Select Country

Canada

Athabasca University [AU] 2023-2024 Admissions: Entry Requirements, Deadlines, Application Process

Athabasca, AlbertaLocation

UniversitySchool type

Estd1970established year

40722enrollment

Public

Get free counselling

Founded in 1970 Athabasca University is a prestigious university in Canada. The University offers more than 55 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines ranging from Arts, Business, Technology to Nursing and much more. More than 850 courses are available for students without enrolling to undergraduate and graduate programs.

The University has an enrollment of around 40,000 students with 7,800 full-time students making it one of the best universities in Canada. Students from every Canadian province and territory and 87 countries around the world enroll at the university.

To apply, students must take note of the following:

Athabasca University does not have a fixed application timeline.
Most programs start every month and applicants can apply by the 10th of the previous month.
Students have the option of setting an advance start date for programs up to 5 months.
The application requirements, deadlines and process for international students depend upon whether they wish to study online in their home country or in Canada.
International students who plan to attend on-campus programs at Athabasca University must apply in advance to allow time for visa processing.
There are no significant requirements for applying to undergraduate programs except that the age of the applicant must be at least 16 years.

COVID-19 Admission Updates

Athabasca University is conducting classes online.
The University has not cancelled any of their online courses. Enrollment process and admissions are going on smoothly.
All safety measures are taken care of during the enrollment process.
None of the facilities at the university will be operational for the time being.

Highlights

Application Portal	UG: ApplyAlberta PG: Online Application
Application Fee	115 CAD
Mode of Payment	Credit card/ Debit card
Academic Calendar	Semester-based
Intake Season	Varies from program to program
Work Experience	Required for some programs
Financial Aid	Scholarships, grants, loans

Athabasca University Admission Deadlines

Students who wish to enrol in online distance learning courses should make sure that they enrol for the course by the 10th of every month to start online distance learning courses from the first day of the next month. There are no fixed application deadlines for undergraduate programs. Students can apply any time during the year.

Note: Student’s financial aid application deadline is February 28, 2023 for students who are starting their course on May 1.

Athabasca University International Admissions

Athabasca University accepts international applicants from all around the world. The application process for international and domestic applicants is alike. Nonetheless, international applicants are required to meet some additional requirements.

Application Portal: Students may apply online through ApplyAlberta system

Application Fee: 115 CAD

Basic Admission Requirements: International applicants must satisfy the following requirements for admission to Athabasca University:

A completed online application
Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
Statement of Purpose for Canada
Official transcripts from previously attended institutions must be sent directly to AU or uploaded via the ApplyAlberta system.
English language proficiency test scores
LOR for Canada
Copy of passport
Certificate of Finance and bank statement
Work experience for graduate programs

English Language Proficiency Requirements

International applicants are required to submit one of the following test scores and meet admission requirements to demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum required scores by the university are:

Test	Minimum Requirements
IELTS	6.0
TOEFL (Computer-based)	213
TOEFL (Internet-based)	80
PTE	59
MELAB	80
CAEL	60%

Additional information for international student

If an applicant has completed their education in an institution from outside Canada or the United States then such applicant must get their credential assessed by an international assessment agency. Assessment of credentials must be done by the IQAS agency.
It is advisable to check the programme specific requirement. There are some courses which may ask for some additional documents.
The minimum requirement for applying to any course is that the applicant must be 16 year or more.
There are also some programmes which will require you to give an interview.
Athabasca University also provides English language courses for students who want to meet the English requirement for the course or for their job. In the said programme they make sure to cover all the areas for overall development of the student.

Visa Process for International Students

International applicants who wish to study at Athabasca University by attending physical classes must apply for a study permit for the duration of the program. Study permits are issued by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Students who wish to enroll for online programs should simply follow the university application process as they do not require a visa.

Aspirants will be required to submit the following documents while applying for a student visa for Canada:

Valid Passport
Proof of Health Insurance
Proof of Acceptance
Letter of Explanation to the officer explaining goals and aspirations to study in Canada.
Other relevant financial documents as mentioned by the immigration authorities of Canada
All international applicants also need to provide evidence of sufficient financial funds to cover all expenses for at least one calendar year before a visa will be issued.

If required students can schedule an interview with the nearest Canadian Embassy once their application is complete.

Athabasca University Undergraduate Admissions

Athabasca University offers a distinct number of online undergraduate programs under the field of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Applied Social Sciences, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Law, Medicine, and Management. Students can apply to any undergraduate programs regardless of previous education.

Where to Apply: Students may apply online through the ApplyAlberta system

Application Fee: 115 CAD plus evaluation fee 113 CAD

Admission Requirements: According to the university there are no formal requirements with regards to admission documents for enrolling. However, you need to be older than 16 years of age to be eligible for all undergraduate programs.

Athabasca University Graduate Admissions

Athabasca University offers master’s degrees, certificates and doctoral programs in Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Nursing, Management, and Applied Social Sciences to students from all over the country and all around the world.

Where to Apply: Graduate Application Portal

Application Fee: 150 CAD

Admission Requirements:

The following table depicts the admission requirements for some graduate programs offered at the university:

Requirements	Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Adult Education	Master of Business Administration	Master of Counselling Education	Master of Science in Information System	Master of Health Nursing
Transcripts	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
Academic Qualifications	Completed bachelor's degree in relevant field	Completed bachelor’s degree in relevant field	4-year bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0	Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems or related field.	4-year bachelor's degree in health related field
Academic Writing Assessment (AWA)	Required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
Professional CV/Resume	Not required	Required	Not required	Required	Required
Work Experience	Not required	Required, at least 3 years of managerial work experience	Not required	Experience of work using IT knowledge	Experience in healthcare field
Admission Interview	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required

International students planning to attend Athabasca University must be aware that for students on a study permit, the university has limited offerings. Master of Counselling, Master of Nursing - Nurse practitioner, post-baccalaureate diploma in counselling, university certificate and post-baccalaureate diploma in Heritage Resources Management are the only programs open for students on a study permit.

FAQs

Ques. Is my application fees refundable?

Ans. No, application fees are non-refundable.

Ques. Which English proficiency test is accepted by Athabasca University?

Ans. Athabasca University accepts IELTS, PTE, TOEFL computer/paper base, TOEFL internet based exams as proof of English proficiency.

Ques. Is credentials assessment available in Athabasca University?

Ans. Yes, universities can do assessment of students' credentials. However it is not available for international students.

Ques. How long does it take to do assessment of credentials by the university?

Ans. It takes at least 4 weeks to assess after submission of the document but it may also take 12 weeks depending on the document.

Ques. If I am opting for an online course do I have to get a study permit from Canada?

Ans. No, study permit is not required as the education is in online mode and comes under distance education.

Ques. How can I pay my application/ course fees to the university?

Ans. Applicants have many options like credit card, cheque or in cash. You can pay such an amount through online mode/ mail/ fax/ in person. Note if you are paying fees in cash then it should be done in person. Do not mail cash.

Ques. Is there any financial support available to international students?

Ans. Yes, there is financial support available for international students like scholarships, grants and loans.

Ques. Does Athabasca University provide English language programme?

Ans. Yes, Athabasca University provides a certificate course for English language which is mainly for students who want to take education in English or for employees who want to work in English speaking country.

Ques. What is the minimum grade required for satisfying the requirement of a course in English language programme?

Ans. Minimum B grade is required to be considered as successful progress. For meeting requirements of course 75% or 3.0 GPA is required in the programme.

Ques. What is the deadline for applying to student financial aid, if I am starting my course in May?

Ans. If you are starting your application in May then the deadline for applying for financial aid is February 28, 2023.