A-levels for Canadian universities 2027: 2 or 3 needed

For Fall 2027, you can apply to most Canadian universities with A-levels. The usual rule is three A-levels plus some GCSE, IGCSE or O-level subjects. Two A-levels can work at a few schools. Dalhousie and Concordia list two A-levels. McGill and SFU accept two A-levels with two AS subjects. U of T and McMaster also name International A-levels.

Reviewed October 19, 2026. Most rules below don't name an intake year, so they're current rules used for 2027 planning. Dated scholarship deadlines and grade ranges carry their own labels.

What counts as an A-level in Canada?

Canadian universities sort A-levels by curriculum, not by country. The schools below publish their A-level rules under a British-pattern heading. A student in Lahore, Lagos, Dubai or Kingston who sits Cambridge A-levels reads those rules, not the rules for a national certificate. Your country page still matters for local documents and English proof. The academic rule comes from the curriculum.

UBC shows this clearly. Its entry for Pakistan describes the Higher Secondary School Certificate, called the HSSC. Its separate British-patterned entry describes A-levels. If your school teaches A-levels, read the British-patterned entry. If a menu asks for your country, ask the university which entry fits the record you'll send. Don't guess on the form.

Both big international boards are used. U of T and McMaster write International A Levels straight into their rules. McGill's advanced standing page lists Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and UK boards such as AQA and OCR. It also lists the Cameroon GCE Board, ZIMSEC and the Uganda board. So a non-UK A-level isn't a weaker route.

The two boards run their exams differently, and that changes your timing. Cambridge says a full A Level usually takes two years and an AS Level one year. You can sit AS first and finish the A Level in a later series. Or you can sit every paper at the end of the course. Cambridge holds June and November series, with results in August and January.

Pearson's International A Levels are modular. Pearson offers them in 21 subjects, with exam series in January, May to June, and October. Some units only run in certain series. Ask your exams officer which papers you'll have finished before Canadian applications close. That answer shapes what you can send.

Is an A-level the same as Grade 12?

There's no national equivalence table. Each university compares your subjects with its own Grade 12 prerequisites. Dalhousie publishes one useful mapping. It treats IGCSE or O Level Mathematics as academic mathematics 12. It treats AS or A Level Mathematics as pre-calculus 12. That's Dalhousie's rule, not a rule for every school.

None of the admissions pages we read prints a table turning A-level letters into percentages. So we don't offer a converter. A private guess can mislead you, because each school weighs subjects and grades its own way. Use the grade ranges a university publishes in letters. Our credential evaluation guide explains when an outside report helps.

Two A-levels or three?

Three is the most common answer. U of T asks for three A Level subjects and five at IGCSE, GCSE or O Level. It will also look at four AS subjects instead of three A Levels for most programs. Queen's asks for three A Levels and two GCSE or IGCSE subjects. Alberta asks for three A-levels from its approved list.

McMaster asks for three distinct A2 or International A-Level subjects plus two at GCSE, IGCSE or O Level. If you have two A2 subjects and four or more AS subjects, McMaster reviews you on your own record. It encourages those students to apply. Waterloo asks for passes in five subjects, with three at Advanced Level.

UBC counts subject areas. You need six academic areas across GCSE, AS and A Level, including English. At least three must be A Levels, or six must be AS Levels. A subject can't count at both A Level and GCSE. UBC also says some A Level and AS courses aren't academic enough to use.

Now the two A-level routes. McGill accepts three A-Levels, or two A-Levels and two AS subjects, in three different subjects. SFU accepts three A-Levels, or two A-Levels with two AS, all in different areas. Dalhousie asks for two A Levels, four AS Levels or a mix of the two. You still need five academic subjects overall.

Concordia asks for two A-level exams, or four AS-level exams. With GCSEs alone, it wants a year of higher education first. York's UK row names GCE O and A level results but gives no count. If your school only offers two full A-levels, these pages show where to look first. Ask before you drop a third subject.

Watch for subjects that don't count. U of T leaves out General Paper, General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and AS Global Perspectives and Research. Queen's leaves out General Paper. McGill counts Maths and Further Maths as one subject, even though they're two A-Levels. A timetable of Maths, Further Maths and Physics gives you two subjects at McGill, not three.

University rules side by side

Predicted grades and exam timing

Your final A-level results arrive in summer, after most offers go out. So Canadian schools decide on predictions and earlier results. McGill looks at your IGCSEs, your Form VI school grades, any AS results and your predicted A-Levels. If you've only finished Lower Sixth, McGill may still consider you, but only as an exception.

Some international schools sit every A-Level paper at the end of Year 13. They don't claim AS results after the first year. McGill says the school must tell it so, by letter or in its school profile. If your school works this way, ask your counsellor to send that note early. Otherwise a missing AS result can look like a gap.

Alberta has the strictest timing on these pages. For a conditional offer, it reads any AS results, school-reported first-year A-level results and your final-year registrations. To reach a final offer, your counsellor sends predicted grades issued on or after March 1. Earlier predictions won't do that job. Book that request with your school now.

