Diverse Qualifications

What is the Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy?

The Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy is an admission policy available for students applying to the University of Calgary for Fall 2011 and for current students submitting Change of Program requests. It is a policy directed to students who have achieved excellence outside of academics or who have overcome significant hardships.

Who can apply under this policy?

Students may be considered under this policy for their first program choice.

Students seeking admission under this policy must demonstrate that they have

• Achieved excellence in non-academic areas, or
• High potential in academic or research activities, or
• Persevered under great difficulty or hardship.

Applicants must also:

• meet the minimum admission requirements as specified in the University of Calgary Calendar,
• have met the University of Calgary English Language Proficiency requirement,
• be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Please note: Students who have previously been required to withdraw from any institution, including the UofC, are not eligible for consideration under this policy.

Note: Admission under this policy is not available for the Psychology program offered by the Faculty of Arts, the BHSc program offered by the Faculty of Medicine and the Neuroscience program offered by the Faculty of Science. Applicants to the JD program offered by the Faculty of Law or the MD program offered by the Faculty of Medicine should refer to admission requirements for those faculties.

Steps to follow and information required:

1. Apply for admission using the online application. Indicate on your application that you are applying under the Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy (Step 11 of the University of Calgary online application).
2. Submit the personal profile and completed checklist to the Admissions Office by the April 30th deadline.

   Diverse Qualifications Admission Checklist (pdf format)

3. Arrange for two letters of reference from respected members of the community who are familiar with your situation and can support the information you include in your profile. Teachers, coaches, physicians, counselors, religious leaders, or representatives of a community or organization are appropriate choices; friends and family are not.

   Letters of reference must be sent directly to the Admissions Office by your referees by April 30th.

4. Arrange for your academic records to be sent.

   Transfer students must provide all transcripts by June 30th (May 15th for applicants to the Bachelor of Education after-degree program).

   High school students taking courses until June 2012 must arrange for grades and mid-term grades to be verified by the school; these must be received by April 30th. Official transcripts for High School applicants will still be required by the August 1st deadline, showing all final results.

   All documentation should be submitted to the Recruitment and Admissions Office at:

   Recruitment and Admissions Office MLB 117
   University of Calgary
   2500 University Dr NW
   Calgary AB T2N 1N4

   Current University of Calgary students who are submitting a Change of Program request are not required to arrange for transcripts as these are already on file.

When will I hear a decision?

Once all documentation has been received, members of the Faculty to which you have applied will evaluate your completed application. Most decisions will be made by mid-June. If you are granted admission under the Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy, you are still responsible for ensuring that official, complete transcripts are received by the Admissions Office by the appropriate deadline.

You should note that submission of the required information does not guarantee admission, and that admission decisions under this policy are final and cannot be appealed.

If you are not granted admission under the Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy, you can still be considered for admission to your requested first and second choice of program. Transcripts still need to be received by the Recruitment and Admissions Office by the appropriate deadline date. Once all required transcripts and documentation have been received, you will be considered for admission under regular competitive admission standards.

Current U of C students who are not granted admission to their requested program shall be reinstated into their previous program.