George Brown College — rebranded George Brown Polytechnic in October 2025, though "George Brown College" remains in everyday and official use — is one of the few Canadian colleges positioned entirely in downtown Toronto, with three campuses (Casa Loma, St. James, and the waterfront Waterfront Campus) instead of the suburban footprint typical of peer institutions. Named Canada's #1 Research College by Research Infosource in multiple recent years and drawing roughly 29-30% of its enrollment from outside Canada, George Brown is best known internationally for its Business, Hospitality/Culinary, and Health Sciences programs, with a Nursing degree that stands out for retaining full Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility under Canada's post-2024 rules. This guide covers acceptance, fees, admission requirements, English test scores, and how the 2024 PGWP policy shift applies depending on your program choice.
Acceptance Rate
George Brown does not publish an official percentage-based acceptance rate. Like other Ontario public colleges, it admits through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) on a rolling, capacity-based basis: applications are reviewed continuously and offers extended until a program fills, at which point that intake closes regardless of the formal deadline.
George Brown's downtown location and hospitality/culinary reputation mean its Culinary Management, Business, and Health Sciences programs are particularly prone to filling early, especially for the September intake — applying early is the practical lever, not clearing a fixed competitive bar.
Tuition and Fees
| Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| International tuition — Diploma/Advanced Diploma | ~$19,261–19,457/year |
| International tuition — Bachelor's degree (Honours) | ~$18,475/year (varies by program) |
| International tuition — Graduate Certificate | ~$18,657–20,230/year (varies by program) |
| Estimated living expenses (downtown Toronto) | ~$16,500/year |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Tuition deposit (non-refundable, due after offer) | Required, amount varies by program |
Because George Brown is entirely downtown-based, living costs run somewhat higher than at suburban-campus colleges — budget accordingly if you're comparing total cost of attendance against Centennial, Humber, or Conestoga.
Admission Requirements
George Brown does not apply a single college-wide GPA cutoff; each program sets its own secondary (or post-secondary, for Graduate Certificates) prerequisite grades. Nursing and Health Sciences programs typically carry additional prerequisite coursework given clinical placement requirements.
Required documents:
- Application submitted via the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)
- Official secondary school transcripts (and post-secondary transcripts for Graduate Certificate and degree-completion applicants)
- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo) unless exempt
- CAD $100 application fee
- Non-refundable tuition deposit once an offer is accepted, to secure your seat
GRE/GMAT: Not required for any George Brown program.
Intakes: George Brown offers unusually frequent entry points for an Ontario college — January, May, August, September, and December for a subset of programs — in addition to the standard Fall/Winter intake structure, giving applicants more flexibility on timing than at many peer institutions.
How to Get In
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Apply as early as possible in your target intake window. With rolling, capacity-based admission and some of the most in-demand Culinary, Business, and Health Sciences programs in the Ontario college system, early and complete applications matter more than incremental profile polishing.
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Lock in your English test score ahead of time, particularly if targeting Nursing or Health Sciences, where higher thresholds and clinical-placement prerequisites add complexity to an already document-heavy application.
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Take advantage of George Brown's frequent intake dates if your target program offers a January, May, August, or December start — this can be a genuine scheduling advantage over colleges with only Fall/Winter intakes.
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Weigh an honours Bachelor's degree — especially Nursing — against a general Graduate Certificate with PGWP eligibility in mind, since Nursing's inclusion in IRCC's healthcare priority sector makes it particularly well-positioned under the 2024 rules (see below).
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Budget for the non-refundable tuition deposit and downtown Toronto's higher living costs relative to suburban-campus alternatives.
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If your English score falls short, ask about George Brown's English Language Certificate/pathway program — a conditional-admission bridge into your intended program.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo Requirements
George Brown sets two tiers of English requirement depending on program level:
| Test | Diploma/Certificate | Degree/Graduate Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall, no band below 5.5 | 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 80, no skill below 20 | 88, no skill below 22 |
| PTE Academic | 53 | 58 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 | 120 |
Nursing and several Health Sciences programs typically set higher thresholds than these general minimums, given clinical placement and regulatory-body expectations — always confirm the exact figure on your specific program's page. A prior credential taught and fully examined in English at an approved institution may exempt you from a separate test requirement. Scores are generally treated as valid for two years.
