Foundation Admission Requirements - Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals

Are you interested in applying to the IEP Foundations Program? This program offers free access to language training, two courses, career coaching and events to eligible accepted candidates. To find out more about the program and how to apply please review our brochure below or sign up to attend an information session.

Interested applicants MUST meet the following criteria:

Currently reside in Ontario and have lived in Canada for three years or less;
Have a minimum of a recognized bachelor’s degree in a related Business, IT or HR discipline from a non-Canadian university or institution;
Be a Permanent Resident, Convention Refugee or recognized Protected Person (as defined per article 95 of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act S.C. 2001, c. 27);
Have related professional work experience (typically a minimum of three years in your field is recommended); and
Have a good command of the English language as proven by achieving an average CLB score of 7+ within the past 24 months.

Note: Refugee claimants and new Canadian citizens are only eligible to apply to the IEP Certificate Programs – they are not eligible for the Foundation Program due to program funding criteria.

For more information on how to obtain your CLB score visit the Achēv website. More information about the CLB test can be found on the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks website or by reviewing the CLB benchmark guide.

Quick Links

Applications are open now. Apply as soon as possible, there are limited spaces available. For more information email IEP@yorku.ca. A detailed application information package is available for download below.

Download Brochure

Download Application Package

Frequently Asked Questions

This bridging program has been developed for skilled immigrants who have immigrated to Canada within the last 3 years, with international post-secondary education (minimum of a recognized bachelor’s degree) and professional work experience. Specifically, it focuses on supporting those immigrants who do not have Canadian experience in their field to gain skills, University courses or a qualification and supports to bridge into the labour market.

Internationally educated professionals may face the following barriers when trying to enter the labour force:

Lack of recognition of international education, training, and experience.
Insufficient information about local employment opportunities and requirements.
Lack of professional networks and social in Canada.
Lack of occupation-specific terminology in English; and/or,
Difficulty obtaining Canadian work experience.

There are several objectives to the bridging program provided by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. Included:

Better prepare foreign-educated professionals for their careers through the foundation and specialized skills that fill the gaps.

To convene and collaborate with partners, creating opportunities for skilled immigrants to connect to the local labor market.

To work with key stakeholders, particularly employers, building their awareness and capacity to better integrate skilled immigrants into the workforce.

The program is scheduled to take place over four months on weekday evenings and some Saturday mornings. Note: Due to COVID-19 some program components may now be delivered online.

It is anticipated that all students admitted to this program have English language skills—both verbal and written to the level of CLB 8. However, there are language support courses offered throughout the Bridging Program for those who require enhancement of their English and to be prepared for the corporate environment students take the foundation course in Canadian Business Communication. All students will be assessed to identify their current ability and determine which class of English training they should attend.

Admission to the Bridging Program includes access to Career services, such as Career Coaching, Job Search and Career Development Workshops.

Currently, the Bridging Program is NOT eligible for OSAP funding, but is eligible for OBPAP bursaries and this may be available to qualifying Bridging Program participants after they apply. Find out more at OBPAP funding website. At our information sessions we can provide you with more information as well.

You are required to provide proof of your CLB level, with a copy of your test results issued within the last 24 months.

Achēv currently offers an online CLB-PT Assessment. You must contact them by phone and request an appointment specifically for a CLB-PT Test. Visit the Achēv website for a list of locations and their contact details.

The YMCA also does free CLB testing but note due to COVID-19, YMCA offices and other testing centres maybe temporarily closed, please contact YMCA at 416-925-5462 or email them at test@YMCAGTA.ORG to add yourself on their CLB testing wait list.

If you are unable to write your CLB Test before the application deadline, while you are waiting for your appointment, we can accept other interim proof of English Language proficiency (e.g. a letter from your most recent English language instructor noting your CLB level). Alternatively, you also can do the CLBA assessment online at The Centre for Education and Training.

You are required to submit a CLB test result once Testing Centres reopen.

To discuss if you qualify or if you require more information on admissions, please email your questions with a copy of your resume and degree(s) to IEP@yorku.ca before applying.

The Bridging Program is designed to best suit the needs of NEW immigrants who have been in Canada LESS than 3 years. This is because the objective of the bridging program is to better prepare internationally educated professionals for careers in their respective fields here in Ontario. Nevertheless, those who have been in Canada slightly longer than 3 years and less than 5 years are still welcome to contact us to discuss your eligibility.

For equity purposes, we ask all applicants (regardless of country of origin or language of education) to submit scores in the Canadian Language Benchmark Test. No other test results are necessary for application. Due to COVID 19 and closures we do accept IELTS scores or CLB online assessments until offices re-open.

How to Apply

The Bridge to Employment IEP Foundations program (a Canadian Workplace Foundations Program for newcomers) will resume in August 2021. To be considered for the program you must submit two separate applications and your transcripts -please review the Application Package above for step-by-step instructions.

Step One

Complete the IEP Foundations Program supplementary application & upload supporting eligibility documents

Step Two

Apply using the York University undergraduate application form as an IEP visiting student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Step Three

Submit transcripts and proof of degrees to the Office of Admissions. Initially, we accept unofficial copies. However, after acceptance to the program, we require an official copy of your bachelor’s degree (you are not required to submit degrees or transcripts for graduate studies). Find out whether or not you've been accepted through MyFile.

Due to the limited number of places available in the program, submitting your application does not guarantee admission to the program. Missing documents will cause delays in your file being assessed.