Future Students

Algonquin College is a leader in Polytechnic education. It’s a place for problem-solvers who learn by doing, a place where students can pursue their passions, advance their education, upgrade their skills and explore new career paths.  

Algonquin College is deeply connected with industry, innovating for tomorrow and turning hands-on learning into real-world success.  With more than 200 programs, including degrees, diplomas and graduate certificates, our programs combine the theoretical approach of university with the hands-on approach of college. Our programs reflect our evolving world and students can be confident that the skills they learn today will set them up for success tomorrow. 

A polytechnic is an institution of higher education providing technical, applied, hands-on learning; offering applied degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeship training; fueling business innovation with applied research expertise. Algonquin College is one of 13 Polytechnic institutions across Canada.  As a leader in polytechnic education Algonquin College combines advanced technical education with practical, hands-on experience. Our programs are designed in close collaboration with industry to equip learners with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.  

Algonquin College Open Houses take place in the Fall and Spring each year at both our Ottawa and Pembroke campuses.  Open House is an exciting way for students to connect with representatives from our programs and from our student support service areas. During Open House students can speak with faculty and staff, attend program information sessions, join lab tours and tour the campus, residence and the Jack Doyle Athletic and Recreation Center. 

 Open House dates are available here.

Algonquin College recruiters regularly deliver in-school and virtual presentations. Please encourage students to attend the presentation scheduled for your school.    

Virtual presentations and Question and Answer sessions take place throughout the year. Dates for these presentations along with pre-recorded presentations can be found here.   

 In addition to virtual presentations, we host many events throughout the year, including: 

• College Information Program (CIP) 
  • Students can meet with representatives from colleges across Ontario 
• Degree Discovery Evening 
  • Students can explore the degree programs available at Algonquin College
• Explore AC
  • Students can attend presentations about Algonquin College and take a tour of the campus.

One of the best ways to discover college is to visit the campus! We host general campus tours throughout the year.

Group tours are also available for groups of 10 or more.

Algonquin College offers more than 200 degrees, diplomas and graduate certificates. Each program has a page on our website. The program pages are your one stop shop for information about programs, admission requirements, course lists and tuition and fees. You can watch our Program Page Navigation Webinar to learn how to navigate a program page. 

Students can explore our full list of programs to find the one that’s right for them.

If students have questions about a program they can book a meeting with a student recruiter or our prospective student advisor. Please encourage your students to book with their designated recruiter.

Algonquin College offers specialized Honours Degrees. These four-year programs give students the perfect combination of theoretical knowledge and applied learning, so they get the best of both worlds. Each Honours Degree program is reviewed and approved by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. College Degree graduates are career ready, and eligible for continuing studies such as Master’s programs.  

Explore our full list of degrees for more information.

The Ottawa campus has 520, two-bedroom apartment style suites available right on-site. Applications open in February, and applicants are accepted on a first come first served basis. Visit the residence webpage for more information on rates and availability.

The Pembroke campus has five privately run student residences within walking distance of campus. Algonquin College does not own or operate these residences and is in no way affiliated with them. For more information visit the Pembroke Housing page. 

For off-campus housing options, visit our student housing webpage or contact our Student Housing Coordinator: 

To find the admission requirements for a program, students can check the program webpage under “Admission Requirements” or pick up an Algonquin College Viewbook from their guidance office. Watch the Program Page Navigation Webinar to learn how to navigate a program page.  

When reviewing admission requirements, if no minimum grade is listed beside a prerequisite course, then successful completion of the credit is required. Please note that when minimum grades are listed, these grades represent the minimum grades for eligibility and are not cut-off scores to receive an acceptance. 

Please be aware that some programs have additional requirements such as a portfolio or an assessment. Students can learn more on the additional requirements page.

Algonquin College has intakes available in Fall, Winter and Spring. Programs may start in any of these intakes and some programs are offered in multiple intakes.  To find the available start times for a program of interest, check the “Availability” tab on the program page on our website, or check an Algonquin College Viewbook.  Watch the Program Page Navigation Webinar for information on how to navigate a program page. 

A highly competitive program is a program where there are more qualified applicants than can be accommodated at the February 1 equal consideration date. 

For these programs, it is especially important that students get their application in by February 1. This applies to programs starting in the Fall, Winter, and Spring intakes. After the equal consideration date, applications are ranked using a variety of criteria including assessment scores, admission requirements, or subject grades. Once ranked, we accept our highest-scoring applicants and all remaining qualified applicants will be waitlisted.

Information on whether a program is highly competitive can be found on the program page under “Availability”. A full list of highly competitive programs is available here. 

If a student is interested in a program that is offered full-time but would like to pursue it at a part-time load, they will need to apply at ontariocolleges.ca and satisfy all the admissions requirements for their program of choice. Their application will be considered once all full-time applications are assessed and if there are seats remaining in the program. 

Many of our online programs offered through AC Online have a a part-time option.  These programs may have a different application process from our full-time programs. Information on the application process for part-time online programs can be found on the program pages on our website. 

Students who have permanent and/or temporary disabilities may be able to receive a reduced course load in a full-time program by registering with the Center for Accessible Learning. 

