Academic Bridging is a full-time, eight-month access-to-university pathway for domestic and Convention Refugee applicants who lack the qualifications for admission to Brock University.
Eligibility
The minimum eligibility requirements for mature/non-matriculated applicants include:
- One of the following:
- Incomplete Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) (or equivalent)
- Completed OSSD (or equivalent) with six Grade 12 University/College courses and a less than 70% average
- An OSSD (or equivalent) that did not follow the University curriculum
- Experienced challenges (e.g., social, racial, economic, personal, familial, health etc.) that impacted academic success in high school
- Applicants must have the motivation and commitment to pursue a University degree
- Applicants must be at least 21 years old by the time the program starts in September, or be turning 21 within the Fall term (between September-December)
- Applicants who have completed some or all of an academic program at a post-secondary institution are not eligible for Academic Bridging and should apply as a transfer student using one of these applications.
- Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, and be able to attend any in-person, on-campus academic and non-credit activities taking place at the St. Catharines, Ontario campus
- Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants may be offered an alternate admissions pathway should there be a better fit for an applicant’s academic skills, goals, and needs
The minimum eligibility requirements for Convention Refugee applicants include:
- Applicants must provide proof of Convention Refugee status, including a letter outlining circumstances preventing them from submitting official transcript documentation from secondary school and/or post-secondary education
- If English is not your first language, Convention Refugee applicants must meet Brock’s English Language Requirements
- Applicants must be living in Canada and be able to attend any in-person, on-campus academic and non-credit activities taking place at the St. Catharines, Ontario campus
- Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission. Applicants may be offered an alternate admissions pathway should there be a better fit for an applicant’s academic skills, goals, and needs
How it Works
- Academic Bridging students complete a reduced course load of 3 academic credits (1.5 credits per term) in their first year that are aligned with their degree program while also fulfilling any missing pre-requisites from high school, with the remaining credits being fulfilled with context, major, and elective credits
- Students will also complete 2 non-credit tutorials that provide high-impact strategies and supports for succeeding in University studies
- Students who successfully complete the academic and non-academic requirements with a minimum overall average of 60% will be able to progress towards their selected undergraduate degree path at the time of their application
Watch our Academic Bridging Information Session
Fees
Fees to participate in Academic Bridging include:
- Application fee – $130 (access the application form here)
- Non-credit tutorial fees – $500 ($250 per tutorial)
- Tuition and ancillary fees for 3 academic credits
- Any additional course material fees (vary depending on program)
Financial Aid
Academic Bridging students are recognized as full-time students in the academic program they gain entry to and may qualify for financial aid through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
Applying to Academic Bridging
The application process for Academic Bridging involves several steps:
1) Complete the application (access the application form here) form and pay the application fee ($130)
Once the Academic Bridging application form is completed and submitted, you will receive an e-mail to activate a Brock account through the my.brocku.ca student portal. This will also be where you will upload the additional documentation required to complete your application in full. This additional documentation includes secondary school transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and proof of status (if applicable).
2) Submit official transcripts from all secondary school(s) attended
Learn more about how to submit an official transcript, and the difference between official and unofficial documentation by reviewing the document and transcript submission information on our website.
For Convention Refugee applicants only, this step is not required should official transcripts from secondary school and/or post-secondary be unattainable due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant.
3) Submit a personal statement
For mature/non-matriculated applicants: Please complete the personal statement questions in this fillable PDF document and submit through the my.brocku.ca portal.
For Convention Refugee applicants: Please complete the personal statement questions in this fillable PDF document and submit through the my.brocku.ca portal.
4) Submit a Resume
As part of your application, submit a 1-2 page resume as a PDF document through the my.brocku.ca portal that provides information about your past and present education, employment, volunteer experiences, and skills.
5) Submit proof of status and proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
Applicants who have Convention Refugee status should submit official proof of status documentation through the my.brocku.ca student portal. If English is not your first language, your application to Brock will prompt you to provide proof of English proficiency through the my.brocku.ca student portal
6) Wait for a decision
Admissions decisions are communicated to applicants by e-mail and through the my.brocku.ca portal where the document upload took place.
The deadline to apply to Academic Bridging is August 1, 2024. It is recommended that applicants apply early as programs and courses fill quickly.
