What is OUAC?
“OUAC” stands for Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
What does OUAC do?
The OUAC is an application processing centre for undergraduate admissions to Ontario Universities. The OUAC receives student applications, processes them and transfers the information to the universities. The OUAC does not make admission decisions; that is the universities’ responsibility.
Will my marks be sent directly to OUAC?
For students applying through OUAC, you will first need to add “Ontario Virtual School” within the Academic Background section of your OUAC account to allow our administration access to your application. Once you have added us, simply check off “GROUP A” when requesting your report card and we will update your mark directly to OUAC for you. For students applying to university as a GROUP B, simply provide the university’s admissions email as well as your student ID number.
How do I access my OUAC account?
You can access your OUAC account by following this link to the OUAC login page.
How do I apply through OUAC?
This OVS blog will help you through the application process.
The new Undergraduate Application and Guide are available at:
https://www.ouac.on.ca/guide/undergrad-guide
How-to videos and PowerPoint/PDF tutorials showing applicants how to use the new application are available at:
https://www.ouac.on.ca/videos/how-to-videos/
Can I use OUAC to apply to universities outside of Ontario?
The OUAC only collects and updates marks for students applying to at least ONE university within Ontario. However, the OUAC will also assist the following out-of-province universities with collecting academic data for Ontario high school students who have applied to at least one Ontario university through the OUAC:
- Acadia University
- Bishop’s University
- The University of British Columbia
- Concordia University
- Dalhousie University
- McGill University
- Saint Mary’s University
- Simon Fraser University
- The University of Victoria
Students who apply to these out-of-province universities can authorize the universities to request their academic information from the OUAC. To authorize them, the applicant must include their 11-digit OUAC Reference Number on the university’s application form, where the 11th digit is always “0”. NOTE: If you do not intend to apply to any universities within Ontario, you would simply apply through your selected schools directly. Once your application has been processed and a student number issued to you, please contact [email protected] to have your OVS documents forwarded.
Am I a Group A or Group B applicant?
The Undergraduate application is a smart application and will automatically put you in the right group. If you make changes to your application, your group may change.
Your program selection, admission requirements and deadlines may vary, depending on whether you are a Group A or Group B applicant.
You are a Group A applicant if all of the following are true:
- You are currently taking 1 or more courses at an Ontario high school
- and You are under 21 on or before December 31, 2024,
- and You have an OSSD or are working toward an OSSD with six 4U/M courses
You are a Group B applicant if you do not meet the Group A criteria.
For example, you are:
- Not currently taking a course at an Ontario high school
- A Canadian outside of Ontario
- An international applicant
- A transfer student
- A mature applicant
- 21 or over, on or before December 31, 2024, and taking a course at an Ontario high school
Important Dates and Deadlines for Ontario Universities’ Applications (2024-2025)
Group A Applicants
If you are a Group A applicant, there are specific dates and deadlines in your application process.
Application, Offer and Response Deadlines
January 15, 2025
- The deadline for Group A applicants to submit their completed applications to the OUAC.
- Note: The OUAC will continue to process applications received after this date and distribute them to the Ontario universities; however, specific university deadlines will apply.
May 29, 2025
- The latest date all Group A applicants who submitted their application by the January application deadline can expect a response from an Ontario university. This includes an offer of admission, a refusal or a deferral, once additional information is received.
June 2, 2025
- The earliest date a Group A applicant may be required to respond to an Ontario university offer of admission and give a financial commitment (e.g., registration deposit, residence deposit).
- All other admission-related elements, including scholarships, other forms of student assistance or financial incentives, and offers of residence, are considered part of the offer of admission. Therefore, a student may accept these other offers before June 2, 2025, but Ontario universities will not compel a student in any way to make a decision before this date.
Other Key Dates
August 2024
- The OUAC launches OUInfo and begins posting application material with updated information for fall 2025 admission.
- September to November 2024
- Ontario’s universities are excited to host a collection of in-person and virtual OUEvents in fall 2024. These events are all free and anyone may attend.
- Ontario Universities’ Regional Fairs
September 16 – October 18, 2024
- Ontario Universities’ Fair
October 5 – 6, 2024
- Ontario Universities’ Information Sessions (virtual)
November 26, 2024
- Target date for Ontario universities to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses from the OUAC.
January 23, 2025
- Target date for Ontario universities to receive all application data and grades from the OUAC for applications submitted by January 15, 2025.
February 20, 2025
- Target date for Ontario universities to receive all final grades available for 4U/M courses and current full-year grades for 4U/M courses from the OUAC.
May 1, 2025
- Target date for Ontario universities to receive all midterm or final grades available for 4U/M courses and interim grades for full-year courses from the OUAC. The OUAC will send the grades we receive before the deadline to Ontario universities when they are received.
Early June 2025
- The date the Admission Information Service (AIS) opens. The AIS allows you to determine which Ontario universities still have spots available in first-year undergraduate programs.
July 14, 2025
- Target date for the OUAC to send all remaining final grades to the Ontario universities. The OUAC will attempt to contact all schools that have not provided their grades.
August 1 to 29, 2025
- The OUAC collects summer school grades from Ontario high schools and school boards.
Group B Applicants
There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant.
Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines.
If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university’s admission office for help.
Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions.
