University of Guelph Criminal Justice and Public Policy admission requirements: ENG4U, an 80% to 86% range, and a 70% rule in first year

CJPP is a Bachelor of Arts major run by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Department of Political Science. You study criminal justice institutions such as police, courts and corrections. You also study how public policy is made and carried out.

Guelph says the program suits students aiming for a career in the justice system or an advanced degree. The calendar notes that the CJPP minor is suspended, so the major is the route.

Guelph's calendar lists what graduates should be able to do. It reads like a mix of criminology, law and government, with a research methods thread running through it.

You need the OSSD with six 4U or 4M courses: ENG4U plus five more. Guelph recommends a 4U math for students heading into social science majors, though it is not required.

The math tip makes sense here. CJPP includes data courses such as SOAN*2120 Introduction to Data Collection and Analysis, and a quantitative methods course later on. Map your year with our course planner.

Guelph lists an estimated cut-off range of 80% to 86% for CJPP. That range comes from past admission averages. The exact cut-off depends on how many people apply, how strong they are and the space available. An average in the range does not guarantee admission.

Co-op averages often run above the range. If you are not admissible to co-op, Guelph considers you for the regular program. If you are not admitted to CJPP at all, Guelph automatically considers you for the BA in Justice and Legal Studies. Guelph does not publish an acceptance rate. Check your number with our Top 6 average calculator.

CJPP has no required supplementary application. Guelph does invite high school applicants to send an optional Student Profile Form by April 1, 2027. It covers activities and any circumstances that affected your marks.

If your May average misses the cut-off, Guelph may consider the form when your average is within a discretionary range of up to 5% below the final cut-off. It is optional but strongly encouraged.

This is the part many applicants miss. Students admitted directly into CJPP must earn an overall average of 70% or better in seven foundation courses to continue in the major. Guelph encourages you to finish them within your first 10.00 credits.

Below 70%, you move to the BA (General) program. With 70% or more, Guelph guarantees continuation in the major. Students with an overall GPA under 70% after first year are invited to meet a CJPP advisor.

If you start in another program, you can apply to declare CJPP once, after finishing the foundation courses other than CJPP*1000. You apply to the program by June 1. Spots are competitive, vary each year and need at least 70% in the foundation courses. Decisions come at the end of June.

Applying directly from high school is the surer path. Students who want co-op after transferring in should contact the CJPP program to ask.

The honours major needs at least 9.50 credits in the major. Beyond the foundation courses, it adds PHIL*1010 Social and Political Issues, POLS*3300 Governing Criminal Justice and a quantitative methods course. You then choose sociology options such as Youth Justice, Courts and Society, Prisons and Punishment or Police in Society.

Political science options include the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Indigenous Politics in Canada. Fourth year adds advanced seminars such as Criminal Justice Policy and Law.

CJPP is offered with and without co-op. The co-op sequence runs five years. You study through year one. Work terms come in the summer after year two, the fall of year three, and the winter and summer of year four. You finish with an academic term in year five.

Sample co-op jobs include junior policy analyst, crime analyst and policy student. Sample employers include the Canada Revenue Agency, Guelph Police Service, Peel Regional Police and TD Bank Group. Co-op students must also meet the CJPP major requirements. Guelph charges a $405 co-op fee for each academic semester and each work term.

If you apply straight from high school, Guelph's deadline is January 15, 2027. Offers go out in rounds from November through mid-May. All grades must reach Guelph by April 22, 2027.

See our Ontario deadlines page for other schools.

Guelph's Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Summer 2027 table lists Arts and Science programs at $3,106.37 per semester for Ontario students taking 2.00 credits or more. Students from outside Ontario pay $3,886.87. These are tuition only. Compulsory fees are extra.

Our estimate, not Guelph's: a fall and winter year comes to about $6,212.74 in tuition for Ontario students.

For Fall 2027, Guelph gives an entrance scholarship of $1,000 for a 90.0% to 94.9% admission average and $2,000 for 95.0% or higher. It covers the first year only.

Guelph also has need-based awards. Fill in the Entrance Financial Need Assessment Form by April 15, even before you have an offer.

CJPP's estimated range starts at 80%. Justice and Legal Studies and Political Science both show 75% to 80%. Your child is automatically considered for Justice and Legal Studies if CJPP says no.

The first year matters as much as Grade 12. A 70% average in the foundation courses keeps the major. Guelph lists graduate careers including lawyer, policy analyst, police officer and community outreach worker. Also see our Guelph admissions overview.