How to Apply
Minimum Admission Requirements
In order to be admitted into a graduate program at the University of Calgary you must meet the minimum admission requirements for both the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the program to which you wish to apply. Program requirements are listed in the program description for each department in the Graduate Calendar, and on each program's website. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies are advised to contact their department of interest as soon as possible to determine the specific course requirements, application deadlines and additional information required for admission to their programs.
Please note that all graduate programs have limited enrollment capacities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
If, at any time, it is discovered that a student was admitted on the basis of falsified documents or information, the admission will immediately be declared null and void and future admission will be denied.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements are:
1. A University of Calgary four-year baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized insitution
with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 based on a 4.0 point system over the past two years of full-time study. Some graduate programs require a higher grade point average for admission. The degree must include appropriate course content for the graduate program applied for, and adequate senior level courses to ensure preparation for graduate work. Any previous graduate work is also considered.
If you received your degree from a university outside Canada, please check the country specific degree requirements.
2. English Language Proficiency
Students whose primary language is not English will be required to fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways to be considered for admission:
- A minimum TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-based), 550 (written) or 213 (computer). Some programs require a higher score than the score listed here. Check the Graduate Calendar for each program's required admission score.
- A minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- Successful completion of Tier 3 of the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program . Please confirm with the Graduate Program Administrator of your prospective program whether or not the program will accept EAP in lieu of a TOEFL or IELTS score.
- Waiver - The graduate program may waive the English proficiency-testing requirement in certain circumstances, such as the possession of a baccalaureate degree or its academic equivalent from a recognized institution in which the language of instruction is English. Contact the graduate program to which you plan to apply for further information.
3. Endorsement from the Head of the Graduate Program
It is the responsibility of the department or graduate program to ensure that the applicant is, in all relevant respects, acceptable to the program and that the student's proposed program is aligned with the availability of resources for adequate supervision and research, with departmental research objectives, and with program balance, as appropriate.
There is no general right of admission to graduate programs. Each graduate program determines whether to recommend the admission of a particular applicant to the Faculty of Graduate Studies based not only on the applicant's credentials but also on the availability of resources for supervision and research, departmental research objectives, program balance, and other such considerations.
4. Application Instructions
When you are confident that you meet the minimum admission requirements, check the program's website for further instructions. Read the application form carefully and include all required information. Incomplete or inaccurate applications cannot be processed and documents received after the application deadline will not be accepted. Most University of Calgary programs use an on-line application system, and there will be a link to the on-line application system on its website. If the department is not yet on-line, there will be instructions listing who to contact for a paper application. All applications to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Calgary must include the following:
4.1 Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee for each application to a graduate degree program. Applications will be processed only if the fee has been paid. Note: Do not send cash. You may send a money order, certified check or bank transfer made payable to the University of Calgary. You can also pay by Visa or MasterCard. The application fee is CDN $100 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and CDN $130 for international students who will be attending on a Study Permit.
4.2 Official Transcripts
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
4.3 References
Two appropriate references on University of Calgary reference forms, for the forms click here
4.4 Proof of English Proficiency, if required
Official TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE scores and/or other requirements of the program for which application is being made.
If you need information regarding your degree program, application status, or have questions about the application procedure, please contact your department directly. A list of departments and their contact information is available by clicking here