Seneca Polytechnic

Seneca Polytechnic is an urban polytechnic offering a range of education programs including diplomas, undergraduate degrees, and graduate programs. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Seneca is a leading provider of academic pathways across Ontario colleges. The institution has more than 75 transfer partnerships across the world, designed to lead directly into undergraduate or graduate qualifications at Seneca or further afield.

Seneca is where advanced research and rigorous academic studies meets hands-on, practical learning. With a passionate faculty, Seneca's programs are engaging, relevant, and fulfilling for all students.

Seneca is made up of five campuses across the Greater Toronto Area, each with their own specialities. The institution provides access to a variety of learning options, with programs in four formats: in-person, flexible, hybrid and online. Scheduled and asynchronous learning patterns are also available.

The polytechnic is known for its vibrant community and diverse student body, with international learners from more than 150 countries worldwide. Seneca has its own support team who help overseas learners integrate and settle in quickly.

Seneca strikes a great balance between academic opportunity and recreational activity. The city of Toronto is home to many exciting activities, attractions, stores, restaurants and nightlife, while the campuses offer lots of options themselves.

Seneca's facilities and learning spaces are of a high quality, but more important than that is the quality of the faculty employed to teach students across every course. They aren't just knowledgeable in their fields but respected too, thanks to the years of experience Seneca faculty bring to their subjects.

The faculty at Seneca are known for their passion – both for their research and for delivering innovative study programs to students. The courses are engaging at all levels, rewarding and challenging students in equal measure. Learners graduate with confidence to take their next steps and find success.

The quality of teaching at Seneca is cutting edge and experiential. Courses go further than theory and textbooks, bringing in practical learning and field experience opportunities to create a balanced and constructive offering.

There are thirteen main areas of study at Seneca Polytechnic, with courses grouped into one of these fields. Each one is led by a dedicated, experienced faculty team. The areas of study are:

• Aviation – one of Canada's premier aviation schools.
• Business – offering a wide range of specializations.
• Creative Arts, Animation & Design – embracing a mix of traditional and new media.
• Education, Community & Social Services – incorporating mental health programs, among other subjects.
• Engineering Technology – contains courses designed to tackle real human challenges.
• Fashion & Esthetics – offers state-of-the-art labs and studios.
• Health & Wellness – incorporating care for humans and animals.
• Hospitality & Tourism – joining alumni that are working around the world.
• Information Technology – leading the way with software and business innovation.
• Law, Administration & Public Safety – incorporating emergency service training.
• Liberal Arts & University Transfers – featuring established pathways to partner institutions, including to the University of Toronto.
• Media & Communications – offering courses focused on business and hands-on experience.
• Science – giving students the chance to tackle real-world problems.

Due to the broad range of study options that Seneca Polytechnic offers, there are equally diverse entry requirements. These requirements fall into three main areas – academic requirements, non-academic requirements, and English requirements.

Academic requirements are those related to transcripts. The level required depends on the chosen level of study at Seneca, but students will need to provide evidence of their education, including any relevant exam scores.

Non-academic requirements vary by course and may not always apply to a student's application. When they do, they can take the form of questionnaires, essays, tests, auditions, and/or a portfolio of prior work (especially for creative courses).

All courses at Seneca are taught in English, so international students must be prepared to prove their fluency with recognized test scores. Where students don't meet the criteria, acceptance into an English language course at Seneca is an option as a gateway to another course.

Seneca continually invests in a range of facilities designed to guarantee that students can get the best out of their education. A wealth of course-specific resources and tools are on offer, providing students with many opportunities to benefit from hands-on learning with real-world software, equipment and situations likely to be a part of their future careers.

The libraries at Seneca are equipped with thousands of digital and physical resources, offering students easy access to the information and inspiration they need throughout their studies. These facilities also offer IT equipment and study spaces for students to use.

The polytechnic has its own suite of residential accommodations, located at the King and Newham campuses. The Newham residences are open to all students. Each accommodation option is well-equipped, comfortable, and conveniently located near academic facilities. Students can feel safe, secure and travel to class or the library in moments.

International applicants to Seneca Polytechnic will need to provide proof of funds within their visa application. However, this doesn't mean students must fund their entire course, as there may be financial opportunities available.

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to international learners. They range in value, from CAD 50 up to 5,000, depending on the award. Students can qualify for funding through academic achievement or their financial circumstances, meaning there are plenty of ways to access some of the millions in CAD offered each academic year.

Additional support is available to Seneca students through the support teams, who can provide financial advice and budgeting help. There are also schemes in place to assist students in finding employment opportunities alongside their studies, with services and opportunities that are specifically suited to international students.

Seneca Polytechnic is constantly evolving, providing students with the best and newest learning experiences possible. There are always new partnerships forming at the polytechnic, new research and technologies, such as AI, being applied to services and curricula, and new investments in campus facilities.

In terms of facilities, a new multimillion-dollar center for health and wellness has been announced, transforming Seneca's existing sports centre into a fantastic new facility that is infused with indigenous design. The new facility is estimated to be ready for 2026.

New academic pathways have been announced for engineering students, with diplomas that lead directly to Queen's University in Ontario.

The polytechnic launched a number of 3-year bachelor degree programs in September 2024, including the Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science – Cosmetic Science, and Bachelor of Computer Science.

Seneca is expanding internationally too, with a partnership between Al Ahly CIRA and Seneca to build two campuses in Cairo, Egypt. These campuses will help reinforce Seneca's global reach and recognition as a provider of quality educational programs.