Earning an Ontario OSSD as a Mongolian Student
Are you a student in Mongolia? Do you want to earn a Canadian high school diploma alongside your current studies?
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is a recognised Canadian high school credential. Whether you plan to study in Canada or abroad, it opens a flexible path to university. All Royal Ontario Academy (ROA) courses are fully online. That means you can study from anywhere in Mongolia, on your own schedule.
Some students add a few Ontario credits. Some reach ahead. Others work toward the full diploma to strengthen a university application.
You may also receive credit for high school learning you have already completed. This is called Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). At Royal Ontario Academy, PLAR is free.
Royal Ontario Academy is a Ministry-inspected online high school. We teach the Ontario curriculum and grant OSSD credits.
Why Mongolian Students Choose the OSSD
The OSSD is based on coursework, not one high-pressure final exam. You complete lessons, assignments, quizzes, and final evaluations. Your teacher gives feedback along the way. You make steady progress at your own pace.
Mongolian students and families choose the OSSD because:
- Courses are fully online — study anytime, anywhere
- You can study from home alongside your current school
- Courses are in English, which builds skills for study in Canada and other countries
- Rolling enrolment — start at any time of year, not only at the start of a term
- Past high school learning may be recognised through free PLAR
- You can focus on the senior courses universities ask for
- Tuition is the same for international and Canadian students
What Is PLAR?
PLAR stands for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. It is the official Ontario process for reviewing past learning. At Royal Ontario Academy, the Principal reviews your official school records and decides how many Ontario credits to grant.
For Mongolian students, this may include:
- Official school transcripts and report cards
- Records of basic education completed after Grade 9
- The Certificate of Complete Secondary Education (Buren Dund Bolovsrolun Unemlekh), if available
- University Entrance Exam results, if available
- Other official academic documents
PLAR is not an automatic swap. Your Mongolian records are not traded for a fixed number of Ontario credits. The Principal reviews each student individually and confirms your grade placement and credits in writing.
How Your Mongolian Education Aligns with the OSSD
The Principal reviews your Mongolian studies stage by stage and matches each to the Ontario grade level it supports. Mongolian secondary school and the Ontario curriculum have a similar shape — both begin with foundation years and end with senior years that prepare students for university.
Basic education years (through Grade 9) build the Ontario foundation. These can earn recognition in Mongolian language and literature, mathematics, the sciences, a foreign language, and the humanities — at roughly the Grade 9 and 10 level.
Upper secondary years (Grades 10 to 12), with the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education, can earn recognition at the Grade 11 and 12 level. Subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, computer science, and social studies are matched to Ontario senior courses. University Entrance Exam results also help.
One subject is worth checking early. Ontario requires a second-language credit. If you studied a language other than English — such as Russian or German — the Principal reviews it for this credit. If your records do not cover it, you take that course with ROA instead.
ROA’s team helps you build the English skills needed for senior courses. If your records are in Mongolian, we guide you on obtaining official translated copies for the review.
You do not need to have finished Grade 12 to be assessed. Your school grades and report cards can support a full review. The Principal confirms your exact credits in writing after reviewing your official records.
How PLAR Can Help
The OSSD requires 30 credits in total. When PLAR recognises your past learning, those credits count toward the 30. Most Mongolian students do not start again from Grade 9. Instead, you focus on the credits you still need — mainly the senior courses universities look at for admission.
PLAR pathway at a glance
| Previous secondary schooling completed | Maximum PLAR equivalency credits | Minimum credits to earn at ROA | What this means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year completed (e.g. Grade 9) | Up to 8 credits | 22 credits | Student may be placed at Grade 9 level and completes the remaining credits to reach the 30-credit OSSD. |
| 2 years completed (e.g. Grade 10) | Up to 16 credits | 14 credits | Student may be placed at Grade 10 level and completes remaining credits needed for the OSSD. |
| 3 years completed (e.g. Grade 11) | Up to 23 credits | 7 credits | Student may be placed at Grade 11 level and completes remaining credits needed for the OSSD. |
| More than 3 years completed | Up to 24 credits | 6 credits | For an ROA-granted OSSD, the student completes at least 6 credits with ROA. At least 4 must be Grade 11 or 12 credits. |
Minimum Credits Required at Royal Ontario Academy
To earn an ROA-granted OSSD, you must complete at least 6 credits through ROA courses. At least 4 of these must be Grade 11 or Grade 12 credits.
PLAR credits count toward the 30-credit total. They do not count toward the 6 credits you must complete with ROA. This rule protects academic integrity and confirms your own achievement. It is an ROA condition for granting the diploma.
What Courses Will Mongolian Students Take?
Each student receives an individual course plan. Your plan depends on your past school records, the credits recognised through PLAR, the OSSD requirements you still need, and your university or college goals.
