Algoma University has always been a special place for all of our international and domestic learners due to our continued commitment to the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Continuing Education at Algoma offers the unique opportunity to learn in a welcoming and supportive environment benefiting from cross-cultural learning and teaching.
Being an international learner at the Continuing Education Centre at Algoma University, you can expect a diverse learner body with learners from all over the world. At Algoma, we focus on cross-cultural learning to create opportunities to learn from and with each other in line with Our Special Mission and Values.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are at the core of our philosophy, contributing to a healthy, creative, and productive learning environment. Our commitment to keeping diversity of thoughts, experiences, skills and talents is immediately felt when entering our campuses and engaging with our instructors and other learners.
Located on the inherent and treaty lands of the First Nations, Algoma University seek to share knowledge and learning in a respectful way that aligns with the Anishinaabe perspective. Our Continuing Education Programs are aimed at promoting cross-cultural learning among international learners, indigenous people of Canada, and other communities in Ontario.
Already chosen your desired Program for Continuing Education but still don't know where to start? This page will provide you with a detailed guide through admissions, enrollment, getting travel-ready, and onboarding your learning program.
Most of Algoma's Continuing Education programs require a post-graduate degree from a recognized university. You will need to prove your professional credentials by providing copies of your diplomas and transcripts when you apply.
Since the language of instruction at Algoma is English, all international learners have to prove their English-language proficiency through tests, except for countries where English is the recognized official language.
Check the tuition and fees applicable to international learners on each Program's page as well as in the Tuition and Fees section.
If you are living outside of Canada and don't hold a valid Study Permit, you need to apply for admission early to ensure you have enough time to apply for a study visa and permit.
For more information about the admission requirements, application process, and deadlines, please proceed to our Application Process page.
The PACE Division at AU strives to make continuing education as accessible as possible for all international learners. Algoma cooperates with a diversified and developed network of international partners offering multiple services to international learners to facilitate their application, admission, and onboarding process.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are at the core of our philosophy, contributing to a healthy, creative, and productive learning environment. Our commitment to keeping diversity of thoughts, experiences, skills and talents is immediately felt when entering our campuses and engaging with our instructors and other learners.
International learners who come from countries where English is not an official language have to prove their English proficiency through tests.
Algoma University offer international learners an opportunity to complete an English-language program with one of our partners to ensure sufficient language proficiency and bypass the test requirements. For more information please check the English-Language Pathway Partners page.
Once you apply and receive your admission offer, you will need to accept it and get ready for your trip to Algoma Continuing Education facilities. Below is a roadmap to follow to ensure your best experience.
When you receive your Acceptance Offer Letter follow the guidelines outlined in the letter to accept your offer for admission.
If you are an international learner and don't hold a valid Canadian Study Permit, you need to apply for it through the Canada.ca government website. If you already have a Study Permit, double-check if you can use it for studies at a university level or apply for a new permit if your current authorization is valid only for high school. You can find more on Study Permits in the Get Travel Ready guide.
If you are travelling to Canada make the necessary arrangements for your arrival when you are still in your home country. Make sure to check our Get Travel Ready guide to be ready to travel to Canada to begin your studies.
Please note that your Acceptance Offer Letter is only valid after you pay the Tuition deposit specified in the letter. Please check Tuition and Fees for additional information about available payment options.
When you receive your Study Permit or AIP (Approval in Principal), make sure to send us a copy by email to this address. We will add this information to your file.
Although in limited situations, foreign nationals have the opportunity to apply for a Canadian visa on arrival and start from there, it is still strongly recommended to make all the necessary arrangements before you move to Canada.
Applying for a visa at the last minute is not a good idea and can lead to delays in your ability to enter Canada and begin your studies. You must provide your proof of study visa application to Algoma in advance to finalize registration for your graduate certificate program and reserve your seat.
Finding a place to live while you continue your learning with Algoma is one of the top priorities for international learners, as it directly impacts your well-being and the productivity of your studies. It is strongly recommended that you find housing before you come to Canada.
To be ready to travel to Canada, you need to plan for:
Currently Algoma offers on-campus accomodations in our Sault Ste. Marie campus only. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. We encourage our learners to consider off-campus residence opportunities.
As the international COVID-19 is constantly evolving, update yourself with the latest official information before travelling through the Canada.ca website. Please note that the COVID-19 can change anytime, so the information below can be amended without notice and is for general purposes only.
As of January 05, 2022, only travellers arriving from the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, or Macao must show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before departure to the airline.
Other travellers who enter Canada by air, land, or marine transportation do not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, pre-entry and arrival tests, quarantine, or using ArriveCAN, cruise boarding checks, health checks, or wearing masks.
Algoma University and its Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Centre follow the Guidelines of the Ontario Public Health authorities, which now treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or flu.
Algoma University and the PACE Centre continue taking measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment across our three campuses. To keep each other safe, we ask everyone to take the following simple steps:
We believe that our collective efforts and continuing adherence to these simple rules will make a difference and help us keep each other safe.
