applicable Ministry policies. Where a program receives more qualified applicants than available spaces, applicants may be ranked using program-specific admission criteria. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission. Likewise, meeting the minimum admission requirements in one admission cycle does not guarantee admission to the same program in a subsequent intake, as applicants compete within each admission cycle.

Applicants must submit official documentation that satisfy the published admission requirements by the applicable deadlines established for each admission cycle. An applicant may apply to have the college assess their previous postsecondary credentials for advanced standing in the program.

Loyalist College reserves the right to restrict enrolment in a program or suspend a program intake where sufficient enrolment has not been achieved prior to the start of classes. Applicants who have received an offer of admission to a suspended program or intake will be notified in writing.

Applicants who falsify transcripts, submit fraudulent documents, engage in misconduct during an admission assessment or test, or otherwise attempt to circumvent the admissions process in a manner inconsistent with ACAD 206 Academic Integrity will be denied admission to the college. Such applicants will be ineligible for admission to any Loyalist College program or course for a minimum of five years. The applicant may appeal the Admissions department’s decision in such circumstances under the appeal process described in section 6.5. Any subsequent application for admission in these cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

5. Applicant Types and Requirements

5.1 Applicants with a Disability

The college is committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the admissions process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants with a disability are encouraged to apply and may request accommodation to support equitable access to the admissions process. Information regarding accommodation services and the application process is available through the college’s AccessAbility Services department.

5.2 Domestic Applicant Admission Requirements

In accordance with the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive for Admissions Criteria, domestic applicants must satisfy one of the following minimum admission requirements:

• Hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or an approved equivalent.
• Have mature student status.
• Meet any lesser minimum admission requirement established by the college for a specific program of study.

Applicants must also satisfy any applicable program-specific requirements, including:

• Successful completion of:
  • Required secondary school courses for certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs at the college, university, or university/college preparation level (or equivalent).
  • For degree programs, the published requisite secondary school courses at the university or university/college preparation level, including a minimum of six Grade 12 university and/or university/college preparation level courses and the minimum final grade/average specified in the published admission requirements.
  • For graduate certificate programs, successful completion of an Ontario college diploma, advanced diploma, Ontario college degree, a university degree, or approved equivalent.
• The published language proficiency requirements.
• Any additional admission requirements published for the program, such as specific courses, portfolios, tests, auditions, certifications, credentials, or specialized fields of study.

5.3 Mature Applicants

Non-Degree Programs

Mature applicants applying to certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, and graduate certificate programs must:

• be at least 19 years of age on the first day of classes.
• submit all previous post-secondary transcripts, which may be considered in admission decisions.
• meet all program-specific admission requirements.

Mature applicants who are unable to provide transcripts demonstrating the required academic preparation may be permitted to complete pre-admission English and/or mathematics assessments to demonstrate proficiency in those subjects.

Degree Programs

Mature applicants applying to degree programs must satisfy the published program-specific academic requirements or their approved equivalents. Admission testing options are not available for degree programs.

Mature applicants to degree programs must:

• Be at least 21 years of age or over on the first day of classes.
• Not have attended post-secondary education on a full-time basis within the last five years.
• Meet the published secondary school subject requirements and minimum admissions averages, or approved equivalents.
• Submit official secondary school transcripts and any other academic transcripts required to support the application.

Preference may be given to applicants who completed the required secondary school courses on a full-time basis. The college reserves the right to give priority to applicants who meet all academic requirements on their first attempt.

5.4 Homeschooled Applicants

Applicants who have been homeschooled must provide documentation confirming that they have been homeschooled and ensure that all program-specific requirements are met. Depending on the program, the college may require applicants to complete equivalency testing or satisfy additional admission requirements to determine whether the published admission requirements have been met.

5.5 Advanced Standing

Applicants who have recently completed more than one term of study at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution in a similar program may be eligible for advanced standing which provides bulk transfer credit and entry into an upper semester (semester two or higher) of a program of study.

Applicants may request an assessment for advanced standing through the Registrar’s Office in accordance with AOP 221 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing, Articulation Agreements and Exemptions. Applicants approved for advanced standing will be admitted to the appropriate semester of the program and applicable transfer credits will be recorded on their academic record.

