Adult Learning Program - Academic Upgrading

Overview

If you're already a high school graduate and want to upgrade or pick up missing credits needed for post-secondary study, this program might be for you.

ALP – Academic Upgrading offers:

• $0 cost tuition (for a maximum of two courses. Some fees do apply, view program fees and costs)
• The opportunity to study part-time
• 3 start dates throughout the year: fall and winter

You learn alongside fellow students who are either upgrading or working towards earning their Nova Scotia High School Diploma for Adults.

Study options

• This program is only available for part-time study.
  • If you need to upgrade more than two courses, you can take the remaining courses through Academic and Career Connections.
• You have the option to complete your program in-class or online.
  • Courses vary from campus to campus; not all courses are available at all campus locations.
• Evening classes are available at some campus locations. Contact the campus for more information about courses and times available.

Other info

• Course selection – as a second part to the admissions and enrolment process, we'll help you determine your next steps and provide you with details on the course selection process and registration.
  • There is a two-course limit for this program.
• Applicants to ALP – Academic Upgrading who have IPPs on their high school diploma will be referred to the campus for further assessment in literacy and numeracy.
• This is a Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning program supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and NSCC.

September 2025

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Akerley Campus Dartmouth	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist
Annapolis Valley Campus Middleton	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Burridge Campus Yarmouth	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Cumberland Campus Classes at Amherst Learning Centre	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Cumberland Campus Springhill	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
eCampus	Part time	Asynchronous online Delivered fully online with no scheduled classes.	Waitlist
Institute of Technology Campus Halifax	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist
Kingstec Campus Kentville	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Lunenburg Campus Bridgewater	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist
Pictou Campus Stellarton	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist
Strait Area Campus Port Hawkesbury	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Sydney Waterfront Campus Sydney	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist
Truro Campus Truro	Part time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Waitlist

Admission requirements

• High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants must have Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency, refugee/protected persons status or be a Permanent Resident Applicant with a work permit.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the following English Language requirement: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) – minimum Level 6, or equivalent.
• Applicants must reside in Nova Scotia.
• Applicants who do not have a high school diploma should visit the Adult Learning Program (ALP).

Tuition, fees and program costs

This program is not eligible for a Nova Scotia Student Loan.

For eligible students, there is no tuition cost, College services fee or student association membership fee for this program.

• A fee for Student Health and Dental Benefits is required for full-time students.
  • Students can opt-out of the Student Health and Dental Plan if they already have equivalent coverage. New ALP students who successfully complete the first 3 months of the program can have this fee covered by NSCC for one year.
  • eCampus students may opt-in to the Student Health and Dental Benefits.
• A fee for a virtual health care service is required for full and part time students. Students can opt out of virtual health care by completing an opt out form by the deadline.
• Metro campuses only - Students are required to purchase a Halifax Transit U-Pass.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Adult Learning Program (ALP) - Academic Upgrading