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Post-graduate Certificate in Public Relations – Policies

School Policies

Ancillary and Service Fees 
Application Fee$79.00
Withdrawal Fees for certificate programs$100.00 per course
Continuing Studies Student Record Fee$ 15.00 (plus HST)
Exam/assignment duplication fee$ 15.00 (plus HST)
Returned cheques$ 25.00
Certificate replacement fee$ 52.00 (plus HST)

To be admitted to Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations, applicants must have:

  • minimum of a baccalaureate degree with a minimum of a 60% average (C) or a 3-year Canadian College Diplomas with minimum ‘B’ or 70% average
  • official transcripts (International students: please provide original English translated copy of University degree and transcripts.)
  • completed online application form
  • completed Statement of Interest video
  • completed resume
  • proof of language proficiency (international students only)

Applicants will be notified directly if additional information or documentation is required.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

IELTS (Academic only)6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and speaking is mandatory)
TOEFL Paper550
TOEFL Computer213
TOEFL Internet79-80
TOEIC670 (Listening and Reading)290 (Speaking and Writing)
Cambridge ESOLFirst (FCE) – Grade B (scale 173 – 175) First (FCE) – Grade C (scale 169 – 172)
PTE Academic58
YUELI AP Level7
DY Program (Destination York)Successfully Completed
Duolingo104

We highly recommend that international students submit their applications early to gain entry into the program (many fill up) and allow sufficient time to obtain a visa.

You may be eligible to transfer a maximum of one equivalent course credit from other institutions and receive advanced standing.

Approved courses for advanced standing must meet the following criteria:

  1. There must be 80-90% overlap in content and curriculum, and the same number of hours as the courses offered in the School of Continuing Studies program.
  2. The courses must be at the university level (from an accredited academic institution) with a grade of C or better. College equivalents will be considered.
  3. Courses must be taken within the last 5 years.
  4. All transfer credit applications must include:
  • an official (sealed) transcript outlining the course completed
  • Full course outlines must include: 
    • the full course description
    • learning objectives
    • assessment and reading materials
    • weekly content covered

Please note that incomplete packages cannot be reviewed.

Transfer Credit requests can be forwarded to the Program Manager at continue@yorku.ca, or in writing to: School of Continuing Studies, Attention Post-Degree Certificate in Public Relations Program Manager 4700 Keele Street – Room 116 Atkinson Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3.

You should be making every effort to meet York University’s General Academic Regulations, as well as each of your courses’ requirements. This includes attendance, assignments, and tests/exams. We understand, however, that unforeseen circumstances arise that may force you to miss an exam. If that’s the case, you must contact your instructor before the scheduled exam date by email. Please include your full name, student number, and the reason for your absence in the message. You must also provide valid documentation (i.e., a doctor’s note, death certificate, court/legal documentation, etc.) immediately following your return before alternative arrangements can be made. Please note that valid documentation has to be applicable to the assessment date.

If possible, please contact your instructor before the class. In your message, be sure to include your full name, student number, and the reason for your absence. You’ll then be required to make arrangements with your instructor to make up the missed hours.

Like our students, York University instructors work hard to make it to every class on time. However, should he or she be forced to cancel your class due to an absence, you will be notified via email as soon as possible by the School of Continuing Studies. Instructor absences will also be posted on the course website on the Moodle learning management system in the course announcements section. Upon the instructor’s return to class, make-up class details will be discussed.

If the University is open, classes will be running. If the University is closed, classes will not be running. Any missed classes will be rescheduled. University Closures/Class Cancellations: (416.736.5600 OR www.yorku.ca). While this is rare, weather and/or other emergencies do occur that require us to suspend our operations. While every effort will be made to contact students, this is not always possible. If you are unsure of whether the course is running, please call the University’s weather/emergency information line, or check our Twitter feed (@Continue_YorkU).

The School of Continuing Studies reserves the right to withdraw or cancel programs/courses, and students will receive a full refund of fees paid. The School of Continuing Studies reserves the right to alter fees, other charges, and course dates, times, locations, and/or instructors as needed. Please note that the School of Continuing Studies is not responsible for travel cancellation charges that students may incur.

Students registered in a program offered by the School of Continuing Studies may withdraw from the program. However, they are strongly advised to consult with the Program Manager before a final decision is made. A full refund is granted only when the School of Continuing Studies cancels a program. Refunds will be issued by the method of payment that was used (credit card, cheque if original payment was money order and Wire Transfer). Withdrawal requests must be submitted on the official School of Continuing Studies Withdrawal Request Form to the School of Continuing Studies and subject terms listed in the table below.

Notice of withdrawal will be printed on the Official Income Tax Receipt.

If you do not pass a course you will still be permitted to continue in the program but will have to repeat that course with another cohort.

Students can use laptops and other electronic devices during class. Out of respect for your instructor and fellow classmates, please reserve the use of electronic equipment during class time for academic purposes. Instructors reserve the right to ask students to leave the classroom if they do not comply with this practice.

Students are not permitted to record lectures or take pictures without the consent of instructors and/or fellow students. We ask that students not post course content on external websites. Students who are registered with Accessibility Services and have accommodations approved for recording lectures are permitted to do so with the instructor’s knowledge.

The School of Continuing Studies works in partnership with York University’s Student Accessibility Services to support our students.  Students who need special accommodations must be assessed by Student Accessibility Services before alternate arrangements can be made.  Please visit their website (https://accessibility.students.yorku.ca/) for details on how to register with their department.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage: https://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/index-policies.html

In the spirit of Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), York University and the School of Continuing Studies work to ensure that instructors and participants acknowledge and respect the privacy and confidentiality of personal information that may be presented in the context of instruction. Instructors will document the amount of personal information that is collected, used, or disclosed in their sessions, and will ensure that all identifying personal information is omitted from all written documents. To maintain privacy, students should not bring or share personal or other confidential files or records with the class. We are committed to protecting your privacy and your financial security, and we do this in several ways:

  • Your credit card information is never received or stored by our system. Only your financial institution has access to your credit card information.
  • Your Student Portal is password-protected. To access any personal and academic information, you must enter your username and portal password.

York University Privacy Policy

  • Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect.
  • It is the instructor’s responsibility to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom.
  • The instructor will decide whether such an atmosphere is no longer present in a class, and is trained to take appropriate steps to return to a professional environment.

If you feel this policy has been violated, you should notify your instructor as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide a detailed written description of the complaint to the instructor. The instructor may take measures they feel are appropriate to resolve the issue and/or may forward the complaint to the School of Continuing Studies for review. Please refer to the full policy document on the York University website at: https://www.yorku.ca/scdr/ Please find the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities here:  https://www.yorku.ca/oscr/pdfs/CodeofRightsandResponsibilities.pdf