Frequently Asked Questions About Surrey’s Online Application

 

What are the minimum academic and age requirements to apply?
- The applicant must have an average of 70% or better in all classes based on the last two years of transcripts.
- If the applicant is coming with the intention to graduate, he or she must be born in the year 2008 or later.
- If the applicant is applying for Kindergarten, he or she must be born in the year 2019.

- Students in grade 5 or younger must live with a parent.

 

What are the English language requirements for applicants?
All applicants are expected to come with conversational English, an age-appropriate level of reading and writing in English and be able to understand teacher instructions. While Surrey does not ask for IELTS or TOEFL scores, there is a minimum level of language expected for the student to be successful in grades 10 and 11:

 

- for students applying to grade 10, the minimum level IELTS score is 4 or TOEFL score is 30 which equates to the ‘Low-Expanding’ level (BC Ministry of Education ELL Standards)

- for students applying to grade 11, the minimum level IELTS score is 5 or TOEFL score is 35 which equates to the ‘Expanding’ to ‘Consolidating’ levels (BC Ministry of Education ELL Standards)

 

Please ensure that you carefully review the ISP Legal Agreement as it pertains to minimum language requirements.

 

 

When can I submit my application for September 2024 start date?

The application opens on November 27, 2023

 

What is the deadline to apply for September 2024 intake?
We do not have a fixed deadline as the application will close once the spaces are filled. We expect this will happen prior to May 31, so please apply early.

 

What information is required to apply and receive the Confirmation of Acceptance (COA) letter?
The information requested for our online form is no different from our previous .PDF form we have used for several years. You will not be able to finish and electronically submit the application without these three documents, so please ensure you have them ready at the time of application:
1. International Student Program Legal Agreement (UPDATED DECEMBER 2023). Both the parent and student applicant must sign our legal agreement. Before starting the application process, please download the ISP Legal Agreement document from our website and have it initialed by the parent on Pages 5 and signed & dated by the parent and student (Grade 8 and older) on Page 7, and scanned as a PDF or JPEG file only. All seven (7) pages of the initialed and signed legal agreement must be uploaded for the application to be processed. 
2. Transcripts or report cards. You must provide transcripts for the last 2 completed years of school, plus the most recent mid-term report (if available). All transcripts must be translated into English. They must be in PDF or JPEG files only, and less than 5MB in size. You will only be able to upload one document, so please ensure all pages of the records of grades are scanned as a single document.

3. Passport photo page or Birth Certificate
This copy must be in PDF or JPEG files only, and less than 5MB in size. You will only able to upload one document, so please ensure you have only scanned a single document.

 

What else is required for release of the Official Letter of Acceptance (LOA)?

1. Custodian Declarations
- Students not residing with a parent must appoint a Custodian. Note that all students in grade 5 or younger must live with at least one parent.
- You must complete and submit copies of both the Custodian and Parent Declaration forms. These must be signed and notarized. Here are the links for Surrey's Custodian Requirements and a list of local Custodian and Homestay service providers.

2. Payment of Fees
Full payment of fees must be received before the LOA will be released.

 

How is the Official Letter of Acceptance (LOA) sent to me?
The LOA and receipt of payment will be sent electronically as a .pdf. These documents can then be used to apply for a study permit (if required).

When are the fees due?
Fees are due within twelve business days of receiving a Confirmation of Application (COA) letter. Fees can be paid by wire transfer, bank draft or certified cheque (payable to: Surrey School District). Please contact the International Education Department for wire transfer instructions.

 

How will I know if my application has been received?
Click this link to log in to your online account and select 'View Applications' to see the current status of all your applications.

 

What happens after the application is submitted to Surrey?
As in previous years, the Applications Committee will review the entire application and determine if it will be accepted. 

 

What happens once the application I submitted is accepted?
An email will be sent to you along with a Confirmation of Acceptance Letter/Invoice. This letter will have further instructions of additional documents that will be required. These documents and payment are required to complete the application and issue the Official Letter of Acceptance (LOA).

 

What happens if the application I submitted is refused?
An email will be sent to you advising you of the refusal. You will then be required to contact internationaled@surreyschools.ca to inquire as to why.

 

Why are applications refused?
Applications are typically refused for the following reasons:
- the application is incomplete

- the requested school(s) are already at capacity for international students
- the applicant’s grades are lower than the minimum required 70% average
- the applicant is coming with the intention to graduate and was born in 2008 or earlier

- the applicant is applying for Grade K-5 and has indicated they are coming without a parent