A law school experience designed to fit your career.
The part-time Graduate Diploma in Foundations of Canadian Law, is designed for working professionals who don’t have a formal legal background (students without a JD/LLB degree). Students will leave the program with 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. Build a solid understanding of the Canadian legal system for your professional and academic goals.
Who should apply?
Professionals in Canada without a law degree who have significant work experience and wish to develop an advanced knowledge of Canadian law for professional purposes.
Information Session
Learn About the Program
Interested in our part-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 (Part-Time) is designed to be completed over 16 months (four terms) on a part-time basis. Students complete four required courses in their first three terms, followed by an elective course, drawn from Professional LLM course offerings in their fourth term.
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 course(s) 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 have an online format, and some have the option for in-person attendance. Online courses are generally offered in the evening and take place via live video conference. A part-time student could choose to complete their entire degree via online courses.
Program Start and Application Deadlines
The diploma accepts new students once each calendar year, in the Fall term.
Fall 2026
Applications Not Currently Open
Applications will open on October 01, 2025
Tuition and Fees
Part-time students pay in four installments over four terms.
Please note that the tuition/fees displayed here are subject to change, and may vary depending on your entry term.
Domestic (Ontario)
$2,475.00per term for 4 terms
$9,900.00total
Domestic (Out of Province)
$2,598.75per term for 4 terms
$10,395.00total
International
$4,960.75per term for 4 terms
$19,843.00total
Students are also subject to supplementary fees including health benefits. Find out more about supplementary fees here.
Admission Requirements
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.