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OSSD Programs

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma — a globally recognised, credit-based pathway to top universities.

The Diploma

About the OSSD

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is Ontario's official high-school credential — a non-exam, process-driven curriculum recognised by leading universities in Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, Hong Kong, and beyond. Aurelian delivers it fully online, to Ontario Ministry of Education standards.

Recognition varies by university: each sets its own English-language requirements. Aurelian doesn't guarantee blanket test waivers — always confirm the target university's current admissions policy.

Globally recognised

Accepted by 175+ universities across Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, Hong Kong, and more.

Process-driven assessment

75% coursework + a 25% final exam or capstone — rewarding real learning, not one exam.

A GPA advantage

Admission uses the average of a student's top six Grade 12 U/M courses.

Flexible credit transfer

Prior study transfers up to 22–24 credits — graduation in as little as ten months.

Flexible & Credit-Based

Study at your own pace

Rolling enrolment, a six-month completion window, and flexible credit transfer — the OSSD is built around each student's pace and goals.

OSSD

Graduation requirements

30 credits

17 compulsory credits + 13 elective credits.

OSSLT literacy

Pass the OSSLT literacy test, or complete the OSSLC course.

40 hours of service

40 hours of community involvement — may be completed in China.

International Curriculum Comparison

International curriculum comparison
Category	OSSD	AP	IB	A-Level
Origin	Ontario, Canada	United States	Switzerland (international curriculum)	United Kingdom
Best suited to	Students targeting universities in Canada, the UK, Australia, and similar destinations	High-achieving students targeting US and Canadian universities	Well-rounded students targeting top European and North-American universities	Academically driven students targeting Commonwealth and Hong Kong universities
Curriculum design	Credit-based; graduation on 30 credits; emphasis on ongoing coursework	Single-subject electives; 1–6 courses; flexible combinations	6 required subjects + core (EE / TOK / CAS); a full framework	Typically 3–4 subjects; deep academic focus, exam-heavy
Study duration	Four-year high school (Grades 9–12)	1–2 years (can overlap with high school)	2 years (IBDP)	2 years (AS + A2)
Assessment	Coursework + provincial (credit-based; 75% coursework)	AP exam (5-point scale)	Internal assessment + external exam (7-point scale)	Subject exams (A* – E)
Difficulty	Moderate — emphasis on process and breadth	Moderate to slightly high — varies by course	High — comprehensive and rigorous	Slightly high — deep academic focus
Recognition	Globally recognised; strongest recognition in Canada, the UK, and Australia	Most recognised in North America; globally recognised	Widely recognised globally; extremely well recognised in Europe	High recognition in Commonwealth countries, Hong Kong, and Singapore
Counts for university credit?	No (used primarily as a high-school credential)	Yes (widely accepted in the US and Canada)	Yes (at some universities)	No (used for admission, not for credit)
Workload	Relatively light; emphasis on balanced development	Manageable, thanks to flexible course selection	Heavy; comprehensive all-round development	Concentrated; exam-focused

OSSD Program Types

Tap any dimension to compare it across program types.

Delivery mode

Accredited online OSSD program: 1. Live online + recorded 2. Live online (foreign teacher) + on-site TA (local teacher) 3. Recorded-only
On-campus OSSD school: 1. Overseas: full-time small-class on-campus teaching, fixed timetable, closed campus, day / boarding options 2. Domestic: Canadian high schools operating a China campus with in-person teaching by local teachers
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: 1. For a credential only: recorded-only courses, fixed modules, no live interaction, self-paced 2. For tutoring only: 1-to-1 online tutoring, not an accredited diploma provider
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: Full-time on-campus foundation class, fixed timetable, language-training focused with a few academic courses

Diploma value

Accredited online OSSD program: OSSD diploma officially issued by the Ontario Ministry of Education; the diploma is NOT marked 'online' and is identical to that issued to Ontario domestic students. Recognised by 5,000+ universities across 160+ countries.
On-campus OSSD school: OSSD diploma certified by the Ontario Ministry of Education; officially verifiable.
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: Verify whether the provider holds a BSID (school registration number) and whether graders hold OCT certification; some providers are not properly accredited.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: A completion certificate issued by a domestic partner institution — not an official high-school diploma; recognised only by some overseas universities.

