Admission for High-school Students in Canada

For how to apply/application portal, refer to the Apply to NU section above.

For deadlines to apply, visit our Application Deadlines website for specific deadline dates.

We do not use application ranking for admission decisions. We make an admission decision for every application choice.

“My Nipissing” is a valuable online information system and we encourage you to regularly check WebAdvisor. Information on how to access “My Nipissing” is included in the email you receive acknowledging your application. You will be able to view up-to-date information about your application status, including whether your transcripts and other required documents have been received. You are also able to update personal details, such as your address, ensuring our records remain accurate. It will also indicate when we have received your acceptance from the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). We also recommend you regularly check your email.

Review the chart on our Alternate Offer page. Find the program you intend to apply to. You do not have to apply to the program(s) listed in the alternate offer column for that program. What is listed is the program(s) we will automatically consider you for. However, if you wish to be considered for another program that is not listed in the alternate offer column you must include it as an application choice when applying to Nipissing.

Use the dropdown near the top of this page find the prerequisite subjects for your program of interest.

Visit our Average Calculation page for information applicable to your program and/or applicant type.

Nipissing does not require supplemental applications for admission consideration.

If you repeat a course, Nipissing will use the highest final grade reported for that course.

Nipissing looks at acceptable Grade 12 courses for admission taken at night school, summer school, online or through correspondence, completed at Ministry inspected and approved schools, as fully equivalent to courses completed at day school. If you wish to have these grades included in the early admission decision process, you must ensure that midterm and/or final grades for these courses are sent to the OUAC for Ontario applicants or to [email protected] by your secondary school by May 1.

If you are considering one or more of these options, please note that only grades completed as of June 30 will be used to calculate your average for scholarships.

Also, you must receive an Offer of Admission for full-time studies by the end of May to be eligible for the residence guarantee.

All applicants to Nipissing University undergraduate degree programs from countries where the dominant language of instruction is other than English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English for admission consideration.

Permanent Resident applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide proof of proficiency in English. Permanent Resident applicants whose first language is not English, but who have lived at least three years in Canada, or a country where English is the dominant language may be exempt.

See our English Language Proficiency requirements page for more details

Visit our IB transfer credit page for more info. 

Visit our AP transfer credit page for more info. 

Applicants with Extenuating Circumstances

If you have any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic grades that you feel should be taken into consideration when we evaluate your application, please complete this application form. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission consideration to Nipissing University. The information provided on this form will only be taken into consideration if your admission average falls below the program threshold for admission. Completion of this form is voluntary. Extenuating circumstances could include but are not limited to serious personal illness or injury, disability, illness or death of a family member, financial hardship, or personal and family matters.

Access and Equity Policy

Nipissing University welcomes applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds. We recognize that there are institutional processes and cultural differences that present barriers to some applicants obtaining access to university. Nipissing University is committed to diversity, equity and accessibility and has reserved spaces in our undergraduate programs for students from groups including but not limited to persons with disabilities, economically disadvantaged individuals, Franco-Ontarians, Indigenous persons, visible minorities, LGBTQ+ and those from northern/remote/rural areas. Visit our full policy for further information.

Current Ontario High School Applicants

Your high school will provide your grades to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). You do not need to request your transcript. If you are completing courses outside of day school, you should ensure that your home school is reporting those courses and grades to OUAC.

Current British Columbia (BC) High School Applicants

The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) works with the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care to collect course information, assessments and grades electronically for Ontario universities. You must provide your BC Personal Education Number (PEN) on your application for this to take place. You must also authorize the Ministry to release your academic record to the OUAC through Student Transcripts Service (STS). Applicants that don’t provide their PEN and/or authorization please follow the steps below under Other Canadian provinces or territories.

Current Quebec CEGEP Applicants

The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) works with Quebec CEGEPs to electronically send the bulletin d’études collégiales (BEC) to Ontario universities. You must provide your Quebec CEGEP Code Permanent on your application for this to take place. Applicants that don’t provide their Quebec CEGEP Code Permanent please follow the steps below under Other Canadian provinces or territories.

Current Saskatchewan High School Applicants

Applicants should follow the steps below under Other Canadian provinces or territories. However, please note that you may be required to order your official transcript online via MyCreds accessed through the Government of Saskatchewan website.

Other Canadian provinces or territories

Official transcripts showing all courses completed and/or in progress should be sent by the document deadline indicated on your application and/or in your acknowledgement package. If in progress courses cannot be listed on an official transcript have your guidance counsellor send an email to [email protected] listing all current in progress courses. Midterm grades should also be included in the email if available. Transcripts must be sent directly to Nipissing University by your high school.

