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EnglishWhat Kinds of University Applications Does OUAC Process?
Updated
OUAC processes two broad categories of applications to Ontario universities: undergraduate applications and professional applications. If you are applying to a bachelor's degree program, you use an undergraduate application stream; if you are applying to certain professional degree programs, you use a separate professional application. The exact programs included in each category, and the steps for each, are set by OUAC and the universities, so confirm the current list on ouac.on.ca before you start.
Undergraduate applications
OUAC's undergraduate application streams are for people seeking admission to bachelor's degree programs at Ontario universities. Within undergraduate applications, OUAC distinguishes between different applicant groups, and the stream you use depends on your situation — for example, current Ontario high school students, applicants from other Canadian provinces, and international applicants may each have a designated application.
What this means in practice:
- One application, multiple universities. The undergraduate application is designed so you can apply to more than one Ontario university through a single process, rather than applying to each university separately.
- Program choices are made within the application. You select the universities and programs you want, and the application is routed to them.
- Deadlines differ by stream. Each undergraduate stream has its own dates, so check the deadline for your specific applicant group rather than assuming a single date applies to everyone.
Professional applications
OUAC also processes applications for professional degree programs. These are separate from the undergraduate streams and typically involve their own application, requirements, and timelines. Because professional programs often have additional admission components set by the university or the regulating body, the OUAC application is usually one part of a larger process rather than the whole thing.
The key point for applicants: do not assume a professional program uses the same application or deadline as an undergraduate program. Confirm which application the program requires before you begin.
How the categories differ
| Dimension | Undergraduate applications | Professional applications |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Admission to bachelor's degree programs | Admission to professional degree programs |
| Application | Undergraduate application stream matched to applicant type | Separate professional application |
| Choices | Multiple universities/programs within one application | Depends on the specific professional application |
| Deadlines | Vary by undergraduate applicant stream | Set for the specific professional application |
What to check before applying
- Identify your applicant type. For undergraduate study, determine which stream applies to you (for example, current Ontario high school student versus other applicants), since this determines your application and deadline.
- Confirm the program's application. Check the specific university program page or OUAC's program information to see whether it is applied to through an undergraduate or professional application.
- Check dates and requirements on the official site. Deadlines, required documents, and any supplementary components are set per application and per program; use ouac.on.ca and the university's own admissions page as the source of truth.
- Review payment information. OUAC publishes payment-related guidance in its FAQ section; check the current fees and payment process there rather than relying on secondhand summaries.
If your question is simply whether OUAC is the right place to apply, the answer depends on the program: undergraduate degree programs go through OUAC's undergraduate applications, and the professional programs OUAC lists go through its professional applications. Anything outside those categories is handled directly by the university.