university of calgary admission essay

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BSW Apply Now

Dates and deadlines.

Deadlines are firm. You are unable to edit your application, including your responses to the program specific questions, after the deadline.

Application opens

October 1, 2024

For Fall 2025 admission Questions about your eID and password? Contact IT Support

Application deadline

March 1, 2025 - 11:59 pm MST

Deadline to submit your application and fee, including responses to the program specific questions in the online application

Transcript deadline

March 15, 2025

Consult your UCalgary Student Centre for all required transcripts Questions about transcripts or ELP? Contact the Admissions Office  

Prepare Yourself to Answer the Program Specific Questions

You'll respond to the program specific questions in the online application.

Before you begin

Your GPA counts for 50 of the 100 points assessed by the Admissions Committee, the Program Specific Questions account for the other 50 points. This means that what you share and how you share it are equally important as your grade point average (GPA).

Listen to the audio

What is Social Work and what do social workers do?

Review the Canadian Association for Social Workers (CASW) background information on the profession and role of social workers.

What is the Social Work Code of Ethics?

The Code of Ethics provides a consistent set of values, principles and standards of conduct for all social workers across Canada.

CASW Code of Ethics

What are the Standards of Practice?

The Standards of Practice outline the minimum standards all social workers practicing in Alberta are expected to meet.

ACSW Standards of Practice

What are the program specific questions?

Our program is committed to creating a welcoming, respectful and thriving environment for students with diverse backgrounds and experiences. You are invited to reflect on who you are as a person, your lived experiences and your life influences, and discuss how they have contributed to your pursuit of social work education.

400 word maximum

Reflect upon the following before answering this question:

• How did you grow up? Did it affect your perspective or values?
• What relationships with others have influenced you and your values/beliefs about people?
• Did your geographical location (urban,rural, international) influence you?
• What life lessons are you bringing forward with you?
• Are there challenging situations or experiences that have impacted you?

Who and what has impacted you (both positively and negatively)?

• Be as specific as possible
• Provide concrete examples of your background and lived experiences

Share your social location and diversity related intersectionalities

• Examples: privilege, oppression, ethnic, socioeconomic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural differences

Tell us about your community engagement, an issue you are most concerned about, and what you think are the root causes or contributing factors to the identified issue.

• What are your observations about the struggles in your community?
• What is your sense of personal security and belonging in your community?
• What messages are community leaders providing?
• What do you believe is the primary cause of the issue in your community?
• Is the issue becoming larger, smaller, or remaining the same over the last 5 years?
• Any ideas and/or solutions to address the issue in your community?

How have you been involved in your community?

• Provide specific details/examples of how you have been involved in your community.
• Give thought to different activities, volunteering, events, acts of social justice (petitions, marches, letter writing, etc.)

What social issue are you passionate about?

• Why is it an issue for community members?
• Review the Canadian Social Determinants of Health

What do you believe are the causes of the issue?

• Why does it exist?
• Link the social issue to social work.

What do you hope to develop in our social work program and how do you see your future practice as a professional social worker?

• What are your personal strengths?
• What are your professional strengths?
• What are areas for improvement both personally and professionally?
• Where do you see yourself professionally in ten years?
• How will you create positive change?
• How will you advance social justice?

Skills, knowledge, and areas of growth

• What skills, knowledge, and areas of growth are you hoping to develop in your BSW journey?

Positive change and social justice

• How will you be able to contribute to positive change and social justice with a BSW?
• Share your vision and provide ideas of what you will do with a professional social work degree.

Write your answer

Clear & concise.

Write clearly about how your experiences, values, and personal self connect to pursuing social work education.

Be succinct. Do not repeat yourself.

First Person

Write in the first person, using “I” statements.

Correct errors

Review your writing for errors (spelling, sentence structure, grammar, etc.).

The committee wants to know who you are and why you want to become a social worker!

My application is complete - what happens next?

You’ve completed the application form, paid your application deposit, and submitted all your required documents. What happens next?

At this point your application is considered complete. The Admissions Office will assess your previous coursework and calculate your GPA. If you satisfy the admission requirements, your file is sent to our faculty admissions committee to review.

Our faculty admissions committee will start reviewing application sent from Admissions following the deadline.  

Due to the nature of the assessment process, you'll be notified of the outcome of your application by late May or early June - but you may receive a decision earlier. You can monitor the status of your application in your Student Centre. 

All applicants will receive either an offer, regrets, or waitlist notification  by email.

I've been admitted!

Congratulations on receiving an offer.

Review your offer of admission carefully. It outlines how to accept your offer and pay your non-refundable admission deposit, conditions of your admission (if applicable), critical deadlines, and required official transcripts. 

Questions about your conditions? Contact the Admissions Office Questions about accepting your offer and paying your deposit? Review these instructions

Your deposit must be received to confirm your spot in the program. We'll send you detailed registration information after your deposit has been paid and posted to your account. 

Transcript mailing address

Admissions and Recruitment  Hunter Student Commons 2 nd floor University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4 CANADA

You are not given a number on the waitlist. The admission committee will consider everyone on the waitlist to determine who will receive an offer at the time a spot becomes available.

This means that we cannot estimate how long it will take for each waitlisted applicant to receive a final decision; waitlisted applicants may receive their final decision as late as the end of July.

____________________________

My application wasn't successful.

Your GPA counts for 50 of the 100 points assessed by the Admissions Committee, the Program Specific Questions account for the other half.

Admission decisions are final and non-appealable. 

We've provided general feedback for improving your application for next cycle below. Additional requests for feedback will not be responded to. 

Program Specific Questions

Each applicant is different with unique attributes, qualities and backgrounds, and vision for future social work practice. Your responses provides the committee with important context about your personal and professional strengths, as well as areas for learning goals, and lived experience and relevant human service experience. 

Tips for answering the program specific questions: 

• Be as specific as possible (give concrete examples) as to who you are, about how you are connected to the community (weave in work and volunteer experience if possible), and identify a social issue you have researched the causes and factors influencing the issue. 
• Identify ways you could use your privilege to advocate and give voice to this social issue. 
• Demonstrate self-awareness in skills, knowledge, social justice, and critical understanding. 
• For each question the evaluators also assess your writing ability, that is, not just what you express, but how you express it.  
• Organize your thoughts and ideas so your writing is well constructed, free from grammatical errors, and provides evidence of scholarly and critical capacity.

Increase your GPA

Complete additional coursework to increase your GPA.

