University of Alberta: How to Get Accepted

Mission statement

“Within a vibrant and supportive learning environment, the University of Alberta discovers, disseminates, and applies new knowledge for the benefit of society through teaching and learning, research and creative activity, community involvement, and partnerships. The University of Alberta gives a national and international voice to innovation in our province, taking a lead role in placing Canada at the global forefront.”

Academic overview

The University of Alberta, located in the province’s capital city of Edmonton, was founded in 1908 by Alexander Rutherford, the province’s first premier. The University of Alberta, or U of A for short, currently ranks number 5 in the Canadian universities ranking and among the top 150 universities in the world. It is regarded as one of the best universities in Alberta and one of the most prestigious universities in Canada.

The University of Alberta is comprised of 5 campuses, including a francophone campus offering programs solely in French. The school is known for its extensive and innovative research in the health and sciences sectors. It houses 39,000 students, the second-highest student population in Canada.

Undergraduate students can choose from over 200 programs offered in a variety of fields and disciplines, including health sciences, applied sciences, humanities and arts. The U of A also offers over 500 graduate programs, including top-tier education in health sciences, dentistry, engineering and applied sciences and more. The University has a reputation for excellence in academics and research, and its graduating students have high degrees of success in finding good employment.

The U of A is also a good choice if you’re looking for the best undergrad business schools, since it is home to the Alberta School of Business. For graduate students interested in pursuing a law degree, the University of Alberta has one of the best law schools in Canada.

The university also remains a popular choice for international students, with more than 7,000 from 160 different countries currently enrolled. If you want to apply for university in Canada as an international student, the University of Alberta is a great choice.

If you want to know how to choose the best university to maximize your chances of acceptance to med school, the University of Alberta is a great choice. The University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry tops the list of medical schools in Canada, and is attached to the well-known University of Alberta Hospital. The school’s nursing program has been rated number one in Canada, as well.

Want to know more about med schools in Canada? Check out the video below.

Eligibility and prerequisites

In order to apply to the University of Alberta, applicants must meet the requirements for grades, required coursework and English Language proficiency.

All students, regardless of their country of origin or citizenship status in Canada, must show written English Language proficiency for all programs and spoken English proficiency for some programs. Applicants to the Campus Saint-Jean, the university’s francophone campus, must show French Language proficiency in order to apply. Applicants can complete a test of English Language Proficiency, show previous education in English or complete a course recognized by the university to demonstrate English proficiency.

If you’re an international student, consider getting some professional help with admission requirements from college admissions counseling for international students. If you want to attend the University of Alberta, you can also enroll in the school’s bridging program, which allows students to improve their academic English skills by taking courses and earning credits, thereby fulfilling their English Language Proficiency requirement without submitting test results.

High school students must complete five required academic courses or subjects. Course prerequisites will vary depending on your chosen program. For example, an undergraduate program in science will require completion of English Language Arts 30-1, Mathematics 30-1, Physics 30, Chemistry 30 or Biology 30 and one completed course in the Arts or Humanities. Program requirements and coursework are listed on the University of Alberta website.

The minimum grade needed to apply also varies by program, but as admission to the University is very competitive, it is advisable to achieve more than the minimum grade and explore your options for IB vs AP courses. For IB and AP students, there are other advantages they can receive from the U of A, including scholarships, extra credit, undergraduate research opportunities and advanced standing in your program. If you’re worried you don’t have the grades or want to know how to get into college with a low GPA, consider getting help from an admission professional or look at top summer programs for high school students to strengthen your application.

Meeting the minimum requirements for admission is not a guarantee of acceptance, so it’s advisable to craft as strong an application as possible. College admissions consulting services can be a huge help when studying your university options, choosing your programs and deciding what you need to apply. A college advisor can also help you in choosing what programs you want to apply for, since the U of A will allow you to indicate two programs of your choice to increase your chances of admission.

University of Alberta admission statistics

As mentioned, the University of Alberta can be quite selective and has a competitive admissions landscape. The school has an acceptance rate of 58%, making it one of the hardest Canadian universities to get into.

University of Alberta acceptance rate

The school offers admission on a rolling basis, but spots in each program are limited, so its best to apply as early as possible. Applicants who are not accepted to their first-choice of program will be considered for their second-choice, so always provide two program choices in your application to increase your chances.

On average, the minimum grade required to attend the University of Alberta ranges from the low 70s to the high 80s. On average, most applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. For some extremely competitive programs, such as Pharmacology, average GPAs will be 3.7 or above. For international students or students applying from outside Alberta, the admissions competition can be even fiercer, so bring your best to the table. The school is highly academically inclined, but you can balance your application with a well-written college essay, great college recommendation letters or a supplemental college essay to help swing a decision in your favour.

