International Services

Edmonton is a growing city that has one of the fastest developing economies in Canada. It is known for the river valley park system that runs through the city - it is 12 times larger than New York City's Central Park. We have cold, but sunshine-filled winters and very pleasant, warm summers. Edmonton is only a few hours' drive from both the Banff and Jasper National Parks.

To find out more information about the City of Edmonton and other useful links: 

• Edmonton Tourism
• Edmonton Transit System
• About Alberta

Why Study at Edmonton Catholic Schools?

Edmonton Catholic Schools delivers the curriculum of Alberta Education and promotes the values, traditions, and compassion of Catholic teaching. Catholic education is complete education addressing the needs of the whole child - spiritual, academic, physical, emotional, and social. For more information on Edmonton Catholic School Division, visit ecsd.net.

• Leaders in Excellence in Education
• Great international student support and ESL programming
• Strong focus on student achievement
• A safe and secure learning environment with an appreciation for cultural diversity
• Tailored programs to prepare students for future goals

The International Student Program

The International Student Program office is the first point of contact for all international students; staff provides excellent support to ensure every student has the best opportunity for success. 

• Find out more about English as an Additional Language EAL programs
• For more information on Alberta Education, visit Alberta Education’s Guide to Education
• For more information on Alberta graduation requirements, credentials and credits

ECSD International Student Program Video

It is important to know regarding school placement:

You may request a specific school; however, the International Student Program makes the final placement decision.

International students are accepted and placed in schools where there is space and program availability.

Not all schools participate in the International Student Program (Many schools on the south side of the city are at capacity and therefore not participating in the International Student Program).

Use the Edmonton Catholic School Finder Tool to determine the school closest to where student will be residing during their studies in Edmonton

For further information or have questions about school placement, please email isp@ecsd.net. 

The International Student Program is intended for students who wish to participate in regular programming at Edmonton Catholic Schools. Students must be achieving at grade level and are developmentally appropriate for their years. Parental signatures are required verifying that the student applicant does not require additional or specialized learning needs.

Applying Online Via True NORTH Portal

Step 1: Create an account and complete the application.

Your online account will be the place where you:

• Communicate with and receive communications from International Services about your application
• Access all documentation: invoices, receipts, letter of acceptance, and health insurance policy information

Step 2: Scan and upload the following documents:

• Student's valid passport, picture page
• The last two years of school marks - in home language and translated to English
• Student/ Parent Consent Agreement -download, sign and upload (located in the online application)

Note: An academic reference letter from the current school may be requested if more information in support of student's academic performance and behavior

Once the student has been accepted, the following documents are required to be uploaded in True NORTH prior to arrival in Canada

• The notarized Custodian and Parent/Guardian Custodial documents @ Custodian Declaration Forms, if student is not participating in Canada Homestay Network (CHN) Program
• If a student is arriving and living with their natural parent(s), the parent’s Visitor visa and proof of address in Edmonton (i.e. rental agreement)

Upon receipt of the student's completed application and fee payment, we will review the application. Selected students will be accepted to study at Edmonton Catholic Schools and an invoice will be issued and available in your online account.

Step 3: Confirmation of Acceptance – Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

Once tuition and medical insurance fees are paid in full, an official Letter of Acceptance will be available in your online account and can be used to apply for a Study Permit @ Immigration & Citizenship.

Step 4: Registration and Assessment Appointment – Lumen Christi Education Centre (9405-50 Street)

As soon as the study permit has been secured and a flight has been confirmed; email isp@ecsd.net to schedule an intake/registration appointment.

At the scheduled appointment held at Lumen Christi Catholic Education Centre students will:

• Complete an assessment of their English language skills (if applicable)
• Provide a copy of their student permit and custodial document if not previously submitted
• Review medical insurance information 

Note: The appointment takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Step 5: School appointment to choose courses and meet the International Advisor

An appointment at the school will be scheduled and shared with you on the day of your registration appointment with us. (Please do not go to the school prior to the intake/registration appointment)

Please contact the International Student Program office if you have any questions @ isp@ecsd.net. 

Cost of Study - International Students 2026/2027 (All fees are in Canadian funds)

Students accepted for a split year enrollment (Feb-Jan) will be expected to pay the 5-month rate for each semester

Payment Information: 

Edmonton Catholic Schools has partnered with Flywire to streamline the domestic and international payment process. This allows you to pay securely from any country and any bank, typically in your home currency, by wire transfer, or credit card. By making your payment with Flywire you can:

• Track your payments from start to finish
• Avoid unnecessary bank fees and receive favorable foreign exchange rates
• Access multilingual customer support team with any questions, day or night

An invoice will be issued once the student has been accepted into our program 

After you have received your invoice, please follow the link to begin payment: ecsd.flywire. A Letter of Acceptance will be issued once all fees are paid in full.

