OUAC 101 vs 105: Which Ontario Application Route Is Yours

One application centre, two applicant groups

Almost every undergraduate application to an Ontario university goes through one place: the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). You do not apply to each university separately — you complete one OUAC application, list your program choices, and the OUAC forwards your details to the universities you chose.

Historically the OUAC split applicants into two products named after old form numbers: '101' for current Ontario high-school students and '105' for everyone else. The OUAC now also describes the two streams as 'Group A applicants' (the former 101) and 'Group B applicants' (the former 105). You will still see '101' and '105' used widely, so it helps to know both labels.

Who is a 101 / Group A applicant

Group A (the 101 stream) is for students who are currently in the Ontario secondary school system. In broad terms, this means you are currently enrolled in an Ontario high school and are working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with the required senior 4U/M courses.

The OUAC sets the precise current criteria for this group (covering things like your enrolment status and how recently you were in secondary school). If you are an Indian or other international student, you are almost never in this group — you are studying in your own country's school system, not an Ontario high school. Check the exact current criteria on the OUAC's 'Am I a 101 or 105?' page before deciding.

Who is a 105 / Group B applicant

Group B (the 105 stream) is for everyone who does not meet the Group A criteria. That is the route most international applicants use, and it also covers a wide range of other students.

• International students applying from outside Canada (including students finishing CBSE, ISC, state-board, IB or A-Level studies)
• Out-of-province Canadian applicants (from a province other than Ontario)
• Mature applicants returning to study after time away from formal education
• Applicants who already attend or have attended a college or university
• Anyone not currently enrolled in an Ontario high school

Why the difference matters: deadlines and fees

The two streams are handled differently. Group A (101) applicants typically work to a common OUAC submission date set for current Ontario high-school students. Group B (105) applicants generally do not have a single OUAC-wide deadline — instead, deadlines are set by each university and often by each individual program, so two of your choices can close on different dates.

Fees also apply and can include a base OUAC application fee plus an additional fee for each extra program choice you add beyond your included choices. Because these dates and amounts change every cycle, do not rely on a number you read anywhere except the OUAC's own Key Dates and Fees pages. Verify every deadline and fee on the official OUAC website before you submit.

How to confirm your route in two minutes

Start at the OUAC's 'Am I a 101 or 105?' page and read the current definitions — they are the authoritative test. If you are an international applicant, also read the OUAC's 'I Am an International Applicant' page, which points you to the 105 (Group B) Undergraduate application and to study-permit timing you should plan around. Study-permit rules are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and change — this is general information, not immigration advice, so verify on canada.ca.

• Read the OUAC 101-vs-105 criteria and identify your group
• If Group B / 105, open the Undergraduate application and the international-applicant guidance
• Note that your deadlines come from each university and program, not one OUAC date
• Build in extra lead time for transcripts, English-test scores and a study permit