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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

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.  
 

Learn how to apply

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 graduation celebration
two students talking

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.  
 

Indigenous student

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. 

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.

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

Faculty-specific bridging programs are available in these faculties:

 

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.  

Learn about ISAP
Indigenous Students

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.

  • 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. 

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

  • A currently valid (non-expired) Métis card by 
    • 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)  

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 

Required courses:

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

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 

*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 

Required courses:

  • 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

Haskayne Indigenous Bridging Program 

Required courses:

  • 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 

Kinesiology Indigenous Bridging Program

Required courses:

  • 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

Science Indigenous Bridging Program 

(not available for Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience)  

Required courses: 

  • 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 

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

Learn more about Science's Indigenous Pathways Program

Schulich Indigenous Bridging Program 

Required courses: 

  • 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:

Werklund School of Education

Community-based Bachelor of 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

 Required Courses

  • English 20-1
  • 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
  • Two approved courses at the 30 level, one of which can be an approved option

 Required Courses

  • English 20-1
  • 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

 Required Courses

  • English 20-1
  • 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
  • Two approved courses at the 30 level, one of which can be an approved option

 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

Alysha Akins

Student Recruitment Specialist, Indigenous

Sarag

Sarah Russell

Student Recruitment Assistant, Indigenous

Candace Airhart

Candace Airhart

Student Recruitment Support, 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.