Conestoga College
- Last Updated on: July 23, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Established in 1967, Conestoga is one of the top polytechnics in Ontario, Canada. The college has more than 32,000 students, including about 9,000 international students from 80 countries, in the main campuses in these communities: Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph, plus unique programs in small towns, in Perth County and Wellington County. Conestoga is Ontario’s leader in polytechnic education, offering career-focused, full-time programs which range from four-year degrees to one-year certificates, and including 25 co-op programs and 85 co-op options. The college’s emphasis on applied research and the practical, hands-on instruction means that all our students receive relevant and practical learning experiences that set you up for the opportunities waiting in this quickly evolving job market.
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose Conestoga College
Career-Focused Learning Environment: Conestoga programs are created with close industry input to stay current with a range of technologies and curriculum relevant to industry needs. The college has a strong focus to applied research and hands-on learning, assuring that graduates start work ready.
Strong Graduate Success Rates: Its rate of employment among graduates is 87% within six months of completing the program, with an approximate satisfaction rate of 80%. Employers also indicate a satisfaction rate of 92% with Conestoga graduates, providing another indicator of the college and the world of work.
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Top Research College in Canada: Conestoga made the list of top 20 research colleges in Canada in 2024. With $7m funding it has 177 active projects The college applied research work enrolls as much as 7 000 a year teaches hard and receives extremely rewarding, real-world lessons.
International Opportunities and Pathways: Conestoga has several articulation agreements in place with well-established after establishing the secondary institutions around the globe. Internationalism Exchange and global partnerships allow student and staff mobility and engagement with teachers in other disciplines.
Diverse Student Body: Conestoga is attracting students from around the globe and providing a diverse campus experience. It has over 225,000 graduates, and is a key catalyst for Ontario’s economy, generating approximately $6.2 billion of economic activity each year.
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Campus Facilities at Conestoga College
Modern Laboratories and Technology-Enhanced Classrooms: State-of-the-art, program-related labs and facilities including Conestoga Food Research Lab SMART Centre Canadian Institute for Safety Wellness & Performance. The physical spaces accommodate online and mobile learning technologies for hybrid flexibility.
Specialized Centres and Research Hubs: The centres for health and wellness research and innovation – Marketing Agency of the Health and Wellness, and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Centre are based on its campuses. These centres not only ensure student success in their studies but also power the innovation sector across Ontario.
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On-Campus Housing and Amenities: Conestoga residence buildings (off campus) provide private, furnished rooms, internet access and shared cooking facilities. Learners also take advantage of food services, lockers, printers, and lounges for a less-stressful campus life.
Libraries and Learning Commons: Library services are Open to everyone at all campuses. The university also arranges tutor meetings, study workshops, and research support to ensure that students remain on their academic paths during their programs.
Athletic and Recreational Facilities: Athletic centre (e.g., gym, fitness centre, or recreation league). Large exercise rooms, state-of-the-art fitness studio and functional training space are provided at Kitchener Doon campus, where intramural sports and wellness programs run all year for students.
Student Services Offered by Conestoga College
Student Success Portal: A centralized Student Success Portal where students can book academic appointments, RSVP to workshops and access self-help resources.
CARE Referral and Counselling Services: They provide intervention and therapy for students in crisis, who are feeling overwhelmed or are having mental health issues. Confidential Assistance Professional counsellors are available to students in both the fall and the spring semesters.
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Accessible Learning and Academic Integrity: Services are available at Conestoga to support students with disabilities through the Accessible Learning department. Enables testing accommodations, Adaptive technology, and on-going academic coaching for equitable access to learning.
Medical and Health Support: General health care as well as health promotion and emergency services are provided by a full-service medical clinic on campus. Telephone or video health appointments are also available to make certain that student health does not get lost in the mix.
Career & Employment Support: The Hub Talent and Co-operative Education offices provide students with resume and mock interview help, and access to job fairs. Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective is inspirational for other up and coming innovators and students that dream of starting up something new.
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Student Life at Conestoga College
Cultural Events and Celebrations: Conestoga hosts a wide range of cultural events such Diwali Night, Lunar New Year, and Indigenous Celebrations. Events can be an effective way to facilitate cultural exchange and integration.
Student Clubs and Societies: Students can join or start clubs around interests including robotics, gaming, photography, and environmental action. Clubs and Committees Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) oversees 50+ active clubs at all campuses.
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Athletics and Recreation: Playing sports on their own team, in an intramural league, or at the varsity level, students can keep active and in shape all year long. Leisure activities will also include exercise classes and mental health workshops.
Orientation and Student Engagement Programs: Orientation sessions and campus tours welcome new students. Year-round opportunities, including leadership programs, volunteering are also available.
Campus Activities and Community Engagement: Some students put time into community projects like volunteering for local organizations or working on environmental projects. The college encourages off-campus learning and service.
Doon Campus (Kitchener): As the primary campus, Doon has an administration and offers all programs. New laboratories, libraries, residence buildings and sports facilities have been provided for it.
Cambridge Campus: This campus specializes in engineering and IT program and boasts modern manufacturing labs and sustainable design. It is also where much of the college’s applied research work takes place.
