No Grade 12? Mature-student routes into college and open university

Mature status isn't only about age. Humber says it plainly: age is not the deciding factor. You count as a mature applicant there only if you haven't finished high school or any college or university study. If you graduated from high school years ago and never went further, Humber treats you as a high school applicant instead.

Universities use different lines. York's mature route asks you to be 21 by December 31 of the year you start, out of full-time high school for at least two years, and with no college or university study attempted. Toronto Metropolitan University also uses 21 by December 31 and two years away from formal education. TMU's route is limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and refugee claimants.

Waterloo says its definition varies by faculty, and some faculties normally look for about four years away from secondary school. U of T says its requirements are based on your academic background, not your age. Check your exact status first, because it decides which application you file and which documents you need. The mature students guide compares more Ontario universities.

Ontario colleges are the most direct route for an adult without a diploma. Humber accepts mature applicants who will be 19 by the start of classes for diploma and certificate programs. Sheridan uses the same age and adds that you don't hold an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent. You still apply through ontariocolleges.ca, like other applicants.

Being mature doesn't waive the program's requirements. Humber may invite you to admission testing, depending on how competitive the program is and what credential it leads to. Sheridan says mature students may need tests in English, math or science, or may need academic upgrading first. Sheridan contacts you after it receives your application to say which tests you need.

Plan extra time for this step. A test result or an upgrading course can push your start date back by a term. If your target program is competitive, ask the college's admissions office early what score or course it will accept. The ontariocolleges.ca application guide covers the application itself.

Bachelor's degrees are where mature status helps the least. Humber accepts mature degree applicants at 21, but says they must meet specific U-level high school course requirements. Its admission testing can't stand in for those courses. Sheridan goes further and doesn't admit mature students directly to its degree programs. You need the OSSD, or at least two semesters of postsecondary study, before applying.

Universities follow the same idea. TMU's mature route expects the prerequisite subjects for your program, typically with grades of 70% or higher, and says you may need more than the minimum. Waterloo says mature applicants are expected to meet the published requirements for their program, and admission isn't guaranteed. York lists its mature-student requirements alongside the specific requirements for each program.

So the real question is often which Grade 12 courses you are missing. College study can also become a bridge. Sheridan accepts at least two semesters of postsecondary study, plus the program's own requirements, as one way into its degrees. The college transfer guide explains how credits can move later.

You have two different tools here, and they solve different problems. The first is the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC). On May 3, 2024, it replaced the GED in Ontario. Adults who pass get an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate. TVO ILC lists five in-person tests that take about 7.5 hours in total, and you need 55% on each.

Registration for all five CAEC tests costs $100, and the fees aren't refundable. You must have lived in Ontario for at least six months and not be registered in a high school. If you're 18, you need a date of leaving letter from your last school. After your last result, allow at least four weeks for the certificate and transcript to arrive by mail.

The CAEC is not the same as Grade 12 U or M courses. Waterloo says outright that CAEC or GED results don't count as equivalent to those courses. For university prerequisites, take the actual courses. TVO ILC is authorized to grant credits and the OSSD itself, and its Mature PLAR process can turn life experience into high school credits. TMU also points mature students to their local school board for Grade 12 U and M courses.

Athabasca University runs open online programs. To study there as an undergraduate, you must be 16 or older. Most undergraduate programs have open admission, with no set admission requirements, though some programs add their own. You can apply, enrol in a program and register for most undergraduate courses at any time of year.

Courses studied on your own schedule usually start on the first day of each month. To start on a given date, Athabasca must process your registration by the 10th of the month before. For example, a June 1 start needs registration processed by May 10. Grouped-study courses follow regular semesters instead.

You pay for each course when you register, and the fee covers textbooks, course materials and tutor access. Athabasca says fees vary with where you live while studying, so check the fee page for your province. Course fees are refundable within 30 days of the start date, minus a processing fee. It doesn't offer entrance scholarships. The Athabasca University profile has more on its programs.

Université TÉLUQ is a Quebec distance university that publishes its admission and fee pages in French. For a bachelor's degree, major, certificate or short program, you need one of three things. You can hold a DEC (Quebec's college diploma) or equivalent, hold a university degree, or be 21 or older with relevant experience and knowledge. Some programs add their own conditions.

TÉLUQ lists one 3-credit course at $1,122.50 for Canadian citizens who don't live in Quebec. Teaching materials and shipping can cost extra. The application fee is $85. TÉLUQ also notes that Canadians studying in French in Quebec may pay Quebec rates if they meet the exemption conditions. Check whether your program qualifies before you budget.

If you only want to try a few courses, TÉLUQ's études libres (independent studies) route lets you register without joining a program. At the undergraduate level, you can earn up to 15 credits this way. TÉLUQ says those credits aren't counted inside a program. The TÉLUQ profile has more detail.

Start with the costs you can confirm. At Humber, domestic students pay a $250 non-refundable tuition deposit each term. The 2026-27 compulsory ancillary fees for full-time students add up to $904.95, including $233.30 for health and dental plans. Humber shows program tuition on each program page, not as one college-wide number, so check the program you want.

OSAP takes applications from both full-time and part-time students. Part-time deadlines are tied to your study period. If it runs 21 weeks or more, apply at least 60 days before it ends. If it runs 20 weeks or less, apply at least 40 days before the end. The OSAP guide covers eligibility and amounts.

Athabasca's pay-per-course model can also lower the amount you owe at once. It says there's no set deadline to finish most of its credentials, so you can take classes as you can afford them. That trades speed for lower debt. Whatever route you choose, confirm every fee for Fall 2027, because these are the current published amounts.