New Students

Congratulations on being admitted to Lakehead University! Your hard work, determination and commitment to your studies has paid off.

It's also a time to prepare and ensure you're completing all the necessary steps for a smooth transition to Lakehead. Use this guide below to help you through the coming weeks and months as you plan for your journey to university.

resources and information

A parent and prospective student touring Lakehead University

Accepting your offer


Students getting help in Student Central

You’ve received an Offer of Admission! Your offer will indicate which program(s) you have received admission to, along with key dates and info.

Use this helpful guide to ensure you understand and confirm your offer.

Step 1: Carefully Review Your Offer of Admission Letter & Package

Congratulations! We are excited to welcome you to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Lakehead University.  Please read your Letter of Acceptance carefully to ensure that all information is correct. If you believe corrections are required, please contact gstudent@lakeheadu.ca. Your Offer will indicate which program you have received admission to, along with important dates and information.

Your Letter of Acceptance is the official document that will be used when you apply for your study permit, and you will be required to present it when you pass through Canadian customs on your way to Lakehead. It's important that all of the information on it is correct. Read your Letter of Acceptance and verify the following:


Letter of Acceptance - personal info area

The accuracy of your personal information:

Is your name spelled correctly?

Does it match the name on your official travel documents (passport)?

Is your date of birth correct?

Is your address correct?

 
 

Letter of Acceptance - program info areaProgram Information:

Is the program listed the one you applied for? If it is a different program or route, please see the Admission Conditions and Other Important Information section of the Letter of Acceptance. If you were offered admission to an alternate program or route, an explanation will be outlined.

Is the start term for the program correct?

Is the campus location correct?

Take note of the estimated tuition fees in this area. Visit the Tuition & Fees page for additional information.

Please take note, All Graduate students are required to register, and pay for, three terms per year, until graduation: Fall (September to December), Winter (January to April), and Spring/Summer (May to August).


Letter of Acceptance - conditionsAdmission Conditions:

Read and understand any conditions listed in this section. Be sure you have clear plans to meet these conditions by the deadline also included in this section of your Letter. If you do not understand your conditions or if you have questions, please contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies at gstudent@lakeheadu.ca

Take note of the expiry date. We will hold your spot in the program until this date.

Take note of the length of your program.


Letter of Acceptance - next stepsNext Steps:

Here you will find instructions on how to accept your offer as well as the confirmation deposit amount and how to pay your deposit.

 

Step 2: Accept Your Offer of Admission

To secure your spot in your program, you must accept your Offer to Lakehead by the deadline stated in your Letter. Even if you have a Conditional Letter of Acceptance, you can still confirm your spot. Follow the instructions below as a guide:

  1. Accept your Letter of Acceptance online by logging into the Survey Monkey portal where you completed your application.
  2. Click on Accept as shown in the screenshot below.
    Accepting your application
  3. If you click "I'll Decide Later" you will still be able to accept the offer later. See step 6
  4. Click on your program from the application system dashboard. Select START
  5. Select Accept
  6. If you chose “I’ll Decide Later” when you log in, you’ll see this option.
    If you decide later this is what you will see
    Simply click Accept.
Step 3: Submit Your Confirmation Deposit

You must pay a $2,000 Canadian non-refundable deposit to Lakehead University by the deadline stated in your Letter of Acceptance in order to reserve your seat in the program.

To pay the deposit, click on Confirmation Deposit from the list of Your tasks

Confirmation Deposit

Click on the green button to be redirected to our secure payment site.

Confirmation Deposit payment screen

If you would like to pay by an alternate method, please visit https://www.lakeheadu.ca/students/finances/tuition-fees/paying-fees for available methods. Please note, if you pay by an alternate method, your status will not automatically be updated. Please send a payment receipt to gstudent@lakeheadu.ca so your status can be updated.

Once you have made the confirmation deposit payment, you can click ‘Mark As Complete’ on the confirmation deposit section of your Survey Monkey application portal.

If you require a receipt, you can now view/print a receipt through your MyPortal - MyPortal > Financial Information tab > Student Finance > Account Activity > "Payments" bubble > select receipt number.

If you experience an issue downloading the receipt, please contact the Accounts Office directly at accounts@lakeheadu.ca. The Faculty of Graduate Studies cannot provide receipts.

Step 4: Meeting Your Conditions

If your offer is conditional, you will find the conditions listed in your Letter of Acceptance under the ‘Admission Conditions and Other Important Information’ section.

Admission Conditions information

We strongly encourage you to meet the conditions outlined in your Letter of Acceptance as soon as possible to prevent registration delays. You will not be able to register for any courses or receive your unconditional letter until you meet the conditions outlined in your Letter of Acceptance.

In order to be considered official, documents must be sent to Graduate Studies directly from the granting institution. We require your final official transcripts and proof of degree document. The proof of degree document must state the name of the degree and the date that it was conferred.

Your final official transcript and official proof of degree can be sent by mail or email as long as they are sent directly from the granting institution. Please note: emailed transcripts must be sent directly from your institution, with an institutional email address directly to Lakehead University at gstudent@lakeheadu.ca. If you are mailing transcripts, please send them to;
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Lakehead University
955 Oliver Rd
Thunder Bay ON P7B 5E1 Canada

Unconditional Offer Letter

Once you have met all of the conditions listed in your Letter of Acceptance, we will automatically issue an unconditional letter. We require some time to process the official documents and issue the unconditional offer letter, we appreciate your patience. The unconditional letter will be sent to your Lakehead and personal email address.

