Admission Information for Canadian High School Students
What Classifies as a Canadian High School Student?
- I am an Ontario high school student; or
- I am a high school student outside of Ontario, but in Canada; or
- I am a recent graduate from a Canadian high school, and have no other post-secondary education; or
- I am taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma within Canada
Admission & Course Requirements
Select Your Province:
The minimum admission average required to be considered for co-operative education programs is normally 80%. Exact cut-offs are determined by the quantity and quality of the applicant pool as well as space available in each program. Cut-offs normally exceed the estimated ranges. If you are not admitted to co-op, you will be automatically considered for the regular program (non-co-op).
Check all the latest information on the Co-operative Education and Career Services website.
You will be required to present evidence of English language proficiency if:
- Your primary or first language is not English, and
- You have completed less than four years of full-time secondary or post-secondary school study demonstrating satisfactory academic progress in an English language school system.
The University reserves the right to deny admission to you if you do not demonstrate satisfactory facility in English, regardless of academic qualifications.
Review acceptable English Proficiency tests and required results.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Curriculum
If you are applying with an IB Diploma, you should:
- Present a minimum academic score of 28 (many programs may require a higher score);
- Complete the diploma with six subjects; 3 higher level and 3 standard level;
- Include specific subject requirements among your higher and standard levels for the program to which you’re applying;
- Ensure your predicted scores are submitted using the 7-point scale.
Ontario high school students registered in an IB program will typically have their IB courses converted into Ontario U- and M-level courses. IB scores will be converted into grades on a percentage scale out of 100 by the applicant's high school. Admission and scholarships will be determined using the conversions as submitted.
IB Math curriculum will fulfill prerequisite requirements for Ontario 3U and 4U courses as follows:
| IB Curriculum Course | IB Curriculum Level | Ontario Curriculum Course Equivalents |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis and Approaches | Higher Level (HL) | MHF4U (Advanced Functions) MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors) MDM4U (Data Management) |
| Analysis and Approaches | Standard Level (SL) | MHF4U (Advanced Functions) MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors) |
| Applications and Interpretations | Higher Level (HL) | MHF4U (Advanced Functions) MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors) MDM4U (Data Management) |
| Applications and Interpretations | Standard Level (SL) | MCR3U (3U Calculus) MDM4U (4U Data Management) |
IB and AP Transfer Credit
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Transfer credit is awarded for Higher Level (HL) courses completed with a final grade of 5 or higher, to a maximum of 2.0 credits. Transfer credit will be assigned upon receipt of an official transcript from the IBO.
View IB courses and U of G equivalencies
| IB Course | Guelph Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Biology | BIOL 1070 |
| Business Management | MGMT 9110 |
| Chemistry | CHEM 1040 |
| Classical Languages | HUMN 9110 |
| Computer Science | CIS 9110 |
| Dance | FREE 9110 |
| Design Technology | FREE 9110 |
| Economics | ECON 1050 |
| English I | ENGL 1080 |
| Environmental Systems and Societies | GEOG 1220 |
| Film | HUMN 9110 |
| Further Mathematics | MATH 1080 |
| Geography | GEOG 9110 |
| Global Politics | POLS 1500 |
| History | HIST 1010 |
| Islamic History | HIST 9110 |
| Information Technology in a Global Society | CTS 9110 |
| Language A: Literature | HUMN 9110 |
| Language A: Language and Literature | HUMN 9110 |
| Mathematics | MATH 9110 |
| Music | MUSC 9110 |
| Philosophy | PHIL 1000 |
| Physics | PHYS 9110 |
| Psychology | PSYC 1000 |
| Sports, Exercise, and Health Science | HK 9110 |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | ANTH 1150 |
| Theatre | THST 1040 |
| Visual Arts | HUMN 9110 |
Advanced Placement (AP)
Transfer credit is awarded for Advanced Placement Exams completed with a final grade of 4 or higher, to a maximum of 2.0 credits. Transfer credit will be assigned upon receipt of an official College Board AP exam score report.
