r/OntarioUniversities

If you're a professor at a public university in Canada, or if you're an administrator (i.e: Academic Advisor, Registrar, Desk Help, etc) at a university, are you considered a fully public employee? My guess would be yes, as your salary is paid via public tax dollars and student tuition, and the salaries are also publicly disclosed, as they would be for any other public employee making over a certain threshold. But I want to understand if there is any further clarification or some red tape that makes individuals working at universities in Canada not public employees.

Secondly, as a soon to graduate student, it's so frustrating how slow administrative progress has been. Literally, any change the students have wanted, whether it be towards academic policies, guidelines, budgets, tuition reforms, etc, has taken at least 1 year to get to the ears of senior leadership and then another year or so to be implemented, and that too not as originally requested, rather a half-ass solution so they can act as if student concerns really matter (when all we really are, are just numbers). And then they have the audacity to say that: "The youth are our future".

And why are the salaries for university leaders so high. Deans, Vice-Presidents, Vice-Deans, Associate Deans, Presidents, etc, for all the major universities in our country are getting paid well in excess of $300k. Many university president's are getting paid in excess of $500k, which as a student, I think is outrageous. That's more than the PM and the Premiers who lead our country and provinces. Many students can barely afford tuition, are having to skip on meals, etc, and this is what these people are getting paid. Also the same people who claim to care for their student's well-being and mental health, and also say that: "The youth are our future", yeah, my ass, if that's how you treat us, take a fat paycheck, hinder progress, and upkeep the bureaucracy on our campus, you can't say that.

Hi, I’m considering going back to school for a different college program and want to know if it will allow me to transfer to uni.

(I already got a college diploma but it turned out to have no jobs), if I start an engineering technology program and get a high average, could I get into first year engineering at somewhere like York or queens or OTU? Would I have to finish it? Should I get highschool calculus and sciences? Does the program need to contain a lot of math and science or are more practical programs with good GPAs acceptable too?

I don’t care about transfer credits, just considering engineering and whether it’s possible for me.

How does this work? I can’t find any info on this online.

I’m at a Canadian university entering second year. I got a mediocre 3.5ish/4 gpa. I see everyone else having do many accomplishments, high academic achievements, work, and internships etc. I have none of that.

I feel like I’m so behind. Every immigrant parents kid seems so more accomplished than me.

My friend asked me to make a LinkedIn account and I was like what’s the point? I’m just ordinary, I have no awards, no competitions, no ECs.

Is it reasonable for my parents to expect more or be upset that I kind of lack academic ability

I have been struggling a lot with making a decision on which course to keep and which one to do an LOP for.

I have two courses, CVL742 and CEN800 at TMU.

I'm deciding to do one of them through Winter 2027 and doing a LOP for one of them through Fall 2027 at York University as CIVL4110 (replacement of CVL742) or ENG3000 (replacement of CEN800) but I don't know which one to choose.

I have other courses like CVL906 and CVL914 that semester and want the easier course out of the two options above (CVL742 or CEN800) since memorization and theory isn't my strong suit. I really must make the right decision because I really do not want to fail.

Edit: I have submitted an LOP for both courses already to see if they would even get accepted but have gotten zero responses so far.

Edit: These are core engineering courses not offered in the Spring/Summer semesters, only offered in the Winter at TMU.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking into completing a second bachelor’s degree in Ontario and wanted to see if anyone here has gone through something similar.

I already have a bachelor’s degree, but my GPA from my first degree isn’t as competitive as I would like for medical school. I’m considering doing a second degree to show stronger recent academic performance and potentially improve how my academics are assessed at schools that consider a second degree or recent years.

I’m mainly trying to figure out:

• Which Ontario universities have the shortest second-degree options for someone who already has a bachelor’s?
• Are there programs where a lot of my previous credits can transfer, allowing me to finish in around 2 years or less?
• Which universities are relatively flexible with second-degree/non-degree students?
• Are there programs where maintaining a strong GPA is reasonably manageable if you put the work in?
• Has anyone specifically done a second degree for medical school GPA repair, and did it end up helping?

I know there is no genuinely “easy” degree and I’m prepared to put in the work. I’m mainly looking for the most efficient option where I can complete enough new full-time coursework to demonstrate a much stronger academic record without unnecessarily spending another 4 years in undergrad.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done this in Ontario, especially if you later applied to medicine.

Thanks!

I’m taking a credit this month to update my OSSD since I was behind a credit after high school. The extension is till August 21st but the final grade isn’t till like the 28th-29th.