Current International Baccalaureate (IB) Applicants

Ontario: Your high school will provide your predicted grades along with any final grades to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Final official IB transcripts must be sent directly to Nipissing University by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Connect with your Guidance Counsellor for further information regarding transcripts or visit the IBO website.

Other Canadian Provinces/Territories: Your high school can submit your predicted grades by sending an email to [email protected] in addition to having your provincial high school transcript sent directly to Nipissing University. Final official IB transcripts must be sent directly to Nipissing University by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Connect with your Guidance Counsellor for further information regarding transcripts or visit the IBO website.

Visit our When to Expect a Decision website for information on decision timelines.

You can expect to receive an admission decision for every program to which you applied and for which you are eligible.

If you do not meet the admission requirements for the program you have applied for, we will offer you admission to a program for which you are eligible. Some of the possible reasons may be that you applied to a program that;

• Was a competitive program (i.e., Nursing) and you did not meet the required average for admission consideration.
• You did not meet the minimum average for the program applied to.
• You were missing required prerequisite(s).

Depending on the original program you applied to and the reason you received an alternate offer there may be options you can consider immediately or options that you can consider during your first year at Nipissing.

Visit our Alternate Offer website for further information.

If you currently have courses in progress, or have not graduated, your offer will be conditional upon successful completion of your courses and high school diploma by June 30. An admission chart outlining required averages and prerequisite courses will be included in your offer of admission. You should accept by the deadline even though you have not yet met the conditions.

All Offers of Admission are conditional. The minimum conditions of admission are:

• successful completion of the appropriate Canadian provincial high school diploma;
• successful completion of the minimum required number of academic Grade 12 courses for your province, including prerequisite courses by the end of June; and
• a minimum overall average of 70% for all programs, except History with an Orientation to a Master of Arts in History which requires a minimum of 80%.

If your final average falls below the average specified for your program of choice, but you have still achieved at least 70%, you will be considered for an alternate program.

If your final admission average is below 70% but above 65%, we will change your full-time offer of admission to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a reduced course load. If you plan to continue your studies into the summer, please complete the “Intent to Complete Additional Secondary School Courses” form.

If you do not meet our conditions and/or are not eligible for admission to an alternate program and/or a reduced course load; your Offer of Admission will be withdrawn.

The deadline to accept your offer of admission is June 1. This will be noted on your offer of admission and permit. Anyone admitted after that date will have an appropriate expiry date indicated on their offer letter and permit. To be eligible for guaranteed residence and entrance scholarships you must accept your offer by June 1.

Instructions on how to accept your offer of admission will be included in your offer of admission. Unless otherwise stated you will accept your offer through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) website. OUAC has helpful FAQs and How-to videos.

If you have already accepted an Offer of Admission and have now decided to accept Nipissing’s offer, that’s totally okay! You will simply need to accept Nipissing’s Offer of Admission by June 1, to qualify for guaranteed residence and scholarships.

If you are an international student studying in Canada (on a study permit), in Canada as a refugee claimant (you have applied for refugee protection but have not yet had a final decision on your claim) or you are studying or have completed your studies in another country (no status in Canada), you will be required to pay a deposit of $2000 CAD.

We have determined that you are a desirable candidate for admission to Nipissing University but the program you applied to is full.

Nipissing receives many more applications to our limited enrollment programs than we have places. That being the case we offer to a select group of applicants, an opportunity to be considered for places that may become available in these programs prior to the start of classes.

Depending on the program you may be required to fill out a waitlist form. Full instructions are provided in your waitlist email. By submitting the form, you are not making a commitment of any sort. The waitlist form has no bearing on your acceptance to another Nipissing University program or any other university’s acceptance. Should you choose to submit this form to us, we will keep you on the waitlist until September regardless of where you have already accepted an offer of admission.

If a place becomes available and you are the candidate selected to fill the space, we will contact you by phone or email to inform you of this opportunity and to determine your interest at that time. Prior to contacting you with an offer of admission, we will first confirm that you continue to meet the admission requirements for the program.

Residence is guaranteed for all applicants coming directly from high school who have accepted their offer of admission and submitted their residence application and deposit by June 1. Residence information and application instructions are included in your offer of admission package.

We do! Your final grades make a big difference. All Canadian and international applicants applying directly from secondary school will be considered automatically for guaranteed entrance scholarships – no application needed! Visit our Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships website for further information.

To be considered for Entrance bursaries and awards you will complete and submit the Nipissing University Application for Entrance Awards by May 1. Successful applicants will be notified by email by early June.

Visit our Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards for High School Students website to apply and for a full list of available bursaries and awards. Please note, you may apply for these bursaries and awards before you accept your offer of admission.

In June, we will email all students who have accepted their offer of admission detailed information regarding registration