Inquiries from New Students
The Student Service Centre acts as an advisory office for all categories of new students, other than those eligible for direct admission into the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. See Inquiries for Student Service Centre contact information.
Definitions
The following definitions pertain to the information contained in the subsequent chart.
- Academic Year: The academic year is divided into four periods known as “terms” as follows:
- Summer Term: July - August
- Fall Term: September - December
- Winter Term: January - April
- Spring Term: May - June
The eight-month period from September to April is referred to as Fall/Winter. The four-month period from May to August is referred to as Spring/Summer.
- High School Applicant: A student whose most recent education has been taken in a high school and who has also never attended a postsecondary institution.
- Postsecondary Transfer Applicant: A student who is transferring from another postsecondary institution and who has not previously attended the University of Alberta.
- Internal Transfer Student: A student who wishes to transfer from one program to another program within the same Faculty or to another Faculty.
- Previous Student: A student who has been required to withdraw and is now reapplying to the same program, or a student who is reapplying after any absence of 12 consecutive months or more to the same program in which the student was most recently enrolled. (If another institution has been attended in the interim, then the classification is Postsecondary Transfer Applicant.)
- Open Studies Student: A student who is registered in selected credit courses, but who is not following a degree or diploma program.
- Special Student: A student who has been permitted to register in one or more courses which are not being taken for credit toward a degree or diploma at this or another institution. To be considered for admission as a Special Student, applicants must normally have received a university degree from an accredited postsecondary institution, must present a competitive admission grade point average, and meet English Language proficiency requirements as specified in Language Proficiency Requirements . Special Students must apply for admission to the Faculty in which they plan to take the majority of their courses. Since the University is a limited enrolment institution, priority in admission is given to applicants to degree programs.
- Visiting Students: Bona fide students of other universities or colleges who have been permitted to take one or more courses for transfer of credit to their own institutions which have agreed in advance to such an arrangement.
- Admission and Readmission Documents: All students must submit two complete and official transcripts of work they have completed at institutions other than the University of Alberta before a final decision is made on admissibility. These documents must be submitted as soon as possible after the results of their most recent examinations are available.
Note: A student will not be considered if any document or required item is received after the stated deadline.
- Other Requirements: The other requirements column listed in the following chart refers to all students, whether applying for admission or readmission, unless otherwise stated.
- Document Deadline: If the published deadline falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the Office of the Registrar will accept items if they are received or postmarked by the end of the next full working day.
Application Procedures
- There is one combined application form for admission and readmission or internal transfer. Students may submit an application in one of the following ways:
- Online: Students are encouraged to apply and pay the application processing fee online as the process is secure and faster. Students can apply online at Undergraduate Admissions & Programs page.
- PDF Format: a PDF version of the Application for Admission form is available from the above website, and can be downloaded, completed and printed.
- Applications will not be accepted after the stated deadline [see Admission and Readmission Deadlines and Deadline].
- A nonrefundable application processing fee is charged for each Application for Admission and Readmission or Internal Transfer form submitted. Online applications are not successfully submitted until the online payment process is completed. Paper applications will not be processed if submitted without the application processing fee. The University of Alberta strictly enforces its policy of withholding processing of applications until the appropriate processing fee has been received. Students are encouraged to apply and pay the processing fee online as the process is secure and faster.
- A student intending to enter a program as a nonmatriculated applicant must apply by the deadlines published for high school students. Please refer to Nonmatriculated Applicants as well as to the appropriate Faculty section in Admission Requirements by Faculty for admission information.
- An Application for Admission and Readmission or Internal Transfer is valid only for the Fall/Winter or Spring/Summer for which it is submitted and will not be carried over to a future date. An admission or readmission decision to any program is valid only for the terms for which it is approved and will not be carried over to future terms. Should a student decide not to accept the admission to a program and then want to come at a later date, another Application for Admission and Readmission or Internal Transfer and processing fee will be required.
- Students who wish only to audit courses may register according to the dates specified in the Academic Schedule . Such students must report to the Office of the Registrar to obtain a Course Audit form.
- Refer also to Auditors of this Calendar for additional information regarding auditing students.
Electronic Communications for Students and Applicants
The University of Alberta uses and will use electronic communication with its students and applicants in lieu of many paper-based processes. “Electronic communication” includes anything that is created, recorded, transmitted or stored in digital form or in any other intangible form by electronic, magnetic or optical means or by any equivalent means. Currently, this most often includes information communicated by e-mail and via a website.
All references in the Calendar and in other University policies to any method of communication by the University by any media, shall be deemed to include the right of the University to make such communication by electronic means. For the detailed policy and important information for students and applicants, refer to Electronic Communications Policy for Students and Applicants .
Application for Admission
- Applications received from students who have never attended the University of Alberta, will be processed as applications for admission. Admission deadlines for these students are listed by Faculty and program in the Admission and Readmission Chart.