• Must be completed by the end of fall term preceding the next admission cycle to be included in GPA. 
• Courses work must be transferable to UCalgary. 
• Complete non-social work courses in the following areas: English/Effective Writing; Sociology; Political Science; Psychology; Indigenous Awareness in the Canadian Context; Human Development Across the Lifespan; Research Methods; Statistics; Gender Studies; and Anthropology. 
• No admission preference is given to applicants who take courses within these areas.
• Your admission GPA is calculated on the most recently completed 30 units. Winter, spring and summer grades from terms immediately prior to the expected admission date will not be used in the calculation of the GPA.

We're here to help.

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Applying for grad studies

Get on the path to your next degree.

Getting ready

Follow these steps before you apply for grad studies. Admissions to graduate programs are highly competitive, as there are a limited number of spaces. There is no general right of admission, so it's best to be as prepared as possible.

Requirements

Ensure you meet admission requirements for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and your program.

Learn more about admission requirements

Review the application deadlines for your graduate program.

Find application deadlines for your program

Plan 2-6 months to prepare required documents. International students may need longer.

UCalgary has over 225 graduate credentials in 13 faculties. Find the right one for you. Explore programs

Start your application

Identify the admission category that applies to you and follow the steps below.

If you are thinking of working with an agent , please note that only applications made through the official UCalgary web application will be considered for admission. If successful, an offer will be sent directly to you from the university. The university does not release admission information to third parties, including agents.

Regular students

Apply as a regular student if you wish to gain admission to a program leading to a graduate-level certificate or diploma, a master’s or a doctoral degree.

Collect your documentation

• Check your program requirements to find out which documents and forms you will need to prepare.
• See the program's list of required documents for submission details.
• Prospective doctoral students with funding from the China Scholarship Council:  see additional information .

Gather references (if required)

• Contact past professors for potential references. We will invite your referees to complete an online reference form after you submit your application.
• Some course-based programs do not require references, please see specific admission requirements if you are unsure.

Begin your application

• Create an eID  to log in. If you already have an eID, you can begin your online application . 
• Once you begin, remember to click 'Save & Continue' often to ensure your application is saved.

Submit your application

• $125 for Canadians or Permanent residents
• $145 for International Students

Learn about payment options here

Visiting student researchers (VSRs)

Apply as a visiting student researcher if you are a graduate student from another institution interested in conducting research at the University of Calgary for credit towards your degree. Admission to the University of Calgary as a Visiting Student Researcher is at the discretion of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

• Visiting students are normally permitted to attend UCalgary for up to 12 months.
• Fall term - September 1
• Winter Term - January 1
• Spring Term - May 1
• Summer Term - July 1​​​​​​

Identify a supervisor in your graduate program of interest

Contact your graduate program  of interest and notify your prospective supervisor of your intention to apply as a Visiting Student Researcher.

Begin your Visiting Graduate Studies application

• Create an eID  to log in and begin your  online application . 
• Mar. 1 for Spring session (May to Jun.)
• May 1 for Summer session (Jul. to Aug.)
• Jul. 1 for Fall session (Sep. to Dec.)
• Nov. 1 for Winter session (Jan. to Apr.)
• $125 for Canadian or Permanent residents

Exchange students and visiting course-based students

Apply as an exchange or course-based visiting student if you are a graduate student from another institution interested in taking UCalgary courses for credit towards your degree. 

Check to see if your institution has an exchange agreement with UCalgary

• Please search here to see if your home institution has an active exchange agreement with the University of Calgary.

If your home institution has an active exchange agreement with UCalgary:

• Contact [email protected] to express your interest in coming to the University of Calgary as an exchange student and for next steps on how to apply.
• Contact  [email protected]  if you are interested in applying to the Haskayne MBA International Summer Program.
• Western Dean’s Agreement students apply by completing the  WDA Authorization and Course Registration form and submitting it to  [email protected]  at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the course.

If your home institution does NOT have an active exchange agreement with UCalgary:

• Apply as a course-based Visiting Student.
• Create an eID to log in and begin your online application. Once you begin, remember to click 'Save & Continue' often to ensure your application is saved.
• May 1 for Summer session (Jul. to Aug.)
• Jul. 1 for Fall session (Sep. to Dec.)
• Nov. 1 for Winter session (Jan. to Apr.)

​For current University of Calgary graduate students who would like to attend another institution as an exchange student, go here .

Joint thesis-based graduate students

Joint thesis-based graduate students study and perform research at the University of Calgary and one other institution. The University of Calgary may be either the home or collaborating institution. Joint thesis-based graduate students must have a supervisor at each institution, and spend a minimum of 6 months for PhD programs and 4 months for thesis-based Masters programs, physically at the collaborating institution. Joint thesis-based graduate students will graduate from their home institution and the degree parchment will include the name of the collaborating institution.

Students interested in applying to a joint degree program:

Admission and enrolling

• Students enrolling in a joint degree program must first be accepted to a thesis-based program at their home institution. They must also meet the admission requirements of the collaborating institution and be recommended for the joint degree by their program at their home institution. 

Find a supervisor

• Working with your supervisor at your home institution, find a supervisor from your collaborating graduate program of interest.

Arrange a joint degree agreement

• If your home institution does not already have a joint agreement with the collaborating university, work with your faculty to initiate one.

Interdisciplinary students

Interdisciplinary degrees allow you to pursue thesis-based research (master's, PhD) in a research area that does not fit within a single graduate program.

Apply in writing

• Email the home program and copy to the conjoint program. This can be done prior to admission​.

Find two supervisors

• You will need a supervisor in the proposed home program and a co-supervisor in the conjoint program.

Apply for admission (see steps for regular students)

Pay your application fee:

Additional requirements

• Provide an abstract of your research proposal and rationale for interdisciplinary work.

For application details, see Interdisciplinary Degree Regulations

Interested in completing two graduate credentials at the same time? Learn about concurrent registration

Required documents

Please note: required documents vary from one program to another. Your program may not require all of the documents listed below, or may require one or more documents not listed here. Please check your program requirements for a complete list of relevant documents.

Unofficial transcripts  

All transcripts uploaded by the applicant are considered “unofficial transcripts”.

Once your application has been submitted, you will be required to go to your online Student Centre and upload transcripts from each of the post-secondary institutions you have attended. If your transcript is in a language other than English, also upload an English translation completed by a Certified Translator.

International students are required to include provisional and degree certificates/diplomas (where applicable/available) along with your transcripts.

Transcript file(s), including English translations and/or degree certificates (if applicable), must be amalgamated into one PDF file per institution , and clearly outline the following:

• institution grading scale
• course weight (units/credits)

Official transcripts

Unless your program instructs otherwise, please do not request official transcripts from the post-secondary institutions you have attended at the time of application. If your application is successful, final official transcripts will be requested with your offer of admission.  

