Studying abroad can be an exciting and once-in-a-lifetime experience. But it does come with its challenges. Students with backlogs can find it tough to find a university to study at, especially since the admissions are based on academic evaluation in Canada. There is a list of Canada universities accepting backlogs.
What is a a Backlogs?
It becomes a backlog when you do not pass an exam for a specific subject on your first attempt. You can clear the backlog by reappearing for the exam and passing it. It is noteworthy that it is not counted toward a backlog when you’re absent from an exam.
Once you have completed your programme with an institution, you will receive a backlog certificate stating the number of backlogs you’ve acquired over the year, cleared and uncleared. You will not receive a backlog certificate if you clear all your backlogs before the programme is over. You will have to produce a zero-backlog certificate for an institution from the list of Canada universities accepting backlogs.
List Of Canadian Universities Accepting Backlogs
Except for the backlog, you will need an impeccable track record to be accepted into the top institutions that accept students with backlogs. The list of Canada universities accepting backlogs is not very long. The institutions are
Conestoga College
It is a public college located in Kitchener, Ontario. Conestoga College came into existence in 1967. Each year, the college enrols 3300 apprentice students, 33,000 part-time students, and 11,000 full-time students.
Scholarships Offered By Conestoga College For International Students
| Name of the Scholarship | Award (in INR, Lakhs) |
| Continuing Canadian Education Scholarship | 0.62 |
| Entrance Excellence Scholarship | 0.92 |
| Priority Program Scholarships | 0.62 |
| Regional – Degree Entrance Scholarship | 1.85 |
| Science and Technology Research Assistantships | 6.17 |
The college requires a minimum score of 70% at the undergraduate level for a student to be considered for admission. In addition, you can only have a maximum of 5 backlogs.
The official website homepage of Conestoga College
Centennial College
The college has transformed itself from a community college to an international institution with a presence in multiple countries over the last 55 years. The Centennial College accepts a maximum of 7 backlogs. But if you have 8 backlogs, you should have secured at least 60% in the preceding semesters without backlogs.
Centennial College’s website homepage
George Brown College
Established in 1967, the Casa Loma-based college is a fully accredited institution specialising in arts and technology. The college has over 30,500 students at a time, with nearly 5,500 of them being international students.
Requirements To Secure Admission To The George Brown College
| Exams | Minimum Requirements |
| PTE Academic | 54 |
| GMAT | 570 |
| GRE | 307 |
The George Brown College accepts 6 to 8 backlogs. You can have a maximum of 6 backlogs if it’s a 3-year programme and 8 backlogs if it’s a 4-year programme.
The George Brown College website homepage
Lambton College
It’s a publicly funded college in Sarnia, Ontario. It was established in 1969. The college offers a world-class education in education and applied research. Nearly 10,000 students are studying at a time, with 3,500 being international students.
Requirements To Secure Admission To The Lambton College
| Exams | Minimum Requirements |
| GMAT | 570 |
| GRE | 307 |
| PTE | 59 |
Lambton College accepts a maximum of 4 backlogs for students of 3-year programmes. For students of 4-year programmes, the maximum acceptable number of backlogs is 8.
Lambton College’s website homepage
Fanshawe College
Formally called Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology, it’s a public university and one of the biggest in the country. It is based in southwest Ontario, with campuses in multiple cities. The college serves nearly 43,000 students who enrol in over 200 programmes.
Requirements To Secure Admission To The Fanshawe College
| Exams | Minimum Requirements |
| GMAT | 570 |
| GRE | 307 |
| PTE | 59 |
The college accepts a maximum of 8 backlogs in a 4-year programme. But you must have 60% marks in the final 2 semesters, especially in the core subjects.
Fanshawe College’s official website homepage
Factors Considered by Canada Universities Accepting Backlogs
If you have backlogs and are planning on applying to a college in Canada, you should learn about the other factors that decide the fate of your application. The factors include,
Your Academic Performance
Although backlogs are a key factor influencing your college application, overall academic performance matters more. It is the best measure of a college applicant’s capacity and ability to complete the programme. Thus, a good academic record and a high GPA are crucial factors that decide the result of your candidature.
The Subjects with Backlogs
The subjects with backlogs matter more than the number of backlogs. Colleges prefer students with good performance in the subject the programme offers. Thus, if you have a backlog in one of the core subjects, your chance of getting admission might be low. If you do not have backlogs in your core subject and have a good track record, you do not have to worry about backlogs in other subjects.
Number Of Attempts You Took to Clear the Backlog
The number of attempts to clear a backlog matters more than the number of backlogs you had. Multiple attempts to clear a single backlog show that you lack interest, and no college wants that in an applicant.
Backlog Status During Submission of Application
Students with active backlogs will find their applications rejected at major institutions. Thus, a backlog certificate with status marked as clear is recommended. It matters more that you’ve cleared your backlogs when compared to the number of backlogs you had. People can have backlogs for a variety of reasons, and most of them are acceptable.
Reason Behind Backlog
Backlogs can be an effect of either absenteeism or low grades. If you were absent because of an illness, you would have to provide proof, such as a medical certificate, to the university. Other reasons for being absent may include travelling for an acceptable reason, like moving to a different country or state. In such cases, the student must provide the same in writing. These might help the universities make better decisions.
If your backlogs result from an external reason, the university might be open to discussing your candidature. Some common external reasons include traumatic loss and bad psychological health. When you provide this in writing and get good grades in clearing the backlog, the university will consider your application disregarding the backlog.
Does Backlogs Affect Canada Visa?
To apply for a student visa to study in Canada, you must submit proof that a Canadian university has offered you admission to a programme they offer. If you can find a university that accepts backlogs, go through the application process and land an admission, there will be no issue in obtaining a visa to study abroad.
Although, no one can say that you will get the visa since it also depends on other factors. You will have to secure the required funds, score the required marks in language proficiency tests, etc.
How Do I Build a Good Application Even with Backlogs?
Do not let the backlogs demotivate you. By now, you know that some universities in Canada accept students who have had backlogs. And there are numerous acceptable reasons behind the backlog.
To increase your probability of obtaining admission, you must put together a strong application. This process will take some time and effort. You should put all your efforts into standardised tests and score high marks since they are a crucial deciding factor.
You can use your statement of purpose to showcase your passion for the course and demonstrate how you’ll be a perfect fit for the institution. You should also address your backlogs, honestly explaining your case and its reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Do universities in Canada accept active backlogs?
Answer: No, Canadian universities do not admit students who have active backlogs. Only backlogs that have been cleared before the application is submitted are accepted.
Question 2: Do all universities in Canada accept applicants with backlogs?
Answer: No, not all universities accept applicants with backlogs. There are very few institutions that do so. Make sure you read the whole article and check for other universities that accept students with backlogs before you make a decision.
Question 3: Are there other factors besides backlogs that decide the fate of an application?
Answer: Yes, numerous factors decide if you’ll get admitted to a programme or not. All such factors are discussed in this article, but here’s a list of factors that affect your candidature,
- Your academic performance
- The subjects with backlogs
- Number of attempts you took to clear the backlog
- Backlog status during submission of application
- Reasons behind backlog
Question 4: How many backlogs are accepted by Canadian universities?
Answer: The number of backlogs accepted by Canadian universities varies based on the kind of programme you studied, the subjects with backlogs and the duration of the programme you have backlogs in. It also varies between institutions.
Question 5: Are backlogs important in university applications?
Answer: The subjects with backlogs play a major part in accepting your application to Canadian universities. Universities will look for applicants with a strong academic performance and commitment to complete a programme once enrolled. Backlogs and your commitment toward clearing them help universities judge your potential and ability.