To become an apprentice, a student must first find an employer who is willing to hire and train them. Most people apply directly to an employer, union or local committee. 

Several government services, such as Job Bank or a local Employment Ontario office, can help students get started in the more than 150 skilled trades that can be learned through apprenticeship training. 

For other helpful information, visit our apprenticeship page.

The in-class portion of training will be scheduled in blocks ranging from 8-weeks to 16-weeks, depending on the trade and level at which a student is registered. Most trades consist of three blocks of in-class training which are taken approximately one year apart. Students will be scheduled for the in-class portion of their training by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.  

Apprentices who have been scheduled for the in-class training will be sent an “Offer of Classroom Training” letter from the Ministry. 

If a student doesn’t have an employer and the need the skills and confidence to get started, they can apply to one of our many skilled trades programs that pathways to an apprenticeship. 

Applications received on, or before February 1 receive equal consideration for admission to programs starting the following fall. After this date, the college will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full. 

Applications to Highly Competitive Programs must be received by February 1 to be considered in rankings.

If a student is applying after February 1, they can review a full list of available programs on our open programs page. 

Students can use our tuition and fee estimator tool to find the approximate cost of their program of interest.

Other program specific costs (e.g. books, tools, uniforms) can be found on the program webpage under “Tuition and Fees” 

Cut-off scores vary from year to year; as a result, we do not publish these scores. Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements.  Some programs are ranked by the average of the required subjects; some programs are ranked by assessment results. For more information, visit our how applicants are selected page.   

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. Once the applicants meet these requirements, an offer of Admission is issued if space is available in the program. 

Grade 11 marks are used only for ranking in highly competitive programs when no grade 12 mid-term or final grade is available, unless it is listed as a prerequisite.  

If proof of enrolment is available, the college can offer a conditional offer of acceptance. If students are applying to a highly competitive program, and there is no mid-term grade available for ranking, we will use a grade 11 mark.  If no grade 11 mark is available, then students will be ranked using the minimum grade for eligibility.  

C, M, and U level courses are equally considered unless students apply directly to a degree program. For example, if a student is applying for a diploma program, a 65% in ENG4C is considered the same as a 65% in ENG4U.

Applicants taking workplace courses will be asked to write an admission assessment. Each student is assessed on an individual basis. 

Offers of Admission cannot be deferred. Students would need to reapply for their new start time. Tuition deposits are transferable within Algonquin College programs in the same academic year. (September to August).  

Applications are submitted through ontariocolleges.ca.  

Watch our recorded Applying to College Webinar to learn about application timelines, how to determine eligibility into Algonquin College programs and how to complete and submit the ontariocolleges.ca application: 

For more information, check out the steps to apply on our admissions webpage.   

We recommend that students use their personal email account when creating their ontariocolleges.ca account. Students should not use their high school email account as they will need to have access to the email account after they have completed high school. 

Students can apply to 5  programs, with a maximum of 3 from any one college. Choices can be modified after submitting at no additional cost. If a student has reached the 5 program limit,  they will need to remove a program in order to add a new one. 

Applicants will need their full address, an email and a phone number in order to set up the personal information in their profile.  

Ontario high school applicants will need their Ontario Education Number and high school student number to declare their education.  

If a student is from outside of Ontario, they will need their high school student number. Students must let their guidance office know they have applied to college and have the transcript sent directly to ontariocolleges.ca  

Information on submitting transcripts is available from ontariocolleges.ca.

There are typically two applications available on ontariocolleges.ca. One for the current academic year, and one for the next academic year. One of the first questions an applicant will be asked is “Does your program start before or after July 31?” 

If a student cannot find their program, or their desired start time, they should ensure they are applying to the correct academic year. Applicants graduating from high school in June should always be selecting the “After July 31” option.  

Part-time and Online programs may have different application processes from full-time on-campus programs. Please read the program pages carefully to ensure the published application process is followed. 

If a student is interested in taking a single course or class without registering into a program, it is not necessary to apply. They can simply register and pay for the course you wish to pursue. 

Applicants will receive an acknowledgment email after submitting the application. This email will include a 9-digit Algonquin College student number. 

If an application is missing information, the student will be emailed to notify them of any missing requirements. Applications can also be tracked through a student’s ACSIS account. 

ACSIS is the Algonquin College Student Information System. This is a student’s administrative portal as an Algonquin College student. 

Once a student has applied, they can use the Algonquin student number found in their acknowledgement email as a username and their birthday as the first-time password.  Students can log in to their ACSIS account here. 

Students who need help navigating ACSIS can review this ACSIS how to guide.

Yes, the application on ontariocolleges.ca  is a live application. Students can log back in to their existing ontariocolleges.ca account and modify their program choices at no additional cost. Students can select up to 5 total program choices, with a maximum of 3 from any one school. If a student is at the program limit they will need to remove a choice in order to add a new one. 

Algonquin College sends out offers for non-highly competitive Fall programs starting in November. Offers for Highly Competitive programs are sent out starting in mid-February.   

