George Brown College

Toronto, Canada Founded 1967

Updated Sep 2026

Overview

Founded: 1967
Institution Type: College
Control Type: Public

George Brown College, rebranded George Brown Polytechnic in 2026, is a large public college in downtown Toronto, Ontario.

Established in 1967 when the province created Ontario's public college system, it opened in March 1968 with just over 2,000 students and now serves roughly 30,000 full-time and 5,500 part-time students, plus more than 50,000 continuing-education registrants each year; about 44 per cent of students are international. Teaching is spread across three downtown campuses - St.

James, Casa Loma and Waterfront - along with specialty locations including the Sunnybrook hospital site for orthotics and prosthetics, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts and the Fashion Exchange. The college offers about 175 full-time programs spanning certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and honours bachelor's degrees, organized since 2026 into four faculties covering applied science, construction and engineering technology; business, creative industries and culinary arts; community services and interdisciplinary studies; and health sciences.

A member of Polytechnics Canada and a nationally ranked research college, George Brown pairs classroom learning with work-integrated placements built with more than 5,000 industry partners and runs applied-research labs in food innovation, advanced manufacturing and design.

Notable strengths include hospitality and culinary arts, construction management - including Ontario's first internationally accredited four-year construction-management degree - health sciences simulation and early-childhood education, supported by a network of 14 child-care centres and on-campus dental, hearing and wellness clinics. Students can live at The George, the college residence at 80 Cooperage Street.

Location & Contact

Find George Brown College on the map and reach the right office through the contact channels listed below. Use these for general enquiries; specific departments often run their own contact pages.

Address: St. James Campus, 200 King St. E., Toronto, Ontario
Phone: +1 416-415-2000
Social Media:

Academic Details

George Brown College's academic profile in numbers — useful for sizing the institution against your shortlist. Each figure links to a different facet of how the institution operates day to day.

Academic Year: Fall (September), Winter (January) and Spring/Summer (May) semesters; the core academic year runs September to April, with a May-August summer semester, and many programs admit in all three start-up months
Admission Requirements: DOMESTIC APPLICANTS — Entry to a certificate, diploma or advanced diploma rests on an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or an equivalent credential, together with the Grade 11 and Grade 12 subject prerequisites printed on each program page. A George Brown bachelor's degree asks for six Grade 12 U or M credits. An Ontario College Graduate Certificate (postgraduate) normally asks for a completed college diploma or a university degree. Applicants schooled outside Ontario must show their standing is equivalent to the OSSD, and domestic applicants holding international transcripts file official documents (with a certified English translation where the originals are in another language) through ontariocolleges.ca. Anyone 19 or older on the first day of class who holds no OSSD may apply with mature-student status and sit the George Brown Admissions Assessment for the missing subjects. Degree programs allow no such testing: a mature degree applicant must actually hold the Grade 12 U prerequisites, be 19 by the first day of class, and be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or sponsored by a Canadian government agency — and the Early Childhood Education degree run with Toronto Metropolitan University (C118) sets mature status at 21 with two years away from full-time school instead. Selection is by ranking on grades, so meeting the published minimum does not by itself produce an offer, and competitive programs routinely need marks well above it. INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS — You need senior secondary graduation (a university or college credential for a postgraduate program), the academic requirements George Brown publishes for your own country of origin at your credential level, the non-refundable CAD 110 application fee, and evidence of English. Applicants under 18 also file custodianship documents. International Baccalaureate applicants need six IB courses graded 4 or better for a diploma or certificate, and 5 or better for a degree. Places are assessed selectively and an intake can close once its international enrolment is filled, so submitting an application does not secure a seat. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (both groups) — The test is waived if your secondary or post-secondary study was completed at a recognised institution teaching in English. Otherwise the minimums differ by credential level. Diploma and certificate programs: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band under 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80 with at least 20 per band; Duolingo 110 overall with a production score of 90; PTE Academic 54 overall with 50 per band; CAEL 60 overall; Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 169 with nothing below 162; MELAB 80; or George Brown EAP Level 8. George Brown bachelor's degrees: IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 per band; TOEFL iBT 84 with at least 21 per band; Duolingo 120 with a production score of 100; PTE 60 with 55 per band; CAEL 70 overall and 60 in writing; Cambridge 176 with nothing below 169; MELAB 85; or EAP Level 9. Postgraduate, fast-track, bridging and master's programs use those same degree-level figures except TOEFL, which rises to 88 with at least 22 per band. Scores stay valid for two years up to the program start date, while the George Brown Admissions Test is valid for one year. Five programs refuse language-test results altogether and require the English course credit itself: Dental Technology (S100), Denturism (S101), Practical Nursing (S121), Dental Hygiene (S134) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (S318). Individual programs may demand scores above these floors. HOW TO APPLY — Domestic students do not apply to the college directly; they use Ontario's central ontariocolleges.ca system, where one non-refundable CAD 150 application covers up to five program choices with no more than three at any single college. International students apply in George Brown's own online international application and pay CAD 110.
Total Students: 30,198
Campus Setting: Urban

Academic Structures

The schools and colleges that constitute George Brown College's academic body are organised below. Each often controls its own admissions criteria, scholarships, and programme entry standards.

Unit 4 items
  • Faculty of Applied Science, Construction, and Engineering Technology
  • Faculty of Business, Creative Industries, and Culinary Arts
  • Faculty of Community Services and Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Faculty of Health Sciences

Programs Offered

George Brown College's teaching offering by degree level. Programmes archived in past intakes may still appear on search engines; the live list here is the current source of truth.

154 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Canada

Bachelor's Degree 21 programmes

Showing 10 of 21.

Honours Degree 13 programmes

Showing 10 of 13.

Master's Degree 1 programme

Certificate 25 programmes

Showing 10 of 25.

Diploma 40 programmes

Showing 10 of 40.

Higher Diploma 27 programmes

Showing 10 of 27.

Postgraduate Certificate 27 programmes

Showing 10 of 27.

How to apply to George Brown College

What applying to George Brown College typically involves — research, eligibility check, document prep, submission, and follow-up.

  1. 1
    Find a programme that fits your goals

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. George Brown College offers 154 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Confirm you meet the requirements

    Each programme at George Brown College has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Assemble your application package

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Submit your application

    Apply directly via George Brown College's online portal at www.georgebrown.ca. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

  5. 5
    Contact admissions and follow up

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. You can reach the institution by email at [email protected] or by phone at +1 416-415-2000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about George Brown College

Short Q&A on the institutional facts that matter most when shortlisting George Brown College as a study destination.

How old is George Brown College?

The institution opened in 1967 (approximately 59 years ago).

Where can I find George Brown College?

The institution is located in Toronto, Canada.

What is George Brown College's control type?

George Brown College is a public institution.

How many students does George Brown College have?

The institution has a student body of 30,198.

What is George Brown College's academic structure?

George Brown College is organised into 4 academic units across its disciplines.

What is George Brown College's official website?

The institution's website is www.georgebrown.ca.

Top-Ranked Universities in Canada

A quick benchmark: here are the top-ranked universities in Canada. Useful for understanding how George Brown College compares against the national reference points in higher education, and what alternatives exist if reach institutions are part of your strategy.

Faculties at nearby universities

If you're weighing George Brown College against other institutions in the area, these neighbouring universities offer overlapping faculties and similar admissions cycles. They are useful for shortlisting based on travel distance or campus environment.

Where Else to Study Business Administration

Foreign-language teaching requirements for Business Administration programmes vary across Canada. Some run entirely in the national language; others offer English-medium delivery for international students.

Universities Compared with George Brown College

Faculty mobility between George Brown College and peer institutions is common — academics often move within a comparable tier. This signals shared academic standards and salary structures.

Browse all articles →

Spotted something outdated or missing?

Help us keep this page accurate — it takes about 30 seconds.

Explore More Universities in Canada

Free calculators and converters to plan your study-abroad journey.

Latest Articles

Fresh guides and advice for studying abroad.

View all →

Compare Compare