5.6 Direct Entry

Students that have successfully completed a designated Loyalist College program of study may be eligible for direct entry into an advanced credential or a related program of study (typically semester 3). Students may also be eligible to bridge from an apprenticeship program to a diploma program by completing a defined set of courses. 

Programs with direct entry agreements are listed on the college website. To apply for direct entry, students must complete an application by the prescribed deadline. Students approved for direct entry will be registered in alignment with the requirements of a direct entry agreement. A direct entry notation will be included on their transcript. 

5.7 Out of Province and International Applicants

Any applicant who completed secondary school in another province or country must provide documentation sufficient for the college to assess the academic equivalency of their credentials to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Academic credentials from other provinces and/or countries may be recognized as equivalent to the published admission requirements of a program of study. Loyalist College determines the equivalency of all academic credentials submitted for admission purposes.

Applicants applying from outside Canada and internationally educated applicants must satisfy the admission requirements established for their country of education, as well as any program-specific admission requirements. Detailed admission requirements and application procedures are available on the Loyalist College website.

The college may require translations and/or credential evaluations for documents issued by non-Canadian institutions. Credential evaluations must be completed by a recognized evaluation service which is responsible for authenticating the documents and assessing their comparability to the Canadian education system.

5.8 English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English, or whose previous education was not delivered in English, must demonstrate acceptable English‑language proficiency by submitting results from an approved English‑language proficiency test. Approved English language proficiency tests are published on the college’s website.  Official transcripts and language proficiency test results must be submitted in their original form or as certified and attested copies acceptable to the college

6. Application Selection and Decision

6.1 Applicant Selection

Applications received by February 1 prior to the academic year in which a program begins are given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 are considered on a first-come, first-served basis if space remains available in the program.

Qualified applicants will be selected to receive an offer of admission based on the following priority:

1. Ontario residents.
2. Other Canadian residents.
3. All other applicants.

6.2 Entry to Highly Competitive Programs

Where the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available spaces after residency priorities have been applied, qualified applicants will be ranked using predetermined, measurable, program-specific admission criteria in accordance with the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive for Admissions Criteria. Consistent with the ministerial directive, highly competitive programs do not admit international applicants.

6.3 Wait Lists

Wait lists may be established for programs where sufficient application demand exists. Each wait list is specific to the admission term and will be maintained until the tenth day of classes. Applicants who are not admitted and enrolled by the tenth day must submit a new application for a future intake.

The college is not able to provide applicants with information about their position on the wait list.

6.4 Application Decision

Applications are assessed by the Admissions department. Applicants will be notified of the college’s admission decision in writing. All conditions must be satisfied before the applicant begins studies. Failure to satisfy the conditions by the beginning of studies at Loyalist may result in the offer of admission being revoked.

Admission to a Loyalist College program means that a student is only admitted to that program of study and the specified term. Admission to one program is not a guarantee of admission to another program or of admission to the same program in a different semester.

6.5 Admission Decision Review

Upon request, the Admissions department will provide an applicant with an explanation of the reasons for the admission decision. If an applicant is not satisfied with the explanation provided, they may submit a written admission appeal to the Admissions department within 30 days of the admission decision. Admission appeals received fewer than five days prior to the start of classes will only be considered for the next available intake of the program.

Admission appeals must be based on a procedural error or unfairness in the admission process. Appeals cannot be based on the stringency or nature of the college’s admission requirements.

6.6Deferral of Admission

An offer of admission is valid only for the intake specified in the offer letter. Requests to defer admission to a future intake will only be considered if supported by documented medical accommodation needs. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to the Admissions department before the published program start date. Approval of a deferral is at the discretion of the college and is subject to program availability and the applicant continues to satisfy all applicable admission requirements.

7. Related Documents

• ACAD 206 Academic Integrity
• AOP 221 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing, Articulation Agreements and Exemptions

8. References

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990
• Minister’s Binding Policy Directive for Admissions Criteria, 2004
• Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002
• Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990