York University: How to Get Accepted

Mission statement

“The mission of York University is the pursuit, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge. We promise excellence in research and teaching in pure, applied, and professional fields. We test the boundaries and structures of knowledge. We cultivate the critical intellect.”

Academic overview

York University (commonly referred to as York U, or YU) offers several degree-bearing undergraduate programs that are designed to provide students with the tools that they need to succeed professionally and personally. The school offers over 100 different programs through its eight different faculties. Students can select majors and minors from one of the faculty or choose an interdisciplinary program that allows them to explore more than one interest. It is also worth noting that many undergrad students at York actually change their minds about the program that they want to pursue while taking other classes during their first year. So, if you’re still trying to decide on a career path, or you change your mind about the program that you wish to pursue after submitting your application, you don’t need to fret. You have some room to make changes at York.

Furthermore, YU students also have access to several programs that allow them to get work experience while completing their degrees. The university's work-focused experiential education gives students a chance to participate in paid co-op programs, paid internships, practicums, etc. All of these opportunities give students a chance to see what a professional career in their chosen fields would entail and get real hands-on experience.

Admissions statistics

Although York University does not publish an official acceptance rate, the enrollment numbers that are available to us suggest that it is one of Canada's most selective schools. The university's overall acceptance rate is estimated to be 27%, but the undergraduate acceptance rate is estimated to be much higher at 89%. Last year, 55 700 students enrolled at York University, including over 10,000 international students from over 172 different countries. The school does not share statistics about its matriculants.

York U Overall Acceptance Rate:

York U Undergrad Acceptance Rate:

Applying to York University

Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC)

In order to apply to York University and most of the other universities of Ontario, you’ll need to create an account on the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) system and submit your application through this platform. OUAC is a centralized application system for undergraduate and graduate program applications in the Canadian province of Ontario. The OUAC processes multiple types of applications, but for undergraduate programs, there are two types of applications: 

Undergrad 101: This is the application form that most first-time undergraduate students need to worry about. It is specifically for students attending high school in Ontario, who have never attended any post-secondary institutions, and who are 21 years old or younger. 

Undergrad 105: This is the application form that is typically used by international students, mature students, and Canadian students who have already completed high school at the time of their application. Transfer students who would normally use the 105 application have the option of submitting an application directly through the school’s own application platform.

Whatever your student situation, we highly recommend getting in touch with an academic advisor in Ontario if you want to maximize your chances of getting into York University. These advisors are familiar with the Ontario application system and different schools’ eligibility requirements. They can guide you, spot any weaknesses or issues in your university application process, and help you address them so that your application is stronger. If you’re an international student, we recommend investing in the services of an international student advisor to help you navigate this process and improve your chances of admission. 



The undergraduate application has several components. Once you’ve created your OUAC account, you will need to select the universities and programs that you’re interested in so that you may see all the application components that are required for your specific program. You’ll be required to fill out your personal and contact details and provide information about your current high school, grades, and previous experience. Instead of submitting a High school resume, you will need to enter the information about your experiences in the OUAC activities section. This includes volunteer work, professional work, and extracurriculars.

There is also an essay section in the application process. You may be required to submit a personal statement or supplemental college essays. Not all programs at York University require supplementary essays or a supplementary application, but those programs that require additional information or documentation will say so on the application. You can also find this information on your chosen program’s page on the school website. 

It is imperative that you fill out the different OUAC sections, pay the application fees, and submit your application before the application deadline. Once your application is received, you will receive an email from York University with login details for the ‘MyFile’ platform, which the school uses for applications. You can then submit and/or upload the required documents on this platform. 

Required documentation for York University undergraduate applicants:

Want to learn more about the OUAC?

Application timeline

Applying to York University is a lengthy process that requires reading and understanding a lot of information, so we suggest that you start working on your application early in your final year of high school. If you are planning to apply to university in Canada as an international student, then you should start even earlier so that you have enough time to apply for your study permit and entry visa.

