News & Reminders

Transcript Information

A transcript is a record of your academic performance at an educational institution. Normally a transcript is considered official if it is produced by and bears the seal of the institution that issues it. Universities will not normally accept unofficial photocopies. Applicants who are not able to provide official transcripts must contact each university’s admissions office directly for advice.

Applicants are responsible for arranging for official transcripts to be forwarded to the universities to which they have applied. Applicants who add a new university must arrange to have official transcripts sent to this new university.

It is very important that you indicate your OUAC Reference Number, full legal last name/family name and given names, as well as any former last names/family names, on all documents. This will ensure that your documents are properly handled.

Special procedures have been developed for obtaining transcripts from Ontario universities and colleges, from Quebec CEGEPs and from British Columbia (BC) secondary schools. For more information, applicants should refer to the specific sections that follow.

Transcripts and supporting documents should not be sent to the OUAC. The OUAC cannot forward these documents to the universities and will not be able to return them to applicants.

Secondary School Transcripts

Applicants must contact their secondary school’s guidance office to make the necessary arrangements for their secondary school grades to be sent directly to the universities they have selected on their application. Please note that each secondary school may have their own rules in arranging how these transcript requests are sent. Therefore, applicants should review these rules with their secondary school.

Grades for Secondary School Students in British Columbia

The OUAC acts as an agent for Ontario universities to electronically collect both midterm (May) and final (July) grades for current‑year BC students through the Ministry of Education, Skills and Training in British Columbia after BC students authorize this Ministry to release their academic record to the OUAC.

However, BC secondary school applicants who wish to be considered for admission by an Ontario university between January and April should ensure that an official hardcopy transcript of their grades is sent directly to the Ontario universities as soon as first semester grades are available. Students should request, in person, a transcript in a sealed envelope directly from their secondary school office. Students should mail the transcript directly to the Ontario universities to which they have applied for early consideration.

Quebec CEGEP Transcripts

An automated process sends the bulletin d’études collégiales to the Ontario universities for applicants who have attended or who are currently attending a Quebec CEGEP. These applicants should indicate their Quebec Code permanent in the appropriate section of the application to allow the OUAC to collect and transfer their grades electronically. Applicants will not need to forward hardcopy transcripts from their CEGEP in this case.

Transcripts from Ontario Universities or Colleges

Applicants who are attending or have previously attended an Ontario university or college can request transcripts using the paper OUAC Transcript Request Form (TRF) or by logging in to their application online. By completing the TRF online or by sending the TRF to the OUAC, along with the applicable fees, applicants give the OUAC permission to electronically request and receive their grades from institutions they attended previously or are currently attending and transfer them to the universities they have selected.

All of the Ontario universities and colleges have co-operated in the development of this transcript system. Please note the following exceptions:

  • The Royal Military College of Canada is not part of the electronic transcript request system.
  • Requests for transcripts from the following divisions or programs at the University of Toronto must be made directly to that division: Additional Qualifications Program (AQ) at OISE; Continuing Studies; Toronto School of Theology; and Woodsworth Pre-University Program.
  • Algoma University is a former affiliate campus of Laurentian University. Applicants who are Laurentian – Algoma students or graduates should request transcripts from Laurentian. All students admitted during or after 2009 are Algoma University students.
  • Requests for the following York University transcripts must be made directly to that department: York University English Language Institute (YUELI) and Schulich Executive Education. Requests for transcripts from either Continuing Studies or Continuing Education must be made to the Division of Continuing Education. Requests for Additional Qualification (AQ) courses taken after 1993 must be made to Research and Field Development, Faculty of Education. If you attend/have attended one of these departments or programs, and require assistance with your online transcript request, please contact the OUAC at 519‑823‑1063.
  • Requests for transcripts from Durham College’s University Preparation/Academic Upgrading program must be made directly to Durham.
  • Requests for transcripts for a Law Clerk program at any college must be made directly to the college.

The fee for each transcript requested (that is, for each university receiving the transcript) is $12. Exception is made for transcripts requested from institutions that have a lifetime transcript fee agreement for which there are no applicable fees. The fees must accompany the Transcript Request Form when it is sent to the OUAC.

The OUAC will not be responsible for the refusal of any institution to provide transcripts (for example, because of a delinquent account or incorrect/insufficient student identification). If a university cannot provide the transcript the applicant has requested, the applicant will be notified of the situation by the OUAC.

All Other Transcripts

Applicants are responsible for arranging for the transfer of all other transcripts and documents to the universities to which they are applying.

Transfer Credits

All Ontario universities offer transfer credit for courses successfully completed at recognized postsecondary institutions when the courses and grades are deemed to be acceptable to the receiving institution, and where they can be integrated into the new program. In addition to being essential to the admission decision process, official transcripts are used in the determination of transfer credit or advanced standing. In some cases, the university may request that applicants submit detailed descriptions for the courses being considered for transfer. Each university will correspond directly with applicants about these requirements. The number of allowable transfer credits will vary according to each university’s regulations and the nature and source of the courses in question.