At Durham College in Oshawa, Canada, Diploma in Recreation Therapy is offered as a diploma in Rehabilitation Sciences programme. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,489 per year (CAD 2,776 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Rehabilitation Sciences
Duration: 4 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 2,776 / year
International tuition: CAD 15,489 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
Through our recreational therapy diploma program, students develop expertise in creating therapeutic interventions that address cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs. This program incorporates two field placements in the community so our students have the hands-on experience to launch their careers in the field with confidence. Graduates gain practical skills in adapting recreation activities for individuals with various limitations and learn evidence-based approaches to enhance recovery and rehabilitation in diverse settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, community centres, and rehabilitation programs.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Mature Student Status plus Grade 12 English at the C or U level; the programme page states no minimum average and no language-test scores of its own. English-language proficiency therefore follows Durham College's institution-wide requirement for certificate and diploma programs: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 4.5 overall with no section below 4.5, PTE Academic 53 with no section below 49, CAEL 60 with no section below 60, or Duolingo English Test 110. Applicants aged 19 or over who are missing a prerequisite can use Durham's pre-admission assessment testing and free Academic Upgrading to qualify before enrolling in this four-semester, Oshawa-campus programme.
Application Details
Start Date:September, January and May
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca: for September 2026 entry the equal-consideration date is 1 February 2026 and offers must be confirmed by 1 May 2026; January 2027 entry has an equal-consideration date of 1 October 2026 (confirm by 1 November 2026); May 2027 entry has an equal-consideration date of 1 February 2027 (confirm by 1 March 2027) - applications after these dates are still assessed while seats remain, including for programs Durham lists as highly competitive (Paramedic, Practical Nursing, Dental Hygiene and similar), which share the same cycle rather than a distinct deadline. International applicants apply directly to Durham, not through ontariocolleges.ca, and are assessed on a rolling basis against each program's published intake availability; Durham publishes no fixed international closing date. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
