Graduate Diploma Programme
Mental Health, Addiction and Substance Use
A one-year graduate certificate that teaches evidence-based ways to support people, families and communities affected by mental health and substance use concerns, at both the individual and the group or system level. Students work on applied community projects and with professionals on topics such as community collaboration, program development, trauma-informed care and advocacy, preparing for front-line, program and community development roles or further clinical study.
University
Conestoga College
Country
Canada
Level
Graduate Diploma
Field
Mental Health
Duration
1 year (2 academic terms)
Language
English
Campus
Kitchener – Doon
Degree
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Intake
September, January
Application Deadline
International applicants: Conestoga accepts applications until a program reaches capacity and does not keep waitlists, so apply early; incomplete applications close when the program closes. Canadian applicants (September 2027): February 1, 2027 is the equal-consideration date; most programs keep accepting applications after that while space remains, but most oversubscribed programs do not
Tuition Information
Conestoga lists 2026-27 fees of CAD 5,107 tuition (about CAD 7,491 with compulsory fees) for Canadian students, and CAD 16,809 tuition (about CAD 20,577 with compulsory fees, including health insurance) for international students. These are the 2026-27 (September 2026 to August 2027) rates; Conestoga says fees for programs starting September 2027 or later will be published in spring 2027. A non-refundable CAD 2,500 deposit is required from international students to hold a seat.
Admission Requirements
- Apply: international applicants use the ontariocolleges.ca (OCAS) international applicant portal and pay a CAD 100 application fee; Canadian applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca. After an offer, international students pay the non-refundable CAD 2,500 deposit and Conestoga requests the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) needed for the study permit
- Academic: a bachelor's degree, advanced diploma, diploma or equivalent in a community-focused, liberal arts or health-related field, or a suitable combination of at least five years of related work and personal experience
- International applicants must meet the same program requirements with equivalent qualifications, and upload both their graduation document and transcript (Conestoga lists accepted documents by country)
- English proficiency (if your previous studies were not in English): IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 88 with no skill below 22 (or 5.0 on the new 1-6 scale), PTE Academic 58, Duolingo 120, CAEL 70 (no sub-test below 60) or Cambridge 180 (no skill below 170). Conestoga applies this higher tier to graduate certificates and degrees
- International intakes listed on the program page as of October 5, 2026: January 2027 at Kitchener – Doon: open; September 2027 at Kitchener – Doon: upcoming; January 2028 at Kitchener – Doon: upcoming. "Upcoming" is Conestoga's status for an intake that is not yet open for applications. Listed for Canadian applicants only (no international offering): May 2027 at Kitchener – Doon (suspended)
- Conestoga lists this program (code 1401) on its PGWP-aligned programs page under CIP code 51.1599. Conestoga notes that it does not determine PGWP eligibility; IRCC makes the final decision and applicants should check IRCC's current list