Applicants must hold or obtain the following minimum qualifications before the Faculty will give consideration to admission:
1. A four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from the University of Calgary or a recognized institution. Degrees and grades from foreign institutions are evaluated for their equivalency to those of the University of Calgary. A grade point average equivalent to 3.00 or better (on the University of Calgary four-point system) is required. This is based on the last two years of the undergraduate degree consisting of a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents of appropriate content for the graduate program applied for, and adequate senior level courses to ensure preparation for graduate work. Any graduate work is also considered. Individual graduate programs may require a higher admission grade point average.
In most cases, a master’s degree or equivalent is required for admission to a doctoral program. See program listings for exceptions and details.
Note: In exceptional circumstances, individuals who do not meet formal academic requirements but who have significant life achievements may be considered for admission to some graduate programs. The candidate must provide the relevant graduate program with evidence demonstrating a potential to undertake successfully the proposed program of studies. Such candidates are advised to make early contact with the graduate program. In all such cases, the decision whether or not to admit rests with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
2. Proficiency in the English language is essential for the pursuit and successful completion of graduate programs at the University of Calgary. Prior to admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, an applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
a) By writing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and obtaining a score of at least 550 (written test) or 80 (Internet-based test)1. Applications may be obtained from the TOEFL website: www.ets.org/toefl. When requesting that official test results are forwarded to the University of Calgary, indicate the institution code 0813 and the code appropriate to the graduate program, as listed on the TOEFL website.
b) By writing the academic test format of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and obtaining a minimum score of 7.0. IELTS materials can be obtained from IELTS Publications, UCLES, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU, UK.
c) By writing the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test and obtaining a score of 80. The MELAB test includes a written composition, a listening test, and a test of grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. An optional speaking test is also available. The MELAB test is conveniently offered once a month at the University of Calgary by the Effective Writing Program. For test information and test dates, please see the MELAB tab at http://efwr.ucalgary.ca.
d) By successful completion of Tier 3 of the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. For information, see http://www.education.ucalgary.ca/eap/ or contact English for Academic Purposes, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4. Telephone: 403.220.3485; fax: 403.210.8554; e-mail: eapp@ucalgary.ca.
e) By completing the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and obtaining a score of at least 591.
The department or 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.
Students who do not meet admission standards and wish to pursue graduate work are advised to enrol in the equivalent of a full year (a minimum of three graded full-course equivalents) at the senior undergraduate level in order to improve their academic record to acceptable admission standards (a grade of "B" or higher in every course). All such courses represent “make-up” work and cannot be used for advanced credit towards a graduate degree program. Successful completion of "make up" work does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Students are advised to discuss this option with the appropriate graduate program before embarking on such a course.
1Some programs require scores higher than the Faculty of Graduate Studies minima. See program listings for specific details.
Admissions