While Queen’s encourages all interested students to pursue the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law (GDipICL) and prepare themselves for a vital role in Canada’s immigration ecosystem, immigration ecosystem, admission is subject to specific eligibility requirements.

The Certificate in Law program attracts a wide variety of students of all ages and backgrounds from all disciplines. It is designed for university students, as well as working professionals, and provides a comprehensive overview of the foundations of Canadian law as well as methods of legal reasoning; how to develop, articulate, and justify a position; and how domestic and international norms and agreements affect the law.

The Certificate in Law is ideal for prospective Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law students in many ways, including: 

  • Delivered online, it provides flexibility for students across Canada who want to gain a foundational understanding of Canadian law but are not ready for the time commitment or academic rigors of the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.
  • Several courses delivered as part of the Certificate in Law provide valuable context for the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law, and an opportunity to accelerate your understanding of key legal concepts and skills that are relevant to the immigration sector.
  • The Certificate in Law offers accessible legal education. Students get a sense of how online courses are structured, and are introduced to online learning methods and assessments, as well as workload management, in a university-level program.
  • You can take courses individually at your own pace and can acquire the certificate credential by completing four courses with a minimum final grade of C+ in each course. 
  • You can start your legal education journey today, and complete the Certificate in Law courses on a part-time basis in advance of your next application to the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. This is ideal for applicants currently in the workforce or those with family responsibilities who want to begin their studies in advance of their next GDipICL application.
  • You can build critical skills, develop a strong understanding of legal terminology, and the structures of the common law legal system that are immensely valuable to working in Canada’s immigration system. 

Was your application unsuccessful for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law? 

We encourage you to explore the Faculty of Law’s other online program, the Queen’s Certificate in Law. It is ideal for students looking to deepen their understanding about Canada’s legal system in an online, self-directed, learning environment. 

Completing the Certificate in Law does not guarantee future admission into the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. However, participating in Certificate in Law courses will help you assess whether online learning is right for you. 

Academic excellence in the Certificate in Law may be helpful for applicants to the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law. Your Queen’s University transcript confirming grades achieved in Certificate in Law courses will be considered in the overall assessment of your application to the Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law.