Motivate. Support. Equip.
- IGCSE, Form 5, 'O' level, Sec. 4 or Senior Middle 2 students can study a 6- or 10-month university preparatory program and graduate with the OSSD. With the OSSD, students are eligible for direct admission to first-year degree programs at all universities in:
Canada
USA
New Zealand
Australia
United Kingdom
| Program Choice | Compulsory University Preparatory Courses | Additional U Prep Courses Required |
| Architecture | English Advanced Functions Physics Calculus & Vectors Portfolio of Graphic Arts | 2 options |
| Arts/Humanities | English | 5 options |
| Business/Commerce | English Mathematics 1 Mathematics 2 | 3 options |
| Computer Science | English Advanced Functions Calculus & Vectors (Some universities also require 1-2 sciences) | 1 - 3 options |
| Engineering | English Advanced Functions Physics Calculus & Vectors Chemistry | 1 option |
| Hotel & Food Management | English Advanced Functions and a second Math course (preferably Data Management) | 3 options |
| Science | English Advanced Functions 2 Sciences Calculus & Vectors | 1 option |
| Social Studies | English Some Universities also require 1 other Pre-U Language or Pre-U Math course | 4 or 5 options |
- To graduate, students must complete 30 credits or the equivalent, to receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- The required 30 credits must include a minimum of 6 university preparatory credits.
- All previous studies successfully completed will be evaluated and granted equivalent credits towards the 30 credits.
- Upon arrival at Columbia, university preparatory students meet individually with our Guidance Counsellors to discuss their university and career goals.
- Our counsellors then design a Personalized Success Plan based on these goals. This study plan outlines the courses a university preparatory student will take as well as their projected duration of study.
| Education Received | Maximum Credits Recognized | Need to Study | Aug - Dec | Jan - May | Jun - July | Aug - Dec |
| High School Graduation with Diploma | 24 credits | 6 credits | 3 credits | 3 credits | Summer Holiday | Enter University |
| Completed Grade 11 | 22 credits | 8 credits | 4 credits | 4 credits | Summer Holiday | Enter University |
University preparatory students can proceed with their studies depending on their academic ability and personal choice.
- 6-month Program: This program allows students to complete 6 university preparatory credits and graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
- Students currently in Form 5, Sec. 4 or 'O' Level with high academic aptitude can complete the university preparatory program in as little as 6 months (January or May entry).
- 10-Month Program: This program allows students to complete up to 8 university preparatory credits and graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
- Students currently in Form 5, Sec. 4 or 'O' Level with average marks can complete the university preparatory program in 10 months (August entry).
- Senior Middle 2 students are eligible to apply for a minimum 10-month university preparatory program (August entry).
- Students who need to improve their English proficiency or upgrade some required academic subjects before starting the university preparatory program may enrol for a longer duration of study in order to meet graduation and university admission requirements.
6-month Program
| 4 Credits | 2 Credits | Holidays | Students may study up to 6 credits | |||||||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| 2 Credits | Holidays | 4 Credits | ||||||||||
10-month Program
| 3 or 4 Credits | 3 or 4 Credits | Holidays | Students can study up to 8 credits per year | |||||||||
| Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | |
| 3 or 4 Credits | 3 or 4 Credits | 2 Credits | Holidays | Students can study up to 10 credits per year | ||||||||
12-month Program
- Columbia's flexible enrolment allows students to join the university preparatory program at six different times of the year.
- Students in the academic stream may enroll in:
- January
- June
- August
- Students who need to improve their English can enroll in Columbia's ESL program. The ESL program has 9-week sessions with the following admission times:
- January
- March (English and Math)
- June
- July (4 weeks English course with credit)
- August
- October (English and Math)
| ESL |
Session 1 |
Session 2 |
Session 3 |
Session 4 |
Session 5 |
Session 6 |
|||||||||
| Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | July | Aug | ||
| High School and University |
Fall Semester (3 or 4 Credits) |
Winter Semester (3 or 4 Credits) |
Summer Semester (2 Credits) |
Head start English | July to August Summer Camp | ||||||||||
- At Columbia, under the guidance of our Total Care Education System®, university preparatory students have the opportunity to adjust to:
- North American culture
- North American teaching methodology
- Independent living and study habits
- Columbia's courses are designed to enable university preparatory students to effectively improve their English and acquire skills which are essential for success in university and beyond.
- Critical thinking and analytical skills
- Research and report writing skills
- Presentation skills
- English and TOEFL preparation skills
- Math skills
- Students have the opportunity to study the North American free economy in business-related courses such as Economics, Accounting, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour and International Business.
- Students have the opportunity to receive a better preparation and gain an in-depth focus in the 3 areas of Mathematics, by studying a total of 330 hours (3×110 hours) of three mathematics courses:
- Pre-Calculus
- Calculus & Vectors
- Data Management
- Columbia's University Placement Assurance Support System (uPASS) provides our graduates greater assurance of achieving their goals of entering university.
- Our 3 knowledgeable and dedicated counsellors provide students with accurate, comprehensive information on university admission requirements to ensure that students are admitted into the best universities possible, as well as programs of their choice.
- Our TOEFL Training Course assists students to learn test-writing techniques and practice sample tests.
- Columbia's SAT preparation courses prepare students to successfully write the SAT exams.
- Columbia International College is an official test center for TOEFL, CAEL, MELAB, SSAT and AP. Therefore our students can conveniently and comfortably write their exams at Columbia and save travel time and money.
Students who are identified to require extra academic help or are gifted are placed on the Academic Support Program (ASP) to enable them to maximize their potential.
- Teachers identify students who require academic support within the first 2 weeks of classes.
- Students who require extra help are assigned to attend a two-week session of academic support to assist them to understand the course concepts and be prepared to progress in the course.
- For every unit taught during the semester, teachers identify students who require extra help and recommend them for the Academic Support Program; thereby providing continuous assistance to students.
- Gifted students are:
- Provided more challenging questions to practise during their spare time.
- Recommended for the AP program at Columbia which enables them to get advanced credits for first-year university.
- Guided to select and participate in extracurricular and volunteer activities that will add to their personal portfolio and increase their chances of gaining admission to Ivy League universities.
- The ASP is offered during school hours, after-school and in the residences in the evening.
| Time of Day | Venue | Provider | |
| During School | 9:00 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. |
|
|
| After Classes | 3:35 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
|
|
| Evening in Residence | 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. |
|
|
| All Day | 24 hours a day |
|
|
- Assessment of students' performance is not determined by exams only, but also by a series of 6 unit tests taken throughout the semester.
- Final exam is only worth 30% of the final mark. Course work accounts for 70% of the final mark and consists of six unit tests, projects and class participation. Therefore true learning is encouraged and pressure to memorize for exams is lower.
| Course Work (6 Unit Tests) | Final Exam |
| 70% | 30% |
- Instead of spending 2 years in 'A' Level, students can complete the university prep program in 6 or 10 months and be eligible for direct university admission.
- With no need for national or external examinations, students can gain admission to a degree program of their choice with their university prep marks from Columbia International College.
- Students can complete the university prep program in as short as 7 months rather than 2 years of 'A' levels.
- Therefore students can complete their undergraduate degree and start their graduate studies or career earlier.
- Saving time means saving money.
- No required for entrance to university.
- All students need to qualify for university admissions are OSSD and final marks from Columbia's university prep (Grade 12) program.
- OSSD and final marks from Columbia are recognized and accepted by all universities in Canada, USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand, thereby providing greater opportunities for students to enter universities and programs of their choice.
- Columbia's final marks are recognized and accepted by all universities in Canada, USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
- International students completing OSSD in Ontario are admitted to Canadian universities on an equal basis as all other local Ontario high school students.
- University applications are automatically and efficiently processed by computer regardless of whether students are on a study permit or are Canadian.
- International students in Ontario are evaluated on the same academic requirements as Canadian students when applying to Canadian universities.
- University prep students enjoy equal eligibility for in applying for scholarships and awards.
- Columbia's university prep students are not affected by the smaller quotas and earlier deadlines that are set for overseas applicants.
- International students at Columbia International College receive extended deadlines and experience shorter processing times for their application to universities.
- Columbia's university prep students pay lower university application costs as compared to overseas applicants.
- University prep graduates who complete their program in May or July are eligible to enter university in September.
- University prep graduates who complete their program in December are eligible to enter university in January, right after completion of their OSSD.
- Conditional letters of acceptance
- Designated entrance scholarships
- Dual admission
- Reduced or waived TOEFL requirements
- Extended deadlines for application and results submission
- A Dedicated staff assigned by the university to be the contact person for Columbia's University Placement Office (UPO). This staff provides assistance and mediation services between the university and Columbia's UPO.
- 100% of our graduates are admitted to university.
- Majority of our graduates are awarded university entrance scholarships and enter top universities in Canada and the USA.
- Continuing scholarships are won by many of our top graduates while attending universities.
- 100% of Columbia International College's high school graduates have gained admission to university since 1995.
Our University Partners® provide our graduates with special advantages including:
Apply online for Columbia's University Preparatory Program