General Questions
Do Royal Ontario Academy course count towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma?
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 669115.
Are Royal Ontario Academy credits recognized by colleges and universities?
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.
Are Royal Ontario Academy credits approved by NCAA (National College Athletic Association) schools?
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.
What is Royal Ontario Academy’s refund policy?
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.
How does the final exam work in Royal Ontario Academy courses?
All exams at Royal Ontario Academy are closed book and completed online under the supervision of an online proctor.
How long does it take to complete a course?
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.
What are the hardware and software requirements?
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.
Do students need any additional resources (i.e. textbooks)?
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.
When do courses start at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
What is the course withdrawal process at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
What are the academic integrity guidelines at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
How are the assessments performed? How are students tested during the course?
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?
Can a parent have access to their student’s course and LMS account?
Upon request to the Royal Ontario Academy principal, one parent can be given access to their child’s progress in their online course(s).
How does my grade get to OUAC or OCAS? (Ontario Universities’/College Application Centre)
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.
Can I earn my OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) credits through online courses?
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.
Mature Students Questions
What is considered a mature student?
A mature student is at least 18 years of age on or after January 1 of the current calendar year.
Can students who have already graduated take courses at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
What is the difference between a prerequisite and a prerequisite waiver?
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.
International Students Questions
Is a visa or study permit required to study at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
When is an equivalent credit assessment required?
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.
Do international students need an English language test/score to study at Royal Ontario Academy?
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.
Out of Province Students Questions
Can a student moving to a different province continue to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma at the Royal Ontario Academy?
Absolutely! Our courses are fully accessible online, and all of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements can be completed in any province or territory.
