Steps to Applying to Lakehead

Whether you are interested in one of our undergraduate or graduate programs, use the following step-by-step guide to becoming a Lakehead student.

Step 1: Explore Lakehead's Programs

A professor with students doing research

As a fully-comprehensive University, Lakehead has over 85 undergraduate and graduate programs. Find a program to suit your interests and career goals. Explore Lakehead University Programs

Would you like to learn how to apply to Lakehead University? Watch our online webinar now!

Step 2: Research Admission Requirements

Students in the library commons

Undergraduate Admissions:

To be considered for admission to a Lakehead University undergraduate program, you will need the following:

Note: Meeting the minimum admission requirements is not a guarantee of admission.

Graduate Admissions:

Masters Programs

Our minimum admission requirement for international applicants is 75% or 3.0 on a 4 point Canadian scale, with an accredited university degree equivalent to a Lakehead University 4 year degree. We advise all international students to apply early, as admission into our programs is competitive. Should you wish to apply to a thesis program, we strongly advise you to contact a potential supervisor and have your proof of English language proficiency complete.

Depending on your program of choice, there may be additional program-specific requirements. Visit General Admission Requirements for Masters and click on your program, then click on the "Requirements" tab near the top for complete details.

Please be advised that meeting the minimum admission requirement does not guarantee admission into a program.

Doctoral Programs

Applicants for admission must be graduates of a recognized university and show evidence of scholarly achievement. Students must have a Master's degree or its equivalent with an academic average as specified by the academic unit. Applicants for our Doctoral programs are strongly encouraged to engage a supervisor for their program before they apply. 

For program-specific requirements, visit Doctorate Programs Admission Requirements, and click on your program, then click on the "Requirements" tab for further details. 

Please be advised that meeting the minimum admission requirement does not guarantee admission into a program.

Step 3: Meet the English Language Requirements

Students speaking with each other

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate they can cope with the language demands of an English language university.

Undergraduate Programs:

Applicants to an undergraduate program at Lakehead University may meet our English language requirements by completing a certain number of years of study at a school where English is the language of instruction. Learn more about Undergraduate English Language Proficiency Requirements.

Graduate Programs:

Applicants whose native language is not English, and who cannot verify that their undergraduate studies has been uniformly in English, will be required to present proof of  English language proficiency

Academic English Program:

If you do not meet the English language proficiency requirements for your academic program, you may be admitted conditionally provided you first complete the appropriate Academic English Program (AEP) at Lakehead University. Learn more about Academic English Program.

Step 4: Apply Online

A student working on a computer in the Mac lab

Undergraduate Applications:

You can apply through an authorized Lakehead representative or directly to Lakehead University online via the corresponding application to the program you are interested in studying. 

Apply Now - Undergraduate Programs

    Exceptions: Applications to professional programs must be submitted by applying through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre on the following forms:

    • Two-Year Bachelor of Education program: TEAS Form
    • Faculty of Law Juris Doctor program: OLSAS Form

    Undergraduate Application Deadlines:

    Inform yourself about our Application Deadline Dates. If you receive an Offer of Admission, take note of any deadlines outlined in your Offer Letter (to submit documents, meet conditions, or accept your Offer). 

    • December 1, 2023 - deadline to apply for Two-Year Bachelor of Education Program (Thunder Bay & Orillia) for Fall 2024 intake
    • December 8, 2023 - deadline to apply for One-Year Honours Bachelor of Social Work & Year 3 of Social Work for Fall 2024 intake
    • February 1, 2024 - deadline to apply for Nursing (Compressed and Collaborative) for Fall 2024 intake
    • March 1, 2024* - deadline to apply for Fall 2024 intake *RECOMMENDED DEADLINE, APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN PENDING PROGRAM SPACE AVAILABILITY 

     Undergraduate Application Fee:

    If you apply through Lakehead University's Online Undergraduate Application form, the cost is $135 CAD.

    Graduate Applications: 

    You can apply through an authorized Lakehead representative or directly to Lakehead University online via the corresponding application to the program you are interested in studying.

    Apply Now - Graduate Programs

    Graduate Application Deadlines:

    Although applications are received on a continual basis, we recommend that interested applicants submit a complete application package by the following dates:

    • For a Fall start term: February 1 *SELECT PROGRAMS HAVE EXTENDED THEIR DEADLINE TO MARCH 1, APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN PENDING PROGRAM SPACE AVAILABILITY 
    • For a Winter start term: September 30
    • For a Spring start term: January 15

    View program-specific application availability here.