SFU bases its decision on predicted or final A-Level results. Concordia lets you apply with Lower Sixth grades, any AS and IGCSE results and predicted A-levels. McMaster asks for predicted A2 grades, your IGCSE, GCSE or O Level certificates, and AS certificates if you sat them. Keep one folder with every certificate, so each school gets the same record.

An offer built on predictions comes with conditions. McGill expects you to keep your level of work through to the end. Plan as if your final grades will be checked against your predictions. If you sit a November series, ask how and when the results should reach each school.

Published grade ranges

Only a few universities publish A-level ranges. McGill lists the lowest grades it typically admitted. Its Arts range is AAA to ABB. Kinesiology shows ABB to BBB. Nursing and Kindergarten/Elementary Education show BBB. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences shows BBC to BCC. Several Engineering and Science ranges start at an A star grade.

McGill says these figures are a guideline and may not match the coming year. Its new Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences stream shows TBD for Fall 2027. Treat every range as last-published, not as a promised 2027 cut-off.

Concordia's ranges look lower and use two letters. Its BA range is CD to CC. The BComm range is CC with a C in Math. Computer Science shows AB with a B in Math. Concordia says these are typical results that don't guarantee admission. A two-letter range fits its two A-level rule.

Other schools give a floor or a past average. Queen's calls B or higher competitive at A Level. UBC says past students needed a B average, mostly A and B grades. Waterloo's Computer Science page lists minimum final grades of A in Maths and two other A Levels. U of T doesn't publish an A-level range on the pages we read.

IGCSE and O-level rules

Your earlier exams still count. U of T wants five subjects at IGCSE, GCSE or O Level. Queen's wants two at GCSE or IGCSE, with a C or a 4 or better. McMaster wants two at GCSE, IGCSE or O Level. Waterloo treats IGCSE and O-level courses as equal to GCSE where a program asks for GCSE.

Science programs often ask for GCSE subjects you've stopped taking. UBC Science asks for A or AS Level Maths and GCSE Chemistry. GCSE Physics is also listed, but UBC may waive it with A grades in A Level Maths and A Level Chemistry. McGill's science and engineering programs list GCSE math, chemistry and physics, and some list biology too.

Did you follow a national curriculum before A-levels? U of T says it considers your overall record, as long as you meet the prerequisites. McGill asks for your pre-A-level transcript if you didn't sit GCSE, IGCSE or O Level. Send that record rather than leaving a blank. Your Pakistan admissions guide covers the local certificates.

English proof for A-level students

Many A-level students study English as a Second Language at IGCSE. That choice matters. SFU doesn't accept IGCSE English as a Second Language for its English requirement. Alberta doesn't either. Alberta accepts a B or higher in IGCSE or GCSE English Language or Literature.

McMaster accepts English as a Second Language for most programs. Humanities and one Wilson College program want English, not ESL. Waterloo accepts GCSE-level ESL only with a test result sent from the testing centre. McGill skips extra proof if you lived and studied in an English-speaking country for four years. Our English tests guide lists the accepted tests.

A-level transfer credit

Strong final grades can earn first-year credit. The rules differ more here than anywhere else. U of T's Arts and Science division on the St. George campus, Mississauga, Scarborough and Architecture may grant up to 3.0 full credits. You need a final A Level grade of B. AS subjects earn nothing there, and Engineering gives no credit.

McGill is more generous on grades. It may grant up to 30 credits, about one year of study, for A Level or AS results of C or better. The BCom program wants a B in Maths. Your board sends a Certifying Statement of Results straight to McGill. Include any AS subjects you didn't carry on to A-Level.

UBC gives first-year credit for an A or B in most listed academic subjects. It gives no credit for A Level Mathematics, but Further Mathematics earns two first-year math courses. You may refuse a credit and take the course anyway. UBC suggests you speak with an academic adviser before you skip ahead.

Alberta also gives no credit for A-level Mathematics. It offers a special assessment exam instead. Its credits need a B or higher from a recognized board, such as Cambridge Assessment, AQA or Pearson. Physics needs an A, or a B with at least a B in A-level Mathematics.

Waterloo normally wants a final B, and each credit is usually half a unit. Its caps differ by faculty. Arts, Environment and Recreation and Leisure Studies go up to 4.0 units, with lower caps in some programs. Science allows 3.0 and Mathematics allows 1.5. Waterloo Engineering gives no first-year exemptions for A Levels, even in Maths and Physics.

Queen's caps high-school credit at 18.0 units. It assesses you on its own if your transcripts arrived with your application. Credits show by September 15. If one is missing, you must ask before the end of your first fall term. McMaster may give credit for A2 grades of B, at the faculty's choice.

Dalhousie starts at a C, but it gives nothing for AS, GCSE or O Level classes. Engineering students can receive up to 12 credit hours. Some subjects earn no credit, including English Language, Urdu, Hindi and Tamil. You send a request form after you pay your deposit. SFU may award credit for completed academic A-Levels, but none for AS.

