International Admissions - Niagara University in Ontario

Information for International Applicants

Effective January 22, 2025, the Government of Canada introduced new study permit application requirements for incoming international students. These changes now require some international student master’s degree applicants to submit a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) alongside their study permit application – this includes students who are extending their study permit within Canada, changing levels of study, or transferring to a different Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Important: Niagara University will only obtain a PAL for international students who have accepted their Offer of Admission and paid their tuition deposit. Students will receive a notification within their admission portal when their PAL is available for download.

International students and protected persons, such as convention refugees, are required to obtain a study permit to pursue studies in Canada.

A study permit is an immigration document which gives you permission to study and stay in Canada on a temporary basis. If you will be studying in Canada for more than six (6) months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) such as Niagara University, you require a valid study permit for the total duration of your studies.

Important: Niagara University is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and has the following identification Number: O268049601572. This number begins with the letter “O” which stands for Ontario. As processing times may vary, applicants are encouraged to apply for their study permit as early as possible.

All applicants requiring a study permit must keep Niagara University informed of their application progress via the International Student Pre-Arrival Form. Please use your Admission Portal login credentials to access the form.

Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) are non-transferable once issued. If a study permit application is refused, a new PAL will be required. As DLIs are allocated a limited number of PALs, re-applications following a study permit refusal are not guaranteed and will be subject to the discretion of Admission Services.

Certain individuals such as those whose study permit applications were approved before January 22, 2025 at 8:30am are exempt from the PAL requirement. A complete list of PAL exemptions may be found on the IRCC website.

Access Your Niagara University Email for Support: Students who have accepted their offer of admission and paid the non-refundable deposit will gain access to additional immigration support through Student Services. New students are encouraged to check their NU email accounts regularly to connect with campus resources and receive important updates.

Niagara University in Ontario (NUO) has partnered with TransferMate to offer cost-effective solutions for students to make international payments. Each service is fast, simple, secure, and allows users to track payments status from start to finish. International students are advised to review and compare vendor rates to identify the most suitable option for their circumstances.

Incoming students are required to pay a $2,000 CAD deposit to Niagara University (Vaughan Campus) to secure their offer of admission. In the event of a study permit refusal, your deposit will be fully refunded less a $500 CAD administrative fee. You can pay the deposit by visiting Financial Services.

Note: Direct wire transfers to any Niagara University bank account is strictly prohibited. All international wire transfer payments to the University must be completed by using TouchNet. Any payments made directly to a Niagara University bank account or to the incorrect campus may be returned to their originating bank, less applicable fees. Please note that Niagara University does NOT accept payments via cheque.

All International Students are encouraged to utilize the official receipts provided by the listed vendors to support their immigration needs. Further information may be found under Financial Services.

Together with the standard application requirements above, applicants to Niagara University in Ontario’s programs who have not received their degree from a Canadian or US institution where English is the official language of instruction, must also submit the following items:

Official credential evaluation of all undergraduate transcripts. Copies or emails for any test score or credential evaluation will not be accepted. Please choose the “comprehensive course by course evaluations” from either WES , TEC or CES.
Evidence of English Language Proficiency through official scores sent directly from the testing service. In order to be eligible for acceptance into the program, applicants must provide evidence of having achieved a score equal to or greater than the minimum identified below on one of the following tests.

Submission of GMAT scores may support your application. The university reserves the right to request submission of GMAT scores in some cases.

Test	Score
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	100 (iBT internet-based test) with minimums of 20)
IELTS (International English Language Test Service) Academic test	6.5 6.5 overall with no bands less than 6.0 in each section
Duolingo English Test	125+ (equivalent to IELTS 6.5) – no band lower than 125
Pearson PTE Academic	Overall 60 (No band lower than Listening 50/Reading 55/Speaking 50/Writing 65)
OI Digital Institute (Oxford ELLT)	ELLT 7 (IELTS 6.5)

Alternative Pathway: NUO offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) pathways exclusively through ILSC. Only official Pathway Letters of Acceptance from these two schools can provide conditional acceptance for English Language Proficiency.

International Student FAQs

As processing times may vary, applicants are encouraged to apply for their study permit as soon as possible.

Students who have accepted their offer of admission and paid the non-refundable deposit will gain access to additional immigration support through Student Services.

New students are encouraged to use their NU email accounts to connect with campus resources and receive important updates.

A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a document issued by the Province of Ontario confirming a student’s intention to study at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Ontario. PALs are required for study permit applications and must be submitted alongside the application. If a study permit is refused, a new PAL is needed.

Most new international students are required to submit a PAL alongside their study permit application. However, certain individuals such as those who applied for a study permit before January 22, 2025 at 8:30am do not require a PAL.

A complete list of PAL exemptions may be found on the IRCC website.

Niagara University will only obtain a PAL for international students who have accepted their Offer of Admission and paid their tuition deposit. Students will receive a notification within their admission portal when their PAL is available for download.

If your first name, last name, or date of birth is incorrect or does not match your passport, please contact Admission Services via your Niagara University email to request an updated PAL.

When submitting your request, use “PAL Amendment” as the subject line, provide a clear description of the issue in the body of the email, and attach a copy of your government-issued identification (such as your passport) for reference.

Most new international students must submit a PAL with their study permit application. However, receiving a PAL does not guarantee a study permit’s approval. Applicants must meet all study permit requirements as outlined by IRCC.

Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) are non-transferable once issued. If a study permit application is refused, a new PAL will be required and will be subject to the discretion of Admission Services.

All master’s degree programs at Niagara University are 2 years in length and qualify for up to a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Additionally, our master’s programs are exempt from the field of study requirement.