Admissions

Admission and Re-admission

Admissions to all programs at Northern Lights College requires applicants submit a formal request for admission and demonstrate they meet the requirements as defined by the program.  Admission is based on first-qualified, first-accepted.  Applications are normally subject to an application fee.

Re-admission is required when a student has not attended approved courses in over 12 months.

The College reserves the right to deny admission to any individual, and to limit application to oversubscribed programs.

Admission Requirements & Post-admission Requirements

Northern Lights College seeks to ensure that applicants have the best possiblity of success, and has established entrance requirements that is intended to ensure students are prepared.  Each program may have admission requirements that can include English language proficiency, academic preparedness assessments, and/or requirements from their academic history.  Applicants must meet the stated requirements in order to be admitted to that program.  Specific admission requirements may vary from program to program. Details of the program-specific academic or secondary requirements are referenced in the program listings.

Post-admission requirements are additional requirements that must be completed by students in order to be prepared for their program of study and are expected to be completed before the first day of classes. These requirements are required after an applicant has been accepted by the College to help them avoid unnecessary costs.  Details about post-admission requirements are referenced in the program listings.  It is important to note that if these requirements are not complete prior to the start of classes, your offer of admission may be withdrawn.

Application Dates

Most of NLC’s programs open for admission as early as 11 months prior to start of classes.  Admission closes depending on the program requirements and demand; some programs remain open until the end of the first weeks of classes.

* Applicant must provide all documents necessary to qualify for admission prior to the add/drop date.  Select programs may close earlier.

** International applicants already in Canada with a valid visa may apply following the deadlines for domestic applicants.  Note that capacity may limit availability.

Assessment tests and equivalencies

Where stipulated by the program, assessment tests may used for the purpose admission or course requisites.  Assessment and placement tests may not be used for the purpose of credit or graduation.

Test results are valid for a period of two years prior to the start of classes unless otherwise stated.  Assessment tests are not suitable for students still attending secondary (high) school for the purpose of admission.

Concurrent Admission

Students that are currently attending secondary (high) school may be permitted to enroll at NLC as Concurrent Studies students.  These students are often referred to as dual-credit; Dual credit means credit for course-work completed at the College is granted towards a college credential and towards high school graduation.  Dual credit students must be endorsed by their secondary school to receive dual credit.  Concurrent studies students do not require permission of their secondary school.

Requirements for undergraduate courses

Concurrent studies applicants intending to enroll in any undergraduate courses are required to meet the following admission requirements:

• A Language Arts 11 with a B or higher; or
• A Language Arts 12 with a B or higher; or
• A Language Arts 12 with an interim grade of B (73%) or higher providing the course is completed prior to the first day of the NLC course.

In addition, each student is required to meet the course prerequisites as stated in the NLC Calendar.  Students with the prerequisite course(s) in progress are permitted to enroll providing they have an interim grade of B (73%) or better in the prerequisite course(s) prior to registration.

This requirement applies to all undergraduate courses (numbered 100-199).

Requirements for program applicants

Concurrent studies applicants that are seeking admission to an NLC program must meet all Admission requisites, including Post-Admission Requirements, as stated in the NLC Calendar. 

Additional information

• Neither the NLC Writing Assessment nor the CCP Placement Tests may be used by dual credit students for the purpose of meeting admission requirements.
• Qualifying for admission and meeting course prerequisites is not a guarantee of enrolment.  Course availability, capacity, and scheduling may limit access.
• For this document, an Interim Grade is defined as:
  A percentage grade that reflects the achievement of a student at the end of a quarter (a minimum of 50% of the learning outcomes have been evaluated).
• Exceptions require the approval of a Program Chair.
• Admission deposits are set according to Policy F-4.03.  Dual credit students sponsored by a school are required to pay an admission deposit of the lesser of all unsponsored fees or the deposit amount set by the Policy.  See Tuition & Fees   for more information.

Deferral

Applicants who have accepted an offer of admission may request deferral to a subsequent semester or intake that begins 12 months or less from the initial intake without penalty providing: 

• The request is made prior to the end of the instructional period for the initial application semester or intake.
• Applicants meet admission requirements in effect for the new semester or intake.

Deferral requests will not be adjudicated until the semester is open for admission. Every student can defer once per application with no additional cost.  Subsequent deferrals are subject to a processing fee. Applicants that are registered and request deferral are also subject to de-registration fees. 

Applicants must re-apply for admission, including payment of the application fee if: 

• They do not have approval to defer a previous application for admission; or 
• They do not have approval to defer an admission acceptance; or 
• They do not enroll in a semester or intake to which they have been admitted. 

Applicants that have not been accepted must re-apply to a future intake.

