Subject Requirements

A final decision on the admissibility of an applicant will be based on academic performance, and if required by the Admissions Committee, on review of a Background Information Sheet for the Diploma programs.

Associate Diplomas in Agriculture, Equine Studies, Food and Nutrition Management, and Horticulture

New Curriculum: Applicants for admission to the first semester of the Associate Diploma in Agriculture, Equine Studies, Food and Nutrition Management, and Horticulture programs should present as a minimum requirement:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum 60% average in the final year of study excluding workplace courses;
• applicants who do not meet the above requirements may also be considered if they will be 19 years of age at the date of enrolment and have been out of secondary school for at least one year;
• applicants who do not meet the above requirements may also be considered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience, practical knowledge, special skills or abilities.

Students are encouraged to complete general or advanced, College (C), University (U), or University/College (U/C) course types at the 11 and 12 grade level in mathematics, biology, and chemistry.

Old Curriculum: Applicants for admission to the first semester of the Associate Diploma in Agriculture, Equine Studies, Food and Nutrition Management, and Horticulture programs should present as a minimum requirement:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with a minimum 60% average in the final year of study;
• preference given to students who have taken mathematics, biology and chemistry at the advanced level;
• applicants who do not meet the above requirements may also be considered if they will be 19 years of age at the date of enrolment and have been out of secondary school for at least one year;
• applicants who do not meet the above requirements may also beconsidered for admission on the basis of relevant work experience, practical knowledge, special skills or abilities.

Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology

New Curriculum: Applicants for admission to the first semester of the Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology program should present as a minimum requirement:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; with credits in grade 11C Biology, grade 12C Chemistry, grade 12C Mathematics, and geade 12C English, each with a preferred minimum grade of 65%. Due to the demanding nature of this program, completion of university level courses (U) are of assistance to your success and will be recognized in the selection process;
• in addition to meeting the minimum academic requirements, applicants must obtain the necessary work experience prior to August 15 of the year of admission. Specifically, this means the applicant must have worked with in a clinic with a practising veterinarian for a minimum period of 40 hours. The Work Experience Form must be completed by the veterinarian or supervising veterinarian technician and forwarded directly to the Registrar's Office at Ridgetown College. Students who have completed their work experience prior to the pre-admissions testing date are given additional selection credits if the forms are recieved prior to or on the date of testing;
• Applicants who advance to the second stage of the selection process are required to take part in pre-admissions testing and complete a written questionnaire at Ridgetown College.

Old Curriculum: Applicants for admission to the first semester of the Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology program should present as a minimum requirement:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; with advanced level credits in Chemistry (grade 11), Biology (grade 11), Mathematics (grade 12), and English (grade 12), each with a minimum grade of 65%;
• in addition to meeting the minimum academic standard, applicants must obtain the necessary work experience prior to August 15 of the year of admission. Specifically, this means the applicant must have worked with a practising veterinarian to become familiar with veterinary technology as it applies to animals. An example of work experience would include voluntary assistance in a veterinary practice for a minimum period of 40 hours (observing, assisting and cleaning). This experience should be supported by the completed work experience form from the practising veterinarian.

Admission with advanced standing may be granted to students with course credits from other recognized post-secondary institutions. Official transcripts must be provided. Students interested in transferring should see the Ontario College University Transfer Guide at http://www.ocutg.on.ca/.

All applications must be submitted as follows:

1. Application for admission to the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph should be made on the Ontario Universities' Application Centre form and submitted to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre, Box 1328, Guelph, Ontario, N1E 7P4. For those presently attending an Ontario secondary school, the form is available in the guidance office. Other applicants can access forms at the colleges, local high schools or by contacting the Centre (phone number 1-519-823-1940 or on the world wide web at http://www.ouac.on.ca/).

