Frequently Asked Question
Yes they do! Royal Ontario Academy is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and qualified to issue Ontario Secondary School Diploma credits, which are the same credits earned by students in traditional public and private schools in Ontario.
To verify our status as an inspected private school, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Education website. Royal Ontario Academy’s Ministry BSID# is XXXXXX.
Royal Ontario Academy is managed by a team of outstanding leaders with many decades of experience in academic quality and educational technology. As a result, Royal Ontario Academy has established a strong reputation among colleges and universities across Canada and around the world.
Any post-secondary institution that accepts Ontario Secondary School Diploma credits will recognize credits from VHS. We always recommend contacting any potential post-secondary institutions directly to inquire about their admissions policies and program requirements.
Many Royal Ontario Academy courses meet NCAA standards and can be used for application to NCAA schools! To see a full list of approved courses, visit the NCAA Eligibility Center website or review the NCAA Course Reference Guide.
We always recommend contacting any potential post-secondary institutions directly to inquire about their admissions policies and program requirements.
Royal Ontario Academy does not provide refunds. Students may transfer to a different course provided a written request via email is submitted to the Principal within 10 days of registration.
All exams at Royal Ontario Academy are closed book and completed online under the supervision of an online proctor.
Each course is completed at the student’s own pace, whether that means finishing quickly or taking our 12 month time limit. There are no schedules or due dates to follow, so students decide when to hand in their assignments and when to take their tests to meet any personal deadlines they might have.
Students should have the following minimum requirements to access on Royal Ontario Academy online courses:
Hardware
A PC running Windows XP or higher or
A Mac running OS X or
A Chromebook running Chrome OS
2GB of RAM
High speed internet connection
A sound card with speakers or headphones
A functional webcam and microphone
Software
Adobe Reader
Java
A typical Office Suite including a word processor application, equation editor and spreadsheets
Browser
Mozilla Firefox4 or higher or
Internet Explorer 7 or higher or
Safari 5 or higher or
Google Chrome 11 or higher
In some cases, a scanner or phone/camera may be used to submit handwritten assignments.
Every student will need access to a desktop computer or laptop with high-speed internet and word processing software.
Any additional course-specific resources (i.e., calculators, software downloads, etc.) are listed on the individual course outline pages on our website.
All Royal Ontario Academy course content is contained within our moodle learning management system, so no textbooks are required. For English courses and some social science/humanites courses, students may be required to locate copies of novels and plays that are readily available at public libraries or bookstores.
Royal Ontario Academy has ongoing enrolment, which means students may register and get started on any day of the year provided that registration is complete and online course access has been granted.
Students wishing to withdraw from a course must submit a formal request in writing to info@royalontarioacademy.com.
- For students registered in Grade 9 and 10 courses, withdrawals can be made at any time and are not recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript (OST).
- For students registered in Grade 11 and 12 courses, withdrawals made within 5 days of the issuance of the first report card from Royal Ontario Academy will result in the mark not being recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript (OST). Withdrawals after 5 days of the issuance of the first report card will result in a “W” being entered in the “Credit” column of the OST, along with the mark at the time of withdrawal.
Students must ensure all submitted work is original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Our Integrity Policy demands honesty, ethical behaviour, and respect in all academic and personal dealings. It includes guidelines for the appropriate use of technology and outlines the consequences for breaches of integrity.
Assessments are done through a variety of formats; there are quizzes, tests, discussions, and assignments, essays etc. that our teachers use for assessment. The final exam is a closed book, online test that is proctored and has a time limit.
Students may also be required to appear on video for some assessments in certain courses?
Upon request to the Royal Ontario Academy principal, one parent can be given access to their child’s progress in their online course(s).
We will send your midterm and final grades to OUAC and/or OCAS once you provide us with your OUAC/OCAS number. Click here to learn more.
Students in Canada and abroad are able to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) completely online through Blyth Academy. In order to obtain an OSSD, students are required to earn a total of 30 credits, complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), and complete 40 hours of community service hours.
