The Academic Upgrading program helps students develop essential academic skills and meet college admission requirements. It provides flexible, individualized learning pathways to prepare students for further education, apprenticeships, or employment opportunities.
Is not having your Grade 12 holding you back from jobs or school? Can’t get into a college program because you don’t meet the minimum requirements? Upgrade your skills and your life!
Confederation College’s Academic Upgrading program is part of Ontario’s Get SET (Skills, Education and Training) initiative, formerly known as Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS). The program helps students prepare for the Academic & Career Entrance (ACE) program while improving writing, reading, speaking, math, science, computer, and workplace skills.
If you need extra support upgrading your skills for school, work, apprenticeship, or everyday life, Academic Upgrading can help you get back on track.
The Academic Upgrading program is offered at the following campuses:
My experience in academic upgrading has been nothing short of amazing!
A
Andrea
Graduate
I had to do a mature student assessment and I was able to do the upgrading program, which didn't take very long because of the help of the many instructors and professors.
T
Thornton
Graduate
“My time in the ACE program here at Confederation College has without a doubt been the best academic experience I’ve ever had.
S
Soleil
Graduate
If you want to give to yourself, believe in your dream and be dedicated. I highly recommend this program to those who want to continue their studies because you have nothing to lose. This is totally free. ~Shobana
S
Shobana
Graduate of 2021
This program gave me an excellent stepping stone to continuing my post secondary education and it will be helpful in my future. ~ Shaheena
S
Shaheena
Graduate of 2021
I strongly encourage anyone wanting to take the first step to achieve their dreams and to complete their education to sign up. ~ Aya
A
Aya
Graduate
I can say that Academic Upgrading program was the best experience for me and I recommend it for newcomers, or anyone looking for a job. ~Adnan
A
Adnan
Graduate of 2021
Academic Upgrading gave me the strength and confidence to pursue post-secondary education and become the role model I want to be for my son.
Academic Upgrading helped me learn in a way that works for me, while connecting with great people and supportive staff who truly care about student success.
The following 2 intakes share the same admission requirements:
Any Time (AU (FT))Any Time (AU (PT))
Admission Requirements for Domestic Students
Admission Requirements
19 years of age or older (some exceptions may apply)
Resident of Ontario
Eligible to work in Ontario
Applicants are admitted to this program based on program eligibility requirements and assessment results.
Admission Requirements for International Students
This intake is not available for international students.
Student Accessibility and Essential Program Requirements
Confederation College is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive learning environment and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and College policy.
Students who require accommodations are encouraged to engage with Student Accessibility Services and are responsible for initiating and participating in the accommodation process. Accommodation is a collaborative process involving the student, Student Accessibility Services, faculty, and the Academic School. Requests for accommodation are considered on an individual basis, and the College will work with students to identify reasonable accommodations that provide equitable access to learning while maintaining the integrity of the program.
Students are expected to demonstrate the essential knowledge, skills, professional behaviours, learning outcomes, and competencies required to successfully complete their program. While the manner in which these requirements are demonstrated may be accommodated where appropriate, the essential requirements themselves must still be achieved.
For programs involving laboratories, field work, clinical placements, aviation environments, trades training, equipment operation, simulations, community placements, or other environments where health and safety are critical, accommodations must also be consistent with applicable legislation, professional standards, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and workplace safety obligations.
In some circumstances, a requested accommodation may not be reasonable or possible where it would:
Fundamentally alter an essential program requirement, competency, or learning outcome.
Compromise the health or safety of the student or others.
Conflict with provincial or federal legislation.
Conflict with the requirements of an external regulatory, licensing, accreditation, or professional body.
Prevent the student from demonstrating competencies required for safe and effective professional practice.
Note
Where a particular accommodation cannot be provided, the College will work collaboratively with the student to identify whether an alternative accommodation can appropriately address the student’s disability-related needs while maintaining essential program requirements.
Courses
Note
This page is MANUALLY maintained to be able to better show the groupings of course choices.
UM305—ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Sufficient score on Math/ReadingAssessment CO-REQUISITES: None This course is intended as a starting point for students who have been out of school for a while, or who need to build their skills and confidence before moving on. Interactive and engaging, this course helps students identify their strengths and get started on their learning journey.
UM 301 MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Sufficient score on Math Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and computational skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include computations involving whole numbers, decimals, and fractions
UM 401 MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 301 or sufficient score on Math Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include computations involving whole numbers, decimals, fractions, roots and exponents; solving linear equations; two-and-three-dimensional geometry; perimeter, area, and volume, and data management
UM 602 ACE CORE MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 401 CO-REQUISITES: none
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include laws of exponents, manipulate polynomials and solve equations, interest calculations, business applications. Identify and describe properties of common distributions of data, and to construct and interpret statistical graphs.
UM 600 ACE BUSINESS MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic operations related to finances, as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include exponential expressions, equations, and functions; simple and compound interest; arithmetic and geometric sequences and series; and annuities. Students will use the technology including calculators and computer spreadsheets.
