The education system of the Province of Ontario provides high-quality education and is designed to be student-centered, making it one of the most highly recognized systems by universities in North America and the world. The programs at Columbia International College have been carefully designed to take full advantage of the benefits of this system.
We take full advantage of Ontario's secondary education system to offer courses on a semester and credit basis. Students need a minimum of 30 credits to complete their high school education and earn the graduation diploma. Columbia recognizes and awards credits for successfully completed high school courses taken in the students' home country. Thus, students only have to complete the remaining courses needed to meet the outstanding credits. This credit system, coupled with our semester programming, allows international students to pace their studies according to their academic ability and to take courses that match their personal interests.
Best Pathway to Top Universities
| 3 or 4 years of Undergraduate Studies |
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Based on final marks of 6 university preparatory courses at Columbia,
our graduates qualify to seek direct admission to first-year degree programs
at universities in Canada, USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand |
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No Public Examination Receive Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) upon completion of 30 credits Credits are awarded for previous successfully completed high school courses |
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Columbia Offers
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- School year is organized by semesters
- Fall Semester (August to December)
- Winter Semester (January to May)
- Summer Semester (June to July)
- Courses are completed in each semester
- Students can take a maximum of 3 or 4 courses in the Fall and Winter Semesters
- Students can take a maximum of 2 courses in the Summer Semester
- Students receive a credit for each course successfully completed
- Students must complete at least 30 credits (courses) at the secondary school level
- Each credit has 110 instructional hours
- Graduates may study up to 330 hours (110 hours×3) of Mathematics which include Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors and Data Management
- University preparatory graduates are awarded the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Students require the OSSD to enter universities or colleges in North America. The OSSD is granted to students who earn a minimum of 30 credits. Credits are awarded for previous successfully completed courses. Thus students have to only take the courses required to obtain the remaining credits needed for graduation. To receive the OSSD, students must:
- Complete 18 compulsory and 12 optional credits
- Complete 40 hours of community involvement activities
- Pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test written after completing Grade 9
Compulsory Credits
- 4 credits in High School (Grades 9 – 12) English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
- 1 credit in Canadian History
- 1 credit in the Arts
- 1 credit in French as a Second Language
- 2 credits in Science
- 1 credit in Canadian Geography
- 1 credit in Health and Physical Education
- 0.5 credit in Civics
- 0.5 credit in Career Studies
Plus:
- 1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies
- 1 additional credit in Health and Physical Education, or the arts, or business studies
- 1 additional credit in Science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education
- OSSD graduates apply to university for admission with no public examination
- OSSD graduates need only final marks from Columbia International College to be admitted to university
- Students must hold an OSSD that includes at least 6 Grade 12/University Preparatory level credits
- Over 60% of international students in Canada study in Ontario
- Ontario has the largest number of universities (20) and post-secondary colleges (24) in Canada
With Columbia's junior middle and high school program, students studying under the Ontario education system can pace their studies comfortably within their academic capability. This enables them to achieve their full academic potential during their stay at Columbia International College.