The Only Program of Its Kind in Canada.
The Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Canadian Law is designed to provide a deep understanding of Canadian law in the key areas of public and private law. It covers foundational aspects of the Canadian legal landscape, including Canada’s legal history and structure; skills-focused topics, such as legal research and writing; and more specialized topics, through elective courses of your choice. Learn from expert faculty and network with professionals across a variety of industries. The Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Canadian Law opens the doors to better career opportunities in the Canadian legal market and can set the stage for further graduate study.
Build a solid understanding of the Canadian legal system for your academic and professional goals in law.
Who should apply?
Graduates of law degree programs from civil law jurisdictions outside Canada who need to build a strong foundation in common law before pursuing accreditation to practise in Canada.
Internationally trained law graduates looking for academic and career training and support.
Alumni Spotlight
Yanki Gur
Yanki is an international student from Turkey who completed the Graduate Diploma Program, and moved on to pursue the Canadian Common Law LLM. She describes her journey to become licensed to practise in Canada.
Information Session
Learn About the Program
Interested in our full-time Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Canadian Law? In this on demand session, you will learn more about course offerings, degree requirements, what to expect during your studies and the steps to apply.
Additional Sessions for Internationally-Trained Lawyers
Drop in Advising Sessions
Sign up to join a virtual office hours session!
Attendees will have a ten minute 1:1 advising session with one of our Advisors. There are no scheduled appointment times for drop-in hours, attendees will be seen on a first come, first served basis. You should expect to wait in a queue (rather than being seen immediately), so make sure to have a comfortable chair and bring something to do while you wait (just like a real waiting room!) To attend this session, you will need a device that is compatible with Zoom, with a microphone/speakers and camera.
Program Requirements
The Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Canadian Law (Full-Time) is designed to be completed over 8 months (two terms) of intensive, in-person study. Students complete four required courses (12 credits) followed by 1-2 elective courses (6 credits), drawn from Professional LLM course offerings.
Required Courses:
Elective Courses:
Elective course offerings are drawn from the Professional LLM. Students work with an advisor to select elective course(s) that are relevant to their individual goals and professional experience. Internationally trained lawyers may opt to use their elective space to complete courses that meet subject requirements of the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA).
What to Expect
After accepting your offer of admission, you’ll receive information about course schedules. All required courses are offered in person. Courses may be held at our downtown Toronto location or on the York University Keele campus. Full-time students have limited access to online courses (generally only when there isn’t an equivalent in-person option) and should expect to take all courses in person and visit campus on a regular basis.
If you’re looking for a more flexible option, including courses delivered online through live video conferencing, consider applying to the part-time version of the program.
Program Start and Application Deadlines
The diploma accepts new students once each calendar year, in the Winter term.
Winter 2026
Application Deadlines:
International Applicants are Encouraged to Apply by: April 15, 2025
Final Deadline: September 15, 2025
Tuition and Fees
Full-time students pay in two installments over two terms.
Please note that the tuition/fees displayed here are subject to change, and may vary depending on your entry term.
Domestic (Ontario)
$4,950.00per term for 2 terms
$9,900.00total
Domestic (Out of Province)
$5,197.50per term for 2 terms
$10,395.00total
International
$9,921.51per term for 2 terms
$19,843.02total
Students are also subject to supplementary fees including health benefits. Find out more about supplementary fees here.
Admission Requirements
A degree in law from outside Canada with a minimum overall “B” (75%) average (or equivalent)
Applicants without a law degree must have an honours bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall “B” (75%) average or (or equivalent) and at least two years of relevant professional experience involving exposure to legal or regulatory issues
Acceptable English language proficiency (see requirements)
How to Apply
Create Your OsgoodePD Applicant Profile
Create an applicant profile in our online application portal. This portal allows us to gather your information, transcripts, and other documents electronically. You will receive an email with directions outlining how to create a new password for your application, along with a link to access the application.
Upload Application Documents
The following documents are required:
- Resume/CV
- Writing Sample
- Contact Information for Two References
- Transcripts
- Official Proof of Language Proficiency (if applicable)
For more information, see our Application Documents to Upload section.
Pay and Submit
Once your application is completed, you will be required to pay a non-refundable $140 CAD application fee.
Wait for Review
Timelines for decisions vary by program, but we will be in touch if we have questions about your application or need more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Have questions? We’re here to help! Click here to get in touch.