Tuition Fees Include:

• Curricular school fees
• Textbook rentals (students are required to pay for lost/not returned textbooks)
• Diploma fees – first writes included. Rewrites are at the cost of the student

Tuition Fees Do Not Include:

• Transportation and school bus fees
• Academies or specialize programming fees
• Extracurricular activities /field trips 
• Diploma prep or Language challenge fees 
• Revalidation of transcripts 

School fees not included in the tuition, will be invoiced directly to the student by the attending school once they begin their studies.

Transcript Co-Validation:  

Brazil, Spain and Italy require final school marks to be legalized and revalidated in Canada for documents to be accepted by their home school. The International Services Office offers a revalidation of marks. This service is by request only. 

Students needing this service must complete this form Co-Validation form

An invoice will be emailed once the form has been submitted. This fee covers:

• Legalization of the school marks by a Canadian lawyer
• Revalidation by your home country's Consulate or Embassy in Canada
• Returning the documents to Edmonton Catholic School Division
• Sending the documents by courier to you in your home country

Every effort will be made to ensure that revalidated school marks are forwarded to you as quickly as possible. You should expect 2-4 weeks to process.

For further information contact isp@ecsd.net 

Refunds are provided to the original payor only and in the same method as was originally paid.

Tuition Refund:

• Full refund of tuition (less a $300 application fee) if a student’s Study Permit is denied.  Refund requests must include the formal letter of refusal from Canada Immigration, along with the written refund request from the parent.

Students can defer to the next semester (High school students only, gr. 10-12)

All grades can defer to the next school year with no financial penalties

• Two-thirds (2/3) of the tuition will be refunded (less a $300 application fee) if the student withdraws prior to commencement of the program (as per the start date on the Letter of Acceptance).
• Partial refund of tuition (less a $300 application fee plus $500 refund fee), if the student’s parent provides a copy of their work permit, permanent residence document or study permit (program dependent), along with required documentation before September 28th of the current school year. Contact international services for further details.

Medical Refund:

• Full refund of insurance fee if the application is cancelled prior to the arrival in Canada, if the student does not secure a study permit.

NO REFUND:

• No refund of insurance fee if the student withdraws after arrival in Canada or if the student’s status changes to funded. 
• No refund if International Services receives proof (all applicable documents) that the student qualifies to be a funded student in the province of Alberta after September 28th of the current school year.
• No refund on tuition and medical insurance once a student registers and starts studies (as per the start date on the Letter of Acceptance).
• No refund for any missed programming due to a student’s late registration; fees are not prorated.
• No refund if the student’s enrollment ends because the student has failed to comply with the Student Participation Agreement, or if the application or supporting documents are untrue or incomplete. 
• No refund of the $300 application fee in any circumstance.

*Edmonton Catholic Schools is not liable for losses/expenses that may occur because of the division not being able to provide education owing to labour disputes or causes beyond its control.

**Edmonton Catholic Schools may amend this Refund policy at any time by posting the revised Refund policy on its website. Notification of changes to the Refund Policy will be communicated to active students, deferred students and new applicants.             

Medical insurance is mandatory for all students applying to the International Student Program. The Program mandates this insurance to ensure that the students are protected during the time that they are enrolled with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Study Insured provides international students with the best medical insurance coverage and protection during their studies.  For more information, check out their link at studyinsured/ecsd

Edmonton Catholic Schools will submit student names and the period of insurance paid to Study Insured. The student’s policy information will be issued to the student prior to their start date with Edmonton Catholic Schools.

The medical insurance is effective once the student is registered with Edmonton Catholic Schools and has arrived in Canada, as per the policy dates listed on the wallet card issued by the insurance company. Coverage terminates and no refunds are issued when a student withdraws from school or returns home.

* It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they have secured their own medical insurance if they arrive in Canada before their coverage starts with Study Insured or if they stay in Canada after their Study Insured coverage ends

Options for you to secure accommodations in Edmonton:

• Live with a custodian, a family member, or a responsible adult
• Live with a homestay family through Canada Homestay Network (CHN)

Canada Homestay Network (CHN) places students with loving host families in Edmonton. This service is available for students in grades 9-12 only. 

CHN host families: 

• Have had thorough interviews, home inspections, safety checks, reference checks and passed a police record check
• Are enthusiastic to receive international students and all speak English in the home

Supervision and support are provided by CHN’s Relationship Manager throughout the program. Students are supported in schools and have access to homestay support 24/7 in the event of a problem or emergency. The International Student Program receives regular updates from CHN on all students throughout their placement. 

