International, How It Works
From inquiry to first day.
An overview of how international students join us, from the first email to the first morning of class. We have written it so families abroad can see each step before it arrives.
The Steps
How students join us from abroad.
The steps below take your family from a first email to the first morning of class, and a member of our team stays alongside you through every one of them.
Most families move from first inquiry to first day of class in three to six months, and the study-permit window is usually the longest part. Each step below links to the page that covers it in detail.
Apply
A first email or contact-form note begins the conversation. We respond personally, usually within one business day, with a short tuition estimate and a download link to the application package. Your family gathers the supporting documents (passport, translated transcripts, recommendation letter, signed Student and Parent Agreement) and submits the application with the C$400 non-refundable international application fee.Acceptance and study permit
Once documents are complete, we contact selected applicants for a phone or video interview with the principal. A conditional Letter of Acceptance is issued; tuition and medical insurance are paid within three weeks; a final Letter of Acceptance follows. Your family then applies for a Canadian study permit using the final LOA. Processing times vary by country, from two weeks to four months.Travel and arrival
Your family books the flight; we receive the arrival date. At the airport, your student presents the original Letter of Acceptance, valid passport, study permit introduction letter, and proof of financial support to Canada Customs. Within a few days of arrival, the student visits campus (accompanied by their custodian or guardian) for an academic assessment and orientation.Settle in: homestay and custodianship
Every student under 18 lives with a Canadian family and has a notarised Canadian custodian. We coordinate both through partner organisations (Canada Homestay Network, Homadorma, and International Students Canada), so your child arrives to a family home that is ready for them. Health insurance through StudyInsured (or equivalent) is in place before the first day of class.Begin studies
On the first morning, your child is met at the door by name. Their teachers already know their academic history and English-proficiency level, and they begin classes that same day. After-school tutoring is open to every full-time student, free of charge. Our guidance counsellors begin the university conversation early, so by the senior year your child has a working list of Canadian and international options.
From a Current Student
The day-to-day, in their own words.
The list of steps looks long on paper. In practice, students settle in quickly. The school is small enough that no one stays anonymous, and most students tell us they look forward to the school day.
Vaughan College is a school all about academics. I go to classes each day, looking forward to learning.
Gurnoor Jaggi — Grade 10
Next Step
Ready to begin your application?
The application process page walks through every document we need, the interview format, and the path to your Letter of Acceptance, which is what you use to begin the study-permit application.