Because universities and colleges in Canada do not rely on a a single standardized test to evaluate their applications, each school has a separate set of entrance requirements. These can vary widely, but generally first degree or diploma programs ask for proof of completion of a number of high school credits or equivalents. This final phrase, "or equivalents" is the area where most international students must fit in. You will be required to show proof that your previous education covers the same scope that high schools in that particular province, which usually means good reading and writing skills, some mathematics, some study of science and perhaps even creative arts, depending on which program you would like to apply to. If you have studied in a British school system, your A levels will be familiar to admissions offices, and the same goes for students with International Baccalaureate credits. Each school's flexibility regarding fulfillment of requirements varies also.

On some schools web sites, either under admissions or international student centres a complete listing by country is given. Colleges place less emphasis on academic learning and more on life skills because you are applying to specialized programs like journalism or fashion design, where experience in the job field is almost better than any school course. Universities do focus on your academics, but if you are over a certain age, you may qualify as a mature student, which will allow you to waive a number of requirements.

Getting the documentation prepared to show that you have completed the appropriate school credits may end up being what takes the longest in this whole process. The best preliminary information about what you will need to apply can be found on each school's web site.

Applying to Alberta, British Columbia or Ontario
These provinces have centralized the application process for their colleges and universities. This means that a single application form will be sufficient for all the schools you wish to apply to. In Ontario, the Ontario University Applications Centre and the Ontario College Application Service process application for universities and colleges respectively. In British Columbia you can choose for your application to go through the Post-secondary Application Service of British Columbia. You need only complete a single application for all the schools you wish to apply to and pay a single application fee. This does limit the number of school and program choices you can make on a single application and for one set fee, but you can add more choices for an additional cost. Alberta's system does not include all the province's schools, but the Electronic Application Service does process applications for 15 of the 26 institutions in that province.

Many schools let you apply over the web, including B.C. and Ontario's application centres. With your on- line application you will need to provide a credit card number for payment of your application fee or be prepared to send the amount by mail to be received before the application deadlines. This type of application makes the process much simpler and the school or service will notify you as soon as the electronic application is received, i.e. no wondering if your application got lost in the mail, or months waiting for confirmation.