View AP courses and U of G equivalencies
| AP Course | Guelph Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | SART 9110 |
| 3-D Art and Design | SART 9110 |
| Art History | ARTH 9110 |
| Biology | BIOL 1070 |
| Calculus AB | MATH 1080* MATH 9110* |
| Calculus BC | MATH 1080* MATH 9110* |
| Chemistry | CHEM 1040 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | CHIN 1200 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | POLS 1150 |
| Computer Science A | CIS 9110 |
| English Language and Composition | ENGL 1030 |
| English Literature and Composition | ENGL 1080 |
| Environmental Science | GEOG 1220 |
| European History | HIST 1010 |
| French Language and Culture | FREN 1150 |
| German Language and Culture | GERM 1100 |
| Human Geography | GEOG 1200 |
| Italian Language and Culture | ITAL 9110 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | HUMN 9110 |
| Latin | LAT 1100 |
| Macroeconomics | ECON 1100 |
| Microeconomics | ECON 1050 |
| Music Theory | MUSC 1180 |
| Physics B | PHYS 1080 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | PHYS 9110 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | PHYS 1010 |
| Psychology | PSYC 1000 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | SPAN 1100 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | SPAN 2000 |
| Statistics | STAT 9110 |
| Studio Art | HUMN 9110 |
| US Government and Politics | POLS 9110 |
| US History | HIST 9110 |
| World History: Modern | HIST 9110 |
*MATH 1080 is assigned to students entering degrees that require it for graduation. Otherwise, students are assigned a generic MATH 9110 credit.
Note: If you receive specified transfer credit, you may request to change to unspecified credit on an individual basis within the first 30 days of your first semester.
How to Apply as a Canadian High School Student
STEP 1: Begin your Application
Apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre
- Deadline: January 15th*
*We will continue to accept applications after this date, but applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
STEP 2: Submit your Documents
Review the mandatory and optional supplementary documents below.
Note: All students are encouraged to submit the Student Profile Form.
Required documents will be listed in the 'My Documents' section of your WebAdvisor account. Your application will be reviewed once all required documents have been received.
Mandatory Supplementary Forms
Applicants must submit high school transcripts form their respective province to complete their application:
| Province: | Application details and deadlines: |
|---|---|
| Transcripts (Ontario) | Your school will submit grades to the OUAC on your behalf. We receive grade data on an ongoing basis throughout the admission cycle, and all grades must be received by April 24, 2026. If you have taken a year off or have returned to high school, you may have to request that your official transcripts be sent directly to the University of Guelph on your behalf. It is your responsibility to ensure that all official transcripts are received in Admission Services by the document deadline. |
| Transcripts (all other provinces) | We will use unofficial transcripts for initial admission consideration. Upload your unofficial high school transcript through ‘My Documents’ in WebAdvisor. Please also make arrangements to have your school submit an official transcript directly to Admission Services (applicant@uoguelph.ca), showing completed Grade 11 and 12 courses and all in-progress Grade 12 courses. All transcripts must be received in Admission Services by April 15, 2026. Transcript Requests through OUAC: The OUAC provides an electronic transcript service for applicants who have attended High School, College, or University in Ontario. When completing your application, you can pay the OUAC to contact your former school(s) and request electronic transcripts from the issuing institution to be sent directly to Admission Services at the University of Guelph. This is recommended.
|
Notes:
- British Columbia schools submit grade data electronically to the OUAC. We will automatically receive grade data from the OUAC on an ongoing basis.
- CEGEP applicants (Quebec): Your results will be sent automatically via the OUAC if your Quebec CÉGEP code is present on your application. If not, your final transcript must be submitted by your CÉGEP directly to Admission Services.
- In order for us to consider a transcript as ‘official’, we must receive it directly from the issuing institution.
