Seneca Polytechnic

Seneca Polytechnic is a public college of applied arts and technology in Toronto, Ontario. It opened in 1967 as Seneca College, has used the name Seneca Polytechnic since 2023, and teaches about 30,000 full-time students, which makes it one of Canada’s largest colleges.

This profile is for Nepali students considering Seneca for a diploma, a graduate certificate or a degree. It covers why students choose it, where its campuses are, what it costs, when programs start, work rights, scholarships and a few programs open to international students. The full list of programs, with PGWP status and intakes, is in our Seneca programs guide. Entry requirements, documents and the application steps are in our Seneca admissions guide.

Why do Nepali students choose Seneca Polytechnic?

Because it is a large Toronto college with a wide choice of IT, AI, business, health and science programs, many with co-op or placements, and it offers its own bachelor’s degrees as well as diplomas.

• Strong computing programs. Computer Programming and Analysis and Computer Systems Technology are three-year advanced diplomas with an optional co-op, and Seneca lists both as PGWP eligible.
• Bachelor’s degrees at a college. Seneca awards its own bachelor’s degrees, such as Software Engineering (with a mandatory co-op), Computer Science and Business Administration.
• Short graduate certificates. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree from TU or another Nepali university, programs such as Artificial Intelligence (8 months), Cybersecurity and Threat Management and Supply Chain Management: Global Logistics are quick routes to a Canadian credential.
• Study in the Greater Toronto Area. Newnham and Seneca@York are in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and job market. Rent is higher than in smaller cities, so plan your budget early.

Where are Seneca Polytechnic’s campuses?

Seneca has three main campuses in the Toronto area, Newnham, Seneca@York and King, plus an aviation campus in Peterborough. Most international programs are taught at Newnham.

You may still see Seneca listed with a Markham campus (Seneca International Academy). Seneca moved all programs from Markham to Newnham or Seneca@York from the Winter 2025 term, so check the campus for your program on Seneca’s program availability list before you apply.

How much does Seneca Polytechnic cost for international students?

First-year tuition is about CAD 15,800 to 22,100 for most programs starting in 2026/27, depending on the program and credential.

That is roughly NPR 17 to 24 lakh a year. To see what these amounts are worth today, use our CAD to NPR forex converter. Seneca lists the exact tuition for each program and year on its international tuition fees page.

A few programs cost more: Professional Accounting Practice is about CAD 25,700 for year one, and the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology costs far more because it includes flight training. Tuition doesn’t cover ancillary fees, books or housing, and mandatory health insurance is billed with your fees (CAD 934.72 for a September 2026 start).

If your study permit is refused, you can defer to a later intake and ask Seneca for a new PAL, or withdraw and ask for a refund. A refund request must include your IRCC refusal letter and reach Seneca within 14 days of the refusal date; administrative fees may apply.

Living costs come on top. For your study permit, IRCC asks you to show CAD 23,448 for a year of living expenses plus your first-year tuition. See our proof of funds guide and the cost of studying in Canada page for a monthly budget.

When are Seneca Polytechnic’s intakes?

Seneca starts programs in September, January and May, but each program sets its own intakes for international students. On 24 September 2026, the September 2026 intake was closed and applications were open for January and May 2027.

For example, Computer Programming and Analysis, Computer Systems Technology and Supply Chain Management: Global Logistics take international students in January and May 2027; Artificial Intelligence and the Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) in January 2027. Practical Nursing at King has limited seats for January and is open for May, while the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology has no January or May 2027 intake.

Aim to apply 9 to 12 months before your start date so there is time for the offer, the PAL, your study permit and travel. If you track document dates and deadlines in Bikram Sambat, our Nepali date converter turns B.S. dates into A.D. dates. For the full calendar, read our guide to Canada intakes.

Can you work while studying at Seneca and after you graduate?

Yes. You can work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are on, and many Seneca programs lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), but not all of them.

For the PGWP, the rules depend on your credential:

• Bachelor’s degrees, such as Seneca’s BBA or Software Engineering, have no field-of-study requirement, but degree graduates need an English result of at least CLB 7.
• Diplomas, advanced diplomas and graduate certificates must be in an eligible field of study if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024. Seneca marks each program on its PGWP-eligible program list (updated 27 August 2026), with the CIP code.
• College graduates also need an English test result of at least CLB 5 in all four skills when they apply for the PGWP.

Seneca also reminds students that at least half of the program must be taken in class. That is why the online version of the Data Analytics graduate certificate is not PGWP eligible, while the Newnham version is. Our PGWP guide for Nepali students explains each rule.

Which scholarships can Nepali students get at Seneca?

New international students automatically get a Seneca Entrance Scholarship of CAD 2,000 to 5,000, depending on the length of the program, for programs starting in September 2026, January 2027 or May 2027.

How the entrance scholarship works:

• Amount: CAD 2,000 for a one-year program, 3,000 for two years, 4,000 for three years and 5,000 for four years. You get CAD 2,000 in year one and CAD 1,000 in each later year.
• Who can get it: international applicants, inside or outside Canada, starting a new full-time postsecondary program and paying international tuition.
• What you have to do: confirm your offer, pay your first-semester fees and add your Social Insurance Number or Individual Tax Number in Student Home during your first term. There is no separate application.
• When: the first payment arrives a few weeks after Day 10 of classes, and later payments after Day 10 of each following year.

Details and conditions are on Seneca’s entrance scholarship page. Our Canada scholarships guide lists other awards that Nepali students can apply for.

What do you need to get into Seneca Polytechnic from Nepal?

For diplomas you need at least 50% in your program’s required +2 subjects, for degrees 65% in five Grade XII subjects, and for graduate certificates a degree or diploma in second division, plus IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 depending on the level.

IELTS 6.0 with no band under 5.5 (or PTE 58) covers certificates and diplomas; degrees and graduate certificates need IELTS 6.5 with no band under 6.0 (or PTE 60). Some programs ask for more, such as 70% in each prerequisite for Practical Nursing. To see where your +2 grades stand, convert your NEB GPA to a percentage with our NEB GPA calculator. Documents, acceptance and the application steps are in our Seneca admissions guide.

What can you study at Seneca Polytechnic?

Seneca’s list for international applicants has 163 programs: certificates, two-year diplomas, three-year advanced diplomas, graduate certificates, 24 bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree in artificial intelligence.

The programs below are a selection open to international students in IT, AI, business and health, each checked on Seneca’s program pages in September 2026. Several popular programs are not PGWP eligible, including Business Administration: Marketing, Hospitality: Hotel and Restaurant Services Management and Creative Advertising. Our Seneca programs guide lists more programs with their intakes, campus and PGWP status. For each type of program, see our guides to postgraduate diplomas in Canada, studying AI in Canada and a BBA in Canada.

Program Details

Where do Seneca students live?

You can live in the Newnham residence, which has about 1,100 spaces for students from all campuses, in the King residence (about 230 spaces), in a homestay, or in a rented room off campus.

Residence suites have private bedrooms and bathrooms and a kitchenette. Seneca arranges homestays through the Canada Homestay Network. If you rent off campus, start with Seneca’s Housing Hub for listings and tips, and budget for Toronto rents.

Official Seneca Polytechnic links

• International students at Seneca
• How to apply (International Student Web Application)
• Tuition fees for international applicants
• English requirements
• PGWP-eligible programs and program availability for international applicants
• Campuses and locations
• Confirm Seneca’s designated learning institution (DLI) number on IRCC’s DLI list

Frequently asked questions about Seneca Polytechnic