- There are two categories of applicants for admission:
Application for Readmission or Internal Transfer
- Applications received from current University of Alberta students who wish to transfer programs within a Faculty or transfer to another Faculty, and from former University of Alberta students who wish to reapply to the University will be processed as applications for readmission or internal transfer. Readmission deadlines for these students are listed by Faculty and program in the Admission and Readmission Deadlines Chart.
- There are two categories of applicants for readmission or internal transfer:
Admission and Readmission Deadlines
(for applications to the Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 terms.
If you are applying to an earlier term, please refer to the deadlines in the 2022-2023 Calendar.)
Notes:
- Deadline Extensions. Any extensions to the deadlines posted here are updated on Admissions and/or Faculty websites. Please visit our website to see if the program in which you are interested has extended their application deadline.
- Application Questions. You can also contact Student Service Centre if you have questions regarding the application form or the application process itself. See Inquiries for Student Service Centre contact information.
Deadlines by Faculty:
College of Health Sciences
College of Natural and Applied Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Standalone Faculties
Open Studies
Admission Decision Process
Offers of Admission
In order to receive an offer of admission, applicants must satisfy the University’s general undergraduate admission requirements and any other additional requirements that are determined by the programs of study. Faculty/ program specific requirements are detailed in Admission Requirements by Faculty .
Presentation of the minimum admission requirements and average does not guarantee admission. Admission to all programs at the University of Alberta is competitive.
Admitted students will have their admission offers revoked if they do not meet the conditions specified on their offers of admission.
Admitted students must maintain the level of academic performance upon which the offer was made. Admitted students may have their offers revoked if their final calculated average is significantly lower than the average presented at the time of the offer of admission.
Offers of admission are only valid for the term(s) and program specified on the admission offer letter.
Applicants are encouraged to submit certified or notarized copies of irreplaceable documents. Documents submitted in support of an application become the property of the University and are not returned to the applicant unless they are irreplaceable as determined by the Office of the Registrar. For more information, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website.
- High School applicants
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit an official transcripts of all in-progress and/or completed high school courses and grades. All in-progress courses and grades, as well as courses to be taken, can be self-recorded. See Admission Chart 1 for high school courses used for admission.
All applicants must submit final and official transcripts by the document deadline. See Admission and Readmission Deadlines. For more details, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website. Admitted students will have their admission offers revoked if they do not meet the conditions specified on their offers of admission.
- Postsecondary Transfer applicants
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit official transcripts of all completed postsecondary course work as well as interim transcripts of first term results and second term registration. Some programs may require final and official high school transcripts.
All applicants must submit final and official transcripts by the document deadline. See Admission and Readmission Deadlines. Admitted students will have their admission offers revoked if they do not meet the conditions specified on their offers of admission.
For more details, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website.
- Readmission and Internal Transfer applicants
Admission is offered in a number of programs to current University of Alberta students applying for internal transfer, or previous University of Alberta students applying for readmission, who have achieved above average academic standing in their completed coursework.
- Admission on Academic Probation
At the discretion of the Faculty an applicant may be admitted on academic probation in the following circumstances:
- When the applicant’s previous academic attainment is difficult to assess (e.g., refugees lacking academic records); or
- When the applicant’s previous academic record is either deficient in some respect or below the standard ordinarily required.
The Faculty may require the student to meet specified course, program, and performance standards to maintain eligibility in the program.
- Appeal of Admissions and Readmissions Decisions
Admission and readmission decisions are final. There is no formal appeal to any other body or person within a Faculty or the University. Applicants who wish to improve their qualifications for admission or readmission in a subsequent year may seek advice from the office of the Faculty to which they want to apply.
Acceptance of Admission Offers
Upon notification of admission, admitted students except those admitted to programs listed in Program-specific Deposits on Confirmation of Admission are required to accept the admission offer and pay the tuition deposit by the posted deadline in their UAlberta Launchpad portal. The admission offer will be cancelled if it is not accepted by the deadline or declined by the student.
An admitted student can only accept an admission offer to one program in a term. If a student has accepted an offer and paid the tuition deposit and is subsequently admitted into a different program, the student can transfer the acceptance and payment to the other program if desired.
The deposit will be credited toward payment of tuition upon completion of registration. The tuition deposit is nonrefundable unless an admitted student fails to meet the conditions on the admission offer and the offer is revoked.
For more details, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions & Programs website.
Program-specific Deposits on Confirmation of Admission
Upon notification of admission, successful applicants to certain programs listed below must confirm their admission and intention to register by submitting a nonrefundable program-specific deposit within the time specified in the letter of acceptance. The deposit will be credited toward payment of tuition upon completion of registration. Should a candidate withdraw after accepting a position or not meet specified conditions as stated in the offer of admission, this deposit is forfeited. The following undergraduate programs require a deposit:
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- DDS Advanced Placement
- Bachelor of Science (Dental Hygiene)
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) for Practicing Pharmacists
- Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
- Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy
Applicants should contact specific Faculties for more information about program-specific deposits, including specific amounts. (See Tuition Deposit )
Registration
After an offer of admission has been accepted, students will receive information regarding registration in Bear Tracks, see Registration .
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