Admission FAQs
I just decided I want to apply to Guelph. Can I still apply?
Yes! We will continue to accept and process all applications received by May 1st. Note: the exception is BLA where the application deadline was March 1st.
Note: If you are currently attending or have previously attended a college or university and are applying to transfer to the U of G, application deadlines vary by entry point.
How do I apply?
If you are currently enrolled in an Ontario high school, apply using the 101 application available online at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). You will receive instructions from your school about how to use the 101 application.
All other applicants will apply using the 105 application available online at the OUAC.
Can I apply to more than program?
If you are applying directly from high school, you will be considered for all programs to which you apply.
All other applicants will apply using the 105 application available online at the OUAC.
What are the cut-offs?
Estimated cut-off ranges vary by program. The "estimated range" is based on the admission averages from previous years and is meant to be used as a guide. Exact cut-offs for the current cycle will be determined by the quantity and quality of applications received, and the number of places available in the program as we move through the admission cycle. Having an admission average within the estimated range does not guarantee an offer of admission.
How do I calculate my admission average?
Admission requirements vary by program. Review our admission plan to learn more about how we calculate your admission average, as well as timing of offers.
What if I want to change the programs I applied to on my application?
You will need to amend your OUAC application but make sure you do it by May 1, 2023 to be considered equally for admission to all programs.
What’s my U of G Student ID and what do I use it for?
Once your application has been received you will receive an acknowledgment e-mail from Admission Services. The acknowledgement email provides you with additional information about U of G, important dates, and answers to frequently asked questions.
This email will also have your OUAC ID number and U of G Student ID. Throughout the application process you will need your Student ID if you choose to submit the optional Student Profile Form (SPF). It’s also helpful if you reference your Student ID when you communicate with us! Keep this number for future reference because once you accept your offer of admission, this will become your Student ID.
How do I submit my documents?
If you are currently enrolled in an Ontario high school and are applying using the OUAC 101 application, your school will submit grade data directly to the OUAC on your behalf. The deadline for grades to be submitted by your school to the OUAC is April 27, 2023.
If you are currently enrolled in high school in a Canadian province or territory outside of Ontario, please have your high school forward official transcripts showing completed Grade 11 and 12 courses, and all in-progress Grade 12 courses, directly to Admission Services on your behalf. For currently enrolled course work, have your guidance counsellor or school administrator e-mail an official transcript that includes all in-progress and completed grades to applicant@uoguelph.ca. All course and grade information must be sent to Admission Services at the University of Guelph as soon as possible, but no later than April 15, 2023.
British Columbia schools submit grade data electronically to the OUAC. We will automatically receive grade data from the OUAC on an ongoing basis.
All other high-school-type applicants using the OUAC 105 application must make arrangements to have official transcripts sent directly to Admission Services on their behalf by the document deadline.
Can I submit documents through the OUAC Document Upload?
We will accept admission-specific unofficial documents through the OUAC Document Upload. Documents accepted vary by applicant-type. For additional details and to view documents currently accepted, please visit the OUAC website.
Do not upload document types that do not apply to your application. Note: if you applied through the OUAC 105 application you can view required documents on your WebAdvisor account.
Where can I send my official documents?
Remember: for us to consider documents to be official, we must receive them directly from the issuing institution. Official transcripts can also be submitted from the school via e-mail to applicant@uoguelph.ca, or via mail to the address below:
Admission Services - Level 3 University Centre
University of Guelph
50 Stone Rd E
Guelph, ON
N1G 2W1
Are there any Supplemental Application Forms?
OPTIONAL:
All high school applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the Student Profile Form (SPF). The SPF is your opportunity to tell Admission Services about activities in which you have been involved that have helped you develop leadership and citizenship qualities. Factors beyond your control that have negatively affected your academic performance, such as illness or extenuating circumstances, will also be considered. If your admission average in May does not meet the cut-off for the program(s) to which you’ve applied, your SPF will be considered if your average falls within a discretionary range of the final cutoff (up to 5%). If you choose to submit the SPF it is due May 1, 2023.
If you believe that your admission average does not reflect your true academic ability as a result of a disability, you are also encouraged to complete the Supplementary Information Form for Students with Disabilities (SIF-D). This form is considered along with your marks in determining admission. If you choose to submit the SPF it is due May 1, 2023.
MANDATORY:
The following programs have mandatory supplementary documentation:
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Diploma in Turfgrass Management
What if I repeat high school courses?
We use the highest grade reported for all courses completed at Ministry inspected schools.
When will I receive an admission decision?
If you are currently enrolled full-time in an Ontario high school and you meet the minimum admission requirements, you will be considered for admission on an ongoing basis beginning in January. Some offers may be extended in December to a limited number of programs. In most cases, early offers will be sent to applicants whose admission average exceeds the estimated cut-offs. Review our detailed admission plan.
If you are not currently enrolled full-time in an Ontario high school, and you meet the minimum admission requirements, you will be considered for admission on an ongoing basis as soon as all required documentation is received. All documents must be received no later than April 15, 2023.
All high school applicants who submit their application by April 15th can expect to receive an admission decision by May 29, 2023.