After you have received an offer of admission:  

Official transcripts must be sent directly from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (even if you did not graduate) to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. 

Transcripts can be sent by email to  [email protected]  or by mail to the following address:  

Faculty of Graduate Studies  MacKimmie Tower, Second Floor  2500 University Drive NW  Calgary, Alberta, Canada   T2N 1N4 

Please note that email transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution's transcript office ( see related FAQ ). Hard copy transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the issuing institution.  Learn more about transcripts .

Self-Calculated GPA

Some programs require that applicants calculate their grade point average for a previous degree. Learn more about how to complete this calculation .

Curriculum vitae

Some master’s and doctoral programs require a current version of your curriculum vitae.

Reference letters

Contact your referees and ask if they would provide a letter in support of your application. It is customary to give them at least one month’s notice.

How to find good references

Study proposal

A study proposal provides a clear description of the research or study area that you would like to pursue. Many successful applicants take approximately one month to research and write the proposal.

How to write a study proposal

Writing sample

Some graduate programs require a writing sample. A sample must be something you have written yourself, independently in an undergraduate or graduate class.

English Language Proficiency tests

Applicants whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement for academic purposes by taking English Language Proficiency (ELP) exams. ELP scores must be received directly from the test score agency. We are unable to accept test results sent directly from applicants as official documents.

For information on how to share your score to University of Calgary, please see the following links:

• The University of Calgary institution code is 139719
• The University of Calgary institution code is 0813, and include the code appropriate to the graduate program, as listed on the TOEFL website.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
• Duolingo English Test

Standardized tests (GMAT, GRE, etc.)

Check your program requirements to know which tests you will need to take and the minimum score required to be considered for admission. The time to schedule and successfully complete these tests varies, and so you will need to plan accordingly.

Document translation

If your original documents are not in English, you must request a second set of documents to be given to a translator for a notarized word-for-word English translation. Send the translated copy to your graduate program in addition to your official documents.

Program documents

After you submit your online application, you will receive an email with your UCID number and instructions on how to access your Student Centre, where you will find a to-do list for providing program-specific supporting documents.

How to upload supporting documents

How to view your application status

To avoid delayed processing times please refrain from sending application documents before submitting your application.

You are an international student if you do not hold Permanent Residency or Citizenship in Canada.

The application steps are the same as for domestic students (see above), but you will need to provide your immigration status. For all incoming international students, please indicate that you will be on a study permit. If you are not already inside of Canada on a valid study permit, please still indicate study permit and leave the information blank. You must first be admitted to UCalgary before being able to apply for a study permit, or an extension of your current permit. For information on applying for immigration after you have received your admission offer, please contact [email protected] .

Indigenous students

Please declare your Indigenous identity on the online application form (see regular student steps above). Self-identifying on your application helps us tell you about programs, services, and scholarships for Indigenous students.

Go to our Indigenous graduate students page to get more information and to contact us.

Start your online application

Begin the path to your next degree

After you apply

After submitting your online application, you will be notified by the program via email if you are required to provide any additional program-specific documents.

Apply for scholarships and awards

You are encouraged to apply for awards when you have submitted your admissions application and received your University of Calgary student number (UCID). You are not required to meet the eligibility requirements in the terms of reference of an award when you apply, but if successful, you must meet the eligibility requirements at the time the award is paid.

Apply for residence

The university offers residences for graduate students who are living alone or who require family housing.

Learn about living in residence

Changes to your application

Once you have submitted the online application, it cannot be updated. If your circumstances have changed, please notify your program directly.

Check your status

To check the status of your sent documents or application, log in to your Student Centre. Allow 3-5 business days for changes to be posted.

MyUCalgary login

Have more questions about graduate studies? Contact us.

Ready for graduate studies at UCalgary? Explore programs

A.5.1.3 Early Admission Process for Current High School Students

The early admission process considers current high school students who present a competitive admission average calculated on four approved courses. The average will be calculated on grades from 20-level courses (or equivalent). If grades for 30-level (or equivalent) courses are available, they will be used to calculate the average.

Admitted students must complete all 30-level (or equivalent) course requirements outlined in A.5.1.1 , maintain the admission average required for admission in the year of application and obtain their Alberta Grade 12 Graduation (or equivalent).

Equivalent courses will be used for courses completed outside the province of Alberta. For information on course equivalencies visit: live-ucalgary.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/requirements .

Approved Courses

The following is a list of approved Alberta high school courses. For information on equivalent courses visit live-ucalgary.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/requirements .

Aboriginal Studies 20 (5 credits)

Chemistry 20

CTS Computing Science 20 level (5 credits)

Fine Arts courses: Unless stated above, one Fine Arts course may be used for admission to a non-Fine Arts program (Art 20 or 21, Choral Music 20, General Music 20, Instrumental Music 20, Drama 20, Dance 25)

Language or Language and Culture Courses at the 20 level

Mathematics 20-1

Mathematics 20-2

Physical Education 20

Social Studies 20-1

Any two of the following 3- or 4-credit courses may be combined to fulfil one approved course:

Political Thinking 20

Comparative Government 20

Religious Ethics 20

Religious Meanings 20

Local and Canadian Geography 20

Personal Psychology 20

General Psychology 20

General Sociology 20

Sociological Institutions 20

Origins of Western Philosophy 20

Contemporary Western Philosophy 20

Western Canadian History 20

Canadian History 20

Economics for Consumers 20

A.5.1.1 Admission Requirements A.5.1.2 Standard Admission Process for Current High School Students A.5.1.3 Early Admission Process for Current High School Students

Back to A.5.1 Canadian High School Students

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Aug. 17, 2018

Writing for Admission

Each year, high school seniors in the U.S. thinking of attending post-secondary institutions submit admissions essays as part of their application process. For many, this high-stakes assignment might make the difference between being admitted to their school of choice, or not.

Admissions essays typically involve writing about personal experience, describing past challenges, accomplishments, or events that sparked personal growth. However, rather than simply presenting stories, there is an implicit expectation that students use these life events to make a case for themselves and demonstrate their potential to succeed in their studies.

Unlike writing essays for their teachers in high school, these essays also present numerous unknowns and a new context for their writing which these students may not be prepared to face. Despite its importance, students may or may not receive adequate assistance or instruction from teachers, counselors, or other support programs as they prepare their applications. Societal and economic disparities may also privilege or hinder different students as they seek to display their college readiness to their potential alma mater.

Conceptualizing… 

Working with 51 grade 12 students, Dr.  Maren Aukerman , along with the University of Minnesota’s Dr. Richard Beach, sought to understand how students conceptualize their admissions essays – such as the task, audience, and themselves as writers – and how they aimed to achieve their goals for their work. The study highlighted the variations in how students thought about their writing across three themes.

In their essays, students hoped to portray positive aspects of their identity that they thought would be associated with success in post-secondary learning. Students sought to present a unique account of their skills and traits – such as being disciplined, determined, curious, or passionate – which may help them cope with adversity.

However, some students struggled to find ways to make themselves stand out – particularly in selecting the right moment in their lives to portray. Others did not know how certain traits could help them be seen as a good fit for their school of choice, focusing on storytelling rather than forming an argument related to their past experience.

Since applicants have little information about the people reading their essays, and the expectations that they might hold, the students varied considerably in how they pictured them. Many students saw their audience simply as looking for ‘good’ writing, relying on general writing features (e.g. organization, sophisticated language, clarity) rather than specific techniques or goals within their work. Nearly a quarter of the students were not thinking about their audience at all, focusing on making the account true to themselves and hoping it would be relatable.

Students expressed the difficult position of disclosing personal and sometimes sensitive stories to their unknown reader, in a way that could meet the ambiguous standards of their audience. Even those who saw themselves as skilled essay writers found sharing emotional moments to be challenging.

Students’ writing self-efficacy, or their belief in themselves, varied when asked about whether or not they thought they would be believed by their reader. Some students focused on their honest recounts and the authenticity of their writing, hoping this would sway admissions personnel, while others emphasized their writing quality. Self-efficacy is important to success as it may influence some students to underperform, limit their efforts, or disengage from the task.

Interestingly, those students who highlighted the importance of writing skill were less confident than those who focused on telling an important story. Yet, despite their higher sense of self-efficacy, students who highlighted honesty may have been less likely to have addressed what matters to college admissions officers, according to past research.

College-Worthy Writers

The insights from this study indicate that there are ways that teachers can better support students in tackling their admissions essays. Because these essays serve as a gatekeeping tool to post-secondary education, helping all students to succeed is key.

There is a need to listen to students’ voices, particularly as the task was not seen as straightforward or inviting. From a social justice perspective, addressing class differences and seeing students who may have different understandings of the college essay genre still as college-worthy writers can help those who may be discouraged by the current process to achieve their post-secondary goals.

For Teachers

Teachers looking to better prepare students for writing admissions essays might consider addressing the various facets of the tasks, such as:

• Making the need for a narrative argument explicit may help students see the importance of the genre in their writing
• Teachers can also provide examples of effective argumentative writing and help students to analyze and connect these ideas in their own writing
• Use role play in which students position themselves as admissions officers deciding among several sample essays to consider their thinking processes
• Bring admissions office personnel in to share how they make admissions decisions to demystify the process
• Help students identify their existing strengths and areas for improvement through teacher feedback
• Incorporate an admissions essay task into classroom content that students can use in applying for post-secondary entrance
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Fall 2024 | ENGL 436.04 Fiction: Long Short Stories and the Novella

Instructor: Suzette Mayr

Application Requirements:

To be considered for a place in this course, students must email an application form to [email protected]   by July 1, 2024

IMPORTANT:  Please include "ENGL 436.04 Application Portfolio" in the subject line of the email

BLOCK WEEK | Fall 2024 | ENGL 436.05 Popular Genre Writing

Instructor: Amy LeBlanc

To be considered for a place in this course, please email [email protected]  

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Instructor: Clara A.B. Joseph 

To be considered for a place in this course, students must email an application form to  [email protected]   by July 1, 2024

IMPORTANT:  Please include "ENGL 595.04 Application Portfolio" in the subject line of the email

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Instructor: Anna Veprinska 

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Tips for creating a portfolio

In addition to reading carefully the specific details concerning portfolio submissions for individual courses, you should keep in mind the following general advice:

Try to demonstrate as wide a range of your writing abilities as possible. 

• For instance, in fiction a range of narrative possibilities (even if they are fragments) will demonstrate your abilities (a good descriptive scene, a good action scene, a good scene that employs dialogue) better than one or two “complete” short stories that might fail. 
• With poetry, instead of submitting a portfolio of 20 rhymed-stanza “hurtin’” poems about a love relationship you had that turned sour, include poems on other subjects and in other formats. Variety in the form and content of your submission alerts the instructor to the breadth and depth of your engagement with writing to date.

Your acceptance into the class (or not) is not necessarily an absolute judgment of your writing ability at this point. 

• We receive many more portfolios than there are places in Creative Writing classes, and if you do not get into one class, you may get into another in another year, or you may gain admission to a class in another genre. 
• If you are not accepted, please don’t be discouraged. Just keep writing (sign up for a  Continuing Education  Creative Writing class, if you can) and try again.

The questions asked on portfolio submission forms regarding your background (previous writing courses taken, which recent literary titles you have read, etc.) have no right or wrong answers. 

• They are intended to give the instructor a sense of what level of previous writing or reading experience the members of the class possess. This is useful information for the instructor in fine-tuning their course curriculum. 

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Admissions to the JD program are highly competitive. Interviews are not held for the program, admissions are based only on submitted materials. Deferrals are rarely available, generally only considered extraordinary circumstances. 

Average GPA of 3.70

in the first year class

LSAT Scores in the 84th percentile

at an average of 164

Average applicant age of 26 years old

Range of early 20s to mid 50s

On this page

• Complete applications
• Assessment process
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• Applicant responsibilities
• LSAT & GPA
• JD admissions statistics (5-year)
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Complete Applications

Your application will not be assessed until all of your supporting documents have been received. It is your responsibility to ensure your application is complete, which you can check in your Student Centre.

A form of rolling admissions is used, which means that some decisions are sent out before all the files have been read . Applications will start to be assessed as they become complete .  This is one reason to have your application submitted and supporting documents in as early as possible.

Due to the nature of the assessment process, there is no typical timeframe in which you will receive a decision after your application becomes complete. You may receive a decision very quickly, or you might receive a decision later in the admission cycle.

All applicants will receive an offer, regrets, or waitlist notification through your My UCalgary Student Centre no later than the end of June. Most applications become complete between January and March.

If you are a current student when you apply, you must wait until January before uploading the unofficial transcript for your current school. Uploading it earlier may result in a delay in assessment, since we cannot assess an application with an incomplete transcript.