Homestay application:

• Students can apply to Canada Homestay Network at canadahomestaynetwork/ecsd

Do the tuition fees for international students include the school fees, bus fees and diploma exam fees?
The tuition fees do not cover all student activities. Once you register at your school, the school will inform you of any additional fees. Bus fees will vary from year to year. Diploma exam fees (first writes only) are covered in the tuition fees. Rewrites are at the expense of the student. 
 
What do I need to do to get my high school diploma?
To obtain a High School diploma, a student must complete a full high school program and obtain a minimum of 100 credits from both required and optional courses offered at the high school level. Depending on your level of English upon arrival, your prior courses of study and what your graduation expectations are, international students may to take longer to complete the requirements than a student who was born in Canada.
 
How long will it take me to complete my high school education?
A full academic high school program can take from three to four years to complete grades 10, 11 and 12. How much time you need will depend on how well you have done academically and your level of English fluency before you come to Canada. 

Where can I live in Edmonton?
Often International students live with relatives or with a responsible adult who already lives in Edmonton. If you are a student without these connections, Canada Homestay Network offers homestay and custodianship to students looking for a loving home canadahomestaynetwork/ecsd

Can I go to the school closest to where I will be living?
International students can request a specific school, but we cannot guarantee placement. There are several schools in our division (particularly schools in the South) that are not participating in the International Student Program due to being at enrollment capacity. 
 
Do I need a Study Permit to attend Edmonton Catholic Schools?
YES. If you are studying with us for more than five months, you will need a Study Permit from the Government of Canada to attend our schools. The Canadian embassy in your country will need to see proof of your acceptance at a Canadian school, which is a Letter of Acceptance issued by the school division who accepted you. There are some restrictions to being in Canada on a Study Permit. To learn more, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

When I graduate, will I be qualified to attend university anywhere in North America?
Our standards are high. If you do well academically in an Edmonton Catholic Schools high school and meet the entrance requirements for your post-secondary program of choice, you may be accepted. It is recommended to talk with your International Advisor early on to set up a graduation pathway that includes your post-secondary interests. 

If you wish to continue to study in Edmonton, excellent programs are offered at the:
Concordia University of Edmonton
Kings University
MacEwan University
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology 
University of Alberta

Is the application fee included in the tuition price or is it a separate fee?
The application fee is not included in the tuition. It is a one-time only fee that applicants pay when they first apply to our division.
 
Is the application fee, medical insurance fee and tuition paid at the same time, or do they need to be paid separately?
An application fee payment is required at the time of application. If the student is approved, the remaining fees (tuition and medical) are required before the Letter of Acceptance is issued.
 
If a student is applying for a full year can tuition be paid by semester?
No. The Letter of Acceptance will be issued to reflect the payment. If a student pays for one semester, the Letter of Acceptance will be for one semester. Note: Only high school students can apply in the second semester. 

How do I make a payment?
All domestic and international payments are made through Flywire. There are several payment methods available ecsd.flywire.
 
Will the student get an insurance card or anything else that shows they are insured?
You will receive an email with policy information and e wallet card that shows your coverage dates. The medical insurance policy covers the student once he/she registers at our office. For more information check out studyinsured/ecsd. 

What age of student will you accept? Will you accept a student who has already graduated from high school
Students must be under the age of 20 as of September 1 to be accepted into Edmonton Catholic Schools International Student Program.  

Do you have an orientation week? If so, what dates?
Students and families are provided with an orientation at their registration appointment with the International Student Program upon arrival in Edmonton. To book this email isp@ecsd.net. 
 
What day do you prefer the students to arrive?
It is recommended that students arrive in time for registration which begins usually the second last week in August.
 
Can students choose the classes they would like to take?
Students can choose the courses they would like to take providing the courses are available at that particular time, they have the prerequisite courses in place and sufficient English.
 
How many international students attend Edmonton Catholic Schools? 
Edmonton Catholic has a quota of accepting 150 international fee-paying students per year. That is less than 1% of the total student population.

When is holiday/vacation for the students?
Holiday periods include a two-week break from the middle of December to the beginning of January, a one-week break from the end of March to the beginning of April, and a summer break during July and August. To view the school schedule click visit ecsd/calendar.
 
Do I need to tell someone if I leave the program before the year is over?
Your success is our priority. If you are not satisfied with the education program you are receiving, please contact the International Student Program at 780-441-6080 and ask to speak to the Manager of International Services.