Applicants applying to the following programs must submit additional information to complete their application:
| Program: | Application deadline: | Access document: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Diploma in Turfgrass Management | Deadline: March 1, 2026 Applications and documents received after this date will be considered as space allows. | Turfgrass Background Information Form (BIF) |
| Bachelor of Landscape Architecture | Deadline: March 1, 2026
| BLA Background Information Form (BIF) |
Optional Supplementary Forms
| Form: | Application details and deadlines: |
|---|---|
| Student Profile Form (SPF) | The Student Profile Form (SPF) is your opportunity to tell Admission Services about activities in which you have been involved that have helped you develop leadership and citizenship qualities. Factors beyond your control that have negatively affected your academic performance, such as illness or extenuating circumstances, will also be considered. If your admission average in May does not meet the cut-off for the program(s) to which you applied, your SPF may be considered if your average falls within a discretionary range of the final cutoff (up to 5%). Submission is optional but strongly encouraged. Deadline: April 1, 2026 See the Student Profile Form page for frequently asked questions. |
| Supplemental Information Form for Students with Disabilities (SIF-D) | The University of Guelph strives to provide equal opportunity for academically qualified students with disabilities. If you believe that your admission average does not reflect your true academic ability as a result of a disability, you are encouraged to complete the Supplemental Information Form for Students with Disabilities. This form is considered along with your admission average in determining admission. You are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services as early as possible to discuss your needs and academic background. Deadline: April 1, 2026 |
Other Supplementary Forms
| Form: | Application details and deadlines: |
|---|---|
| Education Declaration | If you see “Education Declaration Form” listed in the Documents section of your WebAdvisor account, we need to confirm whether or not you have completed additional studies beyond what you declared on your application. Please complete the PDF form and submit it through your WebAdvisor account.
|
Acknowledgement of your Application
Once you have applied to the University of Guelph, you will receive an acknowledgement email from Admission Services. The acknowledgement email provides you with additional information about U of G, important dates, and answers to frequently asked questions.
This email will include your OUAC ID number and your seven-digit U of G Student ID. Please reference your Student ID when you communicate with us.
Admission Plan
Timing of Offers
Offers will be released on an ongoing basis from late January to mid-May.
Exception: Offers to the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program will be released in May.
Estimated Cut-off Ranges
Estimated cut-off ranges are based on previous cycles and are intended to be used as a guide. Having an admission average within the estimated range does not guarantee an offer of admission. Cut-offs are determined by the quality and quantity of applications received and the space available in the program.
Calculating Your Admission Average
We use your top six completed 4U/M (or equivalent) courses, including required courses, to calculate your admission average. Where not available, we use a combination of the top six completed or in-progress 4U/M and completed 3U/M courses, including required subjects. If no 4U/M courses are in progress or completed, we will use your top six 3U/M courses to calculate your admission average.
Note: Co-op courses are not used for admission purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to an undergraduate program at an Ontario university, you must use the Undergraduate Application through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
You can apply to a maximum of three programs at the U of G. You will receive an admission decision for each program you apply to.
If you’re interested in co-op, you need to select the co-op option on your OUAC application. If you apply to co-op and are not admitted, you will be considered for the regular program.
No, Co-op courses will not be used towards academic admission requirements.
If you are a high-school-type applicant and wish to be considered for early admission, you should apply by January 15th. We continue to accept applications after this date.
After we receive your application from the OUAC, you’ll receive an acknowledgment e-mail within 5 business days. This e-mail will include your seven-digit U of G student ID. If you don’t receive the e-mail, be sure to check all of your e-mail folders, including junk, spam, and promotions folders.
If you still can’t find the e-mail, you can contact Admission Services at admission@uoguelph.ca to request that it be resent. Please include your OUAC reference number.
Estimated cut-off ranges vary by program. Estimated cut-off ranges are based on previous cycles and are intended to be used as a guide. Having an admission average within the estimated range does not guarantee an offer of admission. Cut-offs are determined by the quality and quantity of applications received and the space available in the program.
Early in the admission cycle, cutoffs typically exceed the estimated cut-off ranges. We continue to adjust cut-offs throughout the admission cycle.
Admission requirements vary by program. We use your top six completed 4U/M (or equivalent) courses, including required subjects, to calculate your admission average. Where not available, we use a combination of the top six completed or in-progress 4U/M and completed 3U/M courses, including required subjects.
Note: Co-op courses are not used for admission purposes.
We will use unofficial transcripts for initial admission consideration. Upload your unofficial high school transcript through ‘My Documents’ in WebAdvisor.
Please also make arrangements to have your school submit an official transcript showing completed Grade 11 and completed or in-progress Grade 12 courses directly to Admission Services (applicant@uoguelph.ca). All transcripts must be received in Admission Services by April 15th. An earlier submission is recommended.
Notes:
British Columbia schools submit grade data electronically to the OUAC. We will automatically receive grade data from the OUAC on an ongoing basis.
In order for us to consider a transcript ‘official’, we must receive it directly from the issuing institution.
You can make changes to your program choices through your OUAC account. All changes must be made by April 15th to be considered equally for admission to all programs.