Waterloo Campus: Waterloo is focused on trades and apprenticeship training, which feature hands on learning opportunities in the form of plumbing, electrical and carpentry classes in modern lab settings.
Guelph and Brantford Campuses: Those sites also offer vocational programs in health sciences, community services and business. They both assist with strong local employer engagement and access to local labor markets. These sites offer tailored learning packages and industry training by local employers. A service including specialized laboratories and workshops for workforce development.
Scholarships Offered by Conestoga College
Conestoga Entrance Excellence Scholarship: This bursary is awarded to any international student enrolled in a full-time Okanagan College diploma or degree program and ranges up to a maximum of CAD 1,500. You must be accepted, which can be competitive – based on academic achievement, with at least an 80% average from previous studies.
International Degree Entrance Scholarship: This scholarship is open to first-year international students who have applied to a four-year undergraduate program. The children should academically satisfy with minimum of 85% marks in the previous academic performance.
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International Regional Scholarship: Valued at 1,000 CAD, this scholarship is intended for international students of underprivileged regions. You must be in a diploma program or other certificate program, and you must have achieved at least a 75% GPA.
Continuing Student Scholarship: Returning student with outstanding academic performance Open to domestic or international students with high academic standing. Applicants can attend Conestoga for a minimum of one year with a GPA of 3.7 or above.
International Student Emergency Bursary: Although not a traditional scholarship, this bursary is available for international students who find themselves experiencing temporary financial hardship at up to $2,000. The recipients will also have to demonstrate financial need and some level of academic standing.
Internship and Placement at Conestoga College
Extensive Co-op Opportunities: Conestoga offers more than 85 co-op integrated programs. The placements are coordinated in collaboration with industry and offer students valuable hands-on experience in their planned profession.
Real-World Industry Projects: Teaching is often project based, with employers collaborating on real world projects with learners via applied research and innovation centres. These are the real-life situations that are in the curriculum and demonstrate to students what they will face after graduation.
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Dedicated Career and Talent Hub: The Career Hub makes job-counselling placements and connections with employers. With over 1,000 industry partners, students have access to a stronger employer network in health, IT, trades, business, and engineering.
Conestoga Entrepreneurship Collective: This program encourages innovation and mentoring and incubator programs. Students with startup ideas can win funding and receive help with their businesses, either in school or after they graduate.
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Entry Requirements at Conestoga College
Undergraduate Programs: No professional experience is required, but a high school diploma and good grades in English and math are necessary for diploma students. Then, in some programs the minimum is 6.0 IELTS, all band scores 5.5, if the program does not specify 6.5/6.0/5.5. A few individual program may require additional subjects or portfolios.
Degree Programs: Candidates who are interested should have a higher secondary (upper primary) level of education with 70-75 per cent average with IELTS level of 6.5 score (minimum) with no band not less than 6.0. Majors like engineering tend to require science and math courses at more advanced levels.
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Graduate Certificates: English is also required – IELTS overall 6.5, with 6.0 in each category.
Pathway and Foundation Programs: Candidates categorized as not eligible for a Direct Entry may instead be eligible for either a foundation or bridging program. These are also utilized to develop academic English and pre-requisite instruction to the programs.
Visa and Documentation Requirements: All overseas students need to submit proof of financial support, official transcripts, a valid passport, and proficiency exam scores.
Rankings and Awards at Conestoga College
Top 20 Universities in Canada for Research (2024): Conestoga’s student research intensity and industry funding determined its eligibility for Canada’s Top 20 research colleges.
Employer and Graduate Satisfaction Awards: In 2024, Colleges Ontario would report that 92% of employers and 80% of graduates were satisfied with their education – one of the highest rates among Ontario colleges.
Engineering Program Recognition: It is the first college in Ontario to have degree programs in Engineering (B. Eng. and B.Tech.), and it stands out for its heavy count and quality of options and its dedicated industry association.
Student Competition Success: Designers, techies, children interested in robotics, young chefs, entrepreneurs all come to the college’s teaching kitchen to learn from its gifted instructors/mentors.”
- Almost 4.6 million in Scholarships Awarded per Year
- Conestoga’s continued support for student financial assistance could have led to a series of field awards, reflecting a commitment to access and equity.
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High Accessibility with Strong Standards: With an acceptance rate of 85%, Conestoga College ranks among the most inclusive of all Ontario colleges for both Canadian and international students. The entry requirements are not as high as in some other colleges or universities, but Conestoga maintains high academical and linguistic standards, especially for competitive and co-op programs.
Balance of Opportunity and Selectivity: This acceptance level reflects Conestoga’s mandate for an open admission policy that provides access to all prospective students and yet upholds the lofty standards necessary to prepare its graduates for the workforce.
International Student Admissions: There is also 85% acceptance rate that international students will enjoy. What it showed is that the college cherishes diversity and nurtures global talent. As well as meeting all academic and English language requirements, students need to ensure that they submit their full applications on time.
Program-Specific Competition: Although the acceptance rate is high, there are programs particularly in health sciences, engineering technology and degree-level colleges that are more competitive.
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