McDonald International Academy MIA

MIA (McDonald International Academy) was founded in 1994 and today is one of the main educational and research centers of Canada by ranking of schools in Ontario.

In the process of studying, modern technologies and the latest equipment, advanced educational and pedagogical techniques help students to become really educated, qualified future professionals. In the history of the MIA, its graduates are more than 10 thousand students representing 30 world countries and nationalities! Many graduates of the Academy continue their education in the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world, including the legendary American universities belonging to the Ivy League.

The atmosphere in the Academy is friendly and international: it studies representatives of more than 30 world countries, which gives students the opportunity to learn tolerance, mutual respect, learn to interact and communicate with representatives of any race, nationality and religion.

MIA (McDonald International Academy) closely and fruitfully cooperates with many well-known and prestigious universities in Canada and the USA. Some of them even offer special exclusive opportunities for higher education for graduates of the Academy - the following universities should be mentioned:

• University of Manitoba

Founded in 1877, located in Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). Annually more than 30,000 students from all over the world come here (about 13% of foreign students): 100 academic programs (more than 60 bachelor's) work, and the total number of graduates has already exceeded 110 thousand people.

• University of Winnipeg

Founded in 1967, it is located in Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). About 9,200 students study there: they are offered more than 40 academic programs and more than 800 subjects for study.

• State University of New York at New Paltz

Founded in 1828, the University is located in the city of New Paltz, New York, USA. Here students are offered more than 100 bachelor's and 50 master's programs, and the total number of entrants each year reaches 7690 people.

• University of Northern Michigan University

The University is located in Marquette, Michigan, USA and offers students more than 147 Bachelor's and 25 Master's programs. Each year more than 9,000 students from all over the world come here.

• Cambrian College

Founded in 1967, the College is located in the city of Sudbury (Ontario, Canada). Students (there are more than 11 thousand of them) are offered more than 80 educational programs, including short-term courses and evening part-time programs.

MIA partner universities offer the following preferential terms to the graduates of the Academy:

• Guaranteed admission to the selected undergraduate program upon successful completion of the MIA course
• Opportunity to apply for a Diploma in Ontario without a TOEFL or SAT
• Low Cost of Study
• The University of Winnipeg also allows graduates to obtain a work permit valid throughout the province of Manitoba.

Anna Parkhomenko

Ridley College Admission Manager

What are the most important questions when choosing a Canadian school?

Location, achievements (both academic and extracurricular), programs the school offers (AP and IB, for example). Cost, of course. Many people choose to visit the territory in advance, even before the application and enrollment, in order to understand whether it is comfortable on the campus, whether the child will feel at home here.

Classes are small, and teachers give students individual attention. Academic counselors help with course choices for university preparation, portfolios, and letters of recommendation. Parents receive regular progress reports.

Students joining the English as a Second Language (ESL) program take a placement test on arrival and are assigned to a level that matches their English. International students receive academic guidance, cultural support, and help with personal concerns.

• University Preparation/High School Program: a four-year program for grades 9–12, following Ontario Ministry of Education requirements and leading to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD),
• IELTS preparation: a 110-hour course covering reading, writing, listening, speaking, and exam strategies,
• English as a Second Language (ESL): intensive and semi-intensive programs for learners of all ages,
• Advanced Placement (AP): university-level classes and exams for grade 12 students,
• Summer English program: classroom learning and cultural activities for students aged 10 and over.

At its annual graduation ceremony, MIA recognizes students for their achievements in individual subjects and contributions to the school community.

• Governor’s General Award — for the highest academic achievement during the school year,
• Subject awards in math, science, English, the arts, music, and business,
• Student Life Award — for participation in school life.

• The academy’s graduates come from more than 50 countries,
• MIA’s English teachers wrote a textbook for everyday communication, published by a Chinese university press. It contains more than 3000 basic English words and over 900 everyday expressions,
• One graduate began working at JPMorgan in Shanghai in September 2014.

Canadian universities that have admitted MIA graduates include:

• McGill University,
• Western University,
• McMaster University,
• York University,
• University of Waterloo,
• Toronto Metropolitan University.

Students are offered a choice of two options for comfortable and safe placement during studying:

• Host family

All members of families cooperating with the Academy have been repeatedly and constantly checked by staff to ensure that students receive really good care and service. Living in the family, you can order yourself a convenient diet (breakfasts, half board, boarding only), meeting and seeing off at the airport. To clarify the available houses and the cost of living, you can contact your manager.