Assessment Process

Your application will be grouped with other applications that have similar statistical profiles for assessment. See below for more information about the LSAT and GPA.

The process for reviewing your application depends on your statistical profile. Your application will be reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee. You will receive either an offer, regrets, or waitlist notification based on the score given to your application as a result of the review process.

In any given year, the Admissions Committee may impose a minimum requirement for LSAT scores or GPA for applications to be considered further.

Admission Factors

When we assess your application, we will be looking for evidence that you are ready to succeed academically in law school and positively contribute to your community. To do this, we use a very comprehensive assessment process.

All aspects of the application will be taken into consideration, and  there is no specific weighting assigned to any of the factors.  Your work experience, non-academic pursuits such as community involvement, extra-curricular activities, lived experience, and Statement of Purpose and Perspective are considered very important.

UCalgary Law encourages applications from persons who have been in the work force after university, or who have come to university after their work experience.

We admit a maximum of 130 students to our first-year class. We receive more applications from qualified applicants than we can admit in any given application cycle.  While a strength in one or more areas of the application may help overcome a relative weakness in another, you should be realistic about your chances and be familiar with the average statistics from previous admission cycles, as seen below.

Applicant Responsibilities

Members of the Admissions Committee rely on the information provided in your application and all supporting documentation to assess the merits of your application. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that the autobiographical information they provide is truthful, complete and correct.

Withholding material information that could reasonably be expected to be relevant to the deliberations of the Admissions Committee or submitting information that is determined to be false, misleading, written by someone else, or written with the use of generative artificial intelligence technology may result in consequences up to and including revocation of an offer of admission or registration from the law school.

The Law Society of Alberta requires a Student-at-Law (a person who has  already   completed law   school  and has applied to be a student-at-law with the Society) to be of good character and reputation and to provide a police/check criminal record check upon applying to be a Student-at-Law. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with the Law Society of the province in which they intend to practice law with respect to any questions or concerns regarding these requirements at the time they are applying to the law school.

Test Scores and Grades

If you have written the LSAT more than once, we will use your highest score to group your file statistically; however, all your scores from the past 5 years, your average score, and the number of times you have written the LSAT will be considered when reviewing your application.

We highly recommend that you prepare for the LSAT in advance and write the LSAT as few times as possible.

GPA will be based on a minimum of the last 60 units (credits) of your undergraduate and/or graduate studies, up to December 31 of the year you submit your application. When assessing your application, the Admissions Committee will also consider your entire academic performance, in both undergraduate and graduate programs as applicable.

Except for undergraduate and graduate work completed in the US, GPAs will not be calculated for international degrees; grades will instead be viewed solely on your transcript.

The Admissions office will not fulfill requests to calculate and/or confirm your GPA under any circumstances.

JD Admissions Statistics

A five-year comparison of admission statistics.

Self-Assessment of Unsuccessful Applications

The Admissions Office is unable to provide individual feedback for candidates who received regrets. This year we received more than 1,400 applications for 130 seats in the first-year class. Unfortunately, many strong applicants received regrets. We have provided some common reasons below to provide insight into possible factors regarding why you did not receive an offer of admission, as well as provide guidance to improving your application should you choose to re-apply.

The average GPA for this intake cycle was 3.72 on the 4.0 scale.

• See how we calculate GPA
• Does your GPA demonstrate a positive academic trajectory (i.e., it has improved year over year)? If not, did you provide any insight in your application as to why?
• Are there any unexplained gaps or patterns of poor performance in your academic record that you failed to explain in the Special Facts section of the application?

The average LSAT score for this intake cycle was approximately the 85 th percentile, or 164.

• Was your LSAT score significantly below this average? If so, you may want to rewrite the LSAT for a better score prior to reapplying.
• Did you write the LSAT multiple times? If so, did you provide some insight into why that was necessary?
• Did your LSAT score go down? If so, did you provide some insight in your application as to why?
• Some free LSAT resources to consider if you plan to rewrite the LSAT for a better score:

https://www.khanacademy.org/prep/lsat

https://www.lsac.org/sites/default/files/media/2020-2021-lsac-canadian-fee-waiver-instructionsapplication_accessible.pdf

UCalgary Law provides a free LSAT Prep Program every spring/summer for low income applicants. The applications will open mid-February for spring of 2024.

Degree Completion

The minimum academic prerequisite for law school is the completion of 60 credits (typically 2 years of full time study) towards a bachelor's degree, however, it is rare (less than 2%) that an applicant is admitted without completing their full bachelor's degree prior to the start of law school. Typically, those within this 2% are mature applicants with strong career and lived experience. 

Work Experience

Did you include work experience in your application?

If no, or you have less than 2 years of work experience, this may have been a factor.

If yes, did you emphasize in your application how your work experience is relevant to your application? Examples include, but are not limited to, lengthy career, relevant experience, strong work ethic, and working while in school to support yourself and others, leadership opportunities, growth opportunities.

Please note we are not looking for a specific kind of work experience, but we are looking for how that work experience has prepared you for law school, contributed to your interest in law school, or the unique contributions your work experience might make to the legal community.

Community Service/Extra Curricular Activities

Did you include any community involvement or extra curricular activities in your application?

If no, did you explain any extenuating circumstances in the Special Facts section, i.e., need to work while in school, significant family obligations, economic or other barriers to participation, illness, etc.

If yes, please know that we are not looking for specific experience or involvement in particular activities, including law related activities. We are looking to see what your interests and involvement in your community are outside of academics, and how those personal interests and experiences have prepared you for, and contributed to, your interest in law school, and the unique contributions you might make to the legal community.

Special Facts Related to Diversity, Equity and Lived Experience

This section allows all applicants to provide additional information about themselves that provides context and perspective to their application with respect to diversity, equity and lived experience. It is a difficult thing to provide any general feedback on the contents of this section as it is a highly individual part of the application.  

If you chose to use this optional section, did you use it appropriately for providing context and perspective regarding the contents of your application, or did you treat it as additional space to use as an extension of your Statement of Interest?  

Statement of Interest

• Did you answer all three questions posed?
• Was the Statement of Interest well-written?
• Were there typos or grammatical errors?
• Did you explain why you were interested in attending UCalgary Law specifically or was your Statement generic enough that it could have been provided to multiple institutions?  

Timing of Application Going Complete

Given the high number of applications received this year and the fact that we assess applicants on a rolling basis (when a file becomes complete) you may have missed out on an offer by writing the last available LSAT in January, or failing to providing your LSAT writing sample or transcripts on a timely basis. If any of these supplemental materials were left until the deadline, it may have been a factor in our ability to extend an offer.