A mature student is at least 18 years of age on or after January 1 of the current calendar year.
Of course! In a case where a student has previously graduated from another Ontario high school, we will update that school or school board with midterm and final report cards. The student’s main school or school board will then ensure that any credits earned at Royal Ontario Academy are added to the student’s transcript.
A prerequisite is a course that must be completed before a student can proceed to the next level in a subject area. When students enrol in a course at Royal Ontario Academy, they will be asked to demonstrate that they have met these prerequisite standards established by the Ontario Ministry of Education by submitting an Ontario Student Transcript or final report card.
Prerequisite Waiver Applications may be necessary for any of the following scenarios for mature students:
- Attended an Ontario high school prior to September 2000
- Never attended an Ontario high school
- Completed college or university courses
- Has relevant work-related experience
Our Principal will review the student’s academic documentation to determine if they have covered topics similar to those included in the Ontario curriculum in the selected subject area. If approved, a student may be granted a waiver to enrol in their chosen course. This review usually only takes a few days.
No, a student visa or study permit is not necessary for enrolment at Royal Ontario Academy. Our courses are fully accessible online, and all of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements can be completed in any country.
Students who plan to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and wish to receive credits for courses that they completed at an international high school must submit an Equivalent Credit Assessment Application. This process allows our Principal to appropriately place students into the Ontario education system as seamlessly as possible without having students repeat prerequisite material. Once an Equivalent Credit Assessment has been completed, the expectation is that all remaining OSSD requirements will be fulfilled through an Ontario high school.
Without an Equivalent Credit Assessment, any courses that a student has previously completed at a school in their home country will not count toward the OSSD.
No, international students do not require an English language test score to register at Royal Ontario Academy.
Students who enrol at Royal Ontario Academy have the opportunity during registration to provide information about their English language learning proficiency. This information provides our Principal with the background knowledge they require to adjust their teaching strategies and implement any accommodations to support students.
Absolutely! Our courses are fully accessible online, and all of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements can be completed in any province or territory.
Students must actively participate in all scheduled online activities and complete assignments on time. Absences from online activities should be reported in advance to the administration, with valid reasons such as illness or family emergencies. Students must remain active through the course weekly. Any inactivity will be reported.
Student performance is evaluated through assignments, tests, projects, and online participation. Each course outlines specific assessment criteria, and students receive timely feedback to support learning.
All students are expected to treat peers and teachers with respect, engage in respectful communication, and avoid any form of bullying, harassment, or disruptive behavior. Adherence to the Code of Conduct is mandatory.
Any technical problems that affect access to the online learning platform or completion of assignments should be reported immediately at help.desk@royalontarioacademy.com. ROA provides tech support and resources to help navigate these issues.
Students who fail a course with a grade below 50% may be eligible for credit recovery upon administrative approval. The program includes additional coursework tailored to the student’s needs.
Students must use school technology responsibly and ethically. Misuse, such as cyberbullying or unauthorized access, will result in disciplinary action. Students are encouraged to report any violations.
Students must complete designated prerequisite courses or provide proof of equivalent knowledge. Requests for prerequisite waivers can be submitted in writing and are reviewed based on academic performance and teacher recommendations.
ROA will work collaboratively with students, parents, and teachers to include necessary accommodations and modifications to support student learning.
- Students can contact the ROA administration via email at help.desk@royalontarioacademy.com
- Students wishing to withdraw from a course must submit in writing a formal request at info@royalontarioacademy.com
ROA’s report card includes student information, course grades, and teacher comments. It reflects performance in each subject along with learning skills and work habits.
Students must ensure all submitted work is original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Our Integrity Policy demands honesty, ethical behaviour, and respect in all academic and personal dealings. It includes guidelines for the appropriate use of technology and outlines the consequences for breaches of integrity.
Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement to fulfill the OSSD requirements. Activities should benefit the community and align with ROA’s values. Ineligible activities include those that are part of a paid job or family duties.