International Applicants

Thank you for choosing Northern! We are thrilled you’d like to pursue your studies with us.

Here you will find more information on programs, how to apply, and what to expect for your studies at Northern College.

Admission requirements, including English proficiency, and other important information for each program, can be found on specific program pages.

When you are ready to apply, go to OCAS International to submit your documentation so we can review your application.

Browse Program Availability on OCAS

How to Apply

Apply through OCAS International.

A non-refundable application fee of $100 will apply.

Submit the following documents with your OCAS application:

Official transcripts for any education completed (or in-progress) outside and/or in Canada.
An official copy of your valid passport and study permit (if you already have these documents).
Proof of English Proficiency test results from IELTS (academic), TOEFL or PTE required by the specific program.

Note: Documents submitted to OCAS for education completed outside of Canada must be notarized copies. A certified English translation must be accompanied if the original documents are not in English.

If you have any questions about applying, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.

Apply on OCAS

Accepting Your Offer

Offer of Admission letters are sent directly to accepted students through international Application Service of Ontario College Admission System (where you submitted your application).

Please ensure you accept your offer and pay your deposit by the deadline to ensure the further processing of your registration.

Registration deadlines and tuition information can be found on your Offer of Admission letter under the Fee Structure section for the first payment due information.

Registration Tuition Payments

Programs for International Students

Learn about the programs available to international students at Northern College. Discover what fits your goals and learn about the admissions requirements to get started.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to a Post-Secondary Diploma or Certificate Program you must possess the equivalent of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and required courses as noted on specific program pages.

Equivalencies:

Upper Secondary School Certificate with a minimum grade of 6.5 in relevant subjects
English Proficiency requirements as outlined below.
Students must submit scanned copies of the original certified secondary school transcripts for diploma programs and college or university transcripts for postgraduate programs.
All documents must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

English Proficiency Requirements

At Northern College, all programs and activities are conducted in English. Strong skills in writing, comprehension, and speaking are essential for academic success. International applicants for whom English is a second language must demonstrate proficiency in both spoken and written English.

Who Needs to Demonstrate Proficiency?

Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency if:

English is not their first language, or
Their previous education was conducted in a language other than English.

To meet this requirement, applicants can provide: Approved Academic English Proficiency Test Results.

Submit valid test results issued within the past two years. Refer to the table below for accepted tests and minimum score requirements.

Accepted Tests and Minimum Scores

Test	Certificates & Diplomas*	Certificates & Diplomas	Post-Graduate Certificates*	Post-Graduate Certificates	BScN (Nursing)
IELTS	Overall: 6.0, with no band less than 5.5	Overall: 6.5, with no band less than 6.0	Overall: 6.0, with no band less than 6.0	Overall: 6.5, with no band less than 6.0	Overall: 6.5, with no band less than 6.0
TOEFL	79+ (Internet-based)	88+ (Internet-based)	79+ (Internet-based)	88+ (Internet-based)	88+ (Internet-based)
PTE	Overall: 58+	Overall: 60+	Overall: 60+	Overall: 60+	Overall: 60+
Duolingo*	105+	125+	110+ (105+ for Global Business Entrepreneurship Technology)	125+	Not Accepted

Notes on Specific Programs and Tests

Certificates & Diplomas: For the following programs, higher proficiency requirements apply: Instrumentation & Control Engineering Technician, Medical Laboratory Technician, Paramedic, and Practical Nursing.

Post-Graduate Certificates: Higher proficiency requirements apply to the following programs: Emergency Management, Terrorism Pandemic, Health Care Management, Information Systems Business Analysis, and Project Management.

TOEFL: Use Northern College’s Designated Institution (DI) code D925 to send test results. Contact admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca for Computer-Based and Paper-Based TOEFL requirements.

Duolingo: Not accepted for Fitness and Health Promotion, Medical Laboratory Technician, Paramedic, Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing, Emergency Management, Terrorism Pandemic, Health Care Management, or the BScN program.

Additional Information

Test results must be dated within the last 24 months.
Some programs may have higher requirements. Please visit the specific program page and refer to the information under the sections ‘Admission Requirements’ and ‘Additional Information’
For case-by-case evaluations of TLG and ILAC, or for further details, contact admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca.

Who Does Not Need to Demonstrate Proficiency?

Applicants from the following countries, meeting the specified criteria, are exempt from the English proficiency requirement:

Exempt Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon (with GCE O and A level English courses), Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland (English curriculum), Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius (with GCE O and A level English courses), New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines (MOI*), Republic of Rwanda (MOI*), Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sierra Leone, South Africa (English curriculum), Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

MOI means the “Medium of Instruction.” International students from countries with (MOI) are required to provide an official MOI letter from their senior high schools and/or post-secondary institutions to prove that English was the medium of instruction for their courses.

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)

Northern College is making it easier to choose your new program by adding Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes to the program information on the college website. These CIP codes are listed on the specific programs under Programs & Courses.

Please note that not all CIP codes associated with Northern’s programs are included on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility CIP code list. Additionally, IRCC’s list of eligible programs may be updated occasionally without notice.

Students and agents are encouraged to look up the CIP code for their chosen Northern College program on our website and then search this code under the “Field of Study Requirements” section on IRCC’s website to verify PGWP eligibility.

For international students who submitted their study permit application before November 1, 2024, there are no field of study requirements, but they must meet the English proficiency requirement.

For applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, students must meet both the English proficiency requirement and graduate from an eligible field of study to qualify for PGWP.

International Credential Assessments

An assessment report may be required to determine how your completed education compares to Canadian standards. Northern College accepts assessment reports from the following recognized service providers:

Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program should contact admissions@northern.on.ca to verify accepted service providers.