Application components

Aside from your high school transcripts, the application fee and any documentation proving your English Language Proficiency or completed coursework, there are no requirements for your application to the University of Alberta. There are some pieces of your college application you can add to strengthen your application, though.

These pieces might include:

• A high school resume or CV
• Letters of recommendation
• College essay or supplemental essay
• Significant awards or certifications you’ve received
• A diversity statement or personal statement

All of these elements are not required, but they can help your application to stand out or sway the admissions board in your favour. If you feel that your grades fall short of the average, or you want to otherwise add some extra weight to your application, consider these areas where you can tell the admissions committee more about yourself and your dedication to your studies.

Application timeline

The deadlines for the University of Alberta admissions varies by program, and the school employs rolling admissions. There are, however, some key dates to familiarize yourself with if you plan to apply in the following academic year. All the dates are as of 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

Tuition and funding opportunities

The cost of attending the University of Alberta can vary by program, but the average cost of the first year of schooling is $9,120 CAD. Students who choose to stay in residence can expect their total cost to be $22,000 with the additional cost of meal plans and student services offered in residence. As an enrolled student, you’re also offered some notable perks as part of your tuition cost, including access to on-campus fitness and recreation facilities, student services and health and dental benefits.

To help offset the cost of school, the University of Alberta also offers students scholarships based on applications and admissions, called Entrance Scholarships. This means you can earn a scholarship just for applying to the school. Around 1 in 5 students receive one of these application-based or admission-based scholarships. Domestic and international students can apply to receive one of these scholarships by filling out the application form and meeting any criteria for applying early, applying with an above-average grade for the program or for being in the top 5% of applicants with outstanding grades.

The same goes for awards given out by the university each year. There are several students awards with monetary prizes attached that students receive for exemplar grades, service or research.

There are several scholarship and award opportunities just for international students or out-of-province applicants as well, so be sure to check which ones you qualify for. If you want to know how to study in Canada as an international student and are searching for funding for your degree, search the U of A database of scholarships and awards and start applying early.

University of Alberta financial aid

The University of Alberta offers a comprehensive financial aid program for its students. Students can consult with advisors to improve their financial literacy or explore their options for student loans, scholarships or bursaries offered by the school, the provincial government of Alberta or the federal government of Canada. The U of A also provides emergency funding for students who experience unexpected expenses or a financial shortfall.

Every year, the institution also awards millions of dollars in financial aid through its scholarships, awards and bursaries, so any students who plans to apply, whether domestic, out-of-province or international, should explore all the options available. The cost of these various scholarships can cover a significant portion, if not all, of the tuition and fees at the University of Alberta.

Admissions interview

The University of Alberta does not typically use a college admissions interview for undergraduate students, as the school receives thousands of applications each year. There may, however, be an admissions interview for post-secondary transfer students or applicants to various graduate programs. If you’re applying to one of the graduate schools at the University of Alberta, you’ll need to begin your law school interview preparation or medical school interview preparation as soon as possible.

International students will also want to prepare their answers to some common international student interview questions, since they may be extended an interview by the school upon their application. Some college interview questions you can expect will be similar to job interview questions, and are designed to gauge what kind of applicant you are and why you should be selected for admission.

Some typical questions might include:

• What would you contribute to your future college campus community?
• Tell me about yourself
• What are your interests outside of school?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

It’s a good idea to prepare for your interview and prepare your answers to these common questions ahead of time. If you are offered an interview for any program, it’s best to accept. The admissions interview can be your chance to cement the acceptance and get your letter of admission.

Acceptance, waitlist, deferral information

Most Canadian universities are quick to inform you of their admissions decisions, and the University of Alberta is no different. Applicants will typically hear back within 1 or 2 weeks whether they have been accepted. Once you receive your offer, you have until May 1 to formally accept and begin registering in your courses.

Applicants who are waitlisted may receive a notice that their application is still active, but that the admissions board is not offering acceptance based on current grades. If you are waitlisted at the University of Alberta, you may still be accepted. Once all applications have been reviewed by the admissions board, if there are still spots open, your application will be re-evaluated and you may be extended an offer of acceptance. You can expect to wait until all admissions decisions for that particular program have been completed before you hear more about your application’s status.

If you are accepted to the University of Alberta and choose to defer your enrollment, contact the admissions office as soon as possible. Deferrals are not guaranteed, but may be granted depending on your circumstances.

Contact information

The University of Alberta Student Services Centre can be contacted at 780-492-3113 or toll-free at 1-855-492-3113. International students can email [email protected] for admission inquiries. All other inquiries can also be emailed to various faculty, which can be found on the University of Alberta website.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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