StudyCanada guide · reviewed October 2026
Prepare your application
Create a separate checklist for each program: academic records, language evidence, deadlines and documents requested by the institution.
Ask how documents must be submitted and whether translations are required. Check conditions and refund rules before paying an application fee or deposit.
- Record the exact program and intake
- List missing documents
- Use the institution’s official application process
Official resources
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This listing provides a general outline of basic requirements for students interested in applying to a community college in Canada. Diploma and certificate program lengths vary between one to three years. Some community colleges also offer university transfer programs, which means students intending to acquire a degree at a university, can complete their first two years of study at a community college or university college and earn credits towards a university degree program. Completion of a university transfer program does not mean automatic admission to a university program. Students must also meet university admission requirements.
International students can attend a different type of college in Québec known as CÉGEP. CÉGEP is a French acronym for College of General and Vocational Education. For students who have completed secondary school, CÉGEP offers two-year general transition programs to university or three-year technical transition programs to work.
Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Academic
· Official academic transcripts translated into English or French as requested by the Canadian institution. Some institutions may require notarized official transcripts.
· Completion of the equivalent of Canadian secondary or high school
· For post-diploma programs students are usually required to have already successfully completed a university degree or college diploma program
· Some schools may require students to take pre-requisite courses to ensure that they have the appropriate academic background
Language
· Proof of strong proficiency in English (or French if studies are in French). For example, a TOEFL score of around 550 or approximately 6.0 for IELTS
· Some institutions have other forms of English or French language assessment; they may offer their own language proficiency test or, may admit students to academic programs on the basis of having successfully completed that institution's language program
Age
· Students are usually a minimum of 18 years of age. There are some schools that may accept applications from mature students
Other
Depending on the program, students may be required to do one or all of the following:
· Submit a portfolio
· Participate in a pre-admission interview or questionnaire
· Write a placement test