Admissions & Enrolment
How to Apply
College Diploma & Certificates: OCAS
If you are wanting to apply for a College diploma or certificate, you would use the Ontario Colleges Application System (OCAS). It is straight forward and will lead you through the process. You might have to provide some supporting documentation so your application can be considered, and it will let you know how and where to upload these. A non-refundable fee is required to apply.
In the application system (OCAS), you will be able to:
- See the status of your application
- Get notification of acceptance and official letters of acceptance. We will also send a printed and emailed copy of the letter telling you that you got into your program, so please use your accurate mailing and email address on your application and update it if it has change.
- Confirm your offer to accept it.
- Receive confirmation of deposit payments you made that we received.
In other words, you can get a lot of information from OCAS, and will be happy that you used it. All colleges in Ontario use this same system.
International Applicants
Apply online through the Ontario College Application Service for International Students: OCAS International and be sure to review admission requirements, tuition & fees, and other important information to apply to programs at Northern.
Information for International Students
Northern Training Division: Direct
If you are looking to register or apply for a training program or course offered by Northern Training Division, your application or registration forms can be sent in directly online, in person or by email for open training opportunities you are interested in taking.
Continuing Education: Direct
To apply for programs, courses, and micro-credentials offered through alternative & flexible learning or with OntarioLearn, connect with us directly to complete a registration form.
Learn More
International Applicants
Apply online through the Ontario College Application Service for International Students: OCAS International and be sure to review admission requirements, tuition & fees, and other important information to apply to programs at Northern.
Continuing Education: Direct
To apply for programs, courses, and micro-credentials offered through alternative & flexible learning or with OntarioLearn, connect with us directly to complete a registration form.
Important Dates
Application Deadlines: At Northern, you can apply right up until classes for the semester begin, and sometimes even after that, if there is room in your program, but it’s best to apply early, especially for competitive programs.
Admissions Offer Letters: If you are accepted, you will hear from us on or after February 1 for programs beginning in the Fall. Programs starting in the Winter and Spring semesters have ongoing acceptances, and we will let you know as soon as we have accepted you into the program, which is a very exciting moment of your journey, so Congrats!
Confirming Your Offer: Once you receive an offer of acceptance from us, you need to confirm your offer to let us know you have chosen to study with us. The deadline to confirm your offer is May 1 for programs starting in the Fall.
Tuition & Fees Payment Deadlines:
- Deposit (Domestic Students): Non-refundable Deposit, is due by June 15 for Fall intake, November 15 for Winter intake and March 30 for Summer intake.
- Full Tuition & Fees (New Domestic Students & All Returning Students): Full payment of remaining tuition and fees are due before Day 10 of the semester (except those with OSAP or approved payment plans). After Day 10, a late fee of $150 is applied to any accounts with outstanding fees due.
- New International Students: Tuition and fee payments are due by the dates provided in your Letter of Acceptance.
Please review the Tuition & Fees Payments information and deadlines outlined in your confirmation letter to ensure you save your spot with us and to avoid late fees.
Please refer to the Academic Calendar for other important dates for your studies.
General Requirements
Each program has specific admissions requirements listed on the program page.
You will usually need to have finished high school to attend Northern, but that isn’t true in all cases. If some time has passed, you may qualify to attend here as a mature student. You can also take Academic Upgrading with us for free if you still need some qualifications.
Depending on the program, you might need to have Grade 12 Math, Chemistry, Biology, or other high school credits for admissions, but that isn’t the case for all programs.
Some programs require health and immunization records, CPR/First Aid, criminal record check and vulnerable record check forms, equipment or toolkit list, or an audiology or vision evaluation.
Be sure to review the admission requirements for the program you are applying for.
Additional Information for International Students
Northern College is a Designated Learning Institution and our DLI # is O19315830082. Due to timelines needed for applying and being issued a Study Permit to go to College in Canada, please apply at least 8 months before the start of your program. That way, you can be prepared to student in time and travel here.
If you are an International Student, you will apply through OCAS and submit all supporting documentation, including your passport, your transcripts (please have them assessed by the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada – ICAS), and provide proof of your English proficiency (you will need to take an official test for this). You will need to pay a non-refundable application fee online via credit card or wire transfer to have your application considered.