Pick your program! Do you want a Canadian cultural experience? Do you need help preparing for an exchange or degree program in English? Whatever your language-learning goal, we have a program for you!
This 12-week intensive English language program develops knowledge, skills, and strategies for academic success. It is offered three times per year in fall, winter, and summer.
This 3-week English immersion program focuses on developing language skills using Canadian academic content and the UN\'s Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasizes the knowledge, skills and strategies needed for academic success and is offered twice each year in early spring and summer.
This 3–4 week English immersion program is ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in Canadian culture while learning English. It is offered once per year in winter.
QBridge is an English language pathway for students who have been given a conditional offer of admission to a Queen\'s University undergraduate program.
This 6-week intensive English language program builds the foundational knowledge, skills, and strategies for academic success. It is offered three times per year in fall, winter, and summer.
English for Beginners is a free 6-module online ESL course that will give you the chance to improve your English skills with some fun activities. When you finish the course, you will receive a digital badge of completion.
Language Support provides weekly online tutorials for university students currently enrolled in an English-language degree or diploma program.
Our customized one-on-one virtual tutoring sessions offer personalized instruction specifically targeted to your learning needs.
Queen’s School of English is proud to partner with many different parts of the University and Kingston community to provide language programming to support student journeys from English Learner to Graduate.
This part-time 2-semester, 24-week intensive English language program develops knowledge, skills, and strategies for academic success in the Queen's Faculty of Law Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.
This fall 12–week intensive English language program develops knowledge, skills, and strategies for academic success in the Queen's Faculty of Law Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. It is only offered online once per year from early September to early December.
This unique, four-week online course offers comprehensive training in English language skills tailored specifically for the mining sector. Advance your career in the mining industry while improving your English language skills. Join us and become part of a global community of professionals who make a difference in the mining industry.
We’re so glad you've decided to come to Queen's School of English!
This guide provides useful information to help you before, during, and after your trip to Kingston, Ontario.
Let’s get started!
Queen's University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territory. To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. It is also to acknowledge this territory’s significance for the Indigenous Peoples who lived, and continue to live, upon it and whose practices and spiritualities were tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today.
These are some of the documents that you will want to carry in your carry-on for your arrival in Canada, and for use during your time studying here.
Passport (with Temporary Resident Visa or eTA, if required)
If required (programs of study 6 months or longer), valid Canadian Study Permit, or Port of Entry Introduction Letter from a Canadian Embassy
Original or copy of Letter of Acceptance from Queen’s University or verification of enrollment
Copies of any documents included in your study permit application, including application form, proof of medical (if required), proof of financial means, etc.
Proof of vaccinations (in case doctor asks for this in future)
List of medications currently taking
List of any items that you are shipping to Canada
List of important phone numbers
Once you have arrived to Canada, you will need to make your way to Kingston. Most travellers fly into Toronto, but please get in contact if you are arriving in a different city!
Unfortunately, Kingston does not currently have regular air service.
For information about the airport and current carriers that fly to YGK, visit the Norman Rogers Airport website.
A direct Kingston to Pearson International Airport Megabus service makes getting to and from the airport very easy. Provides service to Kingston from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
This economical and friendly service for Queen’s students provides bus transportation to and from Toronto and Ottawa every weekend, and to Montreal once a month. Locations, times, and schedules are available on the Tricolour Express website.
Provides service to Kingston from Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. Leave Toronto from Union Station, and other locations in the GTA.
VIA Rail is Canada’s intercity passenger railway, operating in eight provinces.
Student discounts are available and can reduce the cost of tickets significantly. Via Rail can be taken from Kingston to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and beyond.
Most car rental companies have rules for renting a car. These rules will vary depending on the company but you can find some general guidelines here.
Some things to consider before you rent a car:
Car Rental Companies in Kingston:
For information about driving laws in Ontario, visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Unfortunately, Kingston does not currently have regular air service.
For information about the airport and current carriers that fly to YGK, visit the Norman Rogers Airport website.
A direct Kingston to Pearson International Airport Megabus service makes getting to and from the airport very easy. Provides service to Kingston from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
This economical and friendly service for Queen’s students provides bus transportation to and from Toronto and Ottawa every weekend, and to Montreal once a month. Locations, times, and schedules are available on the Tricolour Express website.
Provides service to Kingston from Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. Leave Toronto from Union Station, and other locations in the GTA.
VIA Rail is Canada’s intercity passenger railway, operating in eight provinces.
Student discounts are available and can reduce the cost of tickets significantly. Via Rail can be taken from Kingston to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and beyond.
Most car rental companies have rules for renting a car. These rules will vary depending on the company but you can find some general guidelines here.