We hope the above checklist is helpful to you. It is not intended to be exhaustive and it cannot take into account individual strengths and weaknesses that are noted in an application during assessment. It is intended to cover some of the common reasons why an application may have been denied.

Re: Essay Requirement-YES everyone needs to write an essay

Dear applicants, For the 500 plus applicants who have completed/submitted their application, congratulations on getting this phase behind you. As is outlined in the applicant manual and in the correspondence sent out from th eoffice yesterday, every applicant needs to write and essay; either the general applicant essay, the BAAP essay, the Indigenous essay, or the rural remote essay. Even if you are applying through one of the pathways you may choose to write the general essay. Although we don’t formally score the essays, applications without an essay will be considered incomplete. Remo

Author: Remo Panaccione

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How to apply to the Haskayne Master of Management program 

Applications are now open!

Ready to apply let's get started., important dates to remember.

Classes start each Fall. Applications for the Haskayne Master of Management program are considered on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Plus, earlier applications have access to more scholarship funds!

Applications open

Application deadline for international applicants

Application deadline for Canadian Citizens and permanent residents

Admissions requirements

Start by reviewing the requirements you need in order to apply. 

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission an applicant must fulfill the following criteria:

• Completion of a four-year  non-business  bachelor’s degree.

A  minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0  calculated over the last 60 units of university-level courses at the time of application (GMAT not required).

Students with an GPA between 2.70 and 3.0 may be considered for admission based on a combination of GPA and an acceptable GMAT score. Admission is based on the following equivalent achievement score: [(GPA x 200) + GMAT] >/= 1150*.

• For information on international GPA equivalents, visit the  Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Work experience

Less than three years of full-time employment since the completion of your undergraduate degree.

• Please submit your résumé.
• Note: this program is designed for recent graduates with little work experience.

English proficiency

English language proficiency is critical for success in the Master of Management program. This is a fast-paced program in which all participants must be able to effectively learn and communicate in English.

Applicants for whom English is not a first language must achieve either:

• A score of 97 or higher on the internet version of the TOEFL; OR
• A score of 7.0 or higher on the academic version of the IELTS.

Students will be asked to answer two short essay questions touching on their motivation for pursuing the Master of Management and the key skills learned in their undergraduate degree that will benefit them during the program. Responses are limited to 250 words per question.

You may be invited to complete an interview as part of the admission process. You will be notified by Haskayne’s Graduate Admissions Office if an interview is necessary after we receive and initially review your application.

Over $250,000 in scholarships available

How to apply

1. start your application.

Step 1: Create an eID and password

Create an eID and password to access your application form and later your student account.

If you previously studied at the University of Calgary, please use your past UCID. If you have forgotten your UCID, the application system will allow you to retrieve it.

Step 2: Fill out your online application

All you need to fill out your application form is some personal information and school dates of attendance. 

Create and resume your application in the link below.

Step 3: Pay the application fee and click submit

To process your application, a non-refundable application fee is required.

The application fee is $125 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and $145 for international applicants. The application fee can be paid via cheque, money order or credit card.

2. Access your Student Centre

Once your application form is complete and application fee is received, an automated email from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies will be sent to you within two days. The email includes instructions on how to access your Student Centre and who to contact if you have any questions.

Note: Your Student Centre is the portal through which you will submit your supporting documents, as well as be able to check the status of your application.

3. Submit your supporting documents

Step 1: Request official transcripts

• Please note: transcripts for the University of Calgary do not need to be submitted as they are on file.  
• Transcripts should be sent directly from the Registrar’s Office of your institution/s to the Haskayne School of Business. Official transcripts will be sealed in an envelope with the institution’s official seal.
• If the transcripts are in a language other than English, official translated copies are also required.
• Address to:

                   Haskayne Graduate Admissions                    Haskayne School of Business                    2500 University Drive NW                    Calgary AB T2N 1N4

• Alternatively, the Registrar’s Office of your post-secondary institution/s can email transcripts to UCalgary’s Faculty of Graduate Studies at [email protected] .
• Official email transcripts need to be sent by the transcript office(s) of the institution(s) that you attended. The name of the transcript office varies between institutions, but common examples include the Registrar’s Office, Controller of Examinations, Student Records, or Admissions Office. Email transcripts sent by individual faculty members, non-registrarial staff, or students cannot be accepted as official.
• Note: Please plan ahead, transcripts can take two months or more to be received. International applicants may need even longer.

Step 2: Submit supporting documents

a. Three of your supporting documents need to be submitted online through your Student Centre:

• Unofficial transcripts

b. Request your test scores and English language proficiency results (if required). These result must be sent officially through the test provider to Haskayne.

• GMAT or GRE official score report (if required)
• TOEFL / IELTS or other acceptable test of English language proficiency (if required)

4. Complete your admission interview (if required)

You may be invited to complete an interview as part of the admission process. You will be notified by Haskayne’s Graduate Admissions Office if an interview is necessary after we receive and initially review your application. Interviews for the Master of Management program are conducted virtually.

5. Your application is complete – What happens next?

You’ve completed the application form, paid your application deposit, submitted all your supporting documents and completed your interview (if required). What happens now?

At this point your application is considered complete. It will be reviewed by the admission committee for a decision on your admission to the program.

a. If you are admitted - congrats you’re in!

Next you will receive an offer of admission via e-mail. Please review this offer carefully as it outlines:

• Instructions on how to accept your offer of admission
• Pay your non-refundable program deposit. Please note: your deposit must be paid in order to confirm your spot in the program
• Critical deadlines
• Conditions of your admission (if applicable)
• Scholarship nominations (if applicable)

Please note: each applicant is considered for Haskayne awards and scholarships at the time of application. No separate application is required. Scholarship nominations are made on the basis of academic merit, which looks at GPA and GMAT score. If you have been nominated for a scholarship it will appear in your Offer of Admission.

b. If you are declined  – you will receive notice that your application has been declined admission to the program.

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Assistant Dean of MD Admissions | Dr. Remo Panaccione

Welcome Future Students

Dr. Panaccione is currently a Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at the University of Calgary and Director of Gastroenterology Research.

