Conestoga College

In order to be accepted to a Conestoga College program, you must:

Meet the program admission requirements
Provide proof of English proficiency in one of the following ways:

Diploma/Certificate*

6.0 IELTS Academic (with no band less than 5.5)
80 TOEFL (Effective January 2024, no individual skill less than 20.)

Degree**

6.5 IELTS Academic (with no band less than 6.0)
88 TOEFL (Effective January 2024, no individual skill less than 22.)

Graduate certificate

(Some IT/engineering program required test scores may vary)
6.5 IELTS Academic (with no band less than 6.0)
88 TOEFL (Effective January 2024, no individual skill less than 22.)

*excluding: Advertising and Marketing Communications, Business – Insurance, Community Pharmacy Assistant, Fitness and Health Promotion, Food Processing Technician, Journalism, Hearing Instrument Specialist, Massage Therapy, Nutrition and Food Service Management, Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing, Public Relations, and Veterinary Technician diploma programs

**including: Advertising and Marketing Communications, Business – Insurance, Community Pharmacy Assistant, Fitness and Health Promotion, Food Processing Technician, Journalism, Hearing Instrument Specialist, Massage Therapy, Nutrition and Food Service Management, Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Public Relations, and Veterinary Technician diploma programs

If you do not have the English language skills for direct entry into full-time post-secondary programs, you may choose to enter Conestoga’s General Arts and Science: English Language Studies program.

EAS equivalency chart

Conestoga English Level	IELTS Academic Overall Band	TOEFL iBT	Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
Level 1	0-2.5	0-29
Level 2	3.0-4.0 No band less than 2	30-45
Level 3	4.5-5.0 No band less than 4.5	46-60	36-45
Level 4	5.0-6.0 No band less than 5	61-79	46-52
Direct entry to most diploma & certificate programs*	6.0 No band less than 5.5	80 (Effective January 2024, no individual skill less than 20.)	53-57
Direct entry to graduate certificate and degree programs**	6.5 No band less than 6	88 (Effective January 2024, no individual skill less than 22.)	58-60

Please note: The above level equivalencies are subject to change. Each level is based on the 4-month English program. The length of time to complete the program varies by student, depending on effort and aptitude for learning the language.

Conestoga is a leader in polytechnic education, delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity throughout our region and across Ontario.

Our comprehensive range of programming meets the needs of a variety of learners, providing multiple entry points and established pathways to ensure that individuals across our community can access the education they need for their chosen careers. Articulation agreements with colleges and universities around the world provide our students with ready access to additional post-secondary opportunities.

Labs equipped with the latest technology, project-based courses, field and clinical experiences, international exchange, applied research and co-op opportunities engage our students as they learn to connect theory, research and practice. Our focus on technology-enhanced learning through online and mobile technologies ensures that students are prepared to excel in our increasingly digital world. Conestoga’s commitment to student success includes a full range of support and career advising services available to students throughout their learning journey.

Board of Governors

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is governed by a Board of Governors that includes volunteers appointed from the external community, as well as the college president, and four elected volunteers from Conestoga’s internal community representing our students, faculty, support staff and administration.

The Board of Governors’ mandate is to administer the affairs of Conestoga, establishing overall goals, objectives and strategic direction for the college and providing oversight and stewardship to ensure that Conestoga is effectively and efficiently fulfilling its mission.

Contact: Conestoga Board of Governors

Board members, 2025-2026

Martha George, Chair
Helen Jowett, Vice Chair
Erin Sleeth, Vice Chair

Nabou Abbas, Student
Amanda Brennan
Kyle Brohman
John Galloway, Support
Don Gosen
Bharat Kannan
Daniela Lee, Academic
Joanna Loebach
Mary Radyk
Aaron Scheewe
John Tibbits
Matthew Thibodeau, Administration

Norma McDonald-Ewing, Secretary General to the Board of Governors

Paying for college

Review important dates associated with paying tuition and other college fees as well as refund and withdrawal information.

Program	Length	Tuition fee estimate*
English Language Studies (ELS)	4 months	$5,500
	2 months	$2,750
Diploma/Certificate programs (excluding Practical Nursing diploma program)	2 terms	$14,588
Graduate (post-graduate)	2 terms	$15,844
Degree programs (and Practical Nursing diploma program)	2 terms	$15,961

Please note:

*The pricing above is for tuition only and does not include compulsory ancillary fees, which are pending approval. Total fees include tuition plus ancillary fees. Please refer to the program page for current fees to estimate the ancillary fees until this information is approved. Compulsory ancillary fees may include: health insurance and prescription drug plan, student activities, graduation fee, athletic services, e-text, etc.
All estimated values are listed in Canadian dollars and are subject to change without notice.

Payment and key dates

Please refer to your Letter of Acceptance for your payment key dates.

Deposit

A $2,500 mandatory, non-refundable tuition deposit is required in order to secure a place in the program.

Should you defer to another available intake, any fees paid will transfer to the new intake, however, deposit payment remains non-refundable if you do not supply proof of a visa refusal. *See refund policy & withdrawals below.

For students who register and attend classes, the tuition deposit is part of the student’s tuition fees and reduces the tuition owed.

