What Are Admission Requirements?
Admission requirements are based on the general skills you need to succeed in your post-secondary program of study. Many undergraduate courses ask for a high school diploma, or minimum grades in certain classes.
Requirements can increase if an institution has more applications than available spaces in a program. This makes it important for you to find out if you meet your program’s requirements before you apply - and to research several different institutions.
How to Find Admission Requirements
Every Alberta post-secondary institution posts information about the programs they offer on their websites. These pages usually include:
- A summary of what the program is about
- Descriptions of courses you would take to complete the program
- How long the program takes to complete
- Cost to take the program
- Admission requirements
Every program - and every institution - has different admission requirements. If you don’t meet the requirements for a program offered at one institution, look at the requirements for another institution to see if you meet theirs instead.
Plan for Post-Secondary in High School
If you’re in high school and planning ahead, there are programs you can take to explore career options or increase your chances of admission into post-secondary.
When You Don’t Meet Admission Requirements
If you don’t meet admission requirements for the program you want to take, you can consider:
If you need to upgrade more than a few courses to get into your program of choice, you can consider laddering your education. This means you’d enroll in a certificate or diploma program, instead of pursing a degree. You can then transfer that education towards a higher credential. For example, if you want to train to become a nurse, you could:
- Start by taking a Nursing Assistant Certificate
- Use that certificate to meet the prerequisite for a Licensed Practical Nurse Diploma
- Use your diploma to apply for admission to a nursing degree program
Several post-secondary programs are designed to help you ladder your education up to your ultimate career goal. These options include:
- Biological Sciences
- Commerce
- Engineering (one year program only)
- Nursing
- Education
- Kinesiology/Physical Education
If you don’t see the program you’re interested in taking, ask admissions staff at the post-secondary institution you want to attend if laddering opportunities are available.
