Admission requirements

Individual programs may have additional requirements. Please check the program descriptions for specific admission requirements.

• Citizenship & Residency Priority
• Language Requirements
• Acceptable Documentation
• Programs Requiring Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Checks and/or Child Abuse Register Searches
• Credential Requirements

Citizenship & Residency Priority

NSCC prioritizes offers of admission on the basis of citizenship and residency. Offers are made in the following order:

1. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Nova Scotia (i.e. with a permanent mailing address in Nova Scotia).
2. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living outside Nova Scotia.
3. Individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

After January 1, offers are made in order of application completion date.

Language Requirements

All NSCC programs are delivered in English. Applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English, regardless of country of origin or citizenship status.

Applicants may be exempt from English language testing if they have successfully completed one of the following:

• Grade 12 high school in Nova Scotia
• NSCC's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program
• An approved EAL program at one of our partner EAL schools
• 1 year of full-time study at an accredited English Canadian college or university
• 3 years of full-time study in English outside of Canada at an accredited college or university in a country where English is the primary language of instruction, as listed on our Documentation and Language Requirements page.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official results of one of the following English competency tests. The test date must be less than two years prior to the date your NSCC application is submitted. Results must be sent directly to NSCC Admissions from the testing company to be considered as official:

• International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS Academic Test) – minimum score of 6.0 on each test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – minimum test scores of 80 on the Internet-Based Test (TOEFL® iBT), 60 on the Paper-Delivered Test, or 550 on the Paper-Based Test. To request that scores be sent directly to NSCC, quote institution reference code 8686 on your TOEFL application.
• Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest) – average score of 4.5.
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) – minimum Level 8 on each test.
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – minimum Band 60.
• University of Michigan English Language Institute (MELAB) – minimum score 77.
• University of Michigan English Language Institute (MET) – minimum score 77.
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) - minimum test score of 55.

Acceptable Documentation

Official transcripts must be sealed or sent directly from the issuing school by mail.

All documentation except for official French transcripts from Nova Scotia public high schools must be submitted in English.

Current Nova Scotia High School students, please provide your NS Student ID Number, which can be found on your high school transcript or in power school.

Interim Transcripts – If you are currently enrolled in admission requirement courses, you must submit an interim transcript as proof of enrolment. Your official final grades must be submitted by the deadline specified in your admission letter.

Official Transcripts – You must submit your official transcript(s) as proof of admission requirement courses. We request verification of your complete academic history including any college or university you attended.

Documentation in a language other than English must be translated by a certified translator (indicated with a stamp or seal and signature on the document) prior to submission. The official English translation and the original version are required.

To see equivalent international qualifications for NSCC programs requiring a high school diploma, as well as language requirements, please check Documentation and Language Requirements. Applicants using international credentials to meet admission requirements may be asked to submit documentation to an NSCC-approved credential verification service provider to be evaluated for equivalency.

All submitted documents are recorded and shredded to protect privacy and will not be returned. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Programs Requiring Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector checks, and/or Child Abuse Register Searches

Admission Requirement: Criminal Record and Vulnerable Persons checks are required for Continuing Care. Admissions will notify applicants when to submit completed checks. A conviction or finding will prohibit admission to this program.

Program Requirement: A number of programs in the Schools of Health & Human Services and Trades & Technology require a Criminal Record check, Vulnerable Sector check and/or Child Abuse Register search to complete work placements (such as field work, internships, co-ops). A conviction or finding on any of these checks may impact your ability to obtain a work placement and complete program requirements necessary to graduate.

Check the Program Requirements for your program of interest to determine if these checks are required.

Credential Requirements

Some NSCC programs require a post-secondary credential for admission such as a certificate, diploma or degree. To ensure your credential qualifies for assessment, it must meet a minimum number of instructional hours.