How to Apply to the Scholars Academy
Applicants are required to submit a personal statement, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript, and up to two reference letters with their submission to the Scholars Academy. Please follow the steps below for a successful application submission.
Steps Overview
If you’d like to have a one-on-one meeting with an advisor to discuss and get feedback on your application, please book an appointment through Elevate. After you log in, select Student Success Centre, then Academic Support, then Book by Appointment Type. Then select Scholars Academy Program from the list. This will show you all of the available appointments.
The Scholars Academy is committed to providing an application process that is accessible to all students. If you have additional questions about submitting alternative formats, please email sap@ucalgary.ca.
When an alternative format is being submitted, please include it as a page within your application package. This page should include clickable links to your alternative mediums and instructions on how to access these parts of your application.
Please note that these alternative format options are only applicable to the personal statement and letter of recommendation components of the Scholars Academy application.
Acceptable alternative formats for the personal statement and reference letter:
- Video (no longer than five minutes)
- Audio file (no longer than five minutes)
This position requires students to be in good conduct standing for non-academic misconduct.
If you are currently involved in a non-academic misconduct process, or have been found responsible for a violation of the Student Non-Academic Misconduct Policy and you are unsure of your conduct standing, please contact conduct@ucalgary.ca to verify your status. More information is available at: www.ucalgary.ca/student-services/student-conduct/faq.
Please note that in submitting your application, you are verifying that you are in good conduct standing and you consent to this being verified by the Student Conduct Office. Note that details of non-academic misconduct cases are not shared through this process
Complete your personal and academic information by answering the questions in the application form.
The role of Scholars Academy is to extend the potential of undergraduate students with exceptional leadership capabilities, intellectual curiosity, and strong commitments to our local and global communities. In 750 words or less, tell us about yourself, including how you demonstrate the criteria above and how Scholars Academy can help you achieve your goals. As a reminder, the personal statement is the most important component of the application; it is not intended as a regurgitation of a CV.
Submitting Alternative Formats
The Scholars Academy is committed to providing an application process that is accessible to all students. If you have additional questions about submitting alternative formats, please email sap@ucalgary.ca.
Please note that these alternative format options are only applicable to the personal statement and letter of recommendation components of the Scholars Academy application.
Acceptable alternative formats for the personal statement and reference letter:
- Video (no longer than five minutes)
- Audio file (no longer than five minutes)
When an alternative format is being submitted, please include it as a page within your application package. This page should include clickable links to your alternative mediums and instructions on how to access these parts of your application.
The review committee will take into consideration not the quantity of extra-curricular and work involvement, but the quality of involvement. Some students may have fewer extra-curricular engagements, but solid work experience. You may also wish to include skills and interests.
This is a summary of all your Courses and Credits from the University of Calgary. This can be found in your Student Centre under “Academic” and then “Courses and Credits.” Please enable your pop-ups to see the PDF.
One letter of reference (either academic or professional) is required to accompany your application; however, we do recommend providing up to two letters (one academic and one professional). Students should meet or discuss with each potential referee and provide them with a copy of their application. Academic references include professors, TA, tutors, etc. and professional references include work, volunteer experience, etc.
All referees must submit a traditional reference letter and consider the following questions:
- What is the nature of your relationship with the applicant?
- How long have you known the applicant?
- Consider and comment on the applicant’s intellectual curiosity, academic promise, and creative thinking
- Consider and comment on the applicant’s community involvement and engagement
- Character and personal effectiveness (aptitude for reflection and growth)
- Leadership potential (humility, role model, mentor, problem-solver)
- Communication skills (collaborate and share ideas with others)
- Engagement in issues (values diversity, takes risks to generate improvement)
- Entrepreneurial talents (initiates ideas, plans, promotes, administers and evaluates them)
- Social humanitarianism (aware of social issues and desires to apply skills to benefit society)
Traditional reference letters can be emailed directly to sap@ucalgary.ca with the subject line, “Applicant First Name Last Name Reference Letter” or submitted in person to the Student Success Centre (3rd Floor TFDL). Late submission of reference letters will result in the disqualification of the application.
Submitting Alternative Formats
The Scholars Academy is committed to providing an application process that is accessible to all students. If you have additional questions about submitting alternative formats, please email sap@ucalgary.ca.
If a referee requires an alternative format to provide a recommendation, the following formats are acceptable:
- Video (no longer than five minutes)
- Audio file (no longer than five minutes)
When an alternative format is being submitted, please include it as a page within your application package (this page should include clickable links to your alternative mediums and instructions on how to access these parts of your application) OR the referee can email sap@ucalgary.ca with a clickable link.
Download the application rubric
Save your file using the template, "Faculty_FirstName_LastName_Application." ex. ART_Jane_Doe_Application. All faculty abbreviations are listed below.
Note: If you are completing a combined degree, please indicate this using the abbreviation, “COMBO_First Name_Last Name_Application.”
Faculty Abbreviations
ART – Arts
BUS – Business
EDU – Education
ENG – Engineering
KNE – Kinesiology
MED – Medicine
NUR – Nursing
SCI – Science
SOC – Social Work
COMBO – Combined Degree
Once you have submitted your application to the Scholars Academy, you will be notified on the status of your acceptance by the end of April.
- Deadline (for all undergraduate students): April 1, 2025
- For more information on deadlines, please refer to our FAQs.