This guide gathers the facts an international student needs before applying to St. Lawrence College (圣劳伦斯学院): what kind of institution it is, which programs it offers and where, the academic and English requirements for entry, the published cost picture for international students, and how the application and arrival process actually works. Every figure comes from the official St. Lawrence College website (stlawrencecollege.ca), accessed on 6 August 2026. Where the website does not publish a number, this guide says so instead of guessing.
About St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College is a public college in Ontario, Canada, operating within the province’s colleges of applied arts and technology system, which the provincial government established in 1967. According to the college’s history page, it serves six counties in Eastern Ontario — Frontenac, Leeds, Grenville, Dundas, Stormont and Glengarry — and its Kingston campus has been teaching students since September 1969, with the Brockville and Cornwall campuses joining later, giving the college more than fifty years of history.
The college runs three campuses: Kingston (100 Portsmouth Avenue, K7L 5A6), Brockville (2288 Parkedale Avenue, K6V 5X3) and Cornwall (2 St. Lawrence Drive, K6H 4Z1), with full-time programs also offered online. For international students, the official website has a dedicated section under Services → International, which covers how to apply, admission requirements, proof of English proficiency, international tuition costs, scholarships, immigration guidance and health insurance.
Programs and Campuses
St. Lawrence College offers programs across qualification levels: one-year certificates, two-year diplomas, three-year advanced diplomas, graduate certificates and bachelor’s degrees, plus apprenticeships and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. The website groups programs by area of study: apprenticeships, business, community and social services, design, graduate certificates, health sciences, justice studies, science and technology, and skilled trades. Whether a specific program accepts international applicants is stated on the program’s own page.
A representative example is the Business diploma (Program Code 0295) at the Kingston campus: a two-year Ontario College Diploma with January 2026 and September 2026 intakes, open to international students. Its first year is shared with the Accounting, Marketing and Human Resources programs, so students sample each field before choosing a direction. The college notes on the program page that it is a member of the AACSB Business Education Alliance, and explicitly states that membership does not imply AACSB accreditation. The same page notes that completing four semesters of full-time study makes a graduate eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit of up to three years, subject to the final decision of the immigration authorities.
Academic Entry Requirements
St. Lawrence College’s admission requirements page states that applicants need an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or an equivalent qualification, with most Grade 11 and 12 prerequisites at the college or university preparation level (C/U/M), including Grade 12 English and Grade 11 mathematics. International applicants must hold credentials judged equivalent to the Ontario curriculum prerequisites for their chosen program, plus documented English proficiency. Applicants over 19 who do not hold an OSSD or equivalent may be admitted through the mature applicant route, providing proof of the required Grade 12 English and Grade 11 math credits, or by passing an entrance exam.
For highly competitive programs — the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) at all three campuses, Communicative Disorders Assistant, Medical Laboratory Science, and Practical Nursing (Kingston) — the 2026–2027 equal consideration date is February 1. Applications for these programs must be complete (fees and documents submitted) by that date to be included in the ranking round. The Registrar reserves the right to update the list based on applicant demand. The college also lists credentials accepted as equivalent to the Ontario high school diploma for certificate, diploma and advanced diploma entry, and notes these do not prepare applicants for degree-level entry.
English Proficiency Requirements
English is the official language of instruction at St. Lawrence College, and international applicants must prove their proficiency. The website sets out four accepted routes: two years of full-time, in-person study in a country where English is the primary language of instruction; an approved English proficiency test taken within two years; completion of ENG4C/U or a postsecondary English course in Canada; or study with one of the college’s English language partner institutions.
For test scores, the published thresholds (as of the 6 August 2026 version of the page) are: IELTS Academic with an overall of 6.0 and no band below 5.5 for certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs, and 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for fast-track, graduate certificate and degree programs; TOEFL iBT or Home Edition 78 and 83 respectively; CAEL overall 60 for both; PTE Academic 55 and 60; and Duolingo (temporarily accepted) overall 110 with no sub-score below 85, or 120 with no sub-score below 95 for the higher band. The page notes that CELPIP is not accepted at St. Lawrence College, and that some tests carry additional restrictions for applicants from India.
Costs for International Students
St. Lawrence College publishes an official cost page for international students (6 August 2026 version). Average tuition for one academic year: certificates and diplomas cost 16,672 Canadian dollars at Kingston and 16,130 at Brockville and Cornwall; post-graduate and fast-track programs cost 16,672 at Kingston and 16,130 at Cornwall; ESL Levels 1 and 2 cost 6,057 and Levels 3 and 4 cost 6,830, both at Kingston. The page explains that tuition is only part of the total: ancillary and compulsory fees (including student services and international health insurance coverage, plus a YMCA gym pass and transit pass at Kingston) are added on top, and many programs carry mandatory extra material costs. School fees are set provincially and cannot be adjusted for individuals by St. Lawrence College.
For living costs, the website’s monthly budget guide estimates accommodation at 500 to 900 dollars, groceries and hygiene at 250, phone and internet at 150, and entertainment at 200, for a total of roughly 1,100 to 1,500 dollars per month, with books and supplies as a one-time start-up cost of about 400 to 800 dollars. These are approximate planning figures; the college notes that fees are subject to change and the letter of offer and current website are the binding reference.
How to Apply
International applicants apply through the St. Lawrence College International Application Service (IAS) portal. The website’s eight-step process: create an account or log in; select your program(s) and upload your passport, certified or original translated transcripts and diploma or degree, and proof of English proficiency; pay a non-refundable application fee of 100 dollars via Flywire; submit the application in the portal (otherwise the college will not receive it); once International Admissions determines eligibility, receive a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with an accept-and-pay deadline; pay the required amount stated in the LOA to secure your place, then upload the Flywire payment confirmation; apply for a study permit through the Government of Canada’s immigration process; and upload the study permit approval to the IAS portal. The college sends payment confirmations and notes that you will need to download your proof of payment and letters of acceptance to support the visa application.
The college invites international students to apply year-round. For study permits, the website advises applying as early as possible — ideally at least four months before your planned start, and sometimes six months depending on the country. Eligibility for a study permit is decided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); the college’s pages provide guidance but make clear that IRCC’s official information is the final authority.
Scholarships and Support After Arrival
St. Lawrence College offers international academic scholarships published on its website: 4,000 dollars for an average of 80 percent or above, 2,000 for 70–79 percent, and 500 for 60–69 percent. The scholarships are one-time, not renewable, non-refundable and not transferable, and the application deadline for 2026 was June 1. Separately, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and convention refugees may apply under the international tuition exemption page to pay domestic rates, with supporting documents due within the first 10 business days of the term.
On arrival, international students have access to international student advisors, orientation and arrival resources, and the Guard.Me international health insurance included in ancillary fees. On-campus residences are available at all three campuses — 616 beds at Kingston, about 75 at Brockville and 44 rooms at Cornwall — and the college advises students to plan housing early.
If you are working out which St. Lawrence College program fits your academic background, English level and budget, consult our advisers with your specific situation, and they can check the latest official pages together with you.