Colombia to Canada 2027: Bachillerato Entry Rules

For Fall 2027, you can apply to Canadian universities with a Colombian Título de Bachiller, but some want a year of university first. U of T, York, McGill, uOttawa, Laurier and Manitoba list the Bachillerato itself. UBC, SFU, Waterloo and Alberta list a completed first year of university for Colombian applicants. Check each page first.

Reviewed October 19, 2026. Most country rules below carry no intake year. Dates and fees show the cycle each university printed. Anything not yet published for Fall 2027 is marked as pending.

What Canadian pages call your diploma

Your diploma says Título de Bachiller. Canadian pages shorten it in different ways. U of T writes Bachillerato Academico. York writes Bachillerato/Bachiller (académico). Laurier writes Título de Bachiller Académico. McGill, Manitoba, SFU and UBC simply say Bachillerato. These labels point to the same academic diploma. They don't describe a technical track.

The word académico matters. McGill says studies in applied programs or at vocational or technical high schools aren't normally eligible. If your diploma names a técnico track, ask the university how it reads that record before you apply. Send the exact wording printed on your diploma. Don't pick the closest menu option and hope it fits.

You may attend an IB or American-style school in Bogotá, Medellín or Cali. In that case, check the rules for that curriculum too. uOttawa sends IB and American-patterned students to a separate page. Use the rules for the program you actually studied, not the country where your school sits.

Compare twelve published rules

Why some schools ask for a year of university

Six of these universities accept the Bachillerato on its own. Four list a year of university study as well. This split is the most important fact for Colombian applicants. It changes which schools you can reach straight from school.

UBC's Colombia selection lists two parts. The first is graduation from a university-preparatory program with the Bachillerato. The second is one full year of postsecondary study at a recognized university. UBC then says you'll be evaluated on your first-year university record. Most UBC degrees for Colombia name first-year university courses. Science, for example, asks for a full first-year program with pre-calculus math, chemistry and physics.

SFU writes the same pair of conditions. Waterloo's Computer Science and Arts pages both list first-year standing at a recognized university. Computer Science then asks for university-level pre-calculus and calculus with at least 4.25. Arts asks for university-level English with at least 3.5 and an overall average of 3.75. Alberta's document list asks for first-year university results.

Carleton explains a common reason in its viewbook. It says most systems mean at least 12 years of school. Where a secondary system has fewer than 12 years, an extra year of university-level study may be required. Carleton doesn't name Colombia in that sentence. Ask Carleton directly how it treats your diploma.

So what should you do? If you want UBC, SFU, Waterloo or Alberta, plan for a year at a Colombian university first. Choose courses that match the Canadian prerequisites. If you'd rather leave right after school, focus on schools that list the Bachillerato alone. Then ask each one to confirm your path in writing.

How Colombian grades are read

Canadian universities don't share one conversion for Colombian grades. Laurier's page is the clearest. It notes that grading scales vary. It says it uses the scale on your transcript and converts grades to reflect a 50% pass.

Laurier's table treats 9.5 to 10 as an A+, or 93.8% to 100%. It treats 8.5 to 9.4 as an A. A grade of 7.5 to 8.4 is a B, or 68.8% to 81.1%. A grade of 6.0 to 7.4 is a C. Anything from 1.0 to 5.9 is a fail.

Manitoba reads the same numbers differently. Its Colombia panel writes 7.0 as 70% and 8.0 as 80%. Under Laurier's table, a 7.0 is a C. These aren't contradictions to fix. Each school sets its own rule. Use the figure each university publishes, not a converter from another site.

uOttawa asks for a minimum average of 7.5. McGill says its minimum equals a B+ average, and most programs need more. SFU asks for 6/10 in senior mathematics, on a 50% pass scale. If your school grades from 1 to 5 instead, tell each university. Send the official scale your school prints with the transcript.

Where Saber 11 fits

Families often ask if Canada uses the ICFES Saber 11 exam. None of the twelve Colombia rules we read names Saber 11 or ICFES. They ask for transcripts, the diploma and course grades.

That isn't a promise that your score is ignored. It just isn't listed as a condition on these pages. If an application form asks for national exam results, include them. If you're unsure, send a short question to admissions with your score report attached.

The official ICFES site wasn't available to us when we checked. So we don't describe score scales or exam dates here. Use your own ICFES results letter for those details.

Subject prerequisites

Your diploma gets you in the door. Your subjects decide the program. Manitoba shows this clearly. University 1 and Arts ask for English, mathematics and two more academic courses at 7.0 (70%). Engineering asks for English, pre-calculus mathematics, chemistry and physics at 8.0 (80%), with no course under 7.0 (70%).

Laurier compares its Canadian courses to Colombian ones. A senior or Grade 12 English course matches Colombian Grade 11 English or a foreign language. Senior mathematics with calculus matches Grade 11 mathematics. Laurier may ask for course descriptions in biology, chemistry or physics. That check confirms the content covers what the program needs.

