What is a Pathway in Education?

If you’re a post-secondary student, you’ve probably heard the term “pathway” before and maybe you’re confused as to what a pathway is. When colleges and universities talk about pathways, they’re actually talking about learning pathways to help you achieve academic and career success.

At Fanshawe, we define a pathway as different academic routes a student could take to gain recognition for their prior learning. Simply put, this means if you’re taking a diploma at a college, you may be able to transfer credits from your diploma into a program at a university and finish your degree. This is only one example! There are actually many education pathways that exist, no matter where you are in your academic journey.

Pathway within your post-secondary institution to another program

Transferring within your institution is a pathway that bridges one credential to another. For example, maybe you started your academic journey in a diploma program, but now you want to finish your degree at the same institution and get some credit for what you’ve already taken.

Pathway from your post-secondary institution to another

You may want to finish your degree or your current program by transferring to another institution, maybe even at one overseas! This pathway is often supported by articulation agreements that your current institution has with partner institutions, some that are even in other countries around the world!

Pathway from your job to a post-secondary or post-graduate program

There are even pathways that can take you from your current job, or from other experience you’ve gained outside of a post-secondary institution, back into a college or university program. Examples include academic upgrading, completing a graduate certificate, finishing the education you started or even applying for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).