Admission Requirements

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About Centennial
Established as Toronto's first public college in 1966, Centennial College offers programs in business, communications, community and health studies, science and engineering technology, general arts, hospitality and transportation.
 

You must fulfill the following admission requirements in order to qualify as a Visa international student at Centennial College:

  • You must have academic standing equivalent to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Click here, for more information about OSSD Equivalents.
  • You must meet the special course requirements of individual programs as listed in the program outline.

English Language Proficiency

At Centennial College, we are committed to supporting the development of effective English language communications skills for all of our students. These skills are of critical importance to employers at the hiring stage, and to the potential for advancing in a chosen field and career. Strong communications skills may also be a requirement in pursuing further education or certification.

Our admissions requirements are clearly stated for all of our programs in our annual calendar* publication, and are regularly updated on our web site.

To ensure that each of our students receives the appropriate courses or placement in programs to develop their skills for graduation and success, we ask our students to:

  • take our computerized assessment test for placement in our English communications courses, (domestic students, and those international students who do not submit results as per the standardized tests accepted by Centennial College) or
  • provide recent results in one of the following standardized English language proficiency tests; IELTS, TOEFL, CAEL, MELAB (for international students).

Our English Language Communication Courses

The majority of our programs begin with an English language communications course at the COMM 160/161 level. Some of our programs begin at the COMM 170/171 level. Our computerized assessment test score results, or standardized English proficiency test results, indicate the appropriateness of placement in these courses.

All of our undergraduate students in certificate and diploma programs and students in Fast Track Diploma programs must complete COMM 170/171 to graduate. Degree programs have different English language communication course numbers. Post graduate programs do not have required English language communications courses.

The following chart outlines the standardized English proficiency test scores required for entry-level placement in a program.

  Certificate and Diploma Programs
With English Level COMM 160/161		 Degree and Diploma Programs
With English Level COMM 170/171		 Fast Track Diploma, Post Graduate Diploma and Ontario Graduate Certificate Programs
TOEFL  550 Paper-based
80+ minimums of 20 for the Internet-based test		 560 Paper-based
84+ minimums of 21 for the Internet-based test		 580 Paper-based
88+ minimums of 22 for the Internet based test
MELAB Score of 76 Score of 78 Score of 82
IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5  6.5 with no band score less than 6.0 6.5 with no band score less than 6.0.
Additional English language communications clinic sessions will be required and assigned for any single band score area below 6.5
CAEL Overall 60 Overall 60; Writing score 60 Overall 70; Writing score 60

Students who have an overall IELTS score higher than required for program admission, and have only one individual band score lower than our admission requirements, may submit their application for further review. This lower individual band score can only be half a band below our published admission requirements.

TOEFL / IELTS / CAEL /MELAB Exemptions
The following applicants are exempt from submitting TOEFL/IELTS/CAEL scores:

  1. Students who take our computerized assessment test for placement in English language communications courses.
  2. International students who obtain an International Baccalaureate in English from an international school that is listed as a current member of the Council of International Schools (http://www.cois.org/).

All other students must submit their valid (2 years or newer) TOEFL/IELTS/CAEL/MELAB scores to International Admissions. Centennial College reserves the right to require a successfully completed language proficiency test based on the requirements of a specific program, and where international students do not qualify for the writing of these standardized tests.

Important note:
Reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the details published in our calendar. The policies and procedures were those in effect at the time of publication. The provisions of the current calendar are not to be regarded as an irrevocable offer by Centennial College to the student. Centennial College reserves the right to make changes, without prior notice, affecting but not limited to, areas such as admission procedures, tuition, other fees, courses of instruction, program location, programs of study and general regulations. Centennial College will not be liable for loss or damage incurred by the student as a result of such changes.

What if I don't meet the minimum English requirements?

If you do not meet the minimum English requirement or you have no documentation as to prior English language assessment, you may still qualify for admission to Centennial in one of three ways:

  1. By writing Centennial College’s English assessment test.
  2. By applying to an English preparatory program called English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
  3. By accepting an alternate offer to one of our foundation programs.

English as a Second Language (ESL)
The English as a Second Language program is offered through our School of Continuing Education, and is designed for basic-level students. Applicants must have some ability in basic oral and written communication and a desire to learn more English for personal, educational or career development.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Admission requirements for the English for Academic Purposes program are as follows:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Aged 19 years or older, if without a diploma
  • Proof of completion of a beginner's level of English-language training

Please Note: You may be required to take additional English courses to be successful in your program of study.  If you have qualified for admission to Centennial in one of the three ways above (without TOEFL, EILTS, MELAB, or CAEL documentation) you will be asked to write an English assessment for placement purposes.  The placement assessment will assist your Academic Advisor in assigning you to the correct English course in your program model route.

 

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