2. Applicants to Collège d'Alfred, Kemptville College or Ridgetown College should seek admission through the Ontario College Application Service, P.O. Box 810, 370 Speedvale Ave. W., Guelph, Ontario, N1H 6M4. Applications must be received at the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) by February 1 of the year of admission. For those presently attending an Ontario secondary school, the form is available in the guidance office. Other applicants can access forms at the colleges, local high schools or by contacting the application service (phone number 1-888-892-2228 extension 228 or on the world wide web at http://www.ocas.on.ca/).

Applications for the program may exceed an established quota and candidates, therefore, are urged to submit their application for admission as early as possible. Normally admission decisions will be released commencing May 15. Conditional acceptance may be granted to those students currently attending Year 4 (Grade 12) on a full-time basis who submit an application, an interim grade report, and if required complete a Background Information Form. For those currently enrolled in OAC courses, an offer of admission may be extended upon receipt of an official transcript and an application form.

On request, a student may be exempted from taking any course providing they demonstrate that they have standing in a course deemed equivalent by the instructor in consultation with the director of the program. Students should consult the director or the director's designate concerning such exemption.

Students currently enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary program will normally be required to submit all official transcripts at the conclusion of their program before a final decision regarding their admission will be made.

Alfred College

Bachelor of Commerce - Hotel and Food Administration

Associate Diploma graduates with a minimum grade point average of 70% from the two-year Food and Nutrition Diploma programs may apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Commerce, Hotel and Food Administration Program. Graduates who apply to transfer must have completed an OAC credit or equivalent in Mathematics and English. Upon admission, up to 6.00 advanced standing credits may be transferred. Interested students should contact the admissions or program counselor for the Bachelor of Commerce program for information regarding transfer credit.

All Regional Colleges (Alfred, Kemptville, Ontario Agricultural College, and Ridgetown)

Bachelor of Commerce - Agricultural Business

Graduates of the Diploma in Agriculture programs at all campuses (Alfred, Guelph, Kemptville and Ridgetown) will be accepted into the Bachelor of Commerce Program (Agricultural Business Major) provided they have achieved a cumulative average of 70% or higher in the Diploma Program. In addition, Diploma students must have completed an OAC credit or equivalent in Calculus and English. Students will normally be granted between 2.50 and 4.00 credits. Diploma students may also obtain credit for any passed degree courses which they completed as Diploma students. Applicants should contact the admissions or program counselor for the Bachelor of Commerce Program for information regarding transfer credit.

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Graduates of the Associate Diploma programs at all campuses (Alfred, Guelph, Kemptville and Ridgetown) will be accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program provided they have achieved a cumulative average of 70% or higher in the Diploma program. Students may recieve advanced standing credit based on the current listing of credit equivalents approved by the B.SC. (AGR.) program committee. Applicants should contact the admissions or program counselor for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture for information regarding transfer credit.

Kemptville College

Bachelor of Commerce-Hotel and Food Administration

Graduates from the two-year Food and Nutrition Diploma Program with a minimum grade point average of 70% may apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Commerce, Hotel and Food Administration Program. Applicants must have completed an OAC credit or equivalent in Mathematics and English.

Upon admission up to 6.00 advanced standing credits may be transferred.

Interested students should contact the program counselor for the Bachelor of Commerce program.

While the final date for receipt of applications and documents is June 15 at the Ontario Agricultural College and August 1 at Collège d'Alfred, Kemptville College and Ridgetown College applicants are advised to submit their applications well in advance of the proposed date of enrolment. The University of Guelph cannot guarantee that applicants submitting applications or supporting documentation after August 1 will receive admission consideration for the Fall entry point due to space limitations which may exist within programs.

Classes at Guelph, Kemptville and Ridgetown are offered in English only; classes at Alfred in French only. If English or French is not your first language, you must be able to provide evidence of your fluency in the language of instruction. Contact individual colleges for further information.