Should a student’s visa be refused and Student Fees is provided with a copy of the visa rejection letter, tuition will be refunded, less the $200.00 college administrative fee.

Fees

Your deposit is applied to your tuition, however, you are still required to pay the balance of tuition owing by the due dates specified in your Letter of Acceptance.

Key due date for payments – when you should pay

Program of study – Start date	Deposit due date – International students
Fall term	30 days from date of acceptance¹
Winter term	30 days from date of acceptance¹
Spring term	30 days from date of acceptance¹

¹ as indicated in the offer letter

Please note: Key dates are for reference and subject to change without notice. Please refer to the dates provided in your Letter of Acceptance for more accurate information. ** A $150 charge will be applied to payments received after due date as posted on the Student Portal.

Your fees are a combination of tuition fees, program-specific fees and optional fees. You can opt of optional fees before the college’s refund deadline each term. See Opting out of optional fees to learn more.

INTERNATIONAL (Awards & scholarships)

To be considered for awards and scholarships, complete the following steps:

Log in to the Student Portal
Select the Services tab
Select My Forms
Select the General Awards Application
Complete all of the information in each tab
Review your application and submit

Student awards

Narhari Sharma Memorial Award

Mr. Narhari Sharma was a symbol of love, wisdom, strength, vision, courage and selflessness. He was gentle soul who lived to help others. Education and equality were two of his key values.

This award was established in his name to support a full-time international student at Conestoga who demonstrates academic success, and the qualities of wisdom, strength, vision, courage and selflessness. The recipient will have demonstrated leadership and have gone out of their way to help others achieve their goals.

The recipient of this award is nominated by Conestoga staff and faculty.

For more information about awards and their required qualifications, please visit Awards or email awards@conestogac.on.ca.

Entrance scholarships

Entrance Excellence Scholarship

$1,500 scholarships awarded each intake to students at the highest level of academic performance. Applicants will be ranked based on past academic performance (highest academic average) and awards will be distributed across all countries of origin.

General Arts and Science: English Language Studies to Post-Secondary Studies Scholarship

$1,500 scholarships awarded each intake. Eligible applicants will be ranked on highest academic average in Level 4 of Conestoga’s General Arts and Science: English Language Studies program. Following completion of the program, students must be entering a degree, diploma or graduate certificate at Conestoga College and must be eligible to proceed.

2nd Program Scholarship

$1,500 scholarship awarded to students who have previously graduated from a Conestoga diploma, degree or graduate certificate program (excludes certificate (C) programs) and who apply to a second program within four months of completion. Students will be ranked on the highest academic average (GPA) from the previous program of study.

Regional scholarships

Degree Entrance Scholarship

$3,000 awarded to students beginning studies in the Fall, Winter or Spring terms. Applicants will be ranked based on past academic performance (highest academic average) and awards will be distributed across all countries of origin.

Diploma Entrance Scholarship

$1,500 awarded to students beginning studies in the Fall, Winter or Spring terms. Applicants will be ranked based on past academic performance (highest academic average) and awards will be distributed across all countries of origin.

Graduate Program Entrance Scholarship

How can I access a Career Centre?

To access services at Community Career Centres, you can call, visit or email any centre.

I am a Conestoga student and I can’t access the Student Success Portal, what do I do?

Current Conestoga students: contact talenthub@conestogac.on.ca if you have forgotten your Conestoga login credentials or they don’t work.

I am a Conestoga graduate and I can’t access the Student Success Portal, what do I do?

Canadian graduates: contact waterloocareercentre@conestogac.on.ca if you have forgotten your Conestoga login credentials or if they don’t work.

International graduates: contact talenthub@conestogac.on.ca if you have forgotten your Conestoga login credentials or if they don’t work.

Graduates lose access to their login credentials four months after completing a program.

How much does a session cost at the Community Career Centre?

Career Centre services are free.

How can I access funded training?

This is one of the many options to discuss with your Career Work Coach as everyone’s situation is unique. If you are eligible for funded training, your coach will walk you through the guidelines and procedures.

What is the difference between a career, a job, an occupation and work?

A career refers to the total work-related experiences an individual has over the course of their life (e.g., an electrician). A job refers to a specific set of duties performed in a specific place (e.g., a self-employed photographer working from home). An occupation is a cluster of related duties that can be performed at various locations for different employers (e.g., engineer). Work means systematic and goal-directed activities that result in outcomes valued by the person working and/or by society. Work can be paid or volunteered.

What is labour market information?

Labour market information is the information you need to make sound decisions about your future. It includes information about occupational options, training programs, employment opportunities, industry growth and anything else you might want to know before making an employment-related decision.

Why do I need to know about the labour market?

Because career decisions are so important, you’ll want to make sure you are well-informed when making your choices. That’s where labour market information plays a key role. Every week, we hear stories about the job situation in different industries and how some occupations are growing and others are not. You’ll be able to make an informed decision by interpreting labour market information and decide how much weight to give it when you are making career choices. You’ll be able to anticipate trends and see how they may affect decisions you are making. You’ll need to consider things like:

occupational information
industrial information
labour market and social trends
economic and political trends

How do I learn about trends and the labour market?