If your score falls short, George Brown's English Language Certificate pathway provides a structured route into your intended diploma, degree, or Graduate Certificate program.
PGWP Eligibility — What Changed in 2024
IRCC's eligible-field-of-study restriction for the Post-Graduation Work Permit applies to study permit applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, affecting only non-degree credentials — diplomas, certificates, and Graduate Certificates. Bachelor's degree programs are exempt and remain broadly PGWP-eligible regardless of field.
At George Brown, that split plays out as:
- PGWP-eligible regardless of field: George Brown's honours Bachelor's degree programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Construction Management, and Bachelor of Culinary Management, typically qualifying graduates for the maximum 3-year PGWP if the degree runs 2+ years.
- PGWP-eligible only if the specific program's CIP code is on IRCC's approved list: every diploma, certificate, and Graduate Certificate. As of early 2026, the eligible list centers on six broad sectors — healthcare and social services, education, trades, agriculture, STEM, and transport — across roughly 1,100 eligible programs nationally.
George Brown's position here is notable: its Bachelor of Science in Nursing sits at the intersection of a degree-level exemption and a priority sector (healthcare), making it one of the strongest PGWP bets in the college's entire portfolio. By contrast, general Business and Hospitality-management Graduate Certificates — some of George Brown's most enrolled international programs — generally fall outside the current eligible list. Always verify your specific program's current status directly on IRCC's official eligible-field-of-study list before enrolling.
George Brown is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI); confirm the DLI number on your Letter of Acceptance against IRCC's official DLI list. A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) has also been required alongside every study permit application since January 22, 2024.
Career and Employment Outcomes
George Brown does not publish a single college-wide graduation rate or average starting salary. Outcomes are best understood by program cluster:
- Culinary and Hospitality graduates place with Toronto hotels, restaurants, and catering employers, drawing on the St. James Campus's dedicated culinary training facilities.
- Nursing and Health Sciences graduates feed into Ontario's healthcare and long-term-care sector, benefiting from both strong regional demand and favorable PGWP positioning.
- Construction and Engineering Technology graduates place with Greater Toronto Area construction and engineering employers.
- Business and Graduate Certificate holders typically place with downtown Toronto business-services employers, though PGWP eligibility varies significantly by specific program.
Given the shifting international enrollment landscape since 2024 (George Brown, like Centennial and Conestoga, has seen international enrollment pressure from the study permit cap and PGWP restrictions), applicants should weigh program-specific PGWP status heavily when choosing between George Brown's offerings.
FAQ
Does George Brown have a percentage acceptance rate I can compare to other schools? No official one is published. Admission is rolling and capacity-based through OCAS — popular Culinary, Business, and Health Sciences programs close once full, so applying early matters more than at a percentage-based school.
Is George Brown College the same as George Brown Polytechnic? Yes. The college rebranded publicly as George Brown Polytechnic in October 2025, but "George Brown College" remains standard usage, including in most current admissions and DLI materials.
Will my George Brown program qualify me for a Post-Graduation Work Permit? It depends entirely on program type. Honours Bachelor's degrees (Nursing, Construction Management, Culinary Management) remain PGWP-eligible regardless of field. Diplomas, certificates, and Graduate Certificates only qualify if their CIP code appears on IRCC's current eligible field-of-study list — Nursing-adjacent Graduate Certificates are well-positioned given healthcare's priority status, while general Business and Hospitality-management certificates generally are not. Always confirm directly against IRCC's official list.
What IELTS score do I need? 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for diploma/certificate programs, or 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for degree and Graduate Certificate programs. TOEFL iBT 80 and 88 respectively, with PTE and Duolingo equivalents also accepted. Nursing and Health Sciences programs often set higher thresholds.
How much does George Brown cost for international students, including living expenses? Tuition runs roughly CAD $18,500-20,000/year for most programs, with living expenses in downtown Toronto adding approximately CAD $16,500/year — somewhat higher than suburban-campus Ontario colleges given the downtown location.
Is there a pathway if my English score is below the requirement? Yes — George Brown's English Language Certificate program is a structured conditional-admission bridge into your intended diploma, degree, or Graduate Certificate program.
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