30 glossary terms
Certain programs require you to provide additional information to be considered for admission. These additional admission criteria can include:
If you are not admitted to the specific program you applied to, the university may provide an offer of admission to a different (alternative) program.
Given to recognize a person’s merit and accomplishments, according to criteria outlined by the person or institution granting the award. An award may be monetary or it may be signified by certificates, trophies or other public acknowledgements. It does not require repayment.
A monetary award that is granted to a student based on financial need. A bursary does not require repayment.
The Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test measures the English-language proficiency of students planning to study in Canadian postsecondary institutions.
The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE) is a series of tests that examine 3 areas of language proficiency:
A formal, academic recognition that a student successfully completed a university-level degree program.
There are many types of undergraduate degrees. An undergraduate degree program generally requires 3 or 4 years of full-time university study to complete.
You can enter an undergraduate degree program (also called a bachelor’s degree or baccalaureate) directly from high school.
An honours degree program usually involves a higher level of concentration and achievement within the honours subject and may require additional credits.
English Language Diagnosis and Assessment (ELDA) is the name of a group of English as a Second Language experts who develop and administer English Proficiency (ELDA/COPE) tests. The tests examine 3 areas of language proficiency:
The number of students who enroll in the first year of a given program in the previous academic year. This number varies each year, according to the number and quality of applicants. It is not a cut-off point or enrollment limit but a general guideline.
Someone who faces significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization could be created by attitudinal, historic, social and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation and/or transgender status, etc. Equity-seeking applicants are those that identify barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice and reparation.
An educational system that allows students to combine academic studies and practical work experience in their field of study to earn credit toward a degree. Co-op education programs vary widely in how and when you apply to them, how the university implements them and how you obtain a practical work placement once enrolled.
On OUInfo, the following co-op definitions are used:
The admission average for a program in the previous academic year. This range varies each year, according to the number and quality of applicants. It is not a cut-off point or enrollment limit but a general guideline.
Funds given to a student for a specific purpose, such as specialized research or academic projects. A grant does not require repayment.
A person who self-identifies as an Indigenous person if they believe they are related to, or descended from, the Indigenous or Original peoples of Canada.
Indigenous peoples of Canada include persons with First Nations (Status or Non-status), Inuit or Métis ancestry.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as a language of communication. It uses a 9-band scale to clearly identify levels of proficiency, from non-user (band score 1) through to expert (band score 9).
The International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP) is a series of widely recognized English proficiency evaluations.
A program that provides hands-on work experience in an occupation or profession, often as a component of an educational program. It is a temporary position that may be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time.
A scholarship that is awarded for 1 year only.
A 2- or 3-letter code assigned to a university program and used to apply through the OUAC application.
The OEN is a 9-digit, unique identification number assigned to elementary and high school students across the province of Ontario. You can find your OEN on your report card. Your high school guidance counsellor will also have it on record.
If you are an Ontario high school student, you will need your OEN to apply to an Ontario university.
Received upon completing high school in Ontario. Usually, the basic requirement for admission to university.
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is a computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration.
A component of a university course that consists of supervised practical work.
Requirements (such as courses and English-language proficiency) that you must successfully complete before you can register in a program.
A program of advanced learning that leads to an occupation governed by a mandatory regulatory body.
Members of the profession must complete a licensing exam before they can actively practice and must keep their credentials current, through additional education mandated by the regulatory body.
Professional programs include, but are not limited to:
A scholarship that can be received for more than 1 year. You must meet the university’s stated criteria each year to continue receiving the scholarship.
Financial aid provided to a student to help fund their academic studies. Unlike a loan, a scholarship does not require repayment.
Scholarships are granted based on criteria outlined by the person or institution granting the award, including academic merit, financial need, extracurricular activities or other distinctions. You can apply for certain scholarships, while you may be automatically considered for others.
OUInfo uses the following scholarship terms:
A subject of major interest is a specialization within a general degree program.
For example, a university might have a degree called "Arts", but through that program, you could potentially study several subjects of major interest, including History, Drama, Economics, English, French, Sociology, Philosophy, etc.
Usually, you will be asked to choose your "subject of major interest" when you apply for the general degree program.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. It also evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks.
A level of university study that results in a bachelor's degree upon completion.
OUInfo is a guide to Ontario's universities. It provides information about university programs, admission requirements and more. OUInfo should be used as a starting point for researching university options.