Some things to consider before you rent a car:
Car Rental Companies in Kingston:
For information about driving laws in Ontario, visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
Toronto
Kingston
Canadian authorities will NEVER ask you to pay money or send prepaid credit and gift cards, money wires, or e-transfers through a specific private money transfer company for an application.
Currently, all Government of Canada scholarship programs, including their application process, are free of charge and typically run through online application forms hosted on Government of Canada websites.
Official documents and updates will only be sent via email, and will come from a 'queensu.ca' address
DO NOT share your personal information or money unless you are confident in the legitimacy of the request
Detecting fraud is not always easy. Here are a few things to look out for:
Queen's School of English partners with the Canada Homestay Network to provide you with an enriching and engaging experience. Homestay is recommended when you attend Queen's School of English. It is a safe, welcoming and immersive Canadian cultural environment where students are supported. All meals are provided.
Queen's School of English students prefer homestay for year-round programs and residence accommodations during the summer.
We strongly suggest students select accommodations through Canada Homestay Network (CHN). CHN supports students in a friendly home atmosphere, providing a private bedroom, utilities and three nutritious meals per day.
Student applications are due eight weeks before scheduled arrival
Homestay provides 3 meals per day. Typically, students will prepare their breakfast & lunch and the host prepares dinner.
Students are provided with a Kingston city bus pass as part of their QSoE fees.
Students placed with a CHN host have access to daily public transportation.
Travel time for students is guaranteed to be 45 minutes or less. This includes 1 or two buses and walking. Most students are placed in homes closer than a 45-minute commute.
The following information is indicative only. CHN sets their fees each year, and you should contact them to find the up-to-date costs for your stay.
Estimated fees are $45/night + $275 registration fee and a $75 administration fee per application.
This includes 3 meals per day, a private room, and the life-experience of gaining a new family!
Homestay provides 3 meals per day. Typically, students will prepare their breakfast & lunch and the host prepares dinner.
To find a suitable place to live in Kingston you may decide to use local advertisements, search engines, and social media tools. If you are looking for housing information, resources, and support, visit the Off-Campus Living page and download the Resource Package.
Just because you use a reputable apartment search website doesn't mean you can't get scammed.
As a tenant you need to be careful to protect yourself from fraud. NEVER send any money without at least virtually viewing the apartment. A housing scam will always avoid showing you the unit and will apply pressure for you to send money. Please visit Queen's University website to learn more.
Queen’s Off-Campus Living Advisor offers individual advising expertise in rental and landlord issues through one-on-one appointments.
Please watch the video below where the Off-Campus Living Advisor (ocla@queensu.ca) outlines the timelines for your housing search, how to best navigate the Kingston rental market, budgeting, how to pick the best housemates, what to expect in a lease or a sublet arrangement, how to avoid housing/rental scams, and more.
Kingston has four distinct seasons, which can make deciding what clothing to bring difficult. Be prepared to purchase clothing in Canada, like a warm winter coat.
If you are not used to northern climates, talk to staff at the QUIC about other ways to prepare yourself so the changing seasons are not a shock. Despite the cold, there are a lot of fun activities you can do in the winter if you are warmly dressed. QSoE and QUIC plans activities to help you enjoy the winter season.
Both windchill and humidex will be shown in the “Feels Like” temperature on weather forecasts online and in apps. They reflect how additional factors like wind and humidity influence how hot or cold you may feel outside.
Our bodies insulate us from outside temperatures by warming up a thin layer of air close to our skin, known as the boundary layer. When the wind blows, it takes this protective layer away, exposing our skin to the outside air. It takes energy for our bodies to warm up a new layer and, if each layer keeps getting blown away, our skin temperature will drop and we will feel colder.
Kingston can be quite windy, and in winter, the wind can blow coldly from the lake. Make sure you have a good winter coat to avoid getting chilled!
High humidity can make it harder for a person to cool down, and so it can feel warmer than the air temperature shows.
The humidex describes how hot or humid weather feels to the average person. The humidex combines the temperature and humidity into one number to reflect the perceived temperature.
Kingston can be quite humid in the summer, so make sure to check this number out!
How much does a cellphone plan cost? What are the “big three”? Can I get a new SIM or do I need a new phone? Can I use my current plan in Canada? Get answers to these and more questions in this video.
Watch this video to learn about banking in Canada and what to consider when deciding which bank to use.
Stores almost everywhere accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
If you already have a credit card, it may be accepted in Canada but make sure to check with your bank before you arrive here to understand whether you might have to pay exchange rates and foreign transaction fees if you keep that card.
