Ontario Education System
Sending your child to study abroad is a bold and loving decision
CIC allows you to pace your studies according to your ability and interests.
Columbia International College takes full advantage of Ontario’s secondary education system by offering courses on a semester and credit basis. A minimum of 30 credits is required to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD. We help students achieve this goal by recognizing and awarding credits for successfully completed high school courses taken in the students’ home country. That means students only have to complete the remaining courses needed to meet the required minimum. 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.
School Year Schedule
Courses are completed in each semester.
Students receive a credit for each course successfully completed.
Fall Semester
(Aug-Dec)
Students can take a maximum of 3 or 4 courses in the Fall and Winter Semesters
Winter Semester
(Jan-May)
Students can take a maximum of 3 or 4 courses in the Fall and Winter Semesters
Summer Semester
(May-Jun)
Students can take a maximum of 2 courses in the Summer Semester
No Public Examination
Receive Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) upon completion of 30 credits.
Students can take a maximum of 3 or 4 courses in the Fall and Winter Semesters
Graduation
- 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)
Equivalent education earned outside of Ontario is accepted for enrollment
All new students attending Columbia International College will be required to take diagnostic tests before registering for their courses. Students enrolled in the High School Program will write Math and English Diagnostics Tests.
| Home Country Studies | *Grade 12 Completed | Grade 11 Completed | Grade 10 Completed | Grade 9 Completed | Grade 8 Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Credits Recognized by CIC | 24 Credits | 23 Credits | 16 Credits | 8 Credits | 0 Credits |
| CIC Credits Needed to Study for Grad | 6 Credits | 7 Credits | 14 Credits | 22 Credits | 30 Credits |
| Mid-Aug to Dec | 3 Credits | 4 Credits | 4 Credits | 4 Credits | The duration of study may vary depending on ability and language proficiency |
| Jan to Mid-May | 3 Credits | 3 Credits | 4 Credits | 4 Credits | |
| Jul to Mid-Aug | Holiday | Holiday | Holiday | Holiday | |
| Mid-Aug to Dec | Enter University | Enter University | 4 Credits | 4 Credits | |
| Jan to Mid-May | Enter University | 4 Credits | |||
| Mid-May to Jun | 2 Credits | ||||
| Jul to Mid-Aug | Holiday | ||||
| Mid-Aug to Dec | 2 Credits | ||||
| January | Enter University | ||||
| Total Months | 10 | 10 | 16 | 28 | TBD |
**Holiday - Summer Semester provides the opportunity to take 2 additional credits