What can I do? Any advice/help? Will they be chill about it or can I ask my guidance councillor to maybe update it showing my mid-term?

I get it, it’s a big jump from highschool and it’s what’s you make of it. but what’s with all the fear mongering?

I recently graduated from an Ontario university and am considering an HRTO application.
I reported repeated unwanted conduct from a student in my assigned group, including following me toward the washroom/kitchen and repeatedly pressuring me for job referrals after I had said no. I eventually changed my behaviour on campus to avoid him.
My mental health deteriorated significantly, and I later provided the university with medical documentation confirming a disability and identifying interaction with this student as a major trigger.
I asked to complete group work independently. I was not asking for reduced work or lower academic standards— I actually offered to do the entire assignment myself to avoid direct interaction. I also was a good student graduated with an A GPA.
Despite the medical documentation, I was still required to attend in person and continued being directed between different accommodation processes. I also experienced what I believe may have been retaliatory conduct after raising my concerns, including references to Student Conduct and possible expulsion.
I have emails, Teams messages, medical documentation and other contemporaneous evidence supporting the timeline.
Does this sound like a potentially strong failure-to-accommodate and/or reprisal claim under the Ontario Human Rights Code?
I would also really appreciate recommendations for free or low-cost Ontario legal resources that deal with HRTO or university disability cases. possible.

Hi! so i'm about to go into grade 12 this year as a student in ottawa. I'd say my main 2 choices for unis are uottawa and carleton, and i'm stuck between the two because I haven't decided whether I wish to go into law or medicine when the time comes. Of course it would be more beneficial to have that decision made before applying to unis, but realistically, due to my lack of experience/exposure in both fields, I wish to not limit myself to one.

I am aware that law school requires no majors (as with the LSAT), whereas the MCAT does. Even then, if I choose to go to uottawa, there will be no need for me to even do said MCAT. Nonetheless, i've been pondering major/minor options for uni. I've found myself to have a great affinity for neuroscience, which would be beneficial for medicine later on as a major, but have only seen carleton have this as a major option. If I do wish to go to med school though, I'd rather stick to uottawa as they have their own medical school, meaning I would have to take health sci/biomed, or something within that domain.

Furthermore, I am conflicted with taking a minor as well. I do enjoy the humanities and it pains me to even think of going four years without being implicated with them in some way (especially if I were to apply for law school later on). If I were to take a minor, it would probably be in political science/philosophy alongside my stem-related major.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, honestly I'm just looking for some clarity on whether people have ever questioned this path between law/medicine at uottawa and carleton. I've heard good things about both universities and wonder what others have to say.

Hi. I recently graduated with Bachelor's in Software Engineering. I've been in immigration alone due to situation in my country since my first year in university (studied remotely) and all that time had to work and figure out my living, so I was not able to be a distinguished student. It's hard to tell my exact GPA as we have another system, but let's say it's around 2.6 - 3.0.

In my last year or two I figured that I would like to do something more complex and Electrical Engineering is my choice, for which I want to start pretty much from scratch and get second bachelor's. I am planning to stay in Canada and after (hopefully) getting my PR try to get into university. I obviously can't aim for anything great, but I want program be proper, with opportunities and possible to get into with my situation.

What would you recommend for me to do in my situation to increase chances? Which institutions and programs to pick?

I will be happy to answer any questions I didn't provide answers for initially here, thanks all

Hi,
I really like to study accounting at either UOttawa or Carleton university. I graduated from high school with 82%. I also went to college and graduated from a 2 year college program with cumulative gpa of 3.25.
My college gpa seems low and apparently that’s what the schools check for admission. What can i do to get into one of these universities with this gpa?

I was a first year engineering student at western last academic year and through out I failed almost all of my courses (excluding the ones ive withdrawn from) I wanted to transfer to brock becuase it was in my home city ive done all they asked but they need a letter from western about my standing and eligibility to continue school but western said that since I was dismissed they cant send a letter confirming that. I dont know what to do please help me.

first year student here. I am in apartment style and will share one main fridge with four other people. should I also get a small fridge for in my room?

i’m 23f , i didn’t really do good in high school not because i couldn’t but i didn’t care enough to try . after high school i did a year of nursing and i didn’t like it and i also did a year of computer science and tbh i was very depressed and it was all online i had no motivation to learn or study so i dropped out . both were at college btw. intook off another year for jaw surgery and another year bc my brother passed . i’m 23 now lol . i was gonna apply to dental hygiene school - 18 month program and they make good money and i work in the field right now as an assistant manager as a dental office . but i’ve always wanted to be an engineer . i dont know like i never really tried at school ngl and im doing dental hygiene besides it seems like the smart choice . not because of interest or anything else . i dont want to do it but i will because it seems like the smartest choice for me right now because i dont have a degree .

