Applications

STEP 1 – Submit the Application, Participation Agreement and Transcripts/School Records and Pay the Application Fee

1. Complete the International Student Program (ISP) Application and ISP Participation Agreement and submit them, along with official Transcripts/School Records, to the ISP Office at international@granderie.ca.
2. Make payment to the Grand Erie District School Board (Grand Erie) of the non-refundable Application Fee of CAD$300 via Flywire (Information will be coming soon)

STEP 2 – Receive an Official Letter of Acceptance and Apply for a Canadian Study Permit/Visa

1. If accepted to study at Grand Eire, you will receive an Official Letter of Acceptance, a receipt for the payment of the ISP Application Fee, and an invoice for the full tuition fee, which must be paid at least one (1) month before starting school.
2. If applicable, use these documents to apply for a study permit from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
3. Once your study permit is approved, contact the Grand Welcome Centre at welcome@granderie.ca to schedule an intake appointment and English assessment.

STEP  3 – Apply for Homestay, Custodianship, and Medical Insurance                         

Once you receive the Letter of Acceptance, apply to our designated and recommended service provider, MLI Homestay, for them to find an appropriate host family; assign a custodian if you are 18 years of age or under, and assist you in obtaining mandatory Canadian health insurance for the period of study.

If the student’s family chooses not to have MLI Homestay provide the homestay and custodianship services, the family will be responsible for arranging the appropriate services. It will also need to ensure the student is adequately covered by Canadian health insurance and provide proof of this medical insurance to Grand Erie.

STEP 4 – Pay the Tuition Fee and Receive a Final Receipt

1. Pay the tuition fee to Grand Erie District School Board via Flywire (Information will be coming soon) according to your invoice received.
2. You will receive a final receipt once the full tuition payment is made.

STEP 5 – For NEW Students Only - Arrive and attend an Intake Appointment at the Grand Welcome Centre

Arrive in Brantford, Ontario, the week before starting a new semester or term.

Attend your intake appointment at the Grand Welcome Centre to have an English assessment for school placement purposes, have your school placement confirmed, and have the following documents reviewed:

• Valid passport, study permit, and/or visa (if applicable)
• The original letter of acceptance and original final receipt indicate that fees have been paid in full.
• Official school transcripts/records for the current and past year in English. If translated, have notarized.
• Official immunization record
• Proof of health Insurance coverage effective in Canada for the period of study
• If 18 years of age or under, the notarized custodial documents (one from the parents/caregivers and one from the Canadian custodian)

For RETURNING Students Only - Arrive and forward updated documents to the ISP Office.

Arrive in Brantford, Ontario, the week before starting a new semester or term.

You do not need to visit the Grand Welcome Centre for an intake appointment; forward a copy of the documents listed above to the ISP Office at international@granderie.ca. Then, start school with your new timetable.

STEP 6 – For NEW Students Only - Go to the School

After your Grand Welcome Centre intake appointment, a teacher will escort you to your school. If in Secondary School, the teacher will accompany you to meet with the school’s Academic Counsellor to discuss course selections and receive a timetable to start classes.

There are two considerations for determining school placement:

How much ESL support is needed?

Elementary school (Kindergarten to Grade 8): All schools have English as a Second Language (ESL) support from a visiting and qualified ESL teacher to support the students and the teachers. Nine elementary schools, specifically, have greater support for English Language Learners. Visit Elementary Schools Page for school profiles.

Secondary school (Grades 9 to 12): North Park Collegiate and Pauline Johnson Collegiate, both located in Brantford, offer ESL credit courses and deliver daily support. Brantford Collegiate, in Brantford, offers ESL support from a visiting and qualified ESL teacher to the students and the teachers.

Home Address in Brantford

There is a boundary system at Grand Erie; therefore,

1. A student will be placed into the school associated with the homestay address or
2. A student may request the school they wish to attend and then request a homestay within the school boundary, if available.
   

Please note: Grand Erie reserves the right to determine the final school placement for any student.

What is a Custodian?  A custodian must be named for any student 18 years of age and under and living in Ontario without their parent/legal guardian. The custodian must be at least 19 years of age and a citizen or permanent resident of Canada residing within a reasonably close distance to the student in case of emergency.

What Custodial documents are required? Click here for the two (2) required documents. Page 1 must be signed by the custodian and notarized in Canada. Page 2 must be signed by the parents/legal guardians and notarized in the home country. Both original pages must be presented to the Grand Welcome Centre upon arrival.

Who provides custodianship? Grand Erie does not provide custodianship services; however, it is partnered with MLI Homestay, which is highly experienced in this field. The choice of custodian is the sole responsibility of the student’s parents/caregivers.

If the student’s family chooses not to use the services of MLI Homestay, the family will be responsible for appointing an appropriate custodian. 

Grand Erie does not provide homestay services; however, it is partnered with MLI Homestay, which is highly experienced at placing and monitoring homestays with nurturing families.

What are the roles and responsibilities of MLI Homestay?

Acting on behalf of the parents/caregivers, MLI Homestay provides for the care and support of the student, including, but not limited to:

• Assisting with pre-arrival, such as booking appointments, arranging homestay, health insurance, and airport transportation.
• Assisting with arrival, such as attending appointments with the student, bringing documents to the Grand Welcome Centre, getting the student signed in at school, buying a cellphone, and opening a bank account.
• Acting as the official contact for Grand Eire in all matters related to the student, such as consent for school programs and activities, parent-teacher interviews, managing student attendance, and forwarding school reports to parents.
• Assisting with any adjustment issues at school, homestay, or medical concerns while communicating with parents, advising of any change in homestay or custodianship, and ensuring study permits and medical insurance are maintained.
• Be readily available 24/7 in case of emergency. If you must be away from the Brantford area for more than two hours, arrange for an emergency contact person to notify the school.

If the student’s family chooses not to use MLI Homestay's services, the family will be responsible for arranging an appropriate homestay.

Health Insurance coverage effective in Canada is mandatory for students during their enrolment at Grand Erie. The student's parent(s)/caregiver(s) is responsible for purchasing and maintaining adequate insurance. Grand Erie does not provide health insurance; however, it is partnered with MLI Homestay, which can assist you in obtaining this insurance.

If the student's parent(s)/caregiver(s) choose not to use MLI Homestay, the family is responsible for arranging adequate Canadian health insurance. Two popular providers for students are GuardMe and Study Insured. Proof of health insurance will be provided at your Grand Welcome Centre intake appointment.

A current immunization record, preferably translated into English, is to be provided. It is important for all immunizations to be up-to-date. Grand Erie Public Health has the authority to remove a student from school if a breakout of a communicable disease occurs, as it would not be safe for the student to remain in school if the student has not been immunized.

Find a complete list of required immunizations in English and available in other languages.

Upon arrival, you must provide the official immunization record, as per above, at your intake appointment. 

A copy of the official school transcripts (for secondary school) or the official school records (for elementary school), in English and for the current and past year, are to be provided along with the submission of the Student Application Form. If these records were translated into English, they must be notarized. This allows Grand Erie to assess what grade level the student will be placed in and provides information required for IRCC to issue the study permit, which is noted on the Letter of Acceptance for IRCC.

The originals or notarized copies of the official school transcripts (for secondary school) or official School Records (for elementary school) as per above will be provided at your The Grand Welcome Centre intake appointment upon arrival.