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Oh, Canada! The Definitive List of Canadian University Application Deadlines

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Looking to go to college north of the border? First, don’t call it college; call it university. Second, be prepared to work with an entirely different set of application deadlines than you have when applying to American colleges. Third, realize that your citizenship will likely influence what your deadline for applying will be. Fourth, it’s always a better idea to get the application completed and ready for review ASAP; don’t wait for the deadline. Fifth, the below chart is updated in early 2019 for students aiming for a September 2019 start date. Sixth, realize that certain niche programs at universities listed below may have other deadlines than those listed; make sure to double check with the school/program before moving forward. Seventh, good luck as you set your sights on studying in Canada!

Canadian University Deadline for In-Province High School Students Deadline for International Applicants Deadline for Other Applicants
Acadia Rolling Rolling Rolling
Alberta 1-Mar 1-Mar 1-Mar
Bishop’s 1-Apr 1-Apr 1-May
Brandon 15-Aug 1-Apr 15-Aug
Brock 1-Jun 1-Apr 1-Aug
Calgary 1-Mar 1-Mar 1-Mar
Cape Breton 1-Aug 1-Aug 1-Aug
Carleton 16-Jan 1-Apr 1-Jun
Concordia 1-Mar 1-Feb 1-Mar
Dalhousie 1-Jun 1-Apr 1-Jun
Guelph 16-Jan 15-Feb 1-Mar
Lakehead 16-Jan 1-Mar 1-Mar
Laurentian 16-Jan 1-Feb 1-Feb
Laval 1-Mar 1-Mar 15-Aug
Lethbridge 30-Jun 15-May 30-Jun
Manitoba 1-Aug 7-Jul 7-Jul
McGill 1-Mar 15-Jan 1-Feb
McMaster 1-Feb 1-Feb 1-Feb
Memorial 1-Mar 1-Jun 1-Mar
Moncton 1-Aug 15-Jun 1-Aug
Montreal 1-Mar 1-Feb 1-Feb
Mount Allison Rolling Rolling Rolling
Mount Saint Vincent 9-Aug 21-Jun 9-Aug
New Brunswick 31-Mar 31-Mar 31-Mar
Nipissing 16-Jan 1-Apr 1-Apr
Ottawa 1-Jun 1-Apr 1-Jun
Queen’s 1-Feb 1-Feb 1-Feb
Regina 15-Mar 1-Mar 15-Mar
Ryerson 1-Feb 1-Feb 1-Feb
Saint Mary’s Rolling Rolling Rolling
Saskatchewan 1-May 1-May 1-May
Sherbrooke 1-Mar 15-Jan 1-Mar
Simon Fraser 31-Jan 31-Jan 31-Jan
St Francis Xavier Rolling 30-May Rolling
St Thomas 31-Aug 1-Jun 31-Aug
Toronto 16-Jan 16-Jan 16-Jan
Trent 16-Jan 1-Jun 15-Feb
UBC 15-Jan 15-Jan 15-Jan
UNBC 1-Mar 1-Mar 1-Mar
UOIT 16-Jan 31-Jan 31-Jan
UPEI Rolling Rolling Rolling
UQAM 1-Mar 1-Mar 1-Mar
Victoria 28-Feb 30-Apr 30-Apr
Waterloo 16-Jan 29-Mar 29-Mar
Western 16-Jan Rolling Rolling
Wilfrid Laurier 16-Jan 1-Apr 1-Apr
Windsor 16-Jan 1-Mar 1-Aug
Winnipeg 1-Mar 1-Mar 2-Jul
York 16-Jan 6-Mar 6-Mar

American vs. Canadian College Admissions

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More than ever students applying to college in the US are also looking to Canada for more college and university options. The same can be said of their Canadian counterparts. With this in mind, it’s important to review the major differences between the admissions process in the United States and Canada. While the following information is very valuable in general, please remember that specific colleges and universities may of course deviate from the general rule outlined below. Always remember to check with the college or universities on your final list to ensure that you are meeting their admissions criteria and meeting their priority deadlines. Good luck!

  Canada United States
Application Deadlines Apply as soon as the applications are available online (in many cases December or January); deadlines vary by institution but are generally later than the US and typically on a rolling basis. Be careful to not apply to late, as Canadian schools don’t have the same May 1 reply by date as US schools and they typically take long to process applications Deadlines vary by institution, but are generally earlier than Canada and most have specific deadlines including those for Early Action (non-binding) and Early Decision (binding).
Admissions Criteria – Academic Performance Academic performance is the most important decision factor; requirements vary by institution and by competitive programs. Senior/junior year performance is crucial to many Canadian universities – most all will require first semester senior year grades (or predicted IB scores), so late bloomers can really benefit. Academic performance is the most important decision factor for both private colleges and universities, with more weight given to rigorous, college-prep curricula. Most US universities will look at grades 9, 10, 11, and 12with more weight on senior/junior year performance. First semester senior year grades are required for admission, unless the student is applying Early Decision, Early Action, or early in the Rolling cycle.
Admissions Criteria – Other Less emphasis on reference letters, essays, and extracurricular activities (most universities will not require this information for evaluation). More emphasis on reference letters, essays, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest (especially at mid- and small-sized private colleges/universities).
Admissions Criteria – Testing Some require SAT/ACT, and rarely SAT Subject Tests, but not all. Inquire with each college you are considering. Most weigh SAT or ACT scores, and sometimes SAT Subject Tests. An increasing number of colleges are test optional (see fairtest.org).
Decisions Decisions roll out from February to April, or even later. Decisions can be rolling or with deadline schools no later than April 1. The uniform reply/deposit deadline is May 1.

More information:

Universities Canada

Education in Canada

EducationUSA

College Navigator