Dr. Panaccione graduated from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario) with a degree in Medicine in 1993.  He went on to complete his Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology training at the University of Western Ontario and is certified as a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Dr. Panaccione completed advanced training in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  He joined the faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary in 1999. He is an internationally recognized expert in inflammatory bowel disease and has received the highest honour awarded by Crohn’s Colitis Canada-the Finkelstein award for his contributions to the field

 He is the author of many peer-reviewed articles (~200) and book chapters (25) on inflammatory bowel disease including publications in the NEJM, Lancet, and Nature. His other interest is medical education.  He has been recognized as a gold star lecturer, gold star small groups leader, and gold star clinical preceptor by the University of Calgary Medical School.  He has been selected as the top post-graduate teacher in Gastroenterology by the gastroenterology residents three times

Outside of medicine, he enjoys time with his family and their passion for soccer.  He has coached youth soccer at the highest level, winning five provincial championships, two national silver medals, and two national bronze medals with many of his mentored athletes going on to receive scholarships across Canada and the United States. For his community contributions, he has been recognized by the Rotary Club International with The Paul Harris Award.

Download the 2024-2025 Applicant Manual

UCAN Application

Admissions blog, important mcat information:.

• Those applicants intending to apply to the Cumming School of Medicine MD Program in 2015 or later should be aware that only the “new” MCAT will be accepted.
• The last MCAT exam sitting we will accept for the 2024 application cycle will be August 30, 2024.

Information for the Class of 2028

• The MD Program will commence with mandatory Orientation on July 2, 2025
• Application deadline for the 2024-2025 cycle is October 1, 2024.

MD Admissions Assistant Dean’s Overview

Dr. Panaccione’s information session for the 2024-2025 cycle may be viewed here using password G8y!2PML Click here for the Zoom Link

In the Faculty’s response to rural social accountability, the program provides teaching at several regional centres such as Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Yellowknife and rural sites such as Brooks, High Level and Pincher Creek. All students should expect to do from 8-16 weeks of their clinical experience (pre-clerkship and clerkship) outside the city of Calgary except in unusual circumstances. The UCLIC provides a further option for a longer rural training experience.

Pathways to Medicine

The Pathways to Medicine Scholarship program is designed for graduating high school students with an explicit interest in pursuing a career in medicine. The program will provide financial support to assist with tuition and fees (four years, undergraduate program), a relocation allowance and a paid summer internship after the third year, along with support and mentorship from faculty, students and the community.

The Indigenous Health Program is committed to supporting Indigenous learners and confronting issues faced by Indigenous people in the healthcare system. The program’s services and initiatives seek to address the under-representation of Indigenous people within the profession of medicine and promote health service quality improvements for all Indigenous people through professional education.

On June 15, 2020, the Calgary Black Medical Students’ Association (BMSA) released its  Calls to Action  to address institutionalized racism in medical education and health care. In response to one of the Calls to Action — increase diversity in student body and admissions committee — the Cumming School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Calgary BMSA, has established an optional Black Applicant Admissions Process for those who apply to our Undergraduate Medical Education program.

Contact Information

Office of MD Admissions    Room G212 - Health Sciences Centre    University of Calgary    Cumming School of Medicine   3330 Hospital Drive NW    Calgary AB T2N 4N1

Office Hours: Monday to Friday    8:30 - 4:30 pm

Email: [email protected]   Tel: 403-220-4262    Fax: 403-210-8148

Office of MD Admissions

Location and mailing address.

Room G212 - Health Sciences Centre    University of Calgary    Cumming School of Medicine   3330 Hospital Drive NW    Calgary AB T2N 4N1

Office Hours

Monday to Friday    8:30 - 4:30 pm

Email:  [email protected]    Tel: 403-220-4262    Fax: 403-210-8148

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Indigenous Admissions

Oki, aba wathtwch, danit’ada, tawnshi, tansi, hello.

UCalgary is committed to recruiting and supporting Indigenous students in our post-secondary programs. Admission pathways offer a supplementary admissions review process and bridging programs for Indigenous applicants. These admission pathways enable faculty-specific commitments to increase access for Indigenous learners.  

Admission pathways for Indigenous learners

If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) on your application, you’re eligible for additional supports and resources. This includes personalized support with the application process, notification about social and cultural events, consideration for Indigenous-specific financial awards, and evaluation under all Indigenous admission pathways, if needed.  

Indigenous applicants may be considered through the following admission routes: 

• General admission 
• Indigenous Admission Process (IAP) 
• Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process (IASP) 
• Faculty-specific bridging programs 
• Indigenous Student Access Program (ISAP) 

General Admission

All students are initially evaluated under our general admission process. See the courses required for each program as well as an estimated competitive admission average by selecting a program from our   Explore Program page .    

High school applicants Each program has five courses required for admission. These are used to calculate your admission average.   

Transfer students (students who have completed 12 or more academic post-secondary units) You’ll be considered for admission using a GPA calculated on your post-secondary coursework.   

Mature students (students who are 21 or older, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee and have completed fewer than 12 academic post-secondary units) You’ll be required to present fewer required courses for some programs.  

Indigenous Admission Process (IAP)

If you meet the course requirements for your desired program but are below the competitive admission average, we’ll automatically consider you under the Indigenous Admission Process (IAP) with a lower admission average.

• If you're within 10% of the high school competitive admission average or within 0.7 GPA of the competitive transfer average, you may be automatically admitted (average is program-dependent).
• To be admitted through IAP, a 70% admission average (high school and mature applicants) or 2.00 GPA (transfer students) is required.  
• If you’re admitted through IAP, you’ll be required to submit documentation that confirms Indigenous citizenship and/or membership before you’ll be able to register in classes.   

Note: Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Social Work programs consider Indigenous citizenship/membership as part of their supplementary review process, so they don’t specifically consider students under the Indigenous Admission Process.   

Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process (IASP)

If you can’t be admitted to your desired program through the Indigenous Admissions Process due to a less competitive admission average or missing required courses, we’ll consider you through the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process (IASP).   

If you have all the required courses , you can be admitted directly to the degree program. 

To be considered under this pathway, you must submit:

• A personal statement along with faculty-specific supplemental requirements The personal statement can be submitted in the method of your choosing. This means you can record a video or audio message, submit a letter or essay, or you can complete the  Personal Statement form . Regardless of the method, we encourage you to include information that will demonstrate you’ll be successful in the program you’ve selected.  
• Documentation that confirms Indigenous citizenship and/or membership

Your application will then be reviewed by a faculty-specific admission committee.

Note: Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Social Work programs consider Indigenous citizenship/membership as part of their supplementary review process, so they don’t specifically consider students under the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process.     

Bridging Programs

If you don’t have the required 30-level courses for your desired program, we’ll consider you for a bridging program if the faculty has a bridging program. Bridging programs offer foundation courses designed to teach you needed high school content, along with first-year university content that can be used toward your degree.     Students in the Bridging programs can also take first-year courses to be used toward your degree. You’ll progress directly to the degree program after successful completion of foundation courses. Faculty specific bridging programs are individualized to each student. 

