We have your best interest at heart, and will make accommodations, where possible, for all applicants affected by COVID-19. We are working hard to ensure your application will be evaluated fairly, regardless of disruptions.
We have created this FAQ page to answer the most common questions undergraduate applicants have asked us over the past few weeks. We understand that the situation is fluid, and as things change, we will continue to evaluate our procedures for reviewing applications.
York Admissions, Start Dates
Yes – the admissions team continues to process applications and make offers of admission. Decisions are based on documents uploaded to your MyFile account and/or submitted directly by your institution.
We also understand that some students require additional flexibility in meeting deadlines as a result of disruptions to schooling or exams due to COVID-19. York is committed to working with any students who may need extra time in order to complete their application.
Domestic Applicants –Yes, we continue to make offers of admission for the Summer (May) 2020 Session.
International applicants – If you have yet to receive a decision for the Summer (May) 2020 session, the admissions team will review your application in the coming weeks. However, you will now be reviewed for the Fall (September) 2020 term. After your application has been reviewed, this update will appear in your MyFile account, and will be reflected in your Decision Letter and Acceptance/VISA Letter.
Yes – York University is planning for the delivery of programs and courses for Summer 2020. Due to the unprecedented extenuating circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Summer 2020 terms will be delivered exclusively by online/remote learning formats.
We are making every effort to plan as many summer course offerings as possible. At present, we are determining which programs and courses can be offered through online/remote learning means. Information about Summer courses (what’s offered, what’s not) will be available no later than April 17, 2020.
Please review the start date and deadlines for the summer session.
Yes – The Fall 2020 term is scheduled to start on September 9, 2020, and we look forward to welcoming all admitted students to Toronto and York’s Keele and Glendon Campuses in September! Any updates will be made through e-mail and our website, and you are welcome to review the start date and deadlines for the fall term.
An update on the Fall term the means by which courses will be delivered was released on May 19, 2020.
The typical processing time is four to six weeks once all required documents are in the possession of the admissions team. We continue reviewing applications into early July, but we hope to have the majority of decisions released by early May.
We encourage you to accept your offer by the deadline in your Decision Letter to guarantee a spot in your program of interest. No registration deposit is required at the time of accepting your offer. If you change your mind in the future, it is possible to then decline/change your offer through your MyFile account or OUAC.
Note: You may continue to accept your offer after the posted deadline without the need for a formal extension, as long as the program has not reached capacity. Exceptions to this and/or programs that reach capacity quickly include but are not limited to; BBA/iBBA Business Administration, BDes Design, BSW Social Work, BScN Nursing, BEd Education, BEng Engineering and BA/BSc Computer Science.
Deferral Request
Summer – yes. Note that you must first accept your offer of admission before you are able to submit the deferral request. Please review and submit the Deferral of Admission for Undergraduate Students form by May 31, 2020.
Fall – for most programs, yes, students are able to defer their admission for up to one year. Note that you must first accept your offer of admission before you are able to submit the deferral request. Please review and submit the Deferral of Admission for Undergraduate Students form by August 31, 2020.
Currently the BBA/iBBA, BDes, BSW, and BScN programs do not offer the option to defer. All departments are closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on incoming students. Any changes will be updated here, and in the Deferral of Admission form.
For questions and advice relating to Study Permits/Visa applications, please review York International’s FAQ page, and contact them directly.
Document Submission
Yes, we are currently receiving documents by mail. Documents received in the mail can take up to 15 business days to appear on your MyFile.
Please upload the documents to your MyFile account. If you encounter issues with this, please e-mail the required documents in PDF format to study@yorku.ca, making sure to include your full name and York reference number in the e-mail.
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be flexible with our document submission deadlines to accommodate the needs of our incoming students. If you have specific questions or concerns about your deadline(s), please contact study@yorku.ca for clarification.
High School Closures, Changes, Exam Cancellations
We know that many of you are concerned because your high school is closed, exams have been cancelled, or your high school has changed its grading scheme. Please don’t worry! A change in your school’s grading process will not negatively impact your offer of admission, and your application will be evaluated equitably and fairly. If your school or exam provider cancels final exams or adjusts its usual grading practices, we will consider the results reported by your school or exam provider.
We are currently collaborating with our high school, university, and examination board colleagues regarding this situation, and will provide an update in the coming weeks.
York University is considering applications without English Proficiency test results. It is possible to receive a conditional offer of admission based on required academic documents and transcripts. We will make conditional offers whenever possible to qualified students. The details of the conditional offer will be in your Decision Letter. If a conditional offer is granted, you will have until August 1, 2020 to submit your final official documents – at that time a sufficient IELTS or TOEFL score would be required, or you can choose to enroll in a program with the York University English Language Institute (YUELI). Please direct any questions relating to YUELI to yueli@yorku.ca.
For the FW 2020-2021 session only, students who cannot access the currently accepted language test may submit the Duolingo English Language Placement test. A Duolingo score of 115 or higher is required.
College/University Transfer Students
Within Canada – York has already evaluated many transfer applicants for conditional offers of admission based on their previous results and interim grades, and we are working with our Canadian post-secondary partners to ensure we receive your final transcripts in April/May. The disruption to your classes will not impact your application to York.
Outside of Canada – please rest assured that you will not be disadvantaged by any disruptions you’re experiencing due to COVID-19. Conditional offers of admission will be made based on your previous studies and most recent interim grades, while we wait for your final grades to become available.
Transfer Credit Assessment – please visit the Transfer Students page, or contact the Transfer Connect team.
International Students
The answer to this question, and other Study Permit/Visa questions can be found on York International’s FAQ page.
The answer to this question, and other Study Permit/Visa questions can be found on York International’s FAQ page.
For questions relating to YUELI programs, please contact the YUELI team directly at yueli@yorku.ca.
The answer to this question can be found in on York International’s FAQ page.
For questions and advising relating to Study Permits/Visa applications, please review York International’s FAQ page, and contact them directly.
York University is considering applications without English Proficiency test results. It is possible to receive a conditional offer of admission based on required academic documents and transcripts. We will make conditional offers whenever possible to qualified students. The details of the conditional offer will be in your Decision Letter. If a conditional offer is granted, you will have until August 1, 2020 to submit your final official documents – at that time a sufficient IELTS or TOEFL score would be required, or you can choose to enroll in a program with the York University English Language Institute (YUELI). Please direct any questions relating to YUELI to yueli@yorku.ca.
For the FW 2020-2021 session only, students who cannot access the currently accepted language test may submit the Duolingo English Language Placement test. A Duolingo score of 115 or higher is required.
Questions relating to international student admissions can be directed to intlenq@yorku.ca.
York International is our international student support office. Important information regarding COVID-19, study permits, travel to Canada, and international student orientation can be found on their website. For questions and advising relating to Study Permits/Visa questions, please review York International’s FAQ page and contact them directly.
Ways to Connect with Us
- Take a Virtual Tour of our Keele and Glendon campuses.
- Office of Admissions at study@yorku.ca
- Admissions Live Chat available 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT at https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/contact-admissions
- Student Housing / On-Campus Residences at https://studenthousing.info.yorku.ca/covid-19/
- International Student Recruitment at intlenq@yorku.ca
- York International (anything relating to visas, immigration, study permit applications, etc.) at iadvisor@yorku.ca
- York University English Language Institute (YUELI) at yueli@yorku.ca