• General Student Residence

At the residence, the student can book a personal single room or live with a neighbor in a double room. All the bedrooms are fully furnished and equipped with necessary equipment: each has a personal study table, chest of drawers and a closet, air conditioning and heating system. The houses are cleaned weekly, bedding is provided. In general, there are cozy living rooms with TV, dining rooms, functional kitchens and bathrooms, and free access to WI-Fi. If you wish, you can order a meeting and seeing off at the airport, a convenient diet (for an additional fee).

MIA arranges residence and homestay accommodation for international students:

• The school residence offers single and double rooms. Breakfast and dinner are available through a separate meal plan,
• Homestay accommodation is available in private or shared rooms and includes two meals.

Subject list: Art, business, Career development course, healthy lifestyle, humanitarian sciences, maths, Natural science, physical education, sociology, technology

Students can join music, drama, dance, running, soccer, and chess clubs. They can also help produce the school yearbook and take part in student council.

English and art teachers lead the drama club, which has staged musical performances. School productions have included Grease. The dance club prepares performances for major school events.

All students and staff belong to one of four houses: Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green. Teams earn points in competitions and challenges throughout the year, and the winner is announced in June.

School activities include:

• Ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square,
• Fall farm trips and theater visits,
• A sports day with house challenges. Toronto Centre Island or Woodbine Beach are listed as possible venues,
• Christmas and Earth Day activities,
• Weekend trips to Niagara Falls for summer program participants,
• Additional three-day trips to Eastern Canada and New York for summer program participants.

Past events include a welcome party in fall 2024 and a Halloween celebration. Students have also visited the University of Guelph, where they tried working in a laboratory.

• MIA has students from more than 50 countries,
• According to the academy, its credits are recognized by universities and colleges in Canada and the United States,
• The school is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education,
• Teachers hold Ontario certification.

MIA’s main campus is in downtown Toronto, near the intersection of Yonge Street and Bloor Street. The Toronto Reference Library and the University of Toronto are nearby, with easy access to public transportation and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Facilities include:

• Computer labs, Wi-Fi, and interactive whiteboards,
• Rooms for music and audiovisual activities,
• A gym,
• A dining hall,
• A student lounge.

MIA uses a three-semester system and offers accelerated study options. Summer programs run in July and August. On weekdays, summer English classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by activities from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Additional expenses include:

• Accommodation and meals,
• Health insurance, which is mandatory for international students,
• Textbooks,
• Activities,
• Airport pickup.

The one-time, nonrefundable application fee is CAD 200. The school residence requires a CAD 500 security deposit, and the homestay placement fee is CAD 100. International students must pay tuition and the application fee in full when applying. The school accepts cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, money orders, and wire transfers. Part of the cost of textbooks can be refunded.

Under the school’s refund policy, a new student who cannot obtain a valid student visa or passport to enter Canada can receive a tuition refund, less CAD 200. The student must provide a completed, signed refund request, official proof of a visa refusal or rejection of a passport application or renewal, and all original documents and receipts issued by the school. Following a visa refusal, the refund request must be submitted within 15 months of admission. No refund is available after that period. Students granted a visa who decide not to study at MIA are not eligible for a tuition refund.

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 200 CAD
• Medical insurance 500 CAD
• Registration fee (for accommodation) 100 CAD
• Study materials 120 CAD
• Guardianship 1500 CAD

According to the academy, 100% of its graduates gain admission to universities. This figure describes their outcomes after graduation, rather than the acceptance rate at MIA itself.

One graduate studied finance and investment at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She continued her studies at Imperial College London in 2013 and earned a master’s degree in finance in 2014.

General requirements for admission:

• Copies of the first pages of passport/foreign passport, birth certificate
• Certificate of English Proficiency
• School report card with grades for the last 2-4 years
• Completed registration form
• Letters of recommendation from teachers of foreign languages, mathematics, as well as the class teacher
• Entrance test for knowledge of mathematics, language, specialized subjects
• Interview with a representative of the school
• Diplomas, awards, personal achievements of the student
• Motivation letter
• Personal passport-size photo
• Medical certificate of general health, prescription of vaccinations.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Admission statistics are maintained annually at a high level - almost 100% of applicants enter the MIA.

According to MIA, more than 20% of its graduates receive university entrance scholarships each year. The school offers guidance on scholarships.

A graduate reported receiving a scholarship when she entered the University of Toronto in 2016.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision