Admissions at NIST
Get enroll at NIST which facilitates blended (i.e., pre-recorded video clips, virtual classroom) course offering.
Is the NIST for me?
As a leading online private school in Canada, NIST welcomes students and parents who understand and support our mission, vision, and values. NIST gives a fair and equal opportunity to all applicants who fulfill the admission requirements.
You will find below the details of our admission requirements and detailed procedure to get the admission at NIST in different levels (Kindergarten to High-school). In the Ontario School Board System, grade 9-12 is the High-School level (For more information, please visit our equivalency). Please note that Secondary School Programs lead to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) from Ontario, Canada. This diploma will make our students eligible to apply in any Canadian university with the ease of acceptance.
Admission Requirements
Elementary School
K0 (Kindergarten) and G1-6 (Elementary and Primary School)
- A completed Online Student Registration at Here
- If in case, the Online Student Registration system is down, please download Admission Application form by clicking Here and send it to info@nistonline.ca.
- Either a birth certificate or another reliable document stating the child’s identity and date of birth.
- Proof of guardianship – Required if your child is under 18 years of age and is not living with a parent.
- A basic understanding of the English language. However, a student’s level of proficiency in English will not influence the choice of grade placement. English language learners will be placed with an age-appropriate group in online classes.
Secondary Schools
G7-12 (Middle School to High School)
- A completed Online Student Registration at Here
- If in case, the Online Student Registration system is down, please download Admission Application form by clicking Here and send it to info@nistonline.ca.
- Results of an English proficiency test to determine the competency level of the student.
- An application fee of $20.00 USD must be paid when the student registers online unless an alternative decision is taken and approved by the NIST Board of Directors.
- A basic understanding in English language both oral and written is an important factor in determining the success of the student in the Secondary Online School.
It is noted that high school includes Grades 9 to 12 in the Canadian education system. Grades 9 to 10 are called Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Grades 11 to 12 are called Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) in some countries. In the Canadian system, O-Level is roughly equivalent to Grade 11 and A-Level is roughly equivalent to Grade 12 or higher. However, at a minimum, successful completion of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) with five O-Level subjects in addition to at least two A-Level subjects are required for a direct admission to a Canadian college or university.
For students with an Associate of Science (AS) Level, four AS-Level subjects are required as an equivalent to five O-Level and two A-Level subjects to get admission in a Canadian college or university. For students with an AS-Level, four AS-Level subjects (i.e., equivalent to five O-Level and two A-Level subjects) are needed to get admission in a Canadian college or university. In other countries such as the Caricom region, O-Level is called CXC and A-Level is called CAPE.
For equivalency purposes, NIST follows the ministry of education, ON, Canada document which is the Policy/Program Memorandum No. 129, “Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR): Implementation in Ontario Secondary Schools”.
At NIST, we understand the financial sacrifice and commitment that parents make when they take the decision to enroll their children in a private school. As like-minded educators who value this commitment to pupil learning, the team at NIST ensures that the curriculum, teaching staff and overall student experience live up to its mission and vision. NIST offers a Canadian government accredited program from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and is now open for student enrolment for the current academic year. Because our overarching goal is to disseminate knowledge as widely as possible, especially among underserved communities, our fees are set lower than other private schools. It is noted that a $100 (One Hundred US dollar) admissions fee is applicable for all grades. For more information about tuition fees, scholarships, grants and financial aids, please Click Here.
Enrolment and Admission Procedure
Admission to NIST requires that each student demonstrates academic and behavioral readiness through the following application process:
Step 1
Online Student Registration
To begin the admission process:
- An online registration form must be completed and submitted through the [link].
- The completion of all the fields on the application form is mandatory and supporting documents must be submitted (See admission requirements).
Required Documents:
Student Birth Certificate.
Student passport (if possible)
Student Immunization Record.
Student Final Report Cards for the previous two academic years.
Two passport-sized photographs of the student.
Clearance letter. Note: If you are transferring your child from another school in Ontario, a clearance letter will be required from that school in keeping with Ministry of Education guidelines.
Health Record: student medical report (when relevant).
Acknowledgment Email:
- Auto-reply acknowledgment email will be sent immediately to the email address provided when submitting the online application form.
This acknowledgement will contain an “Activation Account” link. Please click on the “Activation Account” link to activate your account with NIST Student Portal.
Notification to parents:
Parents must notify the school about:
- Special educational needs or disabilities that the child may have.