McGill science programs want pre-calculus math and normally two of biology, chemistry or physics. They must come from the last two years of high school. SFU Engineering Science lists senior math, chemistry and physics. Check every program you list. A strong average won't replace a missing subject.

Documents and translations

uOttawa gives a clear list. If you're still in school, send transcripts for the past three years and the first term of your final year. If you've graduated, send the three years of transcripts and proof of your diploma. You upload them through its uoZone portal.

Laurier wants your Título de Bachiller sent directly from your school. UBC asks for official certificates. It accepts photocopies certified by your principal or counsellor in a sealed school envelope. It doesn't accept notarized copies. Waterloo says official translations are required. Alberta says documents not issued in English or French need a certified translation.

Ask your school early. Spanish transcripts often need translation, and a sealed envelope takes time. Keep a scanned copy of everything you send. For general advice on reports and translations, use the credential evaluation guide.

English proof when you studied in Spanish

If you studied in Spanish, plan to take an English test. The exemptions are narrow. U of T's exemptions cover four years of study in a Canadian school, or in an English-language school in a country where English is dominant. Its IELTS Academic minimum is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.

UBC has a route that helps some bilingual schools. It accepts four years at an eligible international school that teaches in English, even in a country where English isn't the main language. Those four years must come right before UBC. Bilingual schools need a waiver request. UBC's IELTS Academic minimum is 6.5, with no part under 6.0.

McGill exempts students who lived and studied for four years in a country where English is the main language. uOttawa asks for a test unless you studied three years full time in an English-only school, in a country where English is official. Carleton uses three years. Waterloo uses your four most recent years. Compare tests on the English language test guide.

Deadlines for September 2027

Dates differ widely. U of T's 2027 table lists January 15 as the deadline for most St. George faculties. It also suggests applying by November 7. UBC's deadline is January 15, 2027. Waterloo closes most programs on February 1, 2027, and Engineering on January 15, 2027. International applicants get the same Waterloo dates.

McGill's page shows January 15 for the application and March 1 for documents. It doesn't print a year beside them. Carleton's main deadline for students with transcripts from outside Canada or the US is April 1, 2027. Check the Canadian deadline guide for each school, then confirm on its own site.

Scholarships: what is open and what has passed

U of T's Pearson scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years. For September 2027, the school nomination closed October 9, 2026. The Pearson admission deadline was October 16, 2026. Both have passed. U of T also says students already in postsecondary study can't apply. A year of university first would rule you out.

UBC's International Scholars program is open for September 2027. You must apply to UBC and submit the award application by November 15, 2026. Documents and English proof are due January 31, 2027. You need a school nomination and significant financial need.

There's a catch for Colombian students. The program says you must enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school. UBC's Colombia rule also lists a year of postsecondary study. We couldn't find a page that explains how those fit together. Ask UBC to confirm your eligibility before you start the nomination.

Carleton gives automatic entrance scholarships of CAN$4,000 to CAN$12,000 over four years to eligible high school students. Its President's Welcome Award gives international students from high school CAN$2,000 to CAN$5,000 in first year only. The Prestige Scholarship needs a separate application by March 1, 2027. See more options in scholarships for international students.

Tuition: two published examples

We don't rank universities by cost. Fee pages use different years and different units. Instead, compare two that print dated figures.

Carleton's viewbook lists international tuition for 2027/2028 and 2028/2029. The Arts and Science group is CAN$39,000 a year. Business programs are CAN$45,000. Engineering and computing are CAN$55,000. Most groups add about CAN$2,500 in other fees. Carleton estimates residence and meals at CAN$14,010, labelled 2026 fees. Its total estimate runs from CAN$59,910 to CAN$79,900 before scholarships. See Carleton tuition and fees.

Manitoba publishes 2026-2027 international rates per credit hour. Arts is CAN$689.23. Engineering is CAN$683.43. Science is CAN$804.00. The Asper business school is CAN$895.68. Its international page gives an undated average of CAN$28,000 for first-year tuition and fees. Fall 2027 rates aren't published yet, so treat these as last-cycle figures.

Study permit, funds and the PAL

An offer letter isn't a study permit. IRCC currently asks one person studying outside Quebec to show CAN$23,448 for living costs. That amount applies from September 1, 2026. Tuition and travel come on top. The 2027 amount is pending, so check again before you apply.

IRCC accepts bank statements for the past six months as one form of proof. A scholarship letter can count too. Most students also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter, called a PAL or TAL. Your school tells you how to get it. IRCC's page lists validity only through the 2026 cap year. Specific 2027 dates are pending.

Working while you study

IRCC's current rule lets eligible students work off campus up to 24 hours a week during classes. During scheduled breaks, hours are unlimited. You must be a full-time student in a program of at least six months that leads to a credential. You can't start working before your program begins.

Don't build your budget around this income. IRCC wants proof of funds without it. Plan your first year around classes, then add work if your grades allow.

