International Students

Durham College offers over 140 programs. Search programs by type:

• full-time diploma programs
• degree programs
• graduate certificates
• fast-track programs
• diploma to degree options

Search programs by academic school:

• School of Hospitality & Horticultural Science
• School of Business, IT & Management
• School of Health & Community Services
• School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services
• School of Justice & Emergency Services
• School of Media, Art & Design
• School of Science & Engineering Technology
• School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology

Applications are accepted year round. Applications will continue to be processed until programs fill or deadlines to apply for study permits through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) come into effect for each intake. We encourage students to submit their admission application as early as possible to ensure sufficient processing time.

Applications can be submitted completely online directly to Durham College. All documents can be scanned and uploaded as a part of your online application. Visit the how to apply section of our website for further information and to begin your application.

English Language Proficiency requirements can be met through a recognized test or by completing an ESL program through a Durham College pathway partner. Applicants from some English-speaking countries may be exempt from English Language Proficiency requirements upon provision of a full transcript. For complete information on this requirement, please visit the English Language Partners schools page.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCORE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants may be admitted to Durham College for our undergraduate programs if they have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)* or equivalent high school diploma from another country which includes: one senior-level English language credit (from an English speaking country as listed below**), equivalent English Proficiency test results (see chart below), or completion of an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program through one of our recognized  English Language Partner schools.

*Applicants from Canadian curriculum high schools both inside and outside of Canada must complete a minimum of three years high school credits to be considered for exemption from TOEFL/Academic IELTS requirements upon provision of a full transcript.

**Applicants with a minimum of three years of high school or post-secondary studies in Canada, Australia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, New Zealand, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, Some Caribbean*** and selected other countries (see list below) may be exempted from TOEFL/Academic IELTS requirements upon provision of a full transcript. Exceptions may apply, please contact the International's Education office for full details.

***Excluding international applicants from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCORE REQUIREMENTS

Please note due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, Durham College is temporarily accepting the following online English Language Proficiency test for admissions purposes only. All information in this section and which tests are accepted are subject to change without notice. Students can complete the tests online from the safety of their home computer.

Duolingo English Test (DET) https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants 

Please check English language proficiency requirements for your visa and study permit as required by IRCC for your country with your nearest Canadian Embassy or Visa Application Centre (VAC), as you may still need to write an in-person IELTS or TOEFL test for visa or study permit processing. 

For the time being, we will accept official Duolingo English Test results for admissions purposes only for intakes beginning in January 2021, May 2021 and September 2021 unless otherwise noted on the chart below. If IELTS test centres begin to open worldwide, this information may change and Durham College admissions staff will communicate to any students with applications in the system if this occurs. Changes may be made on a country-by-country basis due to the availability of in-person test sites based on COVID-19 cases for individual areas or countries.

Tuition fee payment deadlines are outlined in the Letter of Acceptance provided to newly admitted students. However, we encourage students to pay their fees as soon as possible because program seats can be filled before the indicated payment deadline. Please visit our financial information page for further details.

Once you have applied to study at Durham College you will have access to your own personalized My Campus student portal which will detail information on payment of fees. Once you have accepted your offer you will automatically be directed to the payment option. Payment can be made online through credit card or wire transfer. Your seat in the program will only be secure once you have confirmed and paid your tuition fees.  Tuition fees can either be paid for the full academic year or by semester.

Once you have received a letter of acceptance you can apply for a study permit at the nearest visa processing office of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to your home country. Visit IRCC’s website to find out how to apply for a study permit.

With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby, Durham College is situated in the centre of Durham Region, which offers sports, culture, education and music; provides easy access to Canada’s leading business and cultural centre; and enables you to play cricket, ski, snowboard, hike, walk, bike, windsurf, sail, fish and more, all within 30 minutes of campus. Durham College is part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with downtown Toronto (a cultural hot spot) just 45 minutes from our Oshawa campus, providing easy accessibility to a wide variety of extracurricular and cultural experiences. Popular destinations include the CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Ontario Science Centre. For more information about the region including activities, attractions, cultural groups, international dining and much more, please visit www.durhamimmigration.ca.

Students have the option to live on- or off-campus during their studies. For students who are interested in living in on-campus residence they can find more information at durhamrez.ca. Students who would prefer to live off-campus will be provided free assistance with finding homestay, off-campus residence or shared housing. A pre-departure e-mail will be sent to students after they have accepted their offer of admission outlining how to arrange for on- and off-campus accommodations.

Yes, once you have confirmed your acceptance and paid tuition, you will receive Arrival Services information by email where you can arrange to have someone pick you up from the airport and drive you to Durham College. Make sure to check your email regularly to ensure you are receiving this important information. If you have not received the aforementioned Arrival Services email, you can arrange for Airport Pickup by filling out an online form.