Alternate Offers

Alternative offers give you the option of admission for a different, but closely related, program than the one to which you had originally applied. This will set you on the career path you have envisioned for yourself.

Important Questions

I’ve been offered admission to a program I didn’t apply to. What happened?

If you’ve received an offer of admission – even though it’s not to the program you originally applied to – it means that we’re interested in you. There may be several reasons for an alternative offer.

Admission to some programs is quite competitive and can in part be based on non-academic information, for example, a supplemental information form for Social Work applicants.
Some students unfortunately do not meet the requirements for their programs of choice, usually because their high-school averages fell below the year’s cutoffs for their university program. Cutoffs for a college or university transfer student may be different.
Applicants may also receive an alternative offer because their transcripts did not show evidence of one or more of the prerequisites for the program.
Applicants with a later application deadline may find that some programs will have closed (filled up) by the time they are considered for admission. You raise your chances of admission by submitting a complete application package as early as possible.
After all applications have been considered, we may still be able to extend an offer to you for your original program choice. We will contact you to let you know.

To find out more about the program to which you’ve been admitted, visit the the Programs section of the website, or for programs at the Keele campus, visit their Programs website (available in English only).

How are alternative offers made?

We review each application carefully. If an application doesn’t meet the requirements for a particular program, York may offer admission to a similar one if applicants meet the average cutoff for an alternative program.

What if I’m missing prerequisite courses for my first choice? Can I upgrade?

York offers three courses, offered in English, designed to help you to gain the credentials required for admission or to meet the prerequisites for a specific course or program.

Courses include Math for Admissions, Pre-U Humanities, Pre-U Social Science.

Can I transfer into my first choice after first year?

When you attend your enrolment appointment, ask your adviser about ways to include your original interest in the new program. Most programs offer the opportunity to add a minor area of study or do a double major. Check our Glossary of Terms for definitions to this new vocabulary.

Will accepting an alternative offer of admission affect the amount of transfer credit I’ll receive?

If you’ve been assessed for a particular amount of transfer credit, the assessment doesn’t usually change from one program to another. However, the minimum number of transfer credits required to complete your degree may differ.

It is important to understand that the number of credits you receive and the number of credits required to complete your degree may not match exactly. Depending on the program of study chosen at York University, you may need to complete additional courses to meet the specific program requirements.

Where do I find out about the alternative program you’re offering me?

For the best information about the alternative program to which you’ve been admitted, visit the the Programs section of the website, or for programs at the Keele campus, visit their Programs website (available in English only). From there, you’ll find detailed program information and links to department contacts who can answer questions specific to your program area.

My alternate offer says that I’ve been admitted to an “undecided major.” What does that mean?

An undecided major enables you to begin your studies without having to select a major program. In this way you can discover your interests and strengths by taking courses from a variety of disciplines prior to declaring a specific major. Take time to think about your future. For example, you can study psychology and politics while learning Spanish; take courses in ancient mythology and economics as well as physics; or study anthropology and American Sign Language with information technology. While exploring different areas, you may discover that you have an interest in something you’d never have studied otherwise.

The undecided major option is offered by the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Science, Engineering and Glendon.

If you have previously studied at university or college and are expecting to receive transfer credit, you must declare a major when you apply for admission.