Working after graduation: the PGWP

Many Colombian families ask about the post-graduation work permit, or PGWP. Under IRCC's current rules, your program must last at least eight months. You must keep full-time status each semester. You must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you've finished.

Bachelor's graduates need CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four skills. There's no field-of-study rule for a bachelor's degree. College programs differ. They need CLB 5, and some students need an eligible field of study. Programs of two years or longer may get a three-year permit. Your passport's expiry date can shorten it. You only get one PGWP.

These rules can change before a four-year degree that starts in 2027 ends. Check them again in your final year. The international family guide explains more about life after graduation.

Build your shortlist

Start by deciding if you'll leave Colombia straight after school. If you will, list schools that accept the Bachillerato alone. If you'll study a year at home first, add UBC, SFU, Waterloo and Alberta. Match your subjects to each program. Book an English test early. Then ask each university one clear question about your diploma, and keep the written reply. The international student guide has a full checklist.

Official sources

• U of T: requirements by country. Checked 2026-10-19. No intake year given. Current country list names Bachillerato Academico for Colombia; program prerequisites and competition still apply.
• U of T: 2027 application deadlines. Checked 2026-10-19. Published 2027 admissions table: November 7 recommended date and January 15 deadline for most St. George faculties.
• U of T: English-language requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current test minimums and exemption list; exemptions refer to Canadian schools or countries where English is dominant.
• U of T: Pearson scholarship. Checked 2026-10-19. September 2027 cycle; October 9 and October 16, 2026 stages have passed. Students already in postsecondary study are ineligible.
• York: requirements by country. Checked 2026-10-19. No intake year given. Current list names Bachillerato/Bachiller (académico) for Colombia; meeting minimums isn't a guarantee of admission.
• McGill: other international high schools. Checked 2026-10-19. Current list names Bachillerato; B+ equivalent minimum, January 15 and March 1 deadlines shown without a year label.
• uOttawa: Colombia applicants. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Colombia page: Titulo de Bachiller with a minimum average of 7.5; programs may require more. English test rule stated.
• Laurier: Colombia requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current page gives a Colombian grade conversion table and matches Grade 12 prerequisites to Colombian Grade 11 courses.
• Manitoba: international entry by country. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Colombia panel lists Bachillerato with faculty averages written as 7.0 (70%) and 8.0 (80%); Fall 2026 alternate category noted.
• Manitoba: 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition. Checked 2026-10-19. Published 2026-2027 international per-credit-hour rates by teaching unit; Fall 2027 rates not yet published.
• Manitoba: international tuition overview. Checked 2026-10-19. Undated estimate of CAN$28,000 average first-year international tuition and fees; use the registrar table for dated rates.
• Queen's: Arts and Science admission regulations. Checked 2026-10-19. 2026-2027 calendar: other countries are considered if applicants reach university admission level at home; no Colombia rule shown.
• UBC: international high school requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current Colombia selection (read through UBC's own requirements data) lists Bachillerato plus one full year of postsecondary study.
• UBC: English Language Admission Standard. Checked 2026-10-19. Current standard, test minimums and a four-year English-medium school route for countries where English isn't primary.
• UBC: dates and deadlines. Checked 2026-10-19. Published September 2027 cycle: November 15, 2026 award deadline; January 15, 2027 application deadline; later document dates.
• UBC: International Scholars. Checked 2026-10-19. September 2027 cycle requires entry directly from secondary school; how that fits UBC's Colombia rule needs confirmation.
• SFU: Colombia requirements. Checked 2026-10-19. Current page lists Bachillerato and a completed first year of postsecondary study, plus 6/10 in senior mathematics.
• Waterloo: Computer Science, Colombia. Checked 2026-10-19. Current page lists first-year standing at a recognized university, university-level course grades and an English test.
• Waterloo: application deadlines. Checked 2026-10-19. Published Fall 2027 dates: February 1, 2027 for most programs and January 15, 2027 for Engineering; same for international students.
• Alberta: international curricula listing. Checked 2026-10-19. Current document listing asks Colombian applicants for first-year university completion results from an accredited institution.
• Carleton: international viewbook. Checked 2026-10-19. Published 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 international tuition by program group; residence estimate labelled 2026 fees.
• Carleton: dates and deadlines. Checked 2026-10-19. Timeline for 2026-2027: April 1, 2027 main international deadline and March 1, 2027 Prestige Scholarship deadline.
• IRCC: PGWP eligibility. Checked 2026-10-19. Current rules (modified 2026-06-24); rules for 2031 graduates may change.
• IRCC: about the PGWP. Checked 2026-10-19. Current length rules (modified 2026-03-09); passport expiry can shorten it.
• IRCC: work off campus. Checked 2026-10-19. Current 24-hour weekly limit during sessions (modified 2026-04-15).
• IRCC: financial support. Checked 2026-10-19. Current CAN$23,448 amount from September 1, 2026, excluding tuition and travel.
• IRCC: PAL and TAL. Checked 2026-10-19. Current page shows 2026 cap-year validity; 2027 validity dates are pending.