Supplementary Applications and Assessments for Ontario Programs

The OUAC form is only step one

Submitting your OUAC application does not always complete your application to a program. Many competitive Ontario programs ask for extra, program-specific material after you apply — collectively called supplementary applications or assessments.

These let admissions teams learn about you beyond your grades: your interests, reasoning, communication and motivation. Missing one can mean your application is not considered for that program, even if your grades are strong. So the moment you choose your programs, find out which of them require extra steps.

Common types of extra steps

Supplementary requirements come in several forms. The exact mix depends entirely on the university and program you choose.

• Supplementary application forms — extra questionnaires or short-answer essays about you (used by several programs)
• Admission Information Form (AIF) — Waterloo's online form of short questions, required for many programs including all Engineering programs
• Video interviews — short recorded responses used by some programs (e.g. certain Waterloo programs)
• Written assessments / situational tests — such as CASPer, an online situational-judgement test used for some programs (e.g. McMaster Nursing)
• Program-specific supplementary applications — e.g. McMaster's Honours Health Sciences supplementary application, portfolios for design programs, or auditions for music

Where these show up: a few real examples

Two well-known Ontario examples help make this concrete. At the University of Waterloo, many programs (including all Engineering programs) ask applicants to complete the Admission Information Form — and some programs add to it with short supplementary forms or a video interview. Waterloo lists exactly what each program needs in your applicant portal.

At McMaster University, several programs use program-specific supplementary applications. The Honours Health Sciences program uses a written supplementary application, and some programs (such as Nursing) use an online assessment like CASPer. Because these requirements and the tools used change between cycles, always confirm the current step list on the official program page rather than assuming last year's process still applies.

Plan your timeline around them

The biggest risk with supplementary steps is timing. They often have their own deadlines — sometimes earlier than you expect — and a written assessment or video interview can take real preparation. International applicants juggling transcripts, English tests and a study permit need to schedule carefully.

• List every program you applied to and check each one's supplementary requirements
• Write down the separate deadline for each supplementary step
• Prepare written and video responses in advance — do not improvise on the deadline
• Watch your university applicant portal and email for required-task checklists
• Verify every requirement and date on the official program page

How to keep on top of it

Treat the OUAC submission as the trigger, not the finish line. After you apply, each university typically gives you access to an applicant portal showing outstanding tasks. Check it regularly, complete each task before its own deadline, and keep a simple tracker so nothing slips. When in doubt about whether a step is required, contact the university's admissions office directly.