Application Process for 2025-2026 School Year

International Student Education Program

 

Admission Criteria

Acceptance into the International Student Education Program (ISEP) is based on the student’s overall academic achievement and English language skill suitability for our program. This program is for regular programming only and is intended for students who do not require additional learning support. Each applicant's acceptance into the program will be determined by the following criteria:

 

• The applicant’s educational background: current academic standing as indicated on the transcripts/school report cards and reference letter.
• The applicant’s English proficiency; English Admission Criteria:
  • Kindergarten to Grade 2 - English level 1 or higher
  • Grade 3 to Grade 12 - English level 3 or higher

“Calgary Catholic School District reserves the right, for any reason whatsoever, to reassess your child in person on arrival to Calgary. All in-person assessment results will supersede and replace any prior online assessment results. This means that if CCSD reassesses your child in person and concludes your child does not have a working knowledge of academic English, then CCSD may reject your application and not enroll your child in any of our schools. Therefore, it is possible CCSD will not enroll your child in any of our schools even after your child has already travelled to Calgary.”

• Students must be under 18 years of age by September 1^st of the school year they plan to attend in order to be eligible to apply.

 

Application Dates and Deadlines

	Full Year Study (K-Gr. 12)	Semester 1 Study (Gr. 10-12 only)	Semester 2 Study (Gr. 10-12 only)
School Start Date	September 2025	September 2025	January 2026
Applications Open	Nov. 1st 2024 at 12 AM	Nov. 1st 2024 at 12 AM	Nov. 1st 2024 at 12 AM
Deadline to Apply	Apr. 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM	Apr. 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM	Aug. 15th, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Deadline to provide the IRCC student visa decision to CCSD	July 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM	July 31st, 2025 at 11:59 PM	Dec. 1st, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Payment Deadline	All fees must be paid within 10 days of receipt of the invoice to receive the Letter of Acceptance (LOA).

 

                                   

Application Process for International Students with Calgary Catholic School District

 

Step 1: Application Stage

 

Complete the application through the True North online portal.

 

Upload a PDF version of the following documents. Please scan documents in portrait orientation only.

• Valid passport (picture page)
• Birth Certificate (no need to translate)
• If Catholic - Catholic Baptismal Certificate (no need to translate)
• Official transcripts/school report cards for the last 2 years bearing the school stamp, grading scale, and English translation. Originals must be presented at the assigned school after officially registering with Calgary Catholic. Translated documents must be from official/certified translators.
• Signed reference letter from the student’s current school principal or teacher in support of the student’s academic performance, attendance, behaviour, and attitude in school (letter must include contact information and English translation).
• Study Permit, if already in Canada (for international student transferees)
• Personal and Health Information Consent Form - If you are using a 3^rd party to submit the application on behalf of the student (ex: Educational agents or immigration consultants).
• Optional: TOEFL or IELTS results if available (for Gr. 9-12)
• Local proof of address of parents or custodian, if available such as utility bill (Enmax, ATCO), driver’s license, government-issued lD or void cheque)
• If applicable, Court Order, Divorce Agreement, and/or Adoption Certificate with English translated documents
• Notarized IRCC Custodian Declaration forms (page 1 Custodian’s section & page 2 Parents’ section)

 

Note: Do not complete the Custodian Declaration forms if:

• The student is in Kindergarten to Grade 6 as one parent must accompany the child in Canada for the duration of their studies. Custodianship to anyone else will not be allowed. Sign the “Confirmation of Parent Living with Student” Form which will be requested and uploaded through the application portal.
• The student is in Grades 7-12 with one parent staying with the child for the duration of their studies will sign the “Confirmation of Parent Living with Student” Form. The form will be retrieved and uploaded through the application portal.
• For school placement, indicate “Calgary Catholic School District”.
• School placement will be finalized before the end of June 2025
• Semester 2 school placement will be finalized by the end of November 2025
• If the student will be using Canada Homestay Network (CHN), please see the next section.

 

For Students Using Canada Homestay Network (CHN) Services:

• Complete CHN’s online International Student Homestay Application
• Homestay invoice will be issued by CHN after receiving the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from CCSD.
• Pay the homestay fees in full directly to CHN.
• Custodian Declaration forms may be submitted after the LOA is issued. Custodian information will be provided by CHN, as needed.
• Upload a PDF of the notarized IRCC’s Custodian Declaration form (page 1 Custodian’s section) in True North.
• Upload a PDF of the notarized IRCC’s Custodian Declaration form (page 2 Parents’ section) in True North.

