Where to Take Grade 12 Upgrading Courses in Ontario After You've Graduated
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Admissions & Applications, Canadian Universities & Colleges
You can upgrade a Grade 12 U or M mark after graduating through your local school board's adult day school or continuing education program, a Ministry-inspected private credit school, or an accredited board e-learning option. Confirm the provider issues real OSSD credit before you pay or enroll, since only board-run and inspected options count toward university admission.
🎓 Public school board adult day school and continuing education, often free or low cost for Ontario residents
Ministry-inspected private credit schools, tuition based, check the inspection status first
Board-run online e-learning and independent study options for self-paced study
Summer school through your former school board
Confirm the course grants real OSSD credit first
Before you enroll anywhere, confirm the course leads to an actual Ontario Secondary School Diploma credit that a university recognizes. Ontario classifies private secondary schools as either inspected or non-inspected. Only an inspected private school has Ministry authorization to grant OSSD credits, and the province revokes that authorization when a school stops meeting curriculum standards. A course from a non-inspected private school does not count as a real Grade 12 U credit toward university admission, regardless of the mark you earn.
Public school board adult day school and continuing education
Every Ontario public and Catholic school board runs continuing education for adults, covering both day school and evening classes. These programs teach the same Ministry curriculum as regular day school and issue standard OSSD credits, so a Grade 12 U mark from your board's adult program carries the same weight as one from your original high school.
Eligibility and cost depend on your age and residency, and vary by board. Boards typically offer these courses free to Ontario residents who meet the program's age and prior-schooling criteria, with fees possible outside those criteria. Contact your local school board's continuing education or adult education office directly to confirm your eligibility and course availability before you register.
Ministry-inspected private credit schools
Private credit schools charge tuition and often run condensed or flexible schedules, which appeals to students who need a fast turnaround before a university deadline. Use only one on the Ministry's inspected list, and ask the school directly for proof of its current inspection status rather than trusting marketing claims. An inspected private school's credit appears on your OUAC transcript the same way a public board credit does.
Online and independent study options
Publicly funded school boards also offer online Grade 12 U courses through board-run e-learning, coordinated in many cases through the Ontario eLearning Consortium , a consortium of 56 member boards that manages seat reservations for online credit courses. TVO's Independent Learning Centre is another long-standing Ministry-affiliated option for self-paced Grade 12 U and M courses, useful if you need to study around a job or fit a course into an unusual schedule. Ask your school board how to enroll through either route.
Both routes issue standard OSSD credits when completed through a publicly funded board, so a university treats the resulting mark the same as an in-person credit from your original school.
Summer school
Most school boards run summer school for both new and repeated credits, open to former students and sometimes to students from other boards for a fee. Summer courses compress a full semester into a few weeks, which suits a single-course upgrade but is demanding if you are trying to raise more than one mark at once.
Comparing your options
| Option | Typical cost | Pace |
|---|---|---|
| Adult day school / continuing education | Free or low cost for eligible Ontario residents | Semester length, similar to regular high school |
| Ministry-inspected private credit school | Tuition charged per course | Often condensed, sometimes a few weeks |
| Board e-learning / independent study | Free through your own board in most cases | Self-paced within a set term window |
| Summer school | Free for your own board, fee for other boards | Compressed into the summer break |
Getting the mark to OUAC
Whichever option you choose, confirm the provider sends your result through the standard Ministry reporting process rather than only issuing you a certificate or informal transcript. Ask specifically how the mark reaches OUAC and by when, since a late-reporting provider delays a university's ability to see your updated average before an offer round closes.
If you are still applying while you upgrade
Many students upgrade a mark during the same admission cycle they apply in, rather than before it starts. In that case, note the upgrade course on your OUAC application if the form allows it, and tell each university's admissions office directly that an updated mark is coming and roughly when. Admissions offices review files continuously through the winter and spring, so a mark reported partway through the cycle still reaches a program before most final decisions go out.
Before you register
Ask any provider directly whether the course issues an official OSSD credit and appears on your OUAC transcript
Check the admissions page for your target program for any specific policy on post-graduation upgrades
Compare cost and timeline, board-run options are usually cheaper, private schools are usually faster
Keep records of your registration and school board confirmation in case a university asks for verification