Tutorials
All Academic Bridging students will complete the following tutorial courses offered by Learning Services during their first year of studies:
This non-credit practice-based tutorial will strengthen students’ time management, note taking, course-related technology, academic integrity, and study skills as well as introduce students to essential student services. This course will allow students to apply strategies to their experiences as a post-secondary learner with ongoing supportive feedback and self-reflection. As a result of this course, students will create and revise lecture notes, research notes, monthly and weekly schedules, and study plans to support their personal growth and lived experiences. Attendance, involvement in at least one Student Life activity and active participation in synchronous sessions are requirements for successful completion. Students will spend approximately 3 hours per week (2 hours asynchronous, 1 hour synchronous) engaging in this virtual course.
This non-credit practice-based tutorial will strengthen students’ critical reading, logical reasoning, and academic writing skills – providing the groundwork for students to grow as academic knowledge makers. Students will engage critically with a variety of texts including scholarly articles to identify main ideas, evaluate evidence, and develop arguments. Through weekly iterative reading and writing activities students will demonstrate key tenants of academic analysis and communication such as research-informed reasoning, correct citation, and effective sentence and paragraph structure. Students will demonstrate academic reading and writing skills through engagement with article summaries, research essays, group discussions, and alternative-style assignments. Participation in one 30-minute personalized writing consultation is a requirement for successful completion (on-campus or virtual). Students will spend approximately 3 hours per week (2 hours asynchronous, 1 hour synchronous) engaging in this virtual course.
Undergraduate Credit and Programs
All Academic Bridging students will complete 3 academic credits. The academic credits that are taken will depend on the high school pre-requisite courses that an applicant presents with and will also depend on the undergraduate degree program of pursuit. All Academic Bridging students will take ADED 1P31 – Learning for Success as part of their 3 academic credits. Any student pursuing a degree in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science will also take FMSC 1P00 – Transitioning to University Science as part of their 3 academic credits.
All Academic Bridging students will work with an Academic Transitions Specialist and Academic Adviser to ensure course selection aligns with their undergraduate degree program path of interest, while ensuring fulfillment of appropriate pre-requisites as required.
Undergraduate degree programs are available within the following faculties:
- Canadian Studies
- Classics – Classical Civilization, Ancient Art & Archaeology, Greek & Roman Studies or Undeclared
- English Language & Literature – English Language and Literature, English and Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse
- General Humanities
- History
- Interactive Arts & Science
- Medieval & Renaissance Studies
- Modern Languages – French Studies, Hispanic & Latin American Studies, or Italian Studies
- Philosophy
Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts
- Studies in Arts & Culture
- Visual Arts- History of Art and Visual Culture, Studio Art
- Dramatic Arts
- Music (BA)
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Biophysics
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Earth Sciences
- Environmental Geosciences
- General Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Oenology and Viticulture
- Physics
- Adult Education
- Community Health
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Business Administration
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No. Currently, Academic Bridging is only offered full-time. Students interested in part-time study should complete the part-time application for mature/non-matriculated studies.
Yes. After you successfully complete the eight months in Academic Bridging, you can request to change your major to a different degree path if the one you chose initially is no longer your desired degree path.
Academic Bridging begins in the Fall term (September) and ends in the Winter term (April).
Eight months.
There is a $130 application fee.
Once you submit your application, you will then need to create an account on the my.brocku.ca portal. We recommend uploading your application documents to the portal as soon as possible after your application has been submitted.
No. It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure that all their documents are received by Brock by the deadline (June 1).
Admitted students who do not qualify for student aid should consider personal funding (e.g., savings).
Yes. However, spaces often fill quickly. If you are interested in living in Residence, apply as soon as possible.
Consider upgrading your high school credits or consider applying to Open Studies at Brock. Open Studies is a non-degree pathway, and there are no formal admission requirements for entry to Open Studies. After successfully completing a few credits in Open Studies, you can re-apply to Brock for admission into a degree path.
Students who do not achieve a 60% average on 3 academic credits on their first attempt will have a second attempt to achieve 60% and will remain limited to taking 3 academic credits.
Students who do not successfully complete the non-credit tutorials on their first attempt will have a second attempt to successfully complete the non-credit tutorials, while remaining capped at 3 academic credits.
Course registration support, orientation and welcome event opportunities, mentorship and peer-to-peer guidance, and support with year 2 transition.
Faculty of Social Sciences