Quick Answer
Yes, OUAC handles applications to Ontario universities only. But you do not have to live in Ontario to use it. Applicants from other provinces and other countries apply through the same Undergraduate application, as Group B applicants. Ontario colleges use OCAS instead, and universities in other provinces run their own systems.
Key Highlights
- OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre) covers Ontario universities: undergraduate programs plus law, medicine, rehabilitation sciences and teacher education.
- Where you live does not matter. Canadians outside Ontario and international students use the same Undergraduate application.
- Ontario colleges are not on OUAC. They use OCAS, with a separate account and separate rules.
- Other provinces have their own application services or take applications directly.
- OUAC passes your Ontario high school grades to nine universities outside Ontario, but you apply to those universities yourself.
Introduction
The name gives the answer away, but families outside Ontario still ask whether OUAC is a national service, because it is often called “OUAC Canada”. It is not. It is a not-for-profit application service based in Guelph, Ontario, and a division of the Council of Ontario Universities. This article answers the one question in the title and sends you to the right place for everything else. For a full description of what the service does, see our guide to the meaning of OUAC and how OUAC works. We checked the official pages on 5 November 2026.
What OUAC Covers and What It Does Not
It covers: undergraduate applications to Ontario universities, and four professional services: OLSAS (law), OMSAS (medicine), ORPAS (rehabilitation sciences) and TEAS (teacher education). Our list of universities that use OUAC shows which schools take the Undergraduate application.
It does not cover:
- Ontario colleges. You apply through OCAS at ontariocolleges.ca.
- Graduate programs. OUAC says each program has its own process, so use the university’s website.
- The Royal Military College of Canada. OUAC does not process RMC applications.
- Universities in other provinces. You apply to them directly or through that province’s service. OUAC only helps nine of them (Acadia, Bishop’s, UBC, Concordia, Dalhousie, McGill, Saint Mary’s, Simon Fraser and Victoria) collect your Ontario high school grades when you enter your OUAC Reference Number on their form.
Can Students From Other Provinces or Countries Use OUAC?
Yes. The OUAC Undergraduate Application Guide defines two groups. Group A is for applicants currently taking Ontario high school courses who meet the age and diploma conditions for the application year. Group B is everyone else, and OUAC names these examples: a Canadian outside of Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student and a mature applicant.
The application sorts you into the right group automatically. Older articles call these groups OUAC 101 and OUAC 105. OUAC combined the two forms in 2023 and renamed the groups in 2024, but our guides to OUAC 101 and OUAC 105 still explain who each group is.
OUAC treats you as an international applicant if you live outside Canada, or are studying in Canada on a valid study permit. Using OUAC does not guarantee an offer: each university sets its own requirements for your education system. If you are applying from abroad, read our overview of admission in Canada for international students and the OUAC application guide.
What Other Provinces Use
There is no single national system. In Alberta, the Government of Alberta describes ApplyAlberta as the main online service for applying to Alberta post-secondary institutions, and says most students can use it to apply and transfer transcripts online. British Columbia has a shared service called EducationPlannerBC. Other provinces have their own arrangements, and some universities take applications directly. Because these systems change and individual schools can run separate forms, always read the admissions page of each school. For Alberta, the Transfer Alberta how-to-apply page is the official starting point. For general advice on applying to several schools across the country, see how to apply to Canadian universities.
OUAC vs OCAS at a Glance
| OUAC | OCAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it serves | Ontario universities | Ontario colleges |
| Website | ouac.on.ca | ontariocolleges.ca |
| Who can apply | Group A and Group B applicants, including out-of-province and international students | Canadian and international applicants, each with a help centre |
| Typical minimum credential | Group A: OSSD, or working toward it with six 4U/M courses. Others: set by each university | In most cases an OSSD or equivalent, set by each college |
| Program choices | Chosen in your application; extra choices cost extra | Up to 5 programs, with at most 3 at one college |
| Who makes the decision | Each university (OUAC does not) | Each college |
The comparison above is a summary. Our longer piece on the differences between OCAS and OUAC goes into detail, and all you need to know about OCAS covers the college side. The college admission rules are explained on the Ontario Colleges admission requirements page. If you are still deciding between the two paths, read college vs university in Canada, and for newcomers applying to college as an international student.
Conclusion
OUAC is an Ontario service, but it is open to applicants from anywhere who want an Ontario university. If you want a college, use OCAS. If you want a university in another province, use that province’s system or apply directly, and ask OUAC to send your Ontario grades only where the university is on its out-of-province list. Match the service to the school, and read the school’s own admissions page before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OUAC only for Ontario?
OUAC only processes applications to Ontario universities, so in that sense yes. But anyone can use it, wherever they live. You do not need an Ontario address or Ontario high school to apply. Applicants from other provinces and countries use the same Undergraduate application as Group B applicants.
Can out-of-province students use OUAC?
Yes. A Canadian applicant outside Ontario is one of the examples OUAC gives for Group B. You complete the same Undergraduate application, then follow each university’s rules for your education system, such as which transcripts and grades they need. Check each program’s page, because requirements differ by university.
Do colleges use OUAC?
No. Ontario colleges take applications through OCAS at ontariocolleges.ca, where you can choose up to five programs with no more than three at one college. A university application and a college application are separate, each with its own account, so decide which sector you want first.
What is the difference between OUAC and OCAS?
OUAC handles applications to Ontario universities, and OCAS handles applications to Ontario colleges. They use separate accounts, separate fees and separate deadlines, and admission decisions come from each university or college rather than from the service itself. Choose based on the programs you want.
Is there an OUAC for other provinces?
No. OUAC is specific to Ontario universities and has no national or out-of-province version. Alberta has ApplyAlberta, British Columbia has EducationPlannerBC, and other provinces have their own arrangements. Check the admissions page of the school you want to confirm which system it uses.
