Planning for a degree

It doesn't matter if your son or daughter is still in Grade 9 or ready to graduate, lives in another country, or is thinking of transferring from a community college or wants to embark on a new career. When considering university study, you need to do some research. We've pulled together some pointers to start you on your way.

Get the facts about York in your language:

Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Hindi
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Tamil
Turkish
Ukrainian

Choosing a program

It's been said that there's a program for every person. With more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered in Canada as well as professional programs and certificates, there's lots of choice. How do you decide on the one for you?

There's no simple answer - personality and aptitude play a big part in the decision. One way is to focus on what you do well and the topics that interest you the most. Then, think of what the program may provide for you in the future. Can you see yourself as a biochemist or a choreographer or a teacher? How much money are you looking to make? How long to you plan to stay in university - in other words, are you looking for a BSc or a PhD?

It is often wise to ask for help: your parents/family members, professionals you admire, guidance counsellors, teachers, career planning services and mentorship programs are all valuable assets in the search for a program. The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada maintains a searchable database of more than 10,000 program records.

And remember, you don't need to have the decision set in stone… many students change their mind once they get into university and explore the options available to them. Be flexible!

Knowing your options

Unlike more “traditional” universities, York is set up to deliver a choice of majors and minors across more than 100 programs. Many students combine majors and minors in completely different fields such as music and physics or psychology and business. In this way, York’s structural flexibility is designed to match a student’s intellectual curiosity. The result? Students can focus in on exactly what they are interested in and graduate with a degree that fits their passions.

View York’s major and minor options