There are many different ways to explore trends and labour market research. For example: printed sources, audio/video/electronic sources and word of mouth.

Useful websites for Occupation Research & Labour Market information

How do I get information ‘first hand’ or by word of mouth?

One of the most effective methods of obtaining more detailed information about a particular career is to conduct an information meeting with someone who holds a position that interests you. Information meetings are beneficial because they allow you to:

Explore careers and clarify your career goal
Expand your professional network
Build confidence for your job interviews
Access the most up-to-date career information
Identify your professional strengths and weaknesses
See the organization from the inside

Information meetings do not mean you ask for a job. They are meetings that allow you to ask questions to find out information you need to make an informed, confident decision about your future. You should do information meetings with people who are in the career that you are interested in, the supervisors of the position you are interested in, and graduates of training programs you may be considering.

With all the changes in the workforce, have the skills employers look for changed?

Yes, as workplaces change and evolve, employees need to adapt to remain employable. The Conference Board of Canada developed a list of transferable, generic skills that employers look for in new employees grouped under fundamental skills, personal management skills and teamwork skills. Additionally, the Government of Canada and other international/national agencies have validated this and further defined nine essential skills that individuals need for learning, working and living.

Towes: Essential Skills

What about working for myself? Is it a good idea?

Many trends have opened the door for small business startups. Small business is full of risks and rewards and many grow into large enterprises. Do your research and analyze your skills to determine if you will be a good business owner and if your plan will be successful.

Government of Canada: Starting a business

Employment and Social Development Canada : Essential Skills

What are recruitment firms? I see so many listed on job postings.

Recruitment firms are businesses that have grown out of some of the trends of outsourcing human resources duties. Many firms hold contracts with employers to find employees to fill short-term or permanent vacancies. There are many types of firms and they go by a variety of names, such as headhunters, employment agencies, or staffing services. Get to know who does what and find out how they can work for you while you transition to a new career.

Settlement Org: Employment agencies

Where can I find money for retraining and skills enhancement?

If formal education is the route best for you, investigate a variety options for covering costs of training and pick the ones that fit your situation the best.
Budgeting & savings – A budget is an organized way of managing your finances on a regular basis. A good budget is a starting point for meeting your financial obligations and achieving your financial goals. Set aside a small amount of money towards educational costs. For tools to help you assess your situation, visit CanLearn, Canada’s trusted source of interactive and comprehensive information and services designed to help individuals save, plan and pay for lifelong learning opportunities.
Friends & Family – if you have researched into the field you wish to train in and present a sound plan and evidence for your decision, family and friends may be eager to assist you. Talk to them early on in your planning about gifts, inheritance, flexible loans (remember to put the agreement in writing!) or paying expenses directly.
Life insurance – Assess your need for life insurance, you situation may have changed. There may be policies that you can cash in and reinvest the money in your studies.
Severance pay – As per The Employment Standards Act “Severance pay” is compensation that’s paid to a qualified employee who has his or her employment “severed.” It compensates an employee for loss of seniority and job-related benefits. It also recognizes an employee’s years of service.” Severance pay is often paid in a lump sum and is ideal for transitioning from old job to new, assisting with training costs if needed.
Lifelong Learning Plan – The Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) allows individuals to withdraw funds from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to finance training or education for themselves or their spouse or common-law partner. Visit: Service Canada: Lifelong Learning Plan.
Bank loan – Some financial institutions offer their own student loans. Be aware that these are not government-approved loans but regular loans with the word “student” attached.
Line of credit – With a line of credit, you are given access to a set amount of money and allowed to withdraw money as you need. You pay interest only on the amount you withdraw.
Credit cards – Similar to a line of credit. Beware of very high-interest rates.
Grants, bursaries, awards, scholarships – These are sources of funding that do not need to be repaid. Some are tied to academic standing and others to personal situation or need. Many are given through private sector and not-for-profit organizations that may or may not require a person be affiliated. Check with your or your spouse’s employer for programs, as well. www.studentawards.com is a free Canadian search service that can help you locate information.
Check financial aid office at school of choice – Get in touch with the school you are interested in attending. Inquire about financial assistance (payment plans, sponsorship, bursaries, etc) that may be available for you. Options are often available that are not advertised.
OSAP – Ontario Student Assistant Program – a loan program that provides assistance to students to help them meet the costs of post-secondary education. Visit osap.gov.on.ca.
Canada Student Loan Program – Loans that help eligible full and part-time students finance their post-secondary education. Visit
Canada Student Grants – provides financial support to help qualifying post-secondary students achieve their learning goals. Visit Canada Student Loan Program.
Better Jobs Ontario – A program to help eligible laid-off workers or people who may face challenges finding stable jobs who require long-term skills training to find work in high-skill occupations that are in demand in the local labour market. For more information, visit Better Jobs Ontario.
People with disabilities – a variety of government programs designed to assist people with permanent disabilities re-enter the workforce. For more information visit Students with disabilities.
Indigenous peoples – a number of programs designed to help Indigenous peoples with training or post-secondary education. Visit Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program.