Serving one of the fastest growing areas in North America, the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) operates in the regional municipality of York, located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). York Region offers a friendly, diverse and secure environment for students, making it the ideal location to focus on studies and personal growth.
As one of the top-performing school boards in Ontario, our dedicated instructional staff are committed to building a strong community of lifelong learners, guided by a commitment to critical thinking, inclusion, and active social responsibility.
With 86 elementary and 17 secondary schools across the region’s nine municipalities, the YCDSB works to support and inspire our approximately 50,000 students and their families through an innovative curriculum, rooted in Gospel values.
Program Offerings:
Our International Education Program offers international students the following:
Full-Year Credit-Earning Program (OSSD) International students (elementary and secondary) can enroll full-time and work toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). ESL (English as a Second Language) courses (levels A–E) and ESL-adapted courses are available.
Short-Term / Mini Stay Programs YCDSB offers short-term options for elementary students (2–6 weeks) and mini-stay programs (1–2 weeks) focused on cultural immersion, English exposure, and local experiences rather than a full credit curriculum.
“Gap Year” Certificate Programs For students who have already completed secondary school abroad and want to spend a year in Canada improving English and academic preparation before post-secondary, YCDSB offers several certificate tracks — e.g. ESL/STEM Certificate, ESL/Business Certificate, ESL/Humanities Certificate. These involve core Grade 12 courses (English/ESL, advanced math, sciences or humanities/business electives) aligned with post-secondary goals.
English as a Second Language / English Literacy Development (ESL/ELD)
For students whose first language is not English, YCDSB provides ESL/ELD support at both elementary and secondary levels. This includes credit-courses for secondary students, adapted courses, and resource support.
Specialized & Enriched Programs As part of its regional and international-education offerings, YCDSB has a number of enriched academic and extra-curricular programs which also welcome international students who meet the program-specific qualifications. These include:
● The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB)
● The Advanced Placement Program (AP) / Program for Academic and Creative Extension (PACE)
● The Regional Arts Program (drama, music, visual/digital arts, etc.)
● The High Performer Athlete Program (for student-athletes)
● The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) — offering specializations such as Arts & Culture; Business; Health & Wellness; ICT; Manufacturing; Non-Profit, etc.
Our head office is located at 320 Bloomington Road West, Aurora, Ontario. For a complete list of elementary and secondary school locations, please consult the YCDSB School Locator .
International Students Accepted for Grades: Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, Grades 9 to 12
Programs Offered In: English, French
Entrance Dates: Beginning of September & February (Secondary), beginning of September & January (Elementary)
Application Deadlines: May 15th for September/semester 1 entrance, November 15th for January (Elementary) or February/semester 2 (Secondary) entrance
Programs Offered: Full Year, Gap year, 1 Semester, Short Term
Program Tuition Fees: For updated information, please refer to our website
Homestay Offered through The Canada Homestay Network or MLI Homestay
Program Contact:
For general inquiries, please contact the YCDSB International Education Program department at (905) 713-2711 ext. 13634 (International Education) or internationaleducation@ycdsb.ca