Applying for your Study Permit and Visa


Most visa application centres (VACs) have reopened with normal hours and services. Check your VAC website before you go. To know more click here.

It is now time to apply for your study visa and permit. Study permits are required for any studies more than 6 months in length, click here to learn more.

We encourage applicants to submit their study visa and permit applications online through the IRCC website. When you are outside of Canada, the visa and study permit applications are done together. When the application is approved online, you will be sent an approval letter and asked to submit your passport for stamping. You will be issued the actual study permit upon entry. Here are some steps to get you started:

  1. Create an IRCC account. Please log onto the website and open an account to apply
  2. Gather required documents:
    1. Letter of Acceptance
    2. Proof of identity (“international” passport)
    3. Proof of financial support

Other items may also be required, depending on your country of birth. Please click here for more details.

 Questions? Send an email to: internationaladvisor@lakeheadu.ca

Other considerations

Conditional Offers

We strongly encourage you to meet all conditions and have an unconditional Letter of Acceptance before you start the study permit process. This is the best way to ensure your study permit is issued for the correct duration of time and with the correct conditions.

However, we understand due to processing times, you may have to apply for your study permit with a conditional letter. If you decide to use a conditional Letter of Acceptance, please clearly demonstrate how you are currently working towards the conditions (finishing high school, completing IELTS). You may be issued a one-year study permit with conditions on working while studying if you use a conditional offer. This can be corrected after arrival once conditions are met and you have registered.

Biometrics

 As of now, many Service Canada locations across Canada continue to offer limited in-person services. Many applicants continue to be exempt from biometric collection with their temporary residency applications and extensions (inside of Canada). Please visit the IRCC website to check for biometric collection in your area:

CHECK Biometric Collection CENTrE

Passport Expiry

You should check the expiry date of your passport before you start the process. A study permit cannot be issued past your passport validity, therefore if your passport is expiring in the next two years, you may want to consider renewing this first. To renew your passport in Canada, most countries require an in-person meeting at the embassy (in Ottawa) which can be costly and time-consuming.

Medical Exams

A medical exam could also be required, depending on your country of citizenship and program of study. This request is typically sent (if required) after you apply. Once you submit your online application, you will be sent a request for medical, if it is required. Please follow the instructions in the medical request letter and complete the requirement before the deadline indicated. If you plan to study and work in the health field, we recommend completing the medical before coming to Canada and including this with your study permit application.

Please click here to find an IRCC doctor close to you.

Co-op work/Internships

Co-op is work-integrated learning as part of your degree studies. Co-op may be a mandatory component to your program (either undergrad or masters program). Lakehead University will approve co-op positions after your first year of studies. Workshops will be held on-campus for individuals needing to apply for this permit.

Program End Dates

You will be required to provide a program end date on your study permit application form. Your program end date will be listed on your Letter of Acceptance but you may also consult the following:

 Program

Fall Start

Spring/Summer Start

Winter Start

One Year Masters Degree

August 31 (+1yr)

May 1 (+1yr)

December 31 (+1yr)

Two Year Masters Degree

August 31 (+2yrs)

May 1 (+2yrs)

December 31 (+2 yrs)

Four Year Undergrad Degree

April 30 (+4yrs)

December 31 (+4yrs)

December 31 (+4yrs)

Accompanying Family Members

Dependents (spouse and/or children) of international students in Canada are eligible to visit, study and work while their family member studies. You can include your family members in your original application to come to Canada, or invite them to accompany you after you arrive. More information on family members can be found here.

Processing Times

Once you submit your application, you can track the progress through your IRCC online account. IRCC will send you notifications anytime they make a change. You can check processing times on the main page of the IRCC website.

Once your application is approved online, you will be sent a notification. It will also ask you to mail your passport or visit the VAC for your passport stamping. You must travel to Canada with the approval message, and your study permit will be issued upon entry.

Tuition, fees & funding your education


Your university education is one of the most important investments you will make in your life. So it only makes sense for students to ensure that they're up to date with tuition, fees, available and payment methods. To help you with the costs involved, Lakehead University offers over $11 million in funding each year to new and returning students. While scholarships recognize academic achievement, awards are based on a combination of criteria, including academic merit and financial need.

Tuition & Fees

A guide on Tuition, Fees, Important Dates and how to pay them.

Graduate Funding

Financial assistance available in several forms.

Housing, accommodations & our campuses


Explore our campuses and review your housing options, meal plans, and residence supports that will help you succeed in your studies.

Our Campuses and Hometowns

Get to know the city and the campus you'll call home.

Housing & Accommodations

Explore the convenient on-campus residence options and other accommodations

Orientation & events


Orientation is an important step in any students journey, but the fun doesn't have to stop there! We have plenty of events for our new students to help guide you as you research your options for studying at university. 

This is your opportunity to learn and ask your questions about admissions, programs, student life, and more!

Future Student Events

Learn and ask questions about admissions, programs, student life, and more.

International Student Orientation

Engage with Lakehead staff members and departments, ask your burning questions

Orientation

Online and in-person events to get connected to the campus community

Before you travel


Luggage and a hat

Over 1,500 international students, representing over 70 nations around the world, call Lakehead home. Below are some of the available resources for starting your Lakehead Journey.

Follow this handy guide to ensure you don't miss a step in your preparations for travelling to university. Get advice on everything from airport arrival procedures to airport pick-up, and more.

Read our guide