Why Offer the OSSD at Your School?

A simple guide to Dual Diploma collaboration for international educators

If you work in education outside Canada, you have likely heard about “dual diploma” programs. In this model, students gain a comprehensive academic experience by completing their local high school diploma alongside a second, internationally recognized credential, all without leaving home. One of the most trusted options is Canada’s Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), delivered online through a Ministry-inspected virtual high school such as Royal Ontario Academy (ROA).

This article explains what a dual diploma is, why the OSSD is valued by universities, and how the collaboration works step by step.

What is a Dual Diploma?

A dual diploma lets a student graduate with two credentials:

• Their local or national high school diploma, issued by your school.
• The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), issued by ROA.

Students remain enrolled at your school and continue their local studies while taking a set of Ontario-curriculum courses online with ROA.

When a student first enrolls with ROA, we complete a one-time Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) review of the studies they have already finished. This is an equivalency assessment of prior completed learning, carried out once at the point of entry, in line with Ontario Ministry of Education policy. Where that prior learning aligns with Ontario expectations, credits are granted toward the OSSD. The remaining OSSD requirements are then earned by completing ROA’s Ontario-curriculum courses. The result is that students keep their local path and add a widely accepted Canadian diploma.

Core subjects in the online portion typically include English, Mathematics, Science, and Canadian and world studies, along with other courses needed to complete the diploma.

Why the OSSD?

The OSSD is known for:

• Global recognition. Accepted by universities and colleges in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.
• Transparent standards. Clear course expectations, consistent assessment, and final documentation that admissions teams understand.
• Flexible delivery. Online courses can fit around local timetables and extracurriculars.
• Student-centred assessment. An emphasis on continuous evaluation through projects, assignments, and quizzes, plus a proctored final exam.

For your school, offering the OSSD:

• Expands your curriculum without hiring new staff.
• Improves university outcomes by aligning with international admission expectations.
• Differentiates your school in a competitive market.
• Gives your students English-language curriculum developed specifically for North American postsecondary success.

What Does a Student Need to Earn the OSSD?

The OSSD has three pillars:

1. Thirty high school credits

A mix of compulsory and optional courses. At enrolment, ROA completes a one-time PLAR equivalency review of a student’s completed prior schooling. Credits are granted where the prior learning aligns with Ontario curriculum expectations, and the remaining credits are earned through ROA’s Ontario courses. Certain requirements must be met through ROA courses, including the Ontario Grade 12 courses that universities look for.

2. Literacy requirement

Met through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or, where a student is eligible, the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O).

3. Forty hours of community involvement

Volunteer or community service activities, which can be completed in the student’s home country and which your school can help organize and verify.

ROA guides families and counsellors through these requirements and keeps the official Ontario records.

A note on how PLAR works: Ontario policy treats the equivalency review as a single assessment of learning already completed when a student first enters the Ontario system. It is not an ongoing transfer of local courses a student takes after enrolling with ROA. Any OSSD requirements outstanding after the initial review are completed through ROA courses. For students under 18, this follows the Ministry’s regular day school PLAR process (PPM 129). For students 18 and older, the mature student process applies (PPM 132).

How the Collaboration Works

Step 1: Planning

Your counsellor and ROA review the student’s academic records in detail. ROA completes the one-time PLAR equivalency assessment of studies already finished and maps what still needs to be completed for the OSSD, including any Ontario Grade 11 and 12 courses, the literacy requirement, and the community involvement hours.

Step 2: Enrolment

Students formally enrol on ROA’s secure online platform and receive an Ontario Education Number (OEN) if they do not already have one. We provide an official enrolment letter for your school’s records.

Step 3: Learning online

Students study online at their own pace within sensible, approved timelines. Ontario-certified teachers give regular feedback on assignments and answer academic questions through the learning platform.

Step 4: Assessment and exams

Coursework is evaluated and graded by ROA teachers. Final exams are proctored, either with an approved invigilator or through a secure, monitored online proctoring system.

Step 5: Reporting and records

Your school receives midterm updates and final report cards. ROA maintains the official Ontario Student Transcript (OST) and confirms when all OSSD requirements are complete.

Step 6: University applications

ROA issues the official Ontario academic documents for university and college admissions, while your school continues to guide students on program choices, application strategy, and deadlines. Together we support strong applications.

Who Does What?

ROA (Virtual High School)

• Provides Ontario-curriculum courses and certified teachers.
• Completes the one-time PLAR equivalency review at enrolment.
• Grades work, sets assessment policies, and ensures academic integrity.
• Organizes proctoring standards and reviews any exam incidents.
• Maintains Ontario records, including report cards and the OST, and confirms OSSD completion.
• Issues official transcripts and letters needed for university admissions.

Your School (Local Partner)

• Advises students on fit, workload, and study plan.
• Shares complete and official prior records for the PLAR review.
• Supports student study habits with study blocks and supervision.
• Helps organize and verify community involvement hours.
• Communicates with families and promotes the program locally.

Student Experience: What Families Will Notice

• Flexibility. Flexible pacing with clear weekly expectations and teacher feedback.
• Transparent evaluation. Predictable grading against published rubrics.
• Secure, credible assessments. Real integrity with proctored final exams, on site or through secure online proctoring.
• Clear academic tracking. Visible progress through midterm reports and final report cards.
• Global university pathways. Stronger options for admission in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom with the OSSD in hand.
• International exposure. The chance to learn alongside peers from around the world.

Quality and Safeguards

• Ministry-inspected. ROA follows Ontario Ministry of Education policies and is inspected annually.
• Curriculum consistency. Course codes such as ENG4U and MHF4U and their expectations are standardized.
• Academic integrity. Identity checks, proctoring procedures, and incident reviews.
• Data privacy. Secure data transfer and responsible record keeping.
• Accessibility. Documented accommodations can be implemented within ROA courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the OSSD recognized internationally?

Yes. It is widely recognized by universities and colleges in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries.

How many online courses will a student need?

It depends on the prior studies a student has already completed, which we assess once at enrolment through PLAR. ROA reviews each student’s record and builds a custom plan. Students often complete their remaining OSSD requirements through a set of ROA courses in the senior grades.

Do students need to travel to Canada?

No. All ROA courses are delivered online, with proctored exams handled on your campus or through secure online tools.

How long does a course take?

Many students finish a course in two to four months, depending on pace and local schedules. Longer windows are available if needed.

Who issues the diploma and transcripts?

ROA issues the Ontario documents, including report cards, transcripts, and the OSSD. Your school continues to issue the local diploma and records.

What This Means for Your School

• Offer a global pathway without sending students abroad.
• Add in-demand courses with no new hiring.
• Improve outcomes for university admissions.
• Strengthen your brand with a respected Canadian diploma.

To explore a partnership, visit our OSSD Partnerships and Education Agents page or contact Royal Ontario Academy, and we will map out a plan tailored to your students.