At Georgian College in Barrie, Canada, HD in Child and Youth Care is offered as a higher diploma in Social Work programme. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 7,619 per semester (CAD 1,387 per semester for local students).
The program prepares practitioners to support children and youth facing social, emotional and behavioural needs linked to mental health difficulties, trauma and abuse, cognitive and developmental issues, or contact with child welfare and justice systems, assisting children, youth and families across various settings as they build on strengths and work through challenges. Students explore and practice evidence-informed therapeutic strategies for prevention and intervention, grounded in an understanding of family systems, human development, equity and inclusion, relationship development, exceptionalities, and risk and resiliency. Learning is hands-on and interactive, with opportunities for community service, social innovation and changemaking work.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Ontario College Advanced Diploma. Entry needs an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, or mature student status, plus Grade 12 English (C or U). Applicants who already hold a degree or diploma from an accredited university or college in human services, education, interdisciplinary studies, social sciences, psychology or sociology can have transfer credit assessed against the program. Applicants to the accelerated delivery apply through ontariocolleges.ca under the major code CYAC.
Before field placement, community agencies may ask for proof of Standard First Aid and CPR Level C certification, crisis intervention certification, and in some circumstances an up-to-date immunisation record with a two-step TB test; students check the agency requirements supplied by the field placement office. Proof of Ontario Ministry of Labour health and safety awareness training is also required before placement. A clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check are required, and an unpardoned criminal record may prevent placements being completed and so affect the ability to graduate.
Georgian publishes one set of academic prerequisites here for both applicant groups: domestic applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca, while international applicants apply through Georgian's own applicant portal, where overseas qualifications are assessed against these Ontario courses. English, for any applicant whose first language is not English or who comes from a country where English is not an official language: Georgian's college-level band — IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79, TOEFL paper 550, PTE Academic 58, Duolingo 110, CAEL 60, Cambridge C1 Advanced 170 or TOEIC public test 800 — with results older than two years refused.
Application Details
Start Date:Intakes Georgian lists on this program's own page (checked 6 September 2026): Fall 2026 at Barrie; Fall 2027 at Barrie. Campus names are the ones Georgian gives for each start; not every campus runs every intake. On Georgian's academic calendar for standard 14-week programs, the fall term opens with orientation on 8 September 2026 and classes on 9 September 2026; the fall term opens with orientation on 7 September 2027 and classes on 8 September 2027. Individual programs vary from that pattern.
Application Deadline:Georgian publishes no deadline unique to this program, and it is not on the college's highly competitive list for Fall 2026 entry. The dates below are the college-wide ones.
DOMESTIC APPLICANTS (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply through ontariocolleges.ca. 1 February is the equal consideration date: an application received on or before it is weighed alongside every other application received by then, while later ones are handled in the order they arrive for as long as seats last. Georgian's own worked example ties each 1 February to the fall, winter and summer that follow, so the date now in force is 1 February 2027 for entry in Fall 2027, Winter 2028 or Summer 2028. Letters of acceptance for most programs start going out on 1 November (1 November 2026 in the current cycle) and keep going until a program fills; an offer is confirmed back through ontariocolleges.ca by the deadline printed on it, normally 1 May (1 May 2027 this cycle), and only one offer may be held at a time. Late applicants can still receive an offer as far as the fifth day of the term. For a program in this category Georgian normally keeps accepting applicants after 1 February — check ontariocolleges.ca for current availability.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS have no fixed cut-off. They apply directly to Georgian through its own applicant portal, which is also where a program's availability to international students is shown, and applications are taken year-round subject to that availability — Georgian warns that a program open when you apply can be closed by the time your file is assessed, and urges applying early enough to leave time for a study permit. A CAD 100 application fee applies, and a seat is only held once the pre-admission invoice is accepted and the non-refundable CAD 2,500 deposit is paid.