You may wish to get a credit card with your Canadian bank account, which can be possible with many banks' student accounts.
Queen’s Financial Aid and Awards staff share tips on student finances and budgeting in this International Student Financial Aid session. Learn about the cost of attending university, supplies, and living expenses, as well as student budget examples, financial aid options, and fraud prevention.
While it is legal to cross the street at any location in Canada, we recommend sticking to crosswalks. Most crosswalks will have a button to change the lights (after a short delay). We drive on the right in Canada, but look both ways, and be careful for drivers who may be turning on a red light (which is legal to do in Canada).
The centre of Kingston is pretty walkable, but there is network of city buses which can connect you to any part of town you may wish to visit. All QSoE students have free bus travel included with their student card. However, if you would like to travel by bus before you have your student card, payment can be made directly to the driver on board, or if you are going to take a few journeys, you can buy a multi-journey ticket or day/week pass from city hall. Fare information and schedules are available online, and the routes are completely integrated into Google Maps if you use their directions.
Driving in Ontario can be challenging for newcomers. Passing on either side of a car is not only legal, but encouraged, and it is legal (and necessary since there will be someone behind you beeping their horn) to turn right on a red light.
Special care should be given to yellow school buses as they can pull over at any time and are forbidden to pass on either side of an undivided road (no median strip) when they have their stop sign out.
Similarly, if you see an emergency vehicle driving with flashing lights, you are required to pull over and stop even if it’s on the other side of the (undivided) street.
It appears that no special documentation for driving or hiring a car other than a valid driving licence is required for trips of less than 3 months in Ontario.
Kingston is a historic city with a population of 172,546 located on the shores of Lake Ontario, mid-way between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Kingston offers many unique and enjoyable cultural opportunities, as well as outdoor activities, thanks to its proximity to nature conservation areas. The city is home to three excellent higher education institutions: Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College, and the Royal Military College of Canada.
Kingston has the greatest number of restaurants per capita in all of Canada. It has its own hockey team and downtown arena, theatres, festivals, art galleries, and the renowned Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Kingston is a transportation hub with a small airport, a train station, and a bus terminal, not to mention our city transit. There is access to the St. Lawrence River, Rideau Canal, and various islands, and additional travel opportunities await across the nearby US border.
The Welcome to Kingston app is a helpful guide for newcomers immigrating to Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Kingston has a variety of supermarkets, independent grocery shops and specialty stores. Generally speaking, prices are a little higher in shops in close proximity to the campus.
We know it can be tough when students move to Kingston to figure out where to buy groceries from home that might not be found in your average grocery store. Queen's asked students to share their tips on how to navigate this challenge and share some of their favourite shops and resources in Kingston.
Student discounts are available when you show your valid Queen's University student card at many grocery stores in Canada.
10% discounts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
10% back in PC Optimum points every Tuesday with the PC Optimum App
10% discount on Tuesdays
10% discount on Wednesdays
10% discounts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Many international students say that the friendships they make at Queen’s enrich their experience and contribute to the creation of a well-rounded life at Queen’s. Meeting new people can feel like a bit of an effort when you first move to a new place but making friends can reduce the impact of cultural transition and ease you into academic life. It will also provide you with an invaluable support network in Kingston. Most Canadian students welcome the opportunity to meet new people and learn about other cultures, but you may find that you need to take the initiative.
At Queen’s School of English you will have the opportunity to extend your learning beyond the classroom. Participate in trips, activities, volunteer club and student council to make this experience your own. Immerse yourself in Canadian culture as you develop friendships, build community and create memories to last a lifetime.
Sample Activities Include:
QSoE students have the unique opportunity to give their time, knowledge and expertise to the Kingston community by joining the QSoE Volunteer Club. The club supports local charities and groups in need. Students decide how they can best support the charity, whether it be through fundraising activities, volunteering their time, or raising awareness in the community. Make a difference!
Queen’s School of English is proud to have its own full-time in-house advisor to help students.
If you need help understanding assignments; if you need help practicing English skills; if you need help finding information about Queen’s, Kingston, or the broader community; if you just need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact the QSoE Student Advisor on qsoeadvisor@queensu.ca.
Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) provides help and support for all international students studying at Queen’s.
As well has having International Student Advisors, who are able to answer visa and study permit questions, they also have many events for international students to meet other community members, practice English and academic skills, and get to know what Queen’s and the Kingston community has to offer.
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) provides academic support for all Queen’s students, but also has resources aimed at the special challenges that those who use English as an Additional Language face.
From particular language skills like using reported speech, to more global life skills, such as time management, SASS has many workshops, online workbooks, and experts available to help.