International Academic Requirements
The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research sets a minimum academic standard for admission for both Canadian and international applicants. Please see below for our minimum academic requirements for both Master's and Doctoral student admissions.
Please be advised that some departments may have additional or higher admission qualifications. Always visit the program or department website or contact the department directly for program specific admission requirements.
Master's Programs
Applicants are normally required to have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree, or its academic equivalent, from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta.
An admission grade point average of 3 on most 4-point grading systems or B on most letter grading systems, based on your most recent two years of full time study (or equivalent) is required.
Doctoral Programs
Applicants are normally required to have completed a master’s degree, or its academic equivalent, from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta.
An admission grade point average of 3 on most 4-point grading systems or B on most letter grading systems, based on your most recent two years of full time study (or equivalent) is required.
Additional Requirements
Some departments have additional requirements, such as:
statement of research interests
previous work experience in the field
educational tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Miller Analogies Test
Contact the department directly to find out if there are any additional requirements.
Minimum Academic Requirements
Since degrees vary greatly from institution to institution and country to country, the University of Alberta will examine course content to establish equivalencies to a UAlberta baccalaureate degree.
China (People's Republic)
Minimum Academic Requirement:80%; 4 out of 5; B
International Application Documents
We recommend you compile all supporting documents before starting your application.
You will need to scan and save all your supporting documents (except reference letters) as a PDF file* and then upload them directly to the online application portal. You must upload your documents on or before the application submission deadline for the program to which you are applying.
Supporting documents may include the following:
Academic documents (transcripts, degree certificates, marksheets)
Read the Requirements for Acceptance of Uploaded Transcripts
English Language Proficiency scores such as IELTS, Pearson, TOEFL, etc. (if applicable)
Additional departmental requirements such as:
CV, statement of intent, and writing samples
GRE, GMAT, or other test scores.
Reference letters (Supply names and email addresses of your references in the online application.)
*For instructions on converting your documents into PDF files and acceptable naming conventions click here.
Note: All documents submitted to the University of Alberta become the property of the University, and will not be released or copied except for purposes internal to the University of Alberta. Documents may not be returned to the applicant.
English Language Proficiency (ELP)
English is the primary language of instruction and communication at UAlberta. All applicants must be proficient in English prior to admission.
Applicants with degrees/qualifications in a language other than English need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) by completing an approved English language exam.
Proficiency is demonstrated by:
possession of a degree or its academic equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Alberta and where the language of instruction is English. Proof that the instruction for the degree was in English will be required;
OR
demonstration of sufficient English language coursework at the secondary school level from select countries (ie. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland). See English Language Proficiency: Secondary School Coursework;
OR
a satisfactory score on one of the following approved English language examinations:
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) * | minimum score of 550 (paper-based), or a total score of 88 with a score of at least 20 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based) |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery(MELAB) | minimum score of 85 |
| International English Language Testing System(IELTS) | minimum overall band score of 6.5, with at least 5 on each band (Academic) |
| Canadian Academic English Language Assessment(CAEL) | overall minimum score of 60, with at least 60 on each subtest |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | overall minimum score of 59 |
Note: These are minimum scores required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Some departments require higher scores.
If you need to complete one of these English language examinations, you should do so as soon as possible and arrange for the results to be sent to the department to which you are applying.
*For admission to FGSR, our TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) total score requirement is stated above. When a student presents a score report that meets or exceeds FGSR’s total score requirements, but where the Speaking or Listening scores are 18 or 19, departments can contact the student by phone or Skype to determine the student’s level of speaking and listening comprehension. If the student is able to carry on a conversation, and if the listening skills meet your expectations, please send a supporting letter addressing the low TOEFL score along with the application for admission and other admission documents.
