Studying Criminology in Ontario
You can’t always apply to criminology directly. Some universities admit you straight into it; others admit you into a broad first-year category and you choose criminology later. That difference is why searching for a major by name can make it look like a university doesn’t offer it.
Apply broad, choose criminology later
Western University
Apply to Social Science (EO)
You choose criminology n/a on main campus — the Criminology major no longer accepts new students.
Read this before you list Western for criminology. The Department of Sociology states that new admission to the Criminology MAJOR is closed for 2026-2027 and beyond, and the Academic Calendar lists 'MAJOR IN CRIMINOLOGY - admission discontinued'. The department has filed the Sociology and Criminology Double Major and Honours Double Major under 'Discontinued' too. The only criminology credential still open to new main-campus students is the Minor in Criminology, which you reach through Social Science (EO) by completing 1.0 credit of 1000-level Sociology with no mark below 60%. If you want an actual criminology degree, apply to King's University College — a Western affiliate with its own OUAC codes that grants a Western degree and still runs the Honours Specialization, Specialization, Major and Minor in Criminology.
https://sociology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/module-information.htmlUniversity of Toronto — St. George
Apply to Social Sciences
You choose criminology at the end of first year.
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies is heavily oversubscribed. The calendar requires 2.0 credits from CRI100H1/ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC and states applicants below a 70% average in those courses will not be considered — with the cut-off moving each year. Plan a backup program.
https://artsci.calendar.utoronto.ca/section/Criminology-and-Sociolegal-StudiesUniversity of Toronto — Mississauga
Apply to Social Sciences
You choose criminology after first year (4.0 credits).
The program is Criminology, Law & Society (HBA), through Social Sciences, and ENG4U is the only Grade 12 prerequisite. Students who actually want crime-scene science want Forensic Sciences (TMK) instead — an HBSc needing SBI4U and SCH4U, and a completely different application.
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/future-students/programs/criminology-law-societyUniversity of Waterloo
Apply to Honours Arts
You choose criminology at the end of first year.
Waterloo has no Criminology degree — it is not on the program list at any level. The closest majors are Legal Studies, which teaches criminology as coursework (for example LS 227 Criminology), and Sociology; both are declared at the end of first year inside Honours Arts. If a named criminology degree is the point of your application, other Ontario universities offer one and Waterloo does not.
https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/programs/legal-studies
Read off each university’s own admissions pages, and covering the seven campuses Ontario students apply to most. Entry structures change — confirm with the university before you build a timetable around one. Search all programs.