Why You Should Choose Queen's
- 16-Month Program! Our program starts in May 2026 and ends in August 2027 – getting you into the job market a year earlier than most other programs.
- Choose a Concentration! You get to choose a concentration which provides a pathway for you to develop your professional interests. Concentrations include two complementary courses and a 3-week Alternative Practicum in the same topic. Topics could include At-Risk Children or Adolescents & Young Adults, Exceptional Learners, Educational Technology, Social Justice, and International Education. If you were accepted into a Program Track (ACE, ITEP, PJFSL) this will be your concentration.
- Alternative Practicum Experience! Our 3-week Alternative Practicum (also known as the Alt Prac) gives you the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in a setting outside of school – you can do it in Canada or anywhere else in the world. Teacher candidates have spent their Alt Pracs at Banff National Park, Global Learning in Hong Kong, the Vatican, the Stratford Festival, Youth Theatre Arts in Scotland, the Royal Ontario Museum, Joyceville Institution – and so many more. There are Travel Fellowships available to help you make your dream Alt Prac happen.
- Access to Education Career and Employment Assistance! You will have access to career advice throughout your program, and after as an alumni, from our Academic and Career Advisors.
- 21 Weeks of Practicum Experience! You get to experience the classroom through Practicum placements:
- 3 weeks in the first summer
- 7 weeks in the fall (a 3 week and 4 week component)
- 4 weeks in the winter, followed by a 3 week alternative practicum
- 4 weeks in the second summer.
- Kingston is a great and easy city to live in – rich in history and culture and home to vibrant arts, food, and maker communities. Lake Ontario provides picturesque opportunities for swimming and sailing. Kingston’s small city size makes the city easily accessible, while still providing the conveniences of a larger city.
Next Steps
Find out everything you need to know about making a decision and accepting your offer.
Additional Information
2026
| May 6 & 7 | Orientation and introduction to the program (in-person) |
| May 11-29 | Practicum (Victoria Day - May 18) |
| June 1-5 | Summer break (5 days) |
| June 8-July 3 | Summer block 1 (19 days) |
| July 1 | Canada Day (Classes will not be held) |
| July 6-July 31 | Summer class block 2 (20 days) |
| Aug 31 | Opening Day and first day of fall term classes |
| Aug 31-Sept 25 | Fall class block 1 (Labour Day - Sept 7) (19 days) |
| Sept 28-Nov 16 | Practicum (Thanksgiving - Oct 12) (34 days - 2 separately graded practicum) |
| Nov 16-Dec 18 | Fall class block 2 (Commemoration Day Dec 6, classes will not be held) (25 days, 44 days total of Fall Term) |
2027
| Jan 4-29 | Winter class block 1 (New Year's Day - Jan 1) (20 days) |
| Feb 1-26 | Practicum (Family Day - Feb 15) (19 days) |
| March 1-12 | Alternative Practicum block 1 |
| March 15-19 | March Break (5 days) |
| March 22-25 | Alternative Practicum block 2 (Good Friday - March 26) |
| March 29-April 30 | Winter class block 2 (24 days, 44 days total Winter Term) |
| May 3-28 | Summer 2 Practicum (Victoria Day - May 24) (19 days) |
| May 31-June 4 | Summer Break (5 days) |
| June 7-July 2 | Summer 2 class block 1 (19 days) |
| July 1 | Canada Day - University closed; classes will not be held |
| July 5-30 | Summer 2 class block 2 (20 days, 39 days total Summer Term) |
| August 31 | Summer 2 Term ends |
The Queen’s BEd/DEd program follows a model where we attempt to have candidates complete ALL regular practicum components (18 weeks) in the same associate school (with the exception of the first practicum placement in the first summer, and the winter term practicum for candidates enrolled in the Indigenous Teacher Education Program). Associate schools are allocated to our Faculty by the boards in the Queen’s designated catchment area, spanning 26 publicly funded schools boards. Teacher candidates will submit their Practicum Registration Form, where they identify four district school board selections, with the understanding that they could be placed within any of these four boards for ALL of their practicum components.
