Diploma Programme
Early Childhood Education
A two-year diploma at Progress Campus preparing early childhood educators to plan responsive programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. Students learn through varied classroom strategies, observe and practise at Centennial's two lab-school childcare centres, and complete three community field placements, with block placements in semesters 3 and 4. Centennial also runs a separate Ashtonbee Campus offering with May and September starts.
University
Centennial College
Country
Canada
Level
Diploma
Field
Early Childhood Education
Duration
2 years (4 semesters)
Language
English
Campus
Progress Campus (Toronto)
Degree
Ontario College Diploma
Intake
September, January
Application Deadline
International applicants: Centennial doesn't publish a fixed international deadline; its international application page currently invites applications for Winter 2027 and Summer 2027 through ApplyCentennial, and each program page shows which intakes are available to international students, so apply early. Canadian applicants: for fall programs, apply through ontariocolleges.ca before February 1; later applications are still considered, on a first-come, first-served basis
Tuition Information
Centennial's estimated fees for two semesters starting Fall 2026: Canadian students CAD 2,775.00 tuition plus CAD 1,574.16 ancillary fees (CAD 4,349.16 total); international students CAD 18,005.00 tuition plus CAD 2,085.81 ancillary fees (CAD 20,090.81 total). Centennial says mandatory guard.me health insurance for international students is included in their fees. Fees are estimates; 2027-28 fees are not yet published.
Admission Requirements
- Apply: international applicants apply through ApplyCentennial (up to two programs) and pay a non-refundable CAD 125 application fee. Qualified applicants complete a short BorderPass assessment before receiving a Letter of Acceptance, then confirm by paying a CAD 2,000 registration deposit (credited to tuition) by the deadline in the letter; Centennial requests the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) once the deposit is received. The deposit is non-refundable except if the study permit is refused (refund minus CAD 250 for 2025 and later starts). Canadian applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca
- Academic: OSSD or equivalent (or mature student status, 19 or older) with Grade 12 English (C or U), or Centennial's English Admission Test
- Field placements: three placements; before each, students need a clear police check with vulnerable sector screening, first aid and CPR certificates (before semester 2) and a clear medical report including a TB test. A minimum C grade is needed in all ECEP courses and COMM-160/161
- International applicants upload high school transcripts and diploma, a passport copy and proof of English proficiency to ApplyCentennial; documents not in English need the original plus a certified English translation. After acceptance, students in certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs take a placement skills assessment in English (and possibly math or science)
- English proficiency (certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas starting at COMM 160/161): CAEL 60, TOEFL iBT 67 (reading 16, writing 23), MET 56-57, IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, PTE Academic 51, iTEP 3.7, Cambridge 167-169, LanguageCert Academic 65-69 with no skill below 60, or Duolingo 105-114. Centennial notes that some diplomas and advanced diplomas start at COMM 170/171 and need the higher tier (CAEL 60 with writing 60, TOEFL iBT 81 (reading 19, writing 23), MET 58-60, IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, PTE Academic 58, iTEP 3.9, Cambridge 170-179, LanguageCert Academic 70-74 with no skill below 65, or Duolingo 125); or show English proficiency through previous education (two or more consecutive full years at a recognized school or postsecondary institution where English is the main language of instruction, or a Grade 12 college- or university-stream English course from an OSSD-granting school) or through Centennial's English upgrading routes
- International availability on the program page as of October 5, 2026 (Progress Campus): January 2027: available; September 2027: available; January 2028: available.
- PGWP: the program page lists this program as PGWP-aligned (CIP code 19.0709)