Your 2024 College and University Application Deadline Guide
It's application season already, which means deadlines are looming. Different provinces and different schools have different deadlines: here's an overview of upcoming deadlines across Canada.
Table of Contents
Application season is here! Depending on where you live, and where you want to study, the deadline for admissions will vary. Here's a basic rundown of what to expect, but the short version is simple: apply sooner rather than later!
We'll go through each province and territory for both colleges and universities. Remember: different schools and programs may have different dates. This is a rule of thumb only! When in doubt, reach out to the admissions office or registrar of the school(s) that interest you to be sure you've got the right dates. Check out SchoolFinder.com for contact info!
(By the way, these deadlines assume you're applying to start in the fall of 2024. If the date has passed already, you can still get in touch with the schools that interest you and see if late applications are accepted.)
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Alberta:
Colleges in Alberta
August 26, 2024 is the deadline for most programs at Alberta colleges. This is only a week or two before classes begin, and many colleges don't list admission deadlines at all, so you may be able to apply even after classes begin for the fall.
Universities in Alberta
March 1, 2024 is the deadline to submit an admission application for most programs.
May 1, 2024 is the acceptance deadline for most offers at Alberta universities; otherwise, you'll have between 14 and 30 days to accept your offer after receiving it.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in British Columbia:
Colleges in British Columbia
May 15, 2024 is the early deadline for application to certain programs in British Columbia colleges, but many programs will continue to accept applicants until the seats are filled.
August 31, 2024 is the late deadline for applications — just a few days before classes begin. Again, certain programs may be closed by this point depending on interest, so don't delay your application if you think there may be lots of competition for seats in your program.
Universities in British Columbia
January 15, 2024 is the deadline to submit an admission application to the University of British Columbia. This is earlier than many other universities in the province, so be aware!
March 31, 2024 is the deadline to submit an admission application for most programs at other schools.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Manitoba:
Colleges in Manitoba
February 28, 2024 is the deadline for certain college programs, but this depends on your program.
March 1, 2024 is another deadline you'll see for certain programs. You'll find deadlines in between, too, so be sure to confirm with the Manitoban college you're interested in.
Universities in Manitoba
January 15, 2024 is the deadline for certain programs at the University of Manitoba, Manitoba's largest university.
March 1, 2024 is the more common deadline for most programs at universities in Manitoba.
July 2, 2024 is the deadline for many programs at the University of Winnipeg, though their Education program has a recommended deadline of March 1 as well.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in New Brunswick:
Colleges in New Brunswick
New Brunswick is home to only a few colleges, most of which offer rolling admissions. You can typically apply between six months prior to your program start date, meaning March for a September start, with regular deadlines approximately 30 days before your program starts. You may get away with a late application up to 7 days after your program starts, though.
Universities in New Brunswick
March 31, 2024 is the general deadline for admission to university programs in New Brunswick. Certain programs, like Nursing, Education, and Social Work, may have earlier deadlines. To be considered for entrance scholarships and bursaries, have your application in by March 1, 2024.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Newfoundland and Labrador:
Colleges in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is home to several campuses of the College of the North Atlantic, which maintains an "open admissions policy." Most programs accepted applicants on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Some competitive programs may have an eligibility list. In either case, it's better to apply sooner rather than later at CNA.
Universities in Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University is Newfoundland and Labrador's only university! The priority deadline for most programs is March 1, 2024, but applications close completely by August 13, 2024.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in the Northwest Territories:
Colleges in Northwest Territories
Aurora College is NWT's only English-language college. Most programs have rolling admissions, though competitive areas like Personal Support Worker require an application by March 31, 2024. Get in touch with Aurora staff if you're considering applying!
There are no universities in NWT.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Nova Scotia:
Colleges in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Community College is the largest college in Nova Scotia, and offers admission on a "first come, first served" basis, with the exception of some competitive entry programs. Many programs may already have waitlists, depending on the campus, so be sure to apply early.
Universities in Nova Scotia
February 15, 2024 is the deadline for the most competitive programs in health and social work at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia's largest university. Other programs will accept applications until the start of the fall semester, though students are encouraged to apply by February 15, 2024 to be eligible for entrance scholarships.