i make around 65 k right now and i could
go into upper management but i dont want to. its very stressful in management and my job is pretty chill and i make okay money for my age.

i want to go back highschool and take the prerequisites for engineering and apply to universities and be an an engineer . i live in toronto so i have a lot of choices . but i don’t know if it’s what i should do . like with my heart i want to , i want to do something im interested and passionate about . it’s very hard work i know but i dont think im dumb . my older brother is a software engineer and he did computing engineering at uoft and i know of a few people that did engineering and i think its so cool . idk . i know computer engineering at uoft is a reach my older brother is very talented and smart and i am not on his level at all. i just dont know if its possible . like maybe tmu or york ?

should i just give up and do what’s most smart ? dental hygiene school. i’ve honestly been really struggling. i feel like my life is going no where lol . everyone around me has graduated is getting married etc . i have always regretted not going to university and getting a degree . it’s truly my biggest insecurity. i feel so dumb all the time but i know im not you know . i know degrees don’t get jobs and my friends that have degrees are struggling but i want to learn . my brain is so fried i feel like i haven’t learned anything in sooo long . i want to be an engineer , specially computer engineer or software. like i want to challenge myself and im gonna be 27 when i graduate when hygiene school anyways . indont know . maybe im just feeling lost in life and grasping at straws but is it doable . i know it depends on disciple and me and my hard work and i truly want this so badly . i will work my ass off i don’t care if im 30 when i graduate because i will be proud of the career i work in and i will genuinely enjoy learning so much . i just need someone’s honest opinion lol .

so im a female commuter that goes to york uni. i was wondering, where do the girls buy pants that have pockets and are very comfortable? do you like sweats, athletic wear, jeans, cargo, what is it that you always find wearing? the reason the pants need to have pockets is cuz as a commuter i always have my presto in my pant pockets. affordable would be nice but i don't mind spending a bit more on pants that i can just wear without having to worry about being uncomfortable all day at school. any recommendation would be appreciated :)

what it says on the website

All programs

For all Waterloo programs, we accept courses from schools that are accredited by your provincial or territorial ministry of education. Here are types of courses we accept if they're accredited by your province or territory.

Day school (high school)
Summer school
Night school
Online
Private school

If you're applying for admission to any Waterloo program to start in September 2027, we will not penalize you if you choose to take courses outside of your regular day schooling

previously they had another section on their website for engineering/cs where they specifically said they penalize it, now they removed it and applied that rule to all programs (can use way back machine to see that on june 24 that page was still active but now it has been closed) this also opens up retakes as previously they mention they only take the first attempt but now that’s gone. Am i looking into this wrong? the page was there a month ago and now it’s not, they updated the main requirements page to now include all programs. seems like they made it much easier. wish i took summer school now

Edit: just saw a post about someone who emailed waterloo in july and they said to were updating their website. seems to be the case and now they don’t care. they still recommend that you take the courses in day school to be prepared tho

Hi everyone,

I'm an international student from Nepal planning to pursue a Master's in Data Science / Computer Science in Ontario.

I completed my B.Tech in Computer Science from VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology) and I'm currently deciding between:

• Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) — MSc Data Science & Analytics
• Ontario Tech University — MSc Computer Science / Data-related program
• Algoma University — Master of Computer Science (Data Science & AI)

My background:

• B.Tech in Computer Science from VIT
• CGPA: 8.30/10
• PTE: 67
• Currently working as a Business Data Analyst
• Experience with Python and Tableau

My main priorities are:

• Quality and reputation of the university
• Job opportunities after graduation
• Strength of the Data Science/AI curriculum
• Networking and connections with employers
• Tuition and overall cost for international students
• Internship/co-op opportunities
• Location and availability of tech jobs
• Overall value for an international student planning to work in Canada after graduation

If you have studied at any of these universities, or know someone who has, I'd really appreciate your honest opinion.

Which one would you choose and why?

Also, if you think there are other Canadian universities that would be a better option for my profile and offer a good balance of tuition, program quality, job opportunities, and career prospects, please feel free to suggest them.

I'm especially interested in hearing about actual job outcomes, internships, workload, professors, and whether the university helped with finding employment after graduation.

Thanks!

very curious, and did anyone take a gap year to save??