Step 2: English Language Assessment

 

The International Student Department will send the online English Language Test and/or interview time directly to the parent. If the English admission criteria are met, the applicant will proceed to the next stage of the application.

 

*Log-in and password will be given directly to the parent. Please ensure you enter the correct information accurately. This code is valid for one-time use only for the specific student. An extra fee may apply if a new log-in code and password are requested. 

“Calgary Catholic School District reserves the right, for any reason whatsoever, to re-assess your child in person on arrival to Calgary. All in-person assessment results will supersede and replace any prior online assessment results. This means that if we re-assess your child in person and conclude your child does not have a working knowledge of academic English, then we may reject your application and not enroll your child in any of our schools. Therefore, it is possible we will not enroll your child in any of our schools even after your child has already travelled to Calgary.”   

 

 

Step 3: Pre-Admission Stage

• You will be notified via email if the student qualifies to move forward to the next step.
• You will receive notification of an appointment for an English interview and possible Math assessment.
• If acceptance is confirmed, an invoice for the payment of tuition and medical insurance fee will be posted in True North.
• The official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) will be issued via True North once all fees are paid in full and all conditions for approval have been met.
• Apply for a student visa from your home country as soon as you receive the LOA. Check current federal guidelines to verify if students studying for less than 6 months are able to study with an eTA. Check IRCC Processing Times.

 

Step 4: Student Visa Decision is Received for Full Year Students

 

Student Visa Approved

 

Deadline to notify CCSD of the student visa approval:

• Student visa approvals must be received by July 31^st, 2025 for the September 2025 school start date, otherwise, you will be deferred to the September 2026-2027 school start date. Admission, school placement and course selections are not guaranteed if deferred.
• Student visa approvals must be received by December 1st, 2025 for the January 2026 school start date, otherwise, your application will be declined.

Please upload these documents as PDF files in portrait orientation only in True North.

• IRCC visa approval letter
• Student visa sticker on the passport
• Student’s confirmed flight information
• Local proof of address – if a parent will be staying in the Calgary region with their child.
• Latest/Final transcript for the most recent school year (transcripts submitted in the initial application may no longer be valid)
• NEW passport (if the passport has been renewed since the application)
• Study Permit; the study permit will be issued by immigration at the Port Of Entry (POE) in Canada.
• OR, eTA approval if your studies are less than 6 months in duration

Compulsory Medical Insurance

The student’s medical insurance will be made effective 15 days before the start date of their program. Medical  insurance coverage will be arranged by CCSD for students who have been approved for a student visa.

 

        Insurance Coverage Effective Start Date & End Date:

 

Medical Insurance	Coverage Start & End Dates
Full year (12 months)	August 15, 2025 - August 14, 2026
Semester 1 (6 months)	August 15, 2025 - February 15, 2026
Semester 2 (6 months)	January 20, 2026 - July 20, 2026
If the student will be arriving before the coverage start date, please purchase their insurance coverage from arrival date in Canada up to the insurance coverage start date listed above .

 

Student Visa Refusal

If a student visa was denied, please upload a PDF of the IRCC Visa Refusal letter. Notify the International Student Department at international@cssd.ab.ca if the student will reapply for a visa. If not, we will refund the tuition & insurance fees ONLY.

• We will consider a one-time deferral only to the next school year. Admission, school placement and course selections are not guaranteed if deferred.

 

Step 5: Official Registration at Schools

 

Please upload all the required documents as listed in Step 4 via TrueNorth so we can complete the student’s official registration.

 

*The student cannot attend classes until they have been entered into the Calgary Catholic School District system.

 

 

Orientation Dates:  

 

Kindergarten to Grade 9 – Virtual orientation. Date: To be advised

* Students will be contacted by their respective school to confirm their first day at school.

Grade 10 to Grade 12 – Date: August 28^th 2025

• Mary’s High School - In-person
• Our Lady of the Rockies High School - In-person
• Bishop O’Byrne High School - In-person
• Timothy High School - Virtual orientation; Date: To be advised

 

*The International Student Department will arrange an opportunity to provide your course preferences. Please note that certain courses cannot be guaranteed.

 

 

Questions? international@cssd.ab.ca