January 15, 2024 is the deadline for several high-demand programs at Cape Breton University, though the majority of undergraduate programs accept applications until August 15, 2024, or until seats are filled.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Nunavut:
Colleges in Nunavut
Nunavut Arctic College is the territory's only institute for higher education, and the school is not currently accepting non-Nunavut residents or international applicants for their programs. Residents of Nunavut can apply at any time until program seats are filled. Contact college staff for more info!
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Ontario:
Colleges in Ontario
February 1, 2024 is the equal consideration date for competitive programs at Ontario colleges, but students are encouraged to apply early, as Ontario colleges can start accepting students as early as November 2023.
Applications received after February 1, 2024, will be considered on a "first-come, first-served" basis. May 1, 2024 is the final deadline to confirm an offer of admission to an Ontario college.
Universities in Ontario
January 15, 2024 is the deadline for most programs at Ontario universities, though out-of-province and international students have until February 1, 2024 to apply. Ontario is a large province, with many schools, so specifics will depend on the programs and universities that interest you.
For certain programs at the University of Toronto, Ontario's largest uni, the recommended deadline was November 7, 2023!
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Prince Edward Island:
Colleges on Prince Edward Island
The only English-language college on PEI is Holland College, which accepts applications on a rolling basis until seats are filled. Early acceptances for students began on November 1, 2023, so don't delay if you're considering Holland College!
Universities on Prince Edward Island
PEI's only university is, fittingly, the University of Prince Edward Island. UPEI lets students apply while still in grade 11, assuming they maintain a 75% academic average after the first semester of grade 11.
Otherwise, students can apply to most programs at UPEI until seats are filled or the semester begins in September, 2024.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Quebec:
Colleges (and cégeps) in Quebec
March 1, 2024 is the deadline to apply to English-language colleges (not cégeps) in Quebec, but unlike other parts of the country, applications can't be started until January, 2024.
February 1, 2024 is the deadline to apply to a cégep, which is a technical college of a type exclusive to Quebec. Students with a high school diploma from Quebec must first option a diploma (DEC) from a cégep before applying to university. Out-of-province students can apply directly to universities in Quebec, however.
Universities in Quebec
There are three major English-language universities in Quebec: McGill, Concordia, and Bishop's.
February 1, 2024 is the deadline for admission to McGill University, the largest English-speaking uni in Quebec, for students who are coming from outside the province. March 1, 2024 is the deadline for McGill for students in Quebec!
March 1, 2024 is the deadline for applicants to Concordia University, though applicants will be considered after this date if spaces permit. Bishop's University also has a March 1 deadline for entrance awards, though applications for programs will be accepted until May 1, 2024.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Saskatchewan:
Colleges in Saskatchewan
February 15, 2024 is the deadline for competitive programs like dental hygiene or nursing at Sask Poly, one of Saskatchewan's largest college systems. Otherwise, programs are filled on a "first qualified, first admitted" system — basically, "first come, first served."
July 31, 2024 is the final deadline for admission at Northlands College, another large college system in SK. However, many programs are filled on a "first qualified, first admitted" basis, so applying early is recommended. The date for scholarship consideration is May 1, 2024.
Universities in Saskatchewan
December 1, 2023 is the deadline for a few programs, like Education and Kinesiology, at the University of Saskatchewan, which is the largest of Saskatchewan's two universities. April 1, 2024 is the deadline for Engineering, while many other programs will accepted applications until August 15, 2024.
March 15, 2024 is the early application deadline for the University of Regina, while the final deadline for a fall start is August 15, 2024. Be aware that the "early" application deadline is also the deadline for entrance awards.
Deadlines for domestic students applying to schools in Yukon:
Colleges in Yukon
January 31, 2024 is the early acceptance deadline for the Yukon School of Visual Arts, the territory's only college. Yukon SOVA will accept applications on a rolling basis until July 15, 2024.
Universities in Yukon
July 15, 2024 is the final date to apply for programs at Yukon University, the only public university in Canada's north, though students are encouraged to apply early as seats may fill up fast.
There you have it, your rule-of-thumb guide to domestic undergraduate application deadlines across Canada for 2024.
Remember, different schools, and even certain programs within the same schools, may have different deadlines! Deadlines for entrance awards may be earlier than the final deadlines for admissions — so don't delay your applications.
You're better off applying early, and either withdrawing or deferring your acceptance, than you are waiting until the last minute. Programs may fill up fast, or scholarship deadlines may pass, doing you no good if you sit on your hands!
Good luck this application season, and enjoy the fall 2024 semester!
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