Yes, The school has an acceptance rate of 58%, making it one of the hardest Canadian universities to get into.

The University of Alberta is considered to be a fairly selective university in Canada. With an acceptance rate of 58%, it is ranked among the top 10 universities in Canada based on its admission selectivity. This means that for every 100 applicants, only 58 are admitted.

Eligibility and prerequisites

In order to apply to the University of Alberta, applicants must meet the requirements for grades, required coursework and English Language proficiency.

All students, regardless of their country of origin or citizenship status in Canada, must show written English Language proficiency for all programs and spoken English proficiency for some programs. Applicants to the Campus Saint-Jean, the university’s francophone campus, must show French Language proficiency in order to apply. Applicants can complete a test of English Language Proficiency, show previous education in English or complete a course recognized by the university to demonstrate English proficiency.

If you’re an international student, consider getting some professional help with admission requirements from college admissions counseling for international students. If you want to attend the University of Alberta, you can also enroll in the school’s bridging program, which allows students to improve their academic English skills by taking courses and earning credits, thereby fulfilling their English Language Proficiency requirement without submitting test results.

High school students must complete five required academic courses or subjects. Course prerequisites will vary depending on your chosen program. For example, an undergraduate program in science will require completion of English Language Arts 30-1, Mathematics 30-1, Physics 30, Chemistry 30 or Biology 30 and one completed course in the Arts or Humanities. Program requirements and coursework are listed on the University of Alberta website.

The minimum grade needed to apply also varies by program, but as admission to the University is very competitive, it is advisable to achieve more than the minimum grade and explore your options for IB vs AP courses. For IB and AP students, there are other advantages they can receive from the U of A, including scholarships, extra credit, undergraduate research opportunities and advanced standing in your program. If you’re worried you don’t have the grades or want to know how to get into college with a low GPA, consider getting help from an admission professional or look at top summer programs for high school students to strengthen your application.

Meeting the minimum requirements for admission is not a guarantee of acceptance, so it’s advisable to craft as strong an application as possible. College admissions consulting services can be a huge help when studying your university options, choosing your programs and deciding what you need to apply. A college advisor can also help you in choosing what programs you want to apply for, since the U of A will allow you to indicate two programs of your choice to increase your chances of admission.

University of Alberta admission statistics

As mentioned, the University of Alberta can be quite selective and has a competitive admissions landscape. The school has an acceptance