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A High-School Guide to Postsecondary Transfer

Planning for postsecondary?

+ Worried you might pick a program or school that you end up not liking?

+ What if you want to go to university, but you're not sure you're ready yet?

+ What if you don't get into the program that you want? 
 

Transfer might be your answer.

 

Transfer allows students to move from one program or school to another without having to start from scratch.

Transfer is a part of the postsecondary experience for thousands of Ontario students.

65,000+ students

The number of postsecondary transfers in any given year in Ontario!

 

Top reasons students transfer:

Change of interest or career goals

Program/ 
School no longer a good fit for personal or financial reasons

Gain access to a program or school they didn't initially have the grades to get in

To combine different certificates, diplomas & degrees to increase their chances of career success.

Schools that let students transfer:

All public colleges, universities & Indigenous Institutes in Ontario have transfer pathways & policies for course transferring that allow students to move from one school/program to another. 

Institution Logo: University: Algoma University
University: Algoma University (ALGM)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: Anishinabek Educational Institute
Indigenous Institute: Anishinabek Educational Institute (ANSH)
Institution Logo: College: Algonquin College
College: Algonquin College (ALGO)
Institution Logo: University: Brock University
University: Brock University (BROC)
Institution Logo: College: Cambrian College
College: Cambrian College (CAMB)
Institution Logo: College: Canadore College
College: Canadore College (CANA)
Institution Logo: University: Carleton University
University: Carleton University (CARL)
Institution Logo: College: Centennial College
College: Centennial College (CENT)
Institution Logo: College: Collège Boréal
College: Collège Boréal (BORE)
Institution Logo: College: Collège La Cité
College: Collège La Cité (LACI)
Institution Logo: College: Conestoga College
College: Conestoga College (CONS)
Institution Logo: College: Confederation College
College: Confederation College (CONF)
Institution Logo: College: Durham College
College: Durham College (DURH)
Institution Logo: College: Fanshawe College
College: Fanshawe College (FANS)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: First Nations Technical Institute
Indigenous Institute: First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)
Institution Logo: College: Fleming College
College: Fleming College (SSFL)
Institution Logo: College: George Brown College
College: George Brown College (GRBR)
Institution Logo: College: Georgian College
College: Georgian College (GEOR)
Institution Logo: College: Humber College
College: Humber College (HUMB)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: Kenjgewin Teg
Indigenous Institute: Kenjgewin Teg (KENJ)
Institution Logo: University: Lakehead University
University: Lakehead University (LAKE)
Institution Logo: College: Lambton College
College: Lambton College (LAMB)
Institution Logo: University: Laurentian University
University: Laurentian University (LAUR)
Institution Logo: College: Loyalist College
College: Loyalist College (LOYT)
Institution Logo: University: McMaster University
University: McMaster University (MCMA)
Institution Logo: College: Mohawk College
College: Mohawk College (MOHA)
Institution Logo: College: Niagara College
College: Niagara College (NIAG)
Institution Logo: University: Nipissing University
University: Nipissing University (NIPI)
Institution Logo: College: Northern College
College: Northern College (NORT)
Institution Logo: University: OCAD University
University: OCAD University (OCAD)
Institution Logo: University: Ontario Tech University
University: Ontario Tech University (UOIT)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute
Indigenous Institute: Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute (OSHK)
Institution Logo: University: Queen's University
University: Queen's University (QUEE)
Institution Logo: University: Royal Military College of Canada
University: Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC)
Institution Logo: College: Sault College
College: Sault College (SAUL)
Institution Logo: College: Seneca College
College: Seneca College (SENE)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: Seven Generations Education Institute
Indigenous Institute: Seven Generations Education Institute (SEVN)
Institution Logo: College: Sheridan College
College: Sheridan College (SHER)
Institution Logo: Indigenous Institute: Six Nations Polytechnic
Indigenous Institute: Six Nations Polytechnic (SIXN)
Institution Logo: College: St. Clair College
College: St. Clair College (STCL)
Institution Logo: College: St. Lawrence College
College: St. Lawrence College (SLAW)
Institution Logo: University: St. Paul University
University: St. Paul University (STPA)
Institution Logo: University: Toronto Metropolitan University
University: Toronto Metropolitan University (RYER)
Institution Logo: University: Trent University
University: Trent University (TREN)
Institution Logo: University: University of Guelph
University: University of Guelph (GUEL)
Institution Logo: University: University of Guelph-Humber
University: University of Guelph-Humber (GUEH)
Institution Logo: University: University of Hearst
University: University of Hearst (HRST)
Institution Logo: University: University of Ottawa
University: University of Ottawa (OTTA)
Institution Logo: University: University of Toronto Mississauga
University: University of Toronto Mississauga (TO03)
Institution Logo: University: University of Toronto Scarborough
University: University of Toronto Scarborough (TO02)
Institution Logo: University: University of Toronto St. George
University: University of Toronto St. George (TO12)
Institution Logo: University: University of Waterloo
University: University of Waterloo (WATE)
Institution Logo: University: University of Windsor
University: University of Windsor (WIND)
Institution Logo: University: Western University
University: Western University (WEST)
Institution Logo: University: Wilfrid Laurier University
University: Wilfrid Laurier University (WILF)
Institution Logo: University: York University
University: York University (YORK)