Discretionary Admission

An applicant who does not meet one or more of the academic or non-academic admission requirements may petition the College and request an exception.  The request must be made formally, and submitted to the Admissions Office.  Allow 10 business days for processing.

General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements

1. Overview

English is the language of instruction in all programs at NLC. Thus, it is imperative that NLC students meet minimum English Language Proficiency requirements.

In University Arts and Sciences and additional baccalaureate-level programs, students are required to have English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, ENGL 050, or an equivalent course. Required final grades are specified by program.

2. Select Baccalaureate-Level Programs

The following English Language Requirement applies to the Associate of Arts Degree (general)¹ ; to diplomas in Archaeology, Business Management², Criminology, Interactive Technologies and Game Design, Land and Water Resources, and Social Services Worker; and to certificates in Business Management and University Arts and Sciences³. 

A. Domestic students⁴ and students from countries⁵ that practice Standard Written English must have official transcripts demonstrating that they have met one of the following English Requirements with a “B” grade or higher: English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, English 050, or English 099; alternatively, any university-level English course6 with a “C” grade or higher. Students who do not meet one of the above English requirements must complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement.

B. International students and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language must show that they have met the NLC English requirement for baccalaureate-level programs specified above by demonstrating one of the following:

• An IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0. Students with a writing band of 6.0 are required to complete English 099 with a “B” grade or higher in their initial semester. Alternatively, NLC will accept a TOEFL iBT of 78, Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band, Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section, Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57, Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76, Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC’s Writing Assessment.
• Documented completion of a post-secondary credential that is assessed as equivalent to a similar program from a reputable Canadian institution with its own appropriate English Language Requirement.
• Documented completion of the last two years of full-time Canadian secondary school education in English with a minimum grade of “B” in English 12, English Studies 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent.
• Completion of NLC’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 060-level Certificate.

Where international students and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language are unable to provide an appropriate IELTS score or equivalent, such students may be conditionally enrolled in an NLC program with permission of the Chair. Upon arrival at NLC, these students will be assessed by the ESL department and transferred to the appropriate level of the EAP program as necessary.

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¹ Not applicable to the Associate of Arts Degree (Health Studies) or to the Associate of Science Degree.
² Not applicable to the Executive Assistant Diploma.
³ Not applicable to the Engineering Certificate, the Engineering Studies Certificate, the General University Arts and Sciences Certificate, the Indigenous Human Services Worker Diploma.
⁴ Except those whose secondary education was conducted in French or in another language.
⁵ Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, United States of America.
⁶ From reputable institutions in Canada or from the above list of countries that practice Standard Written English

How to Apply

The Student Services department at any NLC campus is your first point of contact at any NLC campus for information on any program or the application process.

1. Print off the appropriate application or registration form here:
   1. NLC Application for Admission Form
   2. Continuing Education Registration Form
   3. NLC Course Registration Form
   4. NLC Early Childhood Education and Care
   5. Education Assistant
       
2. Submit the completed application form, transcripts of secondary and post-secondary education, and any other required information specified in the program’s Admission Prerequisites.
    
3. Consult with Student Services or an Admissions Officer for more information on, or to register for, any assessment(s) required to meet the Admissions Prerequisites for your program.
   1. Application to Write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT)
   2. Application to Write the NLC Writing Assessment
       
4. Complete any assessments required, or provide any additional documentation, required to meet the Admission Prerequisites for your program.
    
5. Wait for a Letter of Acceptance from NLC indicating that you have met the prerequisites, been accepted into the program to which you applied, and that a seat is available in that program for the upcoming intake.
    
6. Pay the deposit outlined in the Letter of Acceptance to guarantee your place in the program. Deposits may be paid at Student Services on any NLC campus. Please note that the number of Letters of Acceptance issued may exceed the number of seats available. Your seat is not guaranteed until your deposit is paid.
    
7. Complete any additional requirements that were outlined in your Letter of Acceptance.
    
8. Pay the balance of your tuition and any other outstanding fees no later than the first day of class for your program.

Placement Tests

See Assessment tests and equivalencies 

Transfer Students

Applicants that have already attended a college, university, or other post-secondary institution and completed courses and/or a credential to be used as the basis of admission may apply as Transfer Students.  The basis of admission will be the course-work previously completed.

Visiting Students

Applicants that present a Letter of Permission (LOP) from another post- secondary institution may be admitted as Visiting Students.  The LOP must indicate good standing, and indicate which course(s) have permission to enroll and transfer back to the home institution. Space permitting, NLC does not require official transcripts.  Course requisites are normally waived, however, statutory requirements, such as Criminal Records Checks, must be completed prior to registration.