• A personal statement along with faculty-specific supplemental requirements   The personal statement can be submitted in the method of your choosing. This means you can record a video or audio message, submit a letter or essay, or you can complete the  Personal Statement form . Regardless of the method, we encourage you to include information that will demonstrate you’ll be successful in the program you’ve selected.  

Faculty-specific Indigenous bridging programs are available in these faculties: 

• Arts Indigenous Bridging Program (not available for Bachelor of Science in Psychology)  
• Architecture, Planning and Landscape Indigenous Bridging Program  

Haskayne Indigenous Bridging Program 

• Science Indigenous Bridging Program   (not available for Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience)  

Schulich Indigenous Bridging Program 

Faculty-specific bridging programs are available in these faculties:.

• Werklund School of Education Bridging Program

Indigenous Student Access Program (ISAP)

The  Indigenous Student Access Program (ISAP)  is a one-year program that provides an alternate access route for eligible Indigenous students. This admission pathway is available for students looking to apply directly to ISAP or to students who may not meet the admission requirements of their desired faculty program. ISAP students take courses through open studies and can complete upgrading or university courses to support an application to their desired undergraduate program in future years.  

Want to be an ISAP student?   Applications are open from Dec. 1 to July 31 . Due to the cohort nature of this program, students will be admitted only in the fall term.  

Supporting Documents

Indigenous citizenship and/or Membership Supporting Documents If you self-identify as Indigenous on your initial application, you'll automatically be asked to submit documentation to verify your Indigenous citizenship and/or membership. This documentation will be required if you’re admitted through the Indigenous Admission Process or if you’d like to be considered through the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process. We encourage you to submit early to ensure that the process is not delayed.

First Nations/Status

• Status card issued by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC ). Older status cards may still be used, but if the “valid to” date has passed, students are encouraged to order a new card. 
• Letter from a government-registered First Nations community verifying the student is a member of that First Nation. 

First Nations/Non-Status

To be reviewed by the University of Calgary Pilot Committee on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership.  

• a member Nation of Métis National Council of Canada, including: Métis Nation British Columbia, The Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, or Métis Nation of Ontario 
• The Manitoba Métis Federation 
• The Northwest Territory Métis Nation 
• Letter or membership card from one of the member Nations of the Métis Settlements General Council including Buffalo Lake, East Prairie, Elizabeth Lake, Fishing Lake, Gift Lake, Kikino, Paddle Prairie, and Peavine. 
• Documentation of membership from other Métis communities to be reviewed by the University of Calgary Pilot Committee on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership.  
• Inuit beneficiary card or letter from Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik, Makivik Corporation or Nunatsiavut in Labrador or from Indigenous Services Canada 
• Inuit beneficiary cards issued through Nunavut Trust. 
• Documentation of membership from other Inuit communities to be reviewed by the University of Calgary Pilot Committee on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership. 

You’re encouraged to contact UCalgary's Indigenous Recruitment Team for support and advice regarding documentation.

Faculties with Indigenous Bridging Programs:

Arts indigenous bridging program .

(not available for Bachelor of Science in Psychology)  

Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Studies

Required courses:  

• English Language Arts 30-1, English Language Arts 30-2, English Language Arts 20-1 or English Language Arts 20-2 
• Two approved courses at the 30 or 20 level 

Supplemental requirements:  

• BMus: submission of program specific questions, audition and successful completion of RCM Level 8 Theory or the departmental music theory diagnostic exam 
• Dance: statement of interest and audition 
• Visual Studies: portfolio 

Geography (BA, BSc), Psychology (BA), Economics

Required courses:

• Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 20-1 or Mathematics 20-2 
• One approved course at the 30 or 20 level 

All other programs*

*The BSc in Psychology does not offer a faculty-specific bridging program.  

Learn more about the Arts program

Architecture, Planning and Landscape Indigenous Bridging Program 

Bachelor of design in city innovation.

• English Language Arts 30-1, English Language Arts 30-2, English Language Arts 20-1, or English Language Arts 20-2 
• Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2, Mathematics 20-1, or Mathematics 20-2 
• One of: Biology 30, Biology 20, Chemistry 30, Chemistry 20, Physics 30, Physics 20 

Learn more about the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape's Pathway program

Bachelor of Commerce

Science indigenous bridging program .

(not available for Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience)  

Most programs*

• One of Biology 30, Biology 20, Chemistry 30, Chemistry 20, Physics 30, Physics 20 

*The BSc Honours Neuroscience does not offer a faculty-specific bridging program.

Learn more about Science's Indigenous Pathways Program

All programs

• English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 
• Chemistry 30 or Chemistry 20; 
• Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2, Mathematics 20-1 or Mathematics 20-2 

Learn more about Schulich's Indigenous Pathways Program

Faculties with Bridging Programs:

Community-based Bachelor of Education

Early Childhood Education

Required Courses

• English 20-1
• Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2
• One of: Social Studies 30-1, Aboriginal Studies 30, Mathematics 31, Science 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Language or Language and Culture course at the 30 level
• Two approved courses at the 30 level, one of which can be an approved option

English Language Arts

 Required Courses

• Two of: Social Studies 30-1, Aboriginal Studies 30, Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2, Mathematics 31, Science 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Language or Language and Culture course at the 30 level

Mathematics and Science

• Mathematics 30-1
• Two of: Mathematics 31, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, CTS Computing Science 30 level
• One approved course or option at the 30 level

Social Studies and Social Studies – Revitalization of Indigenous Languages

• Social Studies 30-1
• One of: Aboriginal Studies 30, Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2, Mathematics 31, Science 30, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Language or Language and Culture course at the 30 level

 Learn more about Werklund's bridging program 

Find out everything you’ll need to do when you receive your admission offer.

Getting support with Indigenous Admissions

Support for Indigenous admissions is available through our Indigenous Recruitment Team. 

You can connect with our Indigenous Recruitment Team at 403.220.6912, by email , WhatsApp  or book a private meeting

Alysha Akins

Student Recruitment Specialist, Indigenous

Student Recruitment Assistant, Indigenous

We look forward to supporting you to join our campus community! You’ll be joining a community that welcomes, respects and supports the rich diversity of Indigenous learners, their communities, cultural traditions, and aspirations in post-secondary education. Including the Writing Symbols Lodge who provides a culturally appropriate environment that encourages and supports the success of Indigenous students in their pursuit of knowledge and higher education.

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the steps to apply for admission. Once you apply and self-identify as Indigenous, you'll be considered for all pathways.