Benefits of using this guide

This guide helps high school students in Ontario understand their postsecondary transfer options so they feel empowered to make choices that support their personal and financial needs and their education and career goals.

This guide can help you do 2 things:

Learn

  • What transfer is & why students transfer
  • How transfer works, the steps required & things to consider when deciding whether to transfer 

Explore

  • Your transfer options to/from Ontario’s public colleges, universities & Indigenous Institutes so you have an idea of what's possible if you decide you want to transfer at some point in your postsecondary journey.

 

Learn the Basics: Transferring in Ontario

What is transfer & how does it work?

Transfer is when a student moves from one post-secondary institution to another, or from one program to another. 

For ex: 

  • A student is in their first year of a university degree and finds a new interest in a college program
  • A college student close to completing their diploma who wants to continue their studies and get a university degree
  • A student is close to completing their degree program at an Indigenous Institution and wants to continue their studies to receive a College diploma in a related program or program of further interest.

Students typically transfer to/from Apprenticeship, Certificate, Diploma, and Degree programs between colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes.

 

Want to know more about the basics of transferring?

  • What are the types of transfer?
  • How are course transfers and program pathways determined?
  • What are the steps involved in the transfer process? 

Is it true that some high school credits are transferable to postsecondary?

 

Yes! AP & IB Courses may be eligible for credit transfer into postsecondary. 

Check with the schools you're looking to apply to see if other courses may be eligible.

Can I transfer to other parts of Canada?

 

Think you may want to transfer from Ontario to another province or territory in Canada sometime in the future?

Learn how to transfer from Ontario and/or transfer back to Ontario after studying in other parts of Canada.

What should I consider when deciding whether I should transfer?

 

How much will it cost?

While transferring programs or courses often saves students money, there may still be costs associated with the transfer process. Students should take application fees, transfer assessment fees, relocation fees, etc. into account before making their decision.

Will the place I transfer to be a good fit?

Students should make sure they do sufficient research about the institution, program, and things such as campus life (student services, student engagement programs) before making their decision. 

Explore Your Transfer Opportunities

How can I explore program pathways to/from specific schools?

See what programs are available at the school(s) you're interested in attending.

Search by program, discipline, credential, degree, institution or region.

How can I explore course transfers to/from specific schools?

Think you may be interested in taking specific courses at different schools?

How can I find transfer policies for specific schools?

A good way to plan ahead is to find out what the transfer policies are at the school(s) you're interested in attending.

Additional resources: How postsecondary works in Ontario

Unsure about how Ontario's postsecondary systems work?

  • How does postsecondary education work in Ontario?
  • What are the different education paths I can take?
  • What are the admission requirements?
  • What about joint/collaborative programs?