Mature Students

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is considered a mature student?
  A mature student is at least 18 years of age on or after January 1 of the current calendar year.
• Can students who have already graduated take courses at Virtual High School?
  Of course! In a case where a student has previously graduated from another Ontario high school, we will update that school or school board with midterm and final report cards. The student’s main school or school board will then ensure that any credits earned at VHS are added to the student’s transcript. 
• Can mature students earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma at Virtual High School?
  Absolutely! Our Guidance Team will work with each student to ensure that they are on track to complete all of the Ontario Ministry of Education graduation requirements in order to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. 
• Will grades be sent to OCAS, OUAC, or post-secondary institutions?
  We can provide updates (notification of enrolment, midterm grades, and final grades) to accounts within the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) for any students applying to post-secondary institutions. VHS will also communicate directly with international and out-of-province colleges and universities when necessary. 

  Visit our Post-Secondary Applications page for more information on how we support students through the entire application process. 

• What is the difference between a prerequisite and a prerequisite waiver?
  A prerequisite is a course that must be completed before a student can proceed to the next level in a subject area. When students enrol in a course at VHS, they will be asked to demonstrate that they have met these prerequisite standards established by the Ontario Ministry of Education by submitting an Ontario Student Transcript, final report card, or credit counselling summary. 

  Prerequisite Waiver Applications may be necessary for any of the following scenarios for mature students: 

  • Attended an Ontario high school prior to September 1999 
  • Never attended an Ontario high school 
  • Completed college or university courses 
  • Has relevant work-related experience 

  Our Guidance Team will review the student’s academic documentation to determine if they have covered topics similar to those included in the Ontario curriculum in the selected subject area. If approved, a student may be granted a waiver to enrol in their chosen course.  

• When is an Equivalent Credit Assessment required?
  Students who plan to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and wish to receive credits for high school courses completed outside Ontario must submit an Equivalent Credit Assessment Application. This process allows our Guidance Team to appropriately place students into the Ontario education system as seamlessly as possible without having students repeat prerequisite material. Once an Equivalent Credit Assessment has been completed, the expectation is that all remaining OSSD requirements will be fulfilled through an Ontario high school. 

  Without an Equivalent Credit Assessment, any courses that a student has completed outside of the Ontario secondary school curriculum will not count toward the OSSD. 

• How long does it take to process a Prerequisite Waiver Application or Equivalent Credit Assessment?
  We want to make sure that our students can get started on their courses as soon as possible, so we guarantee that Prerequisite Waiver Applications will be reviewed within 3-5 business days and Equivalent Credit Assessments will be processed within 5-7 business days.