Credit isn't always worth taking. It can put you into a second-year course before you're ready. Waterloo says this plainly about its engineering courses. Talk with your faculty before you accept a credit in a subject your degree builds on.

Funding, costs and the study permit

UBC International Scholars is open for September 2027. You apply to UBC first, then submit the award application by November 15, 2026. Documents and UBC's English standard are due January 31, 2027. You need a nominator and a separate teacher referee. U of T's Pearson Scholarship closed its first stages: nominations on October 9, 2026 and applications on October 16.

IRCC asks a single student applying on or after September 1, 2026 to show CAN$23,448 for living costs outside Quebec. Tuition and travel come on top. McGill and Concordia are in Quebec, which sets its own amount. The figure for 2027 may change, so check it again before you apply. Compare costs on the U of T tuition page, the McGill tuition page and the Dalhousie tuition page. Our international scholarships list shows other awards.

Make your shortlist

Start with your subjects, then pick schools. Write down how many full A-levels you'll finish and which are Maths, Further Maths or sciences. Match that list to each program's prerequisites. If you'll have two A-levels, put Dalhousie, Concordia, McGill and SFU on your list and ask the others directly.

Next, ask your school three questions. Will it send predicted grades after March 1? Will it tell McGill if exams are all taken at the end? Which series will your results come from? Then check your country page for documents and local steps: the UK guide, the Pakistan guide or the Caribbean pathways guide. Use the international students guide and the deadlines guide to set your dates.

Official sources

• U of T: British-patterned education. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule, no intake year given: five IGCSE/GCSE/O Level and three A Level or International A Level subjects; four AS considered for most programs.
• U of T: high-school transfer credit. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule: named divisions may grant up to 3.0 credits for A Level grades of B; no AS credit; Engineering grants none.
• U of T: Pearson scholarship. Checked 2026-10-19. Confirmed September 2027 cycle; October 9 nomination and October 16 application deadlines passed before this review.
• McGill: Advanced Levels and equivalent. Checked 2026-10-19. Current page: three A-Levels or two A-Levels and two AS; typical ranges are past guidelines, one Fall 2027 stream shows TBD.
• McGill: A-Level advanced standing. Checked 2026-10-19. Current policy: up to 30 credits for final AL or AS results of C or better; qualifying boards listed; policy can change without notice.
• UBC: British-patterned requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Vancouver data from UBC's own selector service: six subject areas, three A Levels or six AS; past B average, not a 2027 cut-off.
• UBC: Pakistan requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Vancouver selector entry for Pakistan describes the HSSC; A-level rules sit under the British-patterned entry.
• UBC: first-year credit. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Vancouver table: A or B in listed A-Level subjects; no credit for Mathematics, credit for Further Mathematics.
• UBC: International Scholars. Checked 2026-10-19. Confirmed September 2027 intake: award application due November 15; documents and English standard by January 31.
• Queen's: British-pattern education. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule, no intake year given: three A Levels excluding General Paper and two GCSE/IGCSE at C or 4; competitive A Level grades are B or higher.
• Queen's: transfer credits. Checked 2026-10-19. Current policy: up to 18.0 credit units for high-school curricula; credits posted by September 15; requests close at end of fall term.
• McMaster: curriculum requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule, no intake year given: three A2 or International A-Level subjects; two A2 plus four AS reviewed individually; B grades for credit.
• Waterloo: Computer Science, British system. Checked 2026-10-19. Current program page: minimum final A grades in Maths and two other A Levels; IGCSE and O-level treated as GCSE.
• Waterloo: A Level transfer credits. Checked 2026-10-19. Current policy: normally a final B; caps differ by faculty; Engineering grants no first-year exemptions for A Levels.
• Alberta: GCE British curriculum. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule, no intake year given: three approved A-levels; predicted grades must be issued on or after March 1 and sent by the school.
• Alberta: GCE transfer credit. Checked 2026-10-19. Current table: B or higher from recognized boards; no transfer credit for A-level Mathematics, special assessment instead.
• SFU: British-patterned education. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule: three A-Levels or two A-Levels and two AS in different areas; IGCSE English as a Second Language not accepted.
• Dalhousie: British system applicants. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rule: two A Levels, four AS or a mix, within five subjects; C or better for listed transfer credit; Fall 2027 applications open.
• Concordia: international requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current GCE rule: two A-level exams or four AS; published entry ranges are typical results and don't guarantee admission.
• York: country admission requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. No intake year given. Current country rows; the UK row names GCE O and A level results without a count or grade.
• Cambridge International: AS and A Level qualification. Checked 2026-10-19. Exam board page: staged and linear routes, June and November series, results in August and January.
• Pearson: International Advanced Levels. Checked 2026-10-19. Exam board page: modular International A Levels in 21 subjects with January, May-June and October series.
• IRCC: financial support. Checked 2026-10-19. Current amount for applications on or after September 1, 2026.