We use the highest grade reported for all courses completed at Ministry-inspected schools.
If you’re applying directly from high school, you’re encouraged to submit the Student Profile Form. The Student Profile Form (SPF) is your opportunity to tell us about activities you’ve been involved in that have helped you develop leadership and citizenship qualities. Factors beyond your control that have negatively affected your academic performance, such as illness or extenuating circumstances, will also be considered.
Note: If you believe that your admission average does not reflect your true academic ability as a result of a disability, you are also encouraged to complete the Supplementary Information Form for Students with Disabilities (SIF-D). This form is considered along with your admission average in determining admission. You are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services as early as possible to discuss your needs and academic background.
If your admission average in May does not meet the cut-off for the program(s) to which you applied, your SPF may be considered if your average falls within a discretionary range of the final cutoff (up to 5%).
Offers will be released on an ongoing basis from late January to mid-May, with the exception of offers to the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program, which will be made from late April to mid-May.
Review our detailed admission plan for more information about the timing of offers.
If you are applying directly from high school, any offer of admission that you receive from the University of Guelph is conditional upon the following:
Completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent; and
Completion of six Grade 12 and/or 4U/M courses, including required subjects, or equivalent; and
A minimum final average as outlined in your offer.
All offer conditions will be clearly outlined in your offer.
There are a few programs where we will automatically consider you for an alternate program if you are not admissible to your first-choice program. If you receive an alternate offer of admission, we will continue to consider you for your first-choice program through all rounds of offers.
If you don’t have the admission average for co-op, we’ll consider you for the regular program (except for the Bachelor of Engineering, which is co-op admission only).
• If you don’t have the admission average for BA: Criminal Justice and Public Policy, we’ll consider you for BA: Justice and Legal Studies.
If you don’t have the admission average for BA: Honours Psychology, we’ll consider you for BA: Honours Sociology.
If you don’t have the admission average for BSc: Animal Biology, we’ll consider you for BSc: Zoology.
If you don’t have the admission average for BSc: Bio-Medical Science or Human Kinetics, we’ll consider you for BSc: Biological Science.
You can find more information about alternate offers on our website.
You will be required to present evidence of English language proficiency if:
Your primary or first language is not English, and
You have completed less than four years of full-time secondary or post-secondary school study, demonstrating satisfactory academic progress in an English language school system.
The University reserves the right to deny admission to you if you do not demonstrate satisfactory facility in English, regardless of academic qualifications.
Review acceptable English Proficiency tests and required results.
You must accept your offer through the OUAC by June 1st, or as otherwise noted in your offer of admission. For more information about how to respond to an offer of admission, please view this OUAC tutorial.
If you’re not admitted to Co-op by the end of the admission cycle and you accept your offer to the regular program, you can apply for Co-op when you’re in your first year of studies at Guelph. In-course admission is available to undergraduate students enrolled in programs that offer co-op. Admission is competitive and based on your cumulative average and space availability within the program. More information is available here.
You can only select one offer of admission. If you have received multiple offers of admission but aren’t sure which offer you want to accept, take your time and gather the information you need to help you make an informed decision. Remember, you have until June 1st to accept your offer!
You can choose to accept an offer at any time. We will continue to consider you for admission to all program choices until the end of the admission cycle (offers continue until May). If you are admitted to another program in a subsequent round of offers, you can still accept that offer. Please note that by accepting a new offer of admission, you will be declining your original offer (e.g., your first acceptance to the University of Guelph becomes void).
If you’re admitted to the University of Guelph directly from high school, you can apply to defer your offer of admission for one academic year. Deferrals are typically for the fall semester only.
To be considered for a deferral, you must:
accept your offer of admission on OUAC by the June 1st deadline (or as otherwise instructed in your offer letter);
meet all conditions outlined in your original offer of admission by the date specified in your offer letter;
submit the deferral application by July 30, 2026.
not attend any other post-secondary institution during the deferral period. You may complete additional high school courses.
Visit our website for more information.
The "estimated range" is based on the admission averages from previous years and is provided as a point of reference. Throughout the admission cycle, admission averages change with each round of offers and are determined by the quantity and quality of applicants, as well as space availability within each program.
During our third round of offers (in May), we will also consider your Student Profile Form if you submitted one. If you haven’t received an offer yet, we strongly recommend that you submit the SPF before April 1st.