As an international learner, you need written authorization to remain, study, and work in Canada. You will be provided with such authorization when you receive your Study Permit from IRCC.
You need to apply for a Study Permit before you travel to Canada after you have applied to Algoma and received your Acceptance Offer Letter from us. You will need to create an online account at Canada.ca to apply online.
Since processing times can vary from 8 to 16 weeks, it is important to apply for a Study Permit as soon as possible after you receive an Acceptance Offer Letter from Algoma PACE to ensure you have your application approved before the beginning of your studies.
Please check our Learner Visa Information page for more details. If you have any further questions, reach out to immigration@algomau.ca to speak to the Algoma University immigration team.
In Canada, only citizens and permanent residents have the right to free public healthcare. All temporary residents, including international learners, have to pay for all medical services. For this reason, all international learners should secure medical insurance before they come to Canada.
The government requires all international learners who study in Ontario's post-secondary institutions to have mandatory insurance, known as the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). The UHIP plan provides basic coverage to cover a limited scope of medical services. You will need a supplementary plan to have coverage above UHIP.
Please check our Health Insurance page for additional information about UHIP basic insurance, supplementary insurance, and submitting an insurance claim when you use medical services.
When staying in Canada you may need a Canadian bank account. You will also need one if you decide to pursue employment opportunities in Canada.
It is always a good idea to learn about the Canadian banking system before you come to Canada. You may check for basic details, including information about major banks and requirements to open a bank account in Canada, by visiting Banking in Canada page.
When you move to Canada, you will need to ensure you have a working phone plan to avoid the costs of roaming. If you plan to stay in Canada for more than several weeks, you will want to buy a SIM card from a local telecommunication provider to keep the costs under control.
You will have the option of bringing your own device or purchasing a phone from a telecom provider. Thankfully, many phones have dual SIM support so that you can switch between your national and Canadian SIM cards as necessary. Most importantly, you should ensure that your phone is unlocked and not restricted to your home country if you decide to use your own device in Canada.
For more information about national mobile providers in Canada, prepaid and postpaid plans, as well as other details, please check SIM Card and Phone Plans page.
The Canadian winter can be freezing cold. In Canada winter weather starts in November and continues for around 6 months until the end of March or the beginning of April, with average temperatures in Southern Ontario, where Brampton campus is located, between -5 and -15 degrees celsius. In Northern Ontario, where Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins campuses are located, temperatures can reach as low as -30 degrees celsius, with heavy snow fall.
Make sure you have proper winter clothing to stay in Canada during the winter months. To withstand cold and wind chill, you will need to have thermal clothing and dress in layers to keep warm and remove your clothing when indoors.
You can find more useful advice on choosing the right winter clothing and accessories and preparing for your first Canadian winter by visiting our Dress for Winter recommendation. Following these simple guidelines will help you stay safe and healthy during the cold season so that you may enjoy all the winter fun opportunities Canada has to offer.
PACE prides itself on offering our international learners a diverse learner experience which includes both classroom and out-of-class activities. Our learning facilities include state-of-art labs and research centres, the National Centre of Excellence promoting coding opportunities and the resources of the Arthur A. Wishart Library, among others.
At Algoma we believe that out-of-class experience is as important for learning as classroom activities. Algoma's campuses have become a home for conferences, seminars, workshops and talks, including TEDx talks with authors, scientists, and experts from multiple verticals.
Algoma's campuses offer many opportunities for athletics and recreational activities. We offer access to the George Leach Fitness Centre and team sports opportunities for everyone, no matter your prior experience. If you are after winter sports, there is hardly a better place for skiing, snowboarding, and all sorts of winter fun than Ontario.
For more detailed information about the in-class and out-of-class learner experiences available to our international learners please check our Learner Experience page.
International learners can only work in Canada if they have written authorization to work on their Study Permit. You should not work without having this authorization. If you do, you may become inadmissible and removable from Canada.
Eligible candidates can send a separate request to make an amendment to their Study Permit for work authorization without an additional fee.
Generally, international learners at Algoma are ineligible for working on-campus, which is open only to full-time learners enrolled in a study program leading to an academic degree.
Working off-campus has more complicated regulations. Those who want to pursue off-campus employment opportunities should pay close attention to avoid unintentionally working illegally.
Full-time post-graduate learners who pursue an academic, vocational, or professional training program which is at least 6 months in length and leads to a graduation certificate can work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week after the beginning of their studies. To do so, international learners need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), is a 9-digit number which you need to be able to work in Canada.
Please note that conditions for on-campus and off-campus working are subject to change so make sure to visit the government website for up-to-date requirements. It is important that you are aware of and observe the applicable provisions. Please reach out to immigration@algomau.ca to get in touch with AU's immigration team for an consultation.
We are aware that our international learners may have many other questions specific to their situation or the country they come from. For additional information please make sure to check our FAQ section.
If you don't find the information you need on our FAQ page or on other pages on this website, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Centre for Continuing Education through our Contact Us form, and our admission consultants will get back to you shortly.