Non-highly competitive offers for Winter and Spring programs are also sent out starting in November and highly competitive program offers are sent starting at the end of May. 

For further information, please visit our admissions webpage.

A full list of important dates for applicants, can be found here.

We encourage your students to watch our recorded Next Steps Information Session. This webinar highlights what happens after students have received an Algonquin College offer of acceptance, including how to confirm their offer, frequently asked waitlist questions, how to pay tuition deposits, and more.

Applicants can refer to this webpage for deadlines related to their next steps.

Confirming an offer is a non-financial commitment to a program of study. This is done through an applicant’s ontariocolleges.ca account.  

There are three different scenarios students may find themselves in and it’s important to understand what the options are. 

Scenario 1 – Getting multiple offers at the same time. 

• If Program A and Program B both send you offers at the same time, when you accept the offer from Program A you are declining your offer from Program B. 

Scenario 2 – You receive an offer from one program but haven’t heard about your other applications. 

• If Program A sends you an offer, but Program B has not given you a decision, you can accept the offer from Program A without any impact on your status with Program B. If Program B sends you an offer at a later date, you can accept that offer and the offer you previously accepted will automatically be canceled. 

Scenario 3 – You receive an offer from one program and are waitlisted in another.

• If Program A lets you know that you are on the waitlist and Program B sends you an offer of admission, you can accept the offer from Program B without affecting your position on the waitlist for Program A. If a space becomes available for Program A you will be emailed and can choose to accept Program A. If you accept the offer for Program A your application to Program B will be automatically be canceled. 

You can only confirm to one program, so students should make sure to review these scenarios. 

The deadline for confirming offers is as follows:

• Fall start : May 1
• Winter and Spring start: July 1 

If a student applies or is accepted after these dates, their confirmation deadline will be found in their offer of acceptance. 

Some students who are put on the waitlist may receive an offer at a later date. It is important that students have completed all the necessary steps and submitted all the admission requirements. By doing so, they are ready if space becomes available. 

Students should also make sure that their contact email is up to date. Applicants can update their contact info on ACSIS or on ontariocolleges.ca. 

For more information, review our frequently asked waitlist questions.

There are two ways to pay the $500 non-refundable tuition deposit.  

Students can pay through online banking. If paying by online banking, students should set Algonquin College as a bill payee and use the Algonquin College student number as the account number. A tutorial video on how to pay online is available here. 

Algonquin College Students who have applied for OSAP or Out-of-Province financial aid are eligible for a deferral of their $500 non-refundable tuition deposit. This can be done through the students ACSIS account. A tutorial video on how to defer fees is available here.

More information about deposits, tuition and fee payments can be found through the registrar’s office.  

 The deadlines for fee payments are as follows:

• Fall start deadline: June 15
• Winter start deadline: November 1
• Spring start deadline: March 1  

 If a student applies after these dates, they will be notified by email about their tuition deposit deadline. 

Students can connect with our financial aid team for questions about their OSAP applications. 

Students can also register for a series of OSAP workshops that offer hands-on help with OSAP applications. These workshops are typically available in June and July. 

More information about OSAP is available on our financial aid site and through the OSAP website.

A student’s network account information, including the login information for their student email, will be found in their ACSIS account. This becomes available closer to the start of term, so we encourage students to continue to check back in regularly.  

 A tutorial video is available here. 

Timetables are released about one month before the start of term and can be found in the ACSIS portal. Timetables are pre-built, meaning students do not have to pick their courses (except for general electives – which are also selected in ACSIS).  

Students can modify their timetable during the timetable change period, which happens from the time timetables become available until the start of term.

Additional information on timetables can be found in the tutorial video from the registrar’s office.

Students can access their booklist through the Campus Store website once they have their Algonquin College email address and password.

Visit the booklist information page for additional information on how to access booklists.

Upon payment or deferral of the $500.00 non-refundable Tuition Deposit, the remaining fees are deferred automatically. Students can log into ACSIS and choose “Account Balance” from the menu options to find their Balance Due Date. The Balance Due Date will be three weeks after the start of their term. If a student is late paying that remaining balance, they will be assessed a $150.00 late payment penalty. 

Our bursary portal is opened each term. Students can apply for additional funding through this portal. 

•  The Fall bursary application period is typically  late August to late September. 
• The Winter bursary window is typically late December to mid-January. 
• The spring bursary application window is typically late April to mid-May. 

 Visit our financial aid page to learn more about applying for bursaries. 

The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is committed to ensuring students have equal access to all educational opportunities. The goal is to provide the necessary accommodations and support to help students meet their essential course or program requirements. Services are confidential, free, and voluntary.  

Visit the Centre for Accessible Learning page for additional information and to register.

Explore our campuses, labs, facilities and amenities through our virtual tour.

Explore the campus with a campus tour. Have a group of more than 10, book a group tour.

Students can access a start of term checklist for a detailed list of things to do leading up to start of term.

Students can contact the registrar’s office using the options below:

• Phone 613-727-0002 or 1-800-565-4723  

• Submit a Help Ticket  

• Visit in Person Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Student Central located in the Lower Level of Building C