PRAC 410/411 is a 3-week practicum in the first summer; PRAC 420/421 is a 3-week practicum and PRAC 430/431 is a 4-week practicum, both in the fall term; PRAC 440/441 is a 4-week practicum in the winter term and; PRAC 460/461 is a 4-week practicum in the second summer term. The Alternative Practicum (PRAC 450/451) is 3 weeks and is in the winter term as well, immediately following PRAC 440/441.
Primary-Junior candidates will gain experience in both primary (JK to grade 3) and junior (grades 4 to 6) classrooms over the course of the program and Intermediate-Senior candidates will gain experience in both intermediate (grades 7 to 10) and senior (grades 11 and/or 12) classrooms, in at least one of their teaching subjects.
All practicum components are arranged exclusively by the Practicum Office and candidates MUST NOT discuss their practicum with teachers and/or principals in an attempt to make their own arrangements. Candidates will not be placed in the secondary school from which they graduated, where a sibling currently attends, or where a family member is employed, as this presents a conflict of interest. While we make every effort to place candidates around an approximate one-hour vehicle commute of their home address, we cannot guarantee this. We are unable to guarantee comparable commute times for those using public transportation. Access to a vehicle will greatly increase the placement options. Please note that local Kingston school boards cannot accommodate all teacher candidates. Candidates should be prepared to complete their practicum in other regions within our catchment. This may involve commuting or temporarily relocating during the practicum blocks.
The 3-week Alternative Practicum offers an opportunity to gain experience in a concentration and placements are typically completed outside the school system. Candidates can complete the Alternative Practicum anywhere in the world, provided it relates to the EDST/FOCI concentration they are enrolled in. Candidates can apply for a travel bursary to assist with costs associated with out-of-country Alternative Practicum placements (conditions apply).
How Much Will It Cost?
Queen’s Student Awards provides estimated costs for the 4-term program, including rent, food, etc..
2026-27 tuition and fees are expected to be announced by May 2026 (and are subject to change from 2025-26). To give you an estimate for the 4-term program:
- The 2025-26 tuition rate was $199.91 per unit (does not include student assistance levy and student activity fees, and is for domestic students).
- Primary-Junior take 63 units total, Intermediate-Senior and Technological Education take 60 units total. More information on courses can be found on our Academic Calendar.
- Tuition is due at the beginning of each term.
- All teacher candidates must pay a Professional Learning Fee. Some programs and courses have additional fees. All of these fees are in addition to tuition. See the Fees section of the Academic Calendar.
Activity Fees and the Health and Dental Plan for Consecutive students are administered by the Society of Graduate and Professional Students. 2026-27 fee information is forthcoming. For questions contact the Society of Graduate & Professional Students.
Financing and Awards
Queen’s Student Awards has a website with information about financing your Queen’s Education program. For questions contact the Registrar's Offices.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) makes bursaries available to candidates who are entering Ontario’s faculties of education.
Housing:
With two universities and one college in Kingston, there is a huge rental market in Kingston. Our students are often able to take advantage of a summer lull in the market – grabbing great rentals quickly when they come in May.
There are many different places to find housing, including:
- Queen’s Community Housing – offers leases for University owned rentals, and offers an Accommodation Listing Service which advertises local rental units for students.
- The Off-Campus Living Advisors are available to provide confidential guidance and resources.
- Main Campus residence rooms are available to book for the summer term through Event Services. The walk from main campus to the Faculty of Education at west campus takes between 15-20 minutes or you can take a 3 minute bus ride or 5 minute bike ride.
- Queen’s University Off-Campus Housing Facebook Group – Find roommates or a sublease on this group.
We offer tours of Duncan McArthur Hall, home to the Faculty of Education. Please contact Student Services if you are interested. We are available to answer any questions you may have about the program, Queen’s, and Kingston.
Duncan McArthur Hall is an integrated educational complex that provides teaching and learning facilities, support services, and administrative offices under one roof. Duncan McArthur Hall is currently undergoing renovations and access to some areas may be limited.
Essential Knowledge, Abilities, and Dispositions of a Teacher Candidate
Teacher Candidate Parking | Education Library
If you are considering making a request to defer your offer of admission, please review the Consecutive Education Program Deferral Policy.