At the University of Guelph, Prior Learning Assessment is an acceptable process for assigning credit at the diploma level for learning stemming from experience acquired independently of courses taken at post-secondary institutions. P.L.A. provides a mechanism whereby credit is given for equivalence in a course to those students who have mastered the content of the course concerned without having taken a formal course in the subject area. Such mastery may have been acquired, for example, through work experience, independent study or from non-diploma courses. In the absence of a certificate or other formal acknowledgment of competence by an appropriately accredited institution, the student can challenge the appropriate specific course(s) offered by the University to a maximum of 1.50 credits in a diploma program or 30% of the curriculum for Open Learning Certificates. This is a post admission process only.

Each academic department is responsible for determining which of its courses may be subject to P.L.A. challenge. The challenge process could include one or more assessment methods, including standardized tests, written and/or oral examinations, performance evaluations, interviews, and portfolio assessments. These assessments require that the individual demonstrate, to a qualified faculty member, that pre-determined knowledge and skills have been acquired.

Students should contact Undergraduate Program Services at the University or the Registrar's Office at the Colleges for application forms and further information. Refer to Prior Learning Assessment in Section VIII--Associate Diploma Regulations and Procedures for more information.

Students may be required to apply for readmission after an absence from the University or college. Refer to Readmission in Section VIII--Associate Diploma Regulations and Procedures.

Campus residence accommodation is normally available for students in the Associate Diploma programs provided they make application for it and meet the required application and deposit deadlines. Those desiring campus residence accommodation should make their needs known as soon as possible after they have been accepted into the program.

It should be carefully noted that possession of the minimum requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to any of the Associate Diploma programs. For all programs for which the number of qualified applicants exceeds the quota, the University reserves the right to select the quota from among the qualified applicants.

For students applying to enter the University for the first time, the decision of the Admissions Committee of the individual colleges is final and there shall be no appeal to that decision.

An applicant for readmission may, under specific circumstances, appeal the decision of the Admissions Committee to deny readmission. Refer to Section VIII--Associate Diploma Regulations & Procedures.

Applicants are reminded that the University is a dynamic institution and that information pertaining to admission may change. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ascertain admission requirements at the time of application.

The University normally will not defer admission to a subsequent entry point. Applicants who are unable to register at the entry point for which admission is offered will be required to amend their application or to re-apply.

For additional admission information, write:

Each of the following applicable documents must be sent in support of an application. Personal documents will be returned upon request. Please note that official transcripts submitted will become the property of the University of Guelph and will not be returned except in special circumstances. Normally, official transcripts must be sent directly to the University or College by the institution issuing the document.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all documents are received in Admission Services at the individual colleges by the document deadline date. No decision will be made until all documents have been received. Applications with incomplete documentation after the document deadline date will not receive consideration.

1. Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent Senior Matriculation Certificates, i.e. Alberta Grade 12, G.C.E. etc. Students currently enrolled in their final secondary school year in Ontario are required to submit documentation of interim grades reported by the secondary school.

2. Birth Certificate (only for students applying under Mature Student Regulation).

3. Official transcripts of all academic work taken at the post secondary level, i.e. university, college, nursing, etc..

4. Transcript of marks from the last secondary school attended.

5. Any other documents demonstrating academic results or ability, or explaining the level of academic performance.

6. Any supplementary information required as part of the application.

Text books and supplies are available at the campus book store or library, depending on the college location. Each student should anticipate spending about $250.00 on books and supplies for each semester.

Animals are used to support the teaching in some courses. The University of Guelph is dedicated to maintaining a high level of animal care in all of its teaching programs. Regulated by the Animals for Research Act, the University is in compliance with the standards set by the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Guelph has long been a leader in the promotion of animal welfare issues, and in 1989, established the Colonel K. L. Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, the first such centre in North America. The Centre promotes humane systems of animal management and fosters the development of alternatives in animal use in research and teaching.

Admission inquiries: Admission Services ~ ~ ~ General calendar inquiries: U.P.S.
Last revised: 01 March 2002
© 2001 Office of Registrarial Services, University of Guelph