UM 601 ACE TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is intended to review and develop mathematical and algebraic skills as a preparation for college level math courses. Topics covered include a variety of computations; integers, exponents, proportions, square root, order of operations, basic and intermediate algebra and equations. Additionally, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the application of formulas for the perimeter, surface area and volume of various shapes, and are also expected to graph relationships using a variety of methods.
UE 301 COMMUNICATIONS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Sufficient score on Communications Assessment C0-REQUISITES: None
This course is designed to help students improve their basic oral and written communication skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills. Students who achieve the learning outcomes will be able to read texts to locate and connect ideas and information; interpret simple documents to locate and connect information; write texts to explain and describe information and ideas; use layout to determine where to make entries in simple documents; create simple documents to sort, display, and organize information; and perform well-defined, multi-step digital tasks.
This course is designed to help students improve their basic oral and written communication skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills. Students who achieve the learning outcomes will be able to read longer texts to connect, evaluate and integrate ideas and information; interpret somewhat complex documents to connect, evaluate and integrate information; write longer texts to present information, ideas and opinions; decide what, where, and how to enter information in somewhat complex documents; create more complex documents to sort, display and organize information; and perform well-defined, multi-step digital tasks.
UE 601 ACE COMMUNICATIONS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UE 401 or sufficient score on Communications Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course is designed to prepare students for college level communications courses. Course will help students develop more advanced oral and written communication skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills; extract information from films, broadcasts and presentations; and perform well-defined, multi-step digital tasks.
This course is designed to prepare students for university level oral and written communications skills, reading comprehension skills, and computer skills. Students who achieve the learning outcomes will be able to read continuous text, extract information from films, broadcasts and presentations, interact with others, write continuous text, use digital technology, manage learning and engage with others. Completion of ACE Academic Communications provides credit exemption from CS007 Persuasive Writing.
UW 600 ACE SELF- MANAGEMENT/ SELF-DIRECTION
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: (AU) UE 401 or demonstration of ability on Communications Assessment CO-REQUISITES: None
This course provides learners with an opportunity to learn and use success strategies that can be applied in their personal, employment and academic life. The strategies will equip students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to become effective, confident and flexible learners and employees. This course will focus on areas such as self-reflection, critical thinking, goal setting, organizational skills, group dynamics and career/employment exploration and development. This course will expand on the oral skills developed in Speaking & Listening by including professional contact experiences with employers, program coordinators, or people working in their field of interest.
UW 501 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS
Introduction to Computers provides a starting point for students to get comfortable with basic computer hardware and software, and covers practical applications. The course covers basic computers skills, an overview of both Windows and Mac, Internet, email, MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. The course is delivered in a self-paced and supportive manner to build confidence and skills.
Completion of this course or an exemption test is recommended before registering for ACE Computers.
UW 601 ACE COMPUTERS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Basic Computer Operation Skills, Basic Keyboarding Skills, Word Skills, Internet Skills
ACE Computers builds on the skills covered in UW 501. The bulk of the course is focused on various Microsoft Office programs.
The units of study are:
Basic Computer Operations
Internet and Email
Word Processing
Spreadsheets
Digital Presentations
Completion of ACE Computers provides credit exemption from MC155 Microsoft Office Applications.
UC 600 ACE CHEMISTRY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
This is an introductory chemistry course that provides the student with the basic vocabulary and concepts of chemistry. Topics covered include matter, the use of periodic table, bonding, nomenclature, mole calculations, concentration of solutions, acids and bases reactions, and organic chemistry.
UB 600 ACE BIOLOGY
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISTES: None
This biology course provides learners with a strong knowledge of biology as it applies to health, social and environmental issues. Emphasis is given to analyzing problems, performing laboratory exercises and communicating scientific information effectively. The content of the course reflects the needs of many adult learners entering post-secondary college programs in health and environmental sciences. As such, it allows learners to complete 5 out of a possible 6 units of study.
Related laboratory activities, as they pertain to the above topics, may be virtual or real-time
UP 600 ACE PHYSICS
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: UM 602 and (AU) UE 401 or GRADE 12 Diploma CO-REQUISITES: None
ACE Physics is a rigorous introduction to physics which will enable the learner to develop a foundation in the fundamental concepts of physics. The learner will conceptually and quantitatively study and explore the topics of forces and motion; energy and simple machines; waves, sound, light, and optics; electricity and magnetism; and hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The emphasis will be on understanding the underlying physical concepts and principles, and applying them to the analysis and solution of quantitative problems related to a diversity of practical systems.
UT 901 MSA PREPARATION
RECOMMENDED ENTRY LEVEL: Sufficient score on Math/ReadingAssessment CO-REQUISITES: None This course is designed to help prepare people to successfully write the Mature Student Assessment (MSA) for entrance into Confederation College programs. The work is self-paced, and students can start anytime. Once they feel confident in the math and communications skills, they can schedule their assessment.
Clicking the button will take you to a detailed dashboard with up-to-date job data tailored to your program, including salary ranges, job titles, and projected demand.
Pathways
Confederation College offers a variety of articulation agreements designed to help you advance your education and career. Whether you're coming to us from another institution or planning your next steps after completing your program, our pathways make your transition seamless and effective.
