Get a Head Start on Your Degree with the LEAF Program

Laurier's English and Academic Foundations (LEAF) Program is designed to prepare you for success.

The LEAF Program

The Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program is an academic English program for future Wilfrid Laurier University students. If you don't meet Laurier's English language proficiency requirements, the LEAF program can help prepare you for your future studies and orient you to life in Canada and the academic culture of Laurier. Check our website often for updates on submitting your English Language Proficiency scores: we are working to provide alternate options to students affected by IELTS and TOEFL exam cancellations due to the Covid-19 virus.

Our LEAF instructors are highly qualified English language instructors with experience teaching around the country and the globe. In addition to improving your English, you'll be prepared for academic study using our “Laurier Readiness” criteria, which includes completing assignments and arriving to class on time, speaking English and participating in group discussions, seeking out opportunities to improve your English, and reflecting on your learning. Features of our curriculum include: essay writing, learning university vocabulary, writing and research, critical thinking, and global engagement.

Once you successfully complete Level 5 of LEAF, you can begin studies in your undergraduate program.

The Brantford Campus

The LEAF Program is offered at Wilfrid Laurier University's Brantford campus, a small and friendly campus located in the heart of downtown Brantford, Ontario. The campus is integrated into the downtown core of the city, giving you the opportunity to practice your English by interacting with locals alongside your fellow university students.

The Brantford Campus has transformed the downtown core into a thriving student community, home to around 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students that offers a unique campus life experience. It's close to shops, cafés, great walking and biking trails, and a diverse arts and entertainment scene. With a population of just over 97,000, Brantford is a city where sporting events and recreational activities are an integral part of community life. One of the most popular spots in the city is Harmony Square, which has a number of patios where you can spend warm fall evenings, and the summer splash pad converts to a skating rink in winter!

Shaped by its location on the historic Grand River, and proximity to the major industrial and consumer markets of North America, Brantford has a thriving business community, home to a number of global business operations. If your academic program is located in Brantford, this gives you the opportunity to make a difference and support this growing city through community partnerships and volunteer placements while immersing in Southern Ontario culture.

Find out what our students love about Brantford in this quick video, or explore the campus for yourself with our Virtual Reality Tour!