International Students

Study in Canada at the OCSB

Students from all over the world choose to study at the Ottawa Catholic School Board. From Kindergarten to Grade 12, we offer world-class education in Canada’s beautiful capital city of Ottawa. Our International Student Program Manager, Jenny Perla-Leon, is excited to welcome our 2021 international students!

Protocols for Pre-Departure, Travel, Arrival into Canada & Homestay Accommodation. Download the PDF.

Updated Ottawa Catholic School Board Refund Policy. Download the PDF.

Five reasons international students choose the OCSB

Quality of education. We are recognized internationally for our approach to Deep Learning in our classrooms. Our students consistently score higher than the province in annual standardized tests, and every year receive provincial, national and global accolades in a variety of subjects and disciplines.

Ottawa is a great city. Canada’s capital with a population of over one million people, making it an ideal city for international students. It offers all of the advantages of city life while being surrounded by the beauty of Canadian natural spaces. It’s one of the safest cities in North America with a top-ranked quality of life.

Welcoming environments. Our schools welcome students of all faiths and cultures. We build welcoming school communities by teaching our students about values and social justice. We also have staff at our Family Welcome Centre and multicultural liaison officers to help international students as they transition to a new school environment and culture.

Immersive English experience. Our program allows international students to completely immerse themselves into an English speaking community and truly experience Canadian culture. This helps them develop strong English language skills at a fast rate.

Post-secondary opportunities in North America. Studying at the OCSB is a great pathway to prepare international students for post-secondary studies in North America. Our international high school students get to practice and improve their English, integrate into the culture, and are able to apply to colleges and universities with high school credits that are recognized by post-secondary institutions in North America.

Application process

Step 1

Submit your application form. In your application, you will need to upload a recent transcript and signed copy of the International Student Agreement. If you are approved, we will send you a letter of acceptance. This process usually takes one week.

Apply Now

Step 2

Apply for a Study Permit. To study in Canada, you will need a study permit from the Government of Canada. You cannot apply for a study permit until we send your letter of acceptance.

Apply Now

Step 3

Pay international student fees. All payments are made payable to the “Ottawa Catholic School Board” and should include the name of the student on your method of payment. Payment options from within Canada are a bank draft, money order, or certified cheque. Make a payment outside Canada.

Submit Fees

International student fees

Fees 2020-2021

Fees 2020-2021Kindergarten to Grade 8Grade 9 to 12
Application fee (one time fee)$400 CAD$400 CAD
Tuition$13,000 CAD per year$14,000 CAD per year ($7,000 per semester)
Medical insurance$450 CAD per year$450 CAD per year
MLI HomestayNot applicable$11,500 CAD per year (approximate)

Fees 2019-2020

Fees 2019-2020Kindergarten to Grade 8Grade 9 to 12
Application fee (one time fee)$300 CAD$300 CAD
Tuition$12,000 CAD per year$13,000 CAD per year ($6,500 per semester)
Medical insurance$450 CAD per year$450 CAD per year
MLI HomestayNot applicable$11,500 CAD per year (approximate)

Live with a Canadian host family

Students in Grades 9 to 12 can participate in a homestay program that places them with a Canadian host family. This program offered by MLI Homestay allows students to learn about Canadian culture while giving them the opportunity to share their culture with a Canadian host family.

Learn More

English as a Second Language

We provide English as a Second Language (ESL) support to all of our International Students. ESL programming is offered at all of our schools from Kindergarten to Grade 8 (Visit our School Directory) and at the following six high school locations for Grades 9 to 12.

High school ESL sites
Lester B Pearson Catholic High School
Holy Trinity Catholic High School
St. Mother Teresa High School
St. Patrick’s High School
St. Pius X High School
St. Francis Xavier High School

Excellent high schools throughout Ottawa

International high school students who do not require English as a Second Language (ESL) support may attend one of our 15 high schools based on where they will be living in the city. Visit our Online School Locator.

View All Schools

International leaders in Deep Learning

The Ottawa Catholic School Board is a global leader when it comes to Deep Learning. Michael Fullan, the man who coined the term “Deep Learning,” mentions the Ottawa Catholic School Board by name in one of his books as an example to follow. In 2019, we were recognized as the District of Distinction by the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning Global Network for how we live out the concept of Deep Learning in our classrooms throughout Ottawa. Throughout the school year, delegations of educators from around the world come to visit our schools to see our innovative and impactful approach to teaching children.