As lakhs of international students apply for admissions at the universities in Canada every year, they undergo several stages of the application process like choosing the college, filling out the application, waiting for results, and applying for a Canadian study visa. While all stages are equally important for admission in Canada, one of the most important things that a candidate must know well in advance is the application deadline of the universities in Canada, for each term.
Several universities in Canada enrol international students for three terms, viz. Fall, Summer and Winter. Each of these universities set different application deadlines for domestic and international students. Generally, the application deadlines for international students are scheduled earlier than for domestic students as it requires more time to complete all the formalities of the admission process in Canadian universities.
Canada is one of the top three countries in the world that receives the highest number of international students' applications for higher education. The IRCC data reveals that Canada had around 327,963 international students enrolled in 2020-21. Therefore, to help students complete their application on time to study in Canada, we have listed the popular universities in Canada along with the deadline(s) for each academic term.
To know about admission intakes in Canada, you can contact our experts and get their recommendations. Over the years, our experts have successfully helped many students in getting admission to leading universities in Canada. Know More!
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Admission Intakes in Canada
While Fall is the primary intake in Canada with the maximum number of courses offered, summer is the least popular term among international students. It should be noted that each university has a defined set of courses that are offered across the different intake sessions each year. Outlined below are common application dates and deadlines followed by Canadian universities:
Admission Intakes/Sessions
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Starts in
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Ends in
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Application Period
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Fall Intake
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September
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December
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December to March
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Winter Intake
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January
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April
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September to November
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Spring or Summer Intake
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April or May
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August
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January and February
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Application Deadlines for Bachelor's Programs in Canada
Canada is home to some of the top universities in the world offering a variety of bachelor’s degree programmes to international students. The application deadline for admissions to each university in Canada will be specified by the universities themselves. Applicants who meet the undergraduate admission criteria at Canadian universities must complete the application process before the deadline.
Refer to the following table to know the deadline for popular universities in Canada here:
The dates given are tentative and are subject to change.
Minimum Requirements to Apply for Bachelor’s Course in Canada
International applicants from any country must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to apply for undergraduate admissions at one of the Canadian Universities, as mentioned below.
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Must have completed Class 12th from a recognised board.
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Must have obtained a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, depending on the university.
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Must provide approved and valid test scores from any one of the standardised tests such as ACT/ SAT.
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Must meet the English language proficiency requirements through tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc.
Application Deadlines for Master’s Course in Canada
Admissions to graduate studies at different universities in Canada are done on a rolling basis and the application deadlines vary for each programme. The early application deadline for Fall Intake (September) may begin from November of the previous year and go on till April of the year of admission.
Candidates are advised to complete the application and submit supporting documents to the university's admissions office before the application deadline as defined for the course. Any application submitted after the deadline will be rejected by the university, forcing the student to either defer their course by a year or choose another university.
Usually, the application deadline set for international students is earlier as the entire process for admission is time-consuming. Apart from completing and submitting the necessary documents with the application form, candidates will spend more time attempting the necessary tests, applying for student visas and booking the appropriate flights, which is time-consuming and can take a few days or, in a worst-case scenario, months to complete. Universities in Canada advise international students to apply for admissions as early as possible so there is sufficient time to apply for a visa and plan their travel to Canada.
The following table will help you know the application deadlines for master's of popular universities in Canada:
The dates given are tentative and subject to change.
Note: Admission to the top universities in Canada is usually competitive, where just meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance at a Canadian university.
Know the Application Deadline of Your Desired University.
Minimum Requirements to Apply for Master’s Course in Canada
Applicants belonging to any country must meet the following eligibility criteria for graduate admissions in Canada.
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Candidates must have a recognised degree from the university acceptable at the university for specific courses.
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They must have good grades at the bachelor's level and meet the academic requirements defined by the respective department offering the course.
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They must first ensure the need to provide standardised test scores such as GMAT or GRE test scores and display the same if necessary.
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All International students are required to meet the English language requirements through tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or any other English Proficiency test scores accepted by the universities in Canada.
Guidelines to Apply at Universities in Canada
Thinking of applying to universities in Canada? Well, make sure that you are aware of certain parameters and guidelines while completing the application process. Here are the guidelines that will help you with a Canadian University admission application process.
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Research, Shortlist and Select: Select the subject that you wish to study and find out the list of universities in Canada offering these courses. Apply to multiple universities to increase your chances of being selected for at least one of them.
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Read the Eligibility Criteria: Usually, each department sets admission requirements for specific courses. Hence, make sure you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the course you are interested in applying to.
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Meet the Test Requirements: Ensure that you have the required scorecard and documents needed to complete the application process. It includes subject tests like the ACT or SAT for bachelor’s courses, GRE or GMAT for master’s courses and English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.
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Compile all Documents: Documents include a transcript, pass certificate, degree certificate, statement of purpose and letter of recommendation.
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Submit Application Form: Apply as early as possible and do not miss the deadline for a specific term. Some universities have separate deadlines for uploading documents. Hence, you can complete the application accordingly.
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Follow-up: Once the application is submitted, keep checking the status of your application. It can be done online by accessing your official account created on the university website.
While following the correct admission process is necessary to ensure getting admitted to the university of your dreams, it is also important to keep the application deadlines in mind. Being one of the top study abroad destinations, especially for Indian students, the early bird truly catches the worm. Also, in order to stand out from the highly competitive applicant pool, a growing number of students, just like you, have been reaching out to experts who do not just shortlist the right universities for you but also make the entire process easier hassle-free.
Our experts assist students in realising their dream of studying in top colleges overseas. Many of these students are enrolled in prestigious colleges in Canada. Know More!
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