The general application process to York University can be divided into four separate steps: 

1. Research your program of choice: Take the time to explore the variety of degree options and innovative course designs that York University offers. Take note of the details of the program that interest you, including how and when it is offered, the career paths it may provide, the courses you can expect to take, the cost of tuition, the admissions requirements etc. 
2. Review the admission requirements: York University has a set of general admission requirements, but in addition to those requirements, many YU programs require additional prerequisite courses, minimum grades, and supplementary application components like a video interview, audition, or portfolio review. Take the time to familiarize yourself with those admission requirements and take the necessary steps to ensure you meet them before you apply. 
3. Submit your OUAC application: Fill out the OUAC application, pay the application fees and submit your application. Ensure that you do this before the application deadline, as York University will not review late submissions. As mentioned earlier, once you submit your OUAC application York University will contact you and provide you with the credentials to access the school's application platform.
4. Submit the required documents: Once you have access to your MyFile account, you can upload the necessary documents for your application. The exact documents that you will be required to submit will depend on your chosen program, and specific background. You will likely be asked to submit at least one or more of the following:

Do you need to submit an essay? Check out our tips below:

Eligibility & selection factors

York University reviews its applicant’s holistic academic profile from high school to the time of application before making an admission decisions. Essentially, this means that the admission board looks at more than just your GPA and the final grades you submit. They may also consider various aspects of your academic profile, including the consistency of your academic results over multiple years, results in specific course prerequisites, repeated course attempts, and external test scores.

The minimum requirements for admission vary depending on your background and chosen program. We encourage you to use the school’s admission requirement tool to determine exactly what you need to be eligible for your chosen program. In general, you will need to have a high school diploma and have graduated with an average of at least 75% in core subjects like grade 12 English. These requirements may look different for international students depending on the high school system you are studying in.

For example, high school students from the United States require a minimum overall average of “B” on Grade 11 and Grade 12 academic courses and a score of 1170 on the SAT to be considered for most programs. International Baccalaureate (IB) students need an IB Diploma point score of 30 or higher. Students using the General Certificate of Education (GCE) students require a minimum of two Advanced-level (A2) passes and three GCSE or IGCSE Ordinary-level (O-level) passes with a minimum average of “C”.

Keep in mind that meeting the minimum requirements is not enough guarantee admission, especially if you are applying to a competitive program. We recommend aiming to surpass the minimum required, so that you can have a competitive advantage.

Want a quick recap of York U?

Acceptance & waitlist

The processing time for applications at York University is four to six weeks. Applicants are encouraged to monitor their "MyFile" page regularly for any updates on their application. The platform will advise them if any additional documentation is required, and it will also show the status of their application.

Eligible applicants will either receive an offer of admission, or they will be placed on the waitlist if there aren't enough spots available in a program. If you are waitlisted, do not despair! Most of the time, being put on the waitlist means that you meet the admissions criteria, but that you simply applied to a program with limited spots available, and the admissions office is waiting for a place to open up before they can offer admission. Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements, on the other hand, will be denied admission. They are welcome to reapply the following year if they are still interested in YU. 

Tuition fees & financial aid

The cost of tuition at York university varies depending on your chosen program and whether you are a Canadian resident or an international student. Furthermore, the exact amount that students have to pay each term will depend on the number of courses they are enrolled in during that term, their additional expenses, and their lifestyle. To give you an idea of what to expect, below is a table showing the estimated yearly costs of full-time students at York. Keep in mind that this does not include room and board, food, transportation, and other personal living expenses. 

York University offers several scholarships, bursaries, and awards for both domestic and international students. It also has funding opportunities specifically for Indigenous applicants. All bursaries are based on financial need, while scholarships are based on academic merit. On the other hand, York University awards are based on both academic excellence and financial need. 

One of the programs that all three student categories have in common is the York automatic entrance scholarship, for which no application is required. Students whose applications show outstanding academic performance in high school are immediately considered for this award when they apply to a York University undergrad program. The scholarship can also be renewed on a yearly basis if you meet the eligibility criteria. The renewal does not happen automatically, though. Students will need to fill out an application form and submit it before the deadline if they want to be considered for renewal.

Furthermore, there are several other scholarships that students can apply for. The school even has an award searching page on its website that allows you to answer a few questions to find out which financial aid programs you may be eligible for. In addition to using this tool, we encourage you to reach out to an academic advisor in Ontario as they can help you find and apply for external scholarships and awards. If you're an international student, you can work with an international student scholarship consultant to find and apply for different financial aid programs. 

Contact information

Website: https://www.yorku.ca/

Admissions/Future student website: https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Mailing address:

York University Office of Admissions

Bennett Centre for Student Services

99 Ian Macdonald Blvd

Toronto, ON M3J 1P3

CANADA

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting 

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