    Graduate Application Fee:

    Applicants to a graduate program must submit a non-refundable application fee of one hundred and twenty-five Canadian dollars ($125 CAD). Your application package will not be processed until the application fee has been received.

    When you submit the application fee by credit card, you will be granted immediate access to your online Lakehead University myInfo application account. When you submit the application fee by all other payment methods, such as cheque, money order, or bank draft, access to your myInfo account will be granted once the Faculty of Graduate Studies has confirmed that the application fee has been received and processed.

    Step 5: Submit the Required Documentation

     Making a list on paper

    Documents for Undergraduate Applications:

    Please submit the following required documentation as part of the undergraduate application process:

    1. Official Transcripts*
    2. Course Descriptions - For applicants who are transferring from a college or university.
    3. Language Proficiency Requirements - If applicable
    4. Consent Form & Reference Letter - Nursing transfer applicants only 

    *Unofficial documents or copies of your transcripts may be sufficient to receive a Conditional Letter of Acceptance. Final official documents must be submitted in order to begin your studies. Official documents can be sent directly from the issuing institution electronically to docs.admission@lakeheadu.ca or mailed to:

    Lakehead University
    Enrolment Services – Undergraduate Admissions
    955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1

    Applicants to Media, Film, & Communications, Music or Visual Arts program(s), please refer to additional information here.

    Documents for Graduate Applications:

    For details on what documents you need to submit and for instructions on how to submit them, visit our Required Application Documents website.

    Step 6: Take Note of Important Dates & Deadlines

    A computer and a calendar on a desk

    Application Deadlines

    Undergraduate

    Inform yourself about our Application Deadline Dates. If you receive an Offer of Admission, take note of any deadlines outlined in your Offer Letter (to submit documents, meet conditions, or accept your Offer). 

    • December 1, 2023 - deadline to apply for Two-Year Bachelor of Education Program (Thunder Bay & Orillia) for Fall 2024 intake
    • December 8, 2023 - deadline to apply for One-Year Honours Bachelor of Social Work & Year 3 of Social Work for Fall 2024 intake
    • February 1, 2024 - deadline to apply for Nursing (Compressed and Collaborative) for Fall 2024 intake
    • March 1, 2024* - deadline to apply for Fall 2024 intake *RECOMMENDED DEADLINE, APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN PENDING PROGRAM SPACE AVAILABILITY 
    • Graduate 

    Although applications are received on a continual basis, we recommend that interested applicants submit a complete application package by the following dates:

    • For a Fall start term: Febraury 1 *SELECT PROGRAMS HAVE EXTENDED THEIR DEADLINE TO MARCH 1, APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN PENDING PROGRAM SPACE AVAILABILITY  
    • For a Winter start term: September 30
    • For a Spring start term: January 15

    Intake Dates  

    September

    • Intake for all undergraduate and graduate academic programs
    • Academic English Program intake
    • Visiting International Student Program intake

    January 

    • Intake for select undergraduate programs except for Consecutive Education, Environmental Management, Forestry, Lakehead-Georgian degree+diploma programs, Music, Nursing, One Year Social Work (depending on course availability; students may not be able to take a full course load)
    • Intake for select graduate programs: Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Education, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering - PhD, Electrical & Computer Engineering - PhD, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering - PhD, Forestry, Geology, Gerontology, Physics, Sociology, Women's Studies 
    • Academic English Program intake
    • Visiting International Student Program intake

    May

    • Academic English Program intake
    • Intake for limited undergraduate programs on a part-time basis except for Nursing, Engineering, Business and Consecutive Education (depending on course availability; students may not be able to take a full course load)
    • Intake for Graduate Programs: Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering,  Education, Forestry, Forest Sciences, Geology, Gerontology, Women's Studies

    July - August

    • Intensive Academic English Program

    For intake dates for specific graduate programs, visit our Start Terms for Academic Programs page.

    Class Registration Dates

    Fall/Winter Semester registration begins late January - and closes Mid September

    Spring/Summer Semester registration begins late January - and closes Early May

    Study Periods

    Fall Semester (September - December)
    Winter Semester (January - April)
    Spring Semester (May - June)
    Summer Semester (July - August)

    Orientation Dates

    View full details and announcements about International Student Welcome Day (Mandatory event for all new international students) on our Newly Accepted International Students website.