- Submit any educational- psychologist reports or other related documentation to the teacher (if applicable)
The teacher will then meet with the family and consult with the Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) and relevant class teacher(s).
Step 2
Review of Student Application Form
After the thorough review of the student application form, the Admission Office will:
- Respond to the applicant within five to ten business days (i.e., five to ten working days).
According to the review results, our Admissions Office will contact you to arrange an Admissions Entrance Assessment (if applicable).
Step 3
Assessments
Students will be notified through email regarding their scheduled date and time to appear for the Assessment test.
NIST’s Admission Office will:
- Review the Admission Entrance Assessment with the Academic Team.
- Send a final decision after reviewing of the student’s file, assessment test made by the Academic Lead/Administration.
Students:
- Will be contacted to schedule an English language test (if applicable)
- Who will be transferring from Grade 8 into the Secondary levels will require an equivalency assessment conducted through the School District.
Note:
- An English language test is only applicable for Secondary Online School students.
- The student/guardian/parent will also have an interview with the Admission Office to assess the student’s requirements.
NIST, with the approval of the school board, can conduct this equivalency test on behalf of the School District.
Step 4
Final Decision
Applicants:
- Successful applicants will receive an “Admission Acceptance Letter”.
- Unsuccessful applicants will receive an “Rejection Letter”.
- A student may also be granted Conditional Admission.
Acceptance of Student Placement:
- Once accepted to NIST, the Admissions Officer will contact parents/student within four working days.
- Parents/guardian/student are then required to make the non-refundable reservation fee payment of ($20.00 USD). This fee will secure a student’s place at NIST.
- According to the respective policies of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education, Ontario, students who are not in possession of their Resident Permit /Toronto ID number will not be allowed to attend online classes.
Waiting for Acceptance:
If the applicant has completed the process successfully, and there are no seats to be offered at the time, the applicant will become part of the school’s waiting list, and will be reviewed again for the next academic semester.
Rejected Applications:
The school has the right to reject any applications when:
- Any of the provided documents are forged.
- Required documentation, as per the admissions procedures, are not provided.
- It is felt that the school is unable to meet and /or support an applicant’s overall needs.
Assessment Procedure
Kindergarten students will be offered:
- To attend an Online Kindergarten readiness assessment session.
- These sessions take place in small groups and will take approximately 30 minutes
Following the session, our highly qualified Kindergarten teachers will provide a written report on the following:
- Social skills appropriate to the child’s age.
- Ability to understand and follow instructions.
- Ability to separate from their parents.
- Readiness to attend class.
Types of assessments:
- An individual assessment session will be scheduled for the student.
- A written test and an oral interview with a teacher will be scheduled.
An individual or group online assessment sessions will be scheduled by grade.
These sessions are closely supervised by the teacher and will include the following components:
- Math
- Reading
- Writing
- Oral interviews (if applicable)
An individual or group online assessment sessions will be scheduled by grade.
These sessions are closely supervised by the teacher and will include the following components:
- Math
- Reading
- Writing
- Oral interviews (if applicable)
Mid-Year Application
Although the academic year starts in September, students are accepted throughout the year depending on the availability of places. Mid-Year admission for Grade 12 is not welcomed, as a considerable amount of examination work and credit accumulation will be required.
Conditional Admission
Students with conditional admission status, will receive a “Conditional Admission Letter” and are allowed to start their studies at the school as specified below:
- Students not having valid English proficiency test results will be given conditional admission for one semester. Depending on the number of students, the school may offer an intensive English course to improve their English proficiency. This does not exempt students from providing the required recognized English Proficiency test results by the end of the first semester.
- Students who were not able to submit any of the required documents at the time of registration, will be required to submit those that are outstanding no later than 30 days before completing their studies, in order to graduate.
Re-admission
A student who voluntarily withdraws and does not register for two consecutive school semesters is required to apply for re-admission and to pay a re-admission fee, unless otherwise advised. Any student who is dismissed due to academic deficiency is not allowed to register for one full school year. Any student who wishes to be readmitted must re-apply as a new student. Students who have been granted an official leave of absence may resume their studies without applying for re-admission.
Student with special needs
At NIST we welcome children with a range of learning preferences, including students of determination (students with special education needs and disabilities), and students who are gifted and talented. We are committed to educating all students in a common learning environment with similar-aged peers. At NIST, diversity is taken seriously, and respectful relationships are continually promoted. All children participate fully in learning by way of adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners reflected in wider society.
Appeals
A prospective student may appeal a decision related to Admission through the Superintendent’s office.