Credit-transfer policy

Accredited online OSSD program: Requires original transcript and course outlines for review. Transfer is based on content match — not every course transfers (e.g. Chinese language or politics typically don't). Guideline: up to 8 credits after Grade 9, 16 credits after Grade 10, 22–24 credits after Grades 11–12. Graduation still requires the full 30 OSSD credits (17 compulsory + 13 elective). No accredited program can promise 100% credit transfer.
On-campus OSSD school: Same policy: original transcript + course outlines required, transfer based on content match, same credit caps by grade, still 30 credits required to graduate. No accredited program promises 100% transfer.
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: Typically non-compliant.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: No credit-transfer policy; must start from scratch with the foundation curriculum, no bridging from prior Chinese high-school study.
Notes: Accredited programs (online or on-campus) follow the Ontario Ministry's uniform credit-transfer standard.

Graduation requirements

Accredited online OSSD program: 30 credits (17 compulsory + 13 elective); must pass the OSSLT provincial literacy test or the OLC4O substitute course; complete 40 hours of community involvement (can be completed in China); includes the online-learning requirement (2 credits).
On-campus OSSD school: 30 credits (17 compulsory + 13 elective); must pass the OSSLT provincial literacy test or the OLC4O substitute course; complete 40 hours of community involvement; includes the online-learning requirement (2 credits).
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: 30 credits; some providers waive the provincial exam requirement; community-service requirements are loose.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: Complete the foundation-program curriculum and pass internal assessment; no official diploma is issued.
Notes: The OSSD graduation requirements are set by the Ontario Ministry of Education and apply equally to accredited online programs and on-campus schools.

University application channel

Accredited online OSSD program: Counted as an Ontario domestic Grade 12 graduate — applies through the 101 channel, which is allocated 70–80% of admission places, typically with cut-offs 5–8 points below international students and greater scholarship access.
On-campus OSSD school: Counted as an Ontario domestic Grade 12 graduate — applies through the 101 channel (same 70–80% allocation, 5–8-point lower cut-offs, greater scholarship access).
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: Some accredited providers can use the 101 channel; unaccredited providers can only use the international 105 channel. The 105 channel covers all other applicants (out-of-province students, international students, prior-year graduates) and competes for the remaining 20–30% of places — much more competitive.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: Only the international 105 channel, competing with global applicants for roughly 20% of places.
Notes: Ontario university applications are handled through OUAC, which is split into the 101 (domestic) and 105 (international) channels.

English-test waiver policy

Accredited online OSSD program: Waivers available on par with on-campus schools; ENG4U grades are widely accepted for waivers by universities, though some top-tier universities scrutinise fully-online diplomas more strictly. Additional condition: some universities require completing 3–4 years of fully-English OSSD study before granting a waiver.
On-campus OSSD school: Waivers available; ENG4U grades widely accepted for waivers with the most stable, traditional recognition. Additional condition: some universities require 3–4 years of fully-English OSSD study.
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: ENG4U grade may not be accepted; likely no language waiver.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: No English-test waiver; must submit IELTS or TOEFL scores to apply.
Notes: OSSD students can waive IELTS / TOEFL because ENG4U (Grade-12 university-preparation English) is treated by many universities as valid proof of English proficiency. Required ENG4U scores vary by university and program.

Duration & schedule

Accredited online OSSD program: Credit-based; graduation depends on remaining credits — 1, 1.5, 2, or 3-year options. Flexible and self-paced. Each course requires 110 study hours.
On-campus OSSD school: Credit-based; graduation depends on remaining credits — 1, 1.5, 2, or 3-year options. Fixed schedule and location; stronger study atmosphere. Each course still requires 110 study hours.
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: No fixed pace; low course quality; mostly recorded content; lacks effective oversight.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: Standard 1-year foundation program; requires additional language study; total 1.5–2 years.

Faculty

Accredited online OSSD program: Live and recorded classes: OCT-certified foreign teachers primarily. On-site TAs: local teachers.
On-campus OSSD school: 1. Overseas: OCT-certified foreign teachers primarily. 2. Domestic: taught by local teachers; grading by OCT-certified foreign teachers.
Unaccredited online OSSD provider: Recorded courses taught by foreign teachers with no dedicated Q&A instructor; online communication only.
Study-abroad foundation program at a regular school: Mostly local teachers plus some foreign language teachers; no OSSD teaching credentials.