    Academic Dates & Holidays

    For a list of academic dates (such as the first day of classes, exam period, etc), please visit Important Dates on the Academic Calendar.

    For a list of other important dates (such as holidays, convocation ceremonies, etc), please visit Other Dates on the Academic Calendar

    Fee Payment Dates

    For the most up-to-date details on payment deadlines, visit our Payment Due Dates website. 

    Step 7: Stay Connected

    A student on her iPad at the marina

    Once you have sent in all necessary documentation for your application, ensure you are checking your Lakehead email and myInfo accounts regularly for important information on the status of your application and the next steps toward becoming a Lakehead student.

    Follow us on social media:

    Follow Lakehead International on Instagram!  Like us on Facebook  Watch us on Youtube!

    Step 8: Accept your Offer of Admission

    Students at orientation

    You've applied to Lakehead and been given a Letter of Acceptance. The next important step to ensuring you're on track to begin your studies is to accept your Letter of Acceptance. Then you can be certain we're reserving a spot for you. Learn more about How to Reserve Your Spot at Lakehead.

    Step 9: Apply for Visa and Immigration Documents

    Congratulations on your acceptance to Lakehead University!

    In order to study at Lakehead, you will require a study permit and now is the time to apply for your study visa and permit. Study permits are required for any studies more than 6 months in length.

    What is a study permit?

    To help get you started, below is information on documents you need to apply for during your stay in Canada. You may also find this EduCanada Pre-Departure Guide helpful.

    Consult our Newly Accepted International Immigration & Visa website for more information and helpful tips from Lakehead's Regulated International Student Advisors. 

    Step 10: Arrange Housing & Meal Plans

    Apartment style residence building on the Thunder Bay campus

    Housing

    There are many different housing options for international students at Lakehead:

    • On-campus residence
    • Off-campus housing
    • Temporary Housing
    • Home Stay Program

    Each housing option offers you a different and unique experience. Find out more about Lakehead housing options

    Meal Plans

    If you live in our on-campus dormitories, you will automatically be signed up for a meal plan. If you live in our on-campus apartments or townhouses, you may choose to purchase a meal plan. 

    Learn more about meal plans at the Thunder Bay campus

    Learn more about meal plans at the Orillia campus

    Step 11: Pay Fees

    hand holding a pen punching numbers into a calculator

    You can find your student account information (including tuition, ancillary and residence fees) on your myInfo portal. You will also need to register and pay for the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).

    Learn more about fees and how to pay them
    Take note of fee payment deadline dates

    Step 12: Register for Classes

    books on a desk

    Course registration for the year usually opens in June. You will choose your courses online through the myInfo portal. When course registration opens, you will receive an email to your Lakehead University email account notifying you and providing you with instructions. If you have any questions as you register, our Enrolment Services staff is available to help you.

    Learn more about registering for classes 

    Step 13: Register for Orientation

    Students cheering at orientation

    Orientation is your introduction to the Lakehead University campus and the community of Thunder Bay or Orillia.  It is an essential element for new international students and it is required that you make every possible arrangement to attend. It is not only an opportunity to find out important information and learn what your new University has to offer, but it is also a chance to meet your peers and have some fun.  

    Orientation Dates, Location and Details

    Step 14: Booking Your Travel to Canada

    A plane landing

    Thunder Bay Campus

    You should book your flight from your home country directly to Thunder Bay (YQT).  There are no direct international flights to Thunder Bay, so you will have a connecting flight through a different city. Most likely your port of entry will be Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ) or Montreal (YUL). 

    Important: Please allow at least 3 hours between your time of arrival at the Port of Entry and time of departure of your connecting flight to Thunder Bay. It may take up to 3 hours for you to clear the Canada Customs and get your study permit.

    Orillia and Barrie Campuses

    When travelling to the Orillia or Barrie campuses, your port of entry will most likely be the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).  The Orillia campus is approximately a 1 hour and 30-minute drive from the Pearson International Airport, and Barrie is approximately a 1 hour and 10-minute drive.

    When to Arrive 

    If you are a new student beginning your studies at Lakehead University and you are travelling internationally, you should plan to arrive before Lakehead's International Orientation. 

    May (Spring) 2024 Intake: The first day of classes is Wednesday, May 1, 2024 for most programs. 