How can I check the status of my application?
If you applied on the OUAC 101 application, you can monitor the status of your application through your OUAC account. If you are admitted, you will also receive your offer via e-mail.
If you applied on the OUAC 105 application, you can monitor the status of your application through your OUAC and WebAdvisor accounts. If you are admitted, you will also receive your offer via e-mail.
How do I accept my offer?
You must accept your offer through the OUAC by the June 1st common response deadline, or as otherwise noted in your offer letter. You are encouraged to take your time and follow the OUAC instructions as you move through the acceptance process. For support and assistance, please view this OUAC tutorial.
Will my offer of admission be conditional?
If you are applying directly from high school, any offer of admission that you receive from the University of Guelph is conditional upon the following:
- Completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent; and
- Completion of six Grade 12 and/or 4U/M courses, including required subjects, or equivalent; and
- A minimum final average as outlined in your offer letter
All other applicants who are admitted conditionally will have offer conditions clearly outlined in their offer letter. Check out our conditions website for more information.
What if I’m not admissible to the program to which I apply?
There are a few programs where we will automatically consider you for an alternate program. These include:
- Not admitted to a co-op program? You’ll automatically be considered for admission to the regular program.
- If you don’t possess the admission average for Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice and Public Policy, we’ll automatically consider you for BA, Justice and Legal Studies.
- If you don’t possess the admission average for Bachelor of Arts, Honours Psychology, we’ll automatically consider you for BA, Honours Sociology.
- If you don’t possess the admission average for Bachelor of Science, Animal Biology or Bio-Medical Science, we’ll automatically consider you for B.Sc. Biological Science.
You can find more information about alternate offers on our website.
What if I’m not admitted to Co-op?
If you applied to Co-op, you will automatically be considered for the regular stream of the program you applied to. If you are admitted to the regular stream, you can accept your offer of admission knowing that we will continue to consider your application for Co-op in subsequent rounds of offers (until May). If, at that point in time, we are still unable to offer you admission to Co-op and you accept your offer to the regular stream of the program, you will have another opportunity to apply for Co-op when you are in your first year of studies at Guelph. Contact Co-operative Education & Career Services for more information.
I have received an alternate offer. What does this mean and will I still be considered for my original program choice?
If you’ve received an alternate offer of admission it means that with the grade information we have to date, we aren’t able to offer you admission to your first choice program. We will continue to consider you for admission to your first choice program in our subsequent rounds of offers (they continue until May).
I’ve been admitted to multiple programs at the University of Guelph. Can I accept more than one offer?
You can only accept one offer of admission. If you have received multiple offers of admission but haven’t decided which offer you want to accept, you’re encouraged to take your time and gather the information you need to help you make an informed decision. Remember, you have until June 1st to accept your offer through the OUAC!
I applied to multiple programs at the University of Guelph. I’ve received one offer of admission but I’m still waiting for decisions on other programs at the U of G. What should I do?
If you receive an offer of admission to one or more programs but have also applied to other programs at the U of G, you can choose to accept an offer at any time. We will continue to consider you for admission to all other program choices through each round of offers (until May). If you are admitted to another program in a later round of offers, you can still accept that offer. Please note that by accepting a new offer of admission, you will be declining your original offer (e.g. your first acceptance to the University of Guelph becomes void).
How do I defer my admission?
If you were admitted to the University of Guelph directly from high school, you can apply to defer your offer of admission for one academic year. Deferrals are typically for the Fall semester only and will be considered for all programs except for BLA.
To be considered for a deferral you must:
- accept your offer of admission on OUAC by the June 1st deadline (or as otherwise instructed in your offer letter);
- meet all conditions outlined in your original offer of admission by the date specified in your offer letter;
- submit the deferral application by July 28, 2023. Note: the online deferral application will be accessible through WebAdvisor in June.
- not attend any other post-secondary institution during the deferral period. You may complete additional high school courses.
Visit our website for more information.
Why haven’t I received an offer of admission? My grades are higher than the estimated cut off range.
The "estimated range" is based on the admission averages from previous years and is provided solely as a point of reference. Throughout the admission cycle, admission averages change with each round of offers and are determined by the quantity and quality of applicants, as well as space availability within each program. During our third round of offers (in May), we will also consider your Student Profile Form if you submitted one. Please note that no program will fill before the third round of offers.
Does the University of Guelph require English language test scores?
You will be required to present evidence of English language proficiency if:
- your primary or first language is not English, and
- you have completed less than four years of full-time secondary or post-secondary school study demonstrating satisfactory academic progress in an English language school system.
The University reserves the right to deny admission to you if you do not demonstrate satisfactory facility in English, regardless of academic qualifications.
Review acceptable English Proficiency tests and required results.
I’ve been admitted but I didn’t get an entrance scholarship. Will my most recent grades be considered again for entrance scholarship eligibility?
Yes. Whether a scholarship offer is made with an admission offer or not, all eligible students will be re-considered in May and August and have the opportunity to qualify or better their award. You will be notified of changes to scholarship eligibility by Student Financial Services.