How to Defer Admission in Canada?

The concept of gap years is relatively new in Canada, but it is gaining traction rapidly. To defer admission in Canada, you must have an acceptance letter from a Canadian designated learning institution. Next, you need to contact the university’s admissions office for a deferred admission form and outline your gap year plans.

Table of Contents

• What is Deferred Entry?
• Step-by-Step Process to Defer Admission in Canada 
• Difference Between Deferred and Waitlisted
• Important Points for Canada Deferred Enrollment
• Universities in Canada Accepting Deferred Admission 

What is Deferred Entry?

In simple terms, deferred entry means 'delayed entry. It is perfectly fine to defer your admission by one year if you are not ready to join the university. If you decide to defer intake in Canada, you can utilize this time to develop new skills, gain work experience, recharge and refresh yourself before committing to around 3-4 years of studies.

As per the Quacquarelli Symonds survey of more than 2,800 international students willing to study in Canada, 54 per cent of those polled decided to defer admission for a year in 2020/21 due to the unfamiliar learning environment.

Step-by-Step Process to Defer Admission in Canada 

The general process to defer admission in Canada remains the same across universities. However, there might be certain changes in the process depending on the educational institution. Let us now look at the step-by-step procedure to defer admission intake in Canada:

• Step 1: Go to the official website of the Canadian university, fill out the application form, and receive the acceptance letter.
• Step 2: Ensure that you meet all the requirements in your offer letter before you apply for deferred entry.
• Step 3: Request a deferred admission form from the admissions board of the university. Explain all the valid reasons for taking a gap year.
• Step 4: Wait for the institution to decide whether or not to accept or deny your deferred admission 
• Step 5: Keep track of any scholarships or financial aid you have applied for during the year of your deferred admission.

Difference Between Deferred and Waitlisted

Students often get confused between the terms ‘deferred’ and ‘waitlisted’. The table below shows the differences between these two terms:

Important Points for Canada Deferred Enrollment

Candidates who wish to defer their admission intake in Canada must remember the points given below:

• Prior to applying for a deferred intake, candidates must provide an acceptance letter from the Canadian institution for study permit extensions and applications.
• Deferred enrolment after submitting study permit application: 
• The officials will continue processing the study permit application if less than 150 days have elapsed since the planned start of the program. In this case, a new admission letter is not needed.
• Admission officials will request a new acceptance letter if more than 150 days have passed since the commencement of the program.

Universities in Canada Accepting Deferred Admission

If you have already been accepted by a Canadian institution, you must notify the admission board of the university within the stipulated time frame. Please click the 'Click here' button to find out more. 

Note: Universities such as the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia allow deferred entry requests sometime around mid-August of the academic year in which you have applied.