    September (Fall) 2024 Intake: The first day of classes is Tuesday, September 3, 2024 for most programs. 

    Step 15: Confirm Your Use of Our Airport Pick-Up Service

    A studnet arriving at the Thunder Bay Airport and being greeted by Lakehead staff and students with wolfie

    As a new incoming undergraduate or graduate Lakehead international student, arriving at our Thunder Bay, Orillia or Barrie campuses, you may be eligible for our airport pick-up service.  For the Thunder Bay campus, this service brings students, via taxi, from the Thunder Bay Airport directly to their accommodations either in residence or off-campus. For the Orillia and Barrie campuses, this shuttle service will take you from the Toronto Pearson International Airport to your accommodations in Orillia. We cannot provide this service for students arriving to Billy Bishop Airport.

    This service is a one-time use only and students must submit their application at least four (4) business days before their arrival date.

    How to Book an Airport Pick-Up: Once you've submitted Lakehead University International's Arrival Form, our dedicated International Student Services team will provide you with with further arrival instructions, contact information, and your taxi voucher. The airport pickup service can take you to campus residence OR off-campus accommodations. Please reference your welcome package email for important information on the Government of Canada travel policies.

    Airport Pick-Up Form

    Please contact us with any further questions:

    Thunder Bay Campus
    Phone: +1 807-343-8010 ext. 7886
    E-mail: sscoordinator.intl@lakeheadu.ca

    Orillia Campus
    Phone: +1 705-330-4008 (Ext. 2141)
    E-mail: or.international@lakeheadu.ca

    Step 16: Sign Up for a Peer Mentor

    Peer mentor with students on a hike

    Lakehead International’s Peer Mentor program pairs up experienced Lakehead students with a small group of new international students to help them:

    • Transition to university 
    • Adjust to the Lakehead University campus, the Thunder Bay or Orillia community, and Canadian culture
    • Access and get to know on-campus or off-campus resources

    The Peer Mentor program organizes activities for all participants. It is a great way to meet new students and explore your new home.

    Sign up to be paired with a Peer Mentor:

    Register Now

    Step 17: Pre-Departure Planning

    Students posing for a photo

    Required documents upon arrival in Canada:

    Carry the following documents and all other valuable items with you at all times rather than in your checked baggage. Entrance into Canada may be denied if any of your documents are missing or if any of the information on your application or letter of reference is incorrect. The Government of Canada also provides an online resource full of information and guidelines to help prepare travellers.

    • The Letter of introduction from Citizenship and Immigration Canada that you received when your study permit was approved. This letter shows your permit reference number  
    • Your valid passport; A valid Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if required 
    • Your Offer of Admission from Lakehead University Evidence of financial support. Upon arrival in Canada, you must have proof that you have enough money available to you to pay for your tuition, accommodation and living expenses for the duration of your studies at Lakehead University 
    • Letters of reference or any other documents recommended by the Canadian embassy, high commission, or consulate in your country.

    *While US residents may apply for a study permit by mailing the application to one of Canada's Consulate General Offices in Buffalo, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle or Washington, DC, U.S. residents may apply for a study permit at a Canadian Port of Entry upon arrival in Canada.

    Application forms and up to date information concerning study permits

    Once you have entered Canada:

    • Check your study permit to make sure all the information is correct 
    • Check the date that is stamped in your passport telling you when you must leave Canada

    A Few Tips on What to Pack:

    We want you to be prepared and feel at home while studying at Lakehead University. Here are some suggestions about what to pack:

    • Pictures from home
    • Prescription medication
    • Electrical converter
    • All required documentation for entry into and study in Canada
    • Ensure you have access to funds while studying in Canada

    The following items are available to purchase once you arrive in Canada; however, some students choose to bring them from home:

    • Bedding: bed sheets, pillows, blankets (beds in the Thunder Bay residences are twin beds - 97 cm × 191 cm. In the Orillia residences, we have double beds - 137 cm × 191 cm.)  
    • Towels
    • Bathrobe
    • Slippers
    • Hair dryer
    • Warm clothing
    • Clothing hangers
    • Computer
    • Alarm clock
    • Power bar

    What Not to Bring:

    • Candles
    • Incense 
    • Pets
    • Expensive valuables
    • Illegal drugs
    • Weapons

    The Canada Border Services Agency also offers more information on Restricted & Prohibited Goods.