A university-focused plan may include:
- Grade 12 English
- Grade 12 Advanced Functions
- Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors
- Grade 12 Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
- Grade 12 Mathematics of Data Management
- Business, social science, or humanities courses
The right courses depend on your target program. A student aiming for engineering may need different courses than one aiming for business, health science, or the humanities. Some students also take Ontario-specific courses such as Civics and Citizenship, Career Studies, or OLC4O. The Principal confirms these in your course plan.
Graduation Requirements for Mongolian Students
PLAR can reduce the number of courses you still need. But every student must still meet the OSSD graduation requirements.
| Requirement | How it is met at ROA |
|---|---|
| Total credits | You earn 30 credits in total — from PLAR credits plus credits you complete at ROA. |
| ROA 6-credit minimum | For an ROA-granted OSSD, you complete at least 6 credits with ROA. At least 4 must be Grade 11 or 12 credits. |
| Literacy requirement | Most students outside Ontario meet this through OLC4O, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, completed online with ROA. |
| Community involvement | You complete 40 hours of community involvement, unless a Ministry exemption applies. ROA advises you on activities that count. |
| Online learning requirement | Met automatically — all ROA courses are online. |
| Financial literacy requirement | ROA confirms how this applies to you when you enrol, based on your entry year and background. |
Meeting the Literacy Requirement
Every OSSD student must meet the Ontario literacy requirement. In Ontario, students often meet it by writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Students in Mongolia usually cannot write this test in person.
Most Mongolian students meet the requirement through OLC4O instead. This is the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, completed fully online with ROA. We confirm your literacy pathway when you enrol and help you build the English skills the course needs.
Community Involvement and Online Learning
OSSD students complete 40 hours of community involvement. Mongolian students can often volunteer in their own community. After you enrol, we advise you on activities that count.
The Ontario online learning requirement is met automatically, because all ROA courses are online.
Studying Online from Mongolia
All ROA courses are online. You can study from anywhere in Mongolia with no need to travel to Ontario. You complete lessons, assignments, quizzes, discussions, and final evaluations on our learning platform. Teachers give feedback and support along the way.
Courses are built in smaller units. This helps you make steady progress at your own pace, around your current schedule. You need reliable internet and a computer with the right technology for online learning and proctored exams.
University Admission and the OSSD
Most universities look closely at your Grade 12 marks. Some programs also require specific courses. This is why course planning matters. ROA helps you choose courses that match your goals. You should also check the admission rules for each university and program you are considering.
How to Start
The first step is to request a free PLAR review. Prepare your official records — school transcripts, the Certificate of Complete Secondary Education, and University Entrance Exam results if available.
The Principal reviews your documents and confirms which credits you can receive and which courses you still need. Once your plan is ready, you can enrol and start your online OSSD studies at any time of year.
Ready to find out how your Mongolian schooling counts toward the OSSD? Request your free PLAR assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Mongolian school records be recognised?
Yes. Eligible past learning may be recognised through PLAR, our free assessment. The Principal reviews your official records and confirms which credits apply.
Can my Certificate of Complete Secondary Education support my PLAR assessment?
Yes. Your certificate and any University Entrance Exam results can be included. Your transcripts and report cards are also important.
Do I need strong English to study at ROA?
ROA courses are taught in English, so you need to be ready for English coursework. Our team helps you build the skills you need and confirms the right starting point when you enrol.
Can I take ROA courses alongside my current school?
Yes. Many Mongolian students take ROA courses to add Ontario credits or reach ahead. Courses have rolling enrolment, so you start whenever it suits you.
Do I need to repeat high school?
Usually not. PLAR recognises past learning, so you do not repeat courses you have already completed. You focus on the credits you still need.
My documents are in Mongolian. Is that a problem?
No. Mongolian records are welcome. Our team will guide you on obtaining official translated copies where needed for the PLAR review.
How many credits do I complete at ROA?
For an ROA-granted OSSD, you complete at least 6 credits with ROA. At least 4 must be Grade 11 or Grade 12 credits.
Can I study from Mongolia?
Yes. All courses are online and in English. You can study from anywhere in Mongolia at your own pace. Tuition is the same as for Canadian students.
How do I meet the literacy requirement?
Most students outside Ontario meet it through OLC4O, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, completed online with ROA. We confirm the right pathway when you enrol.
Is the OSSD recognised by universities?
Universities in Canada accept the OSSD. Many universities in the USA and other European countries do recognize the OSSD. Check the requirements for each university and program you are applying to.
Final Thoughts
For Mongolian students, the OSSD is a flexible path to university. It fits alongside your current studies. ROA learning is online, anytime and anywhere.
With free PLAR, we review your past high school learning and show how it counts toward the OSSD. You then complete your remaining Ontario credits online — at your own pace, from Mongolia.
Prepare your official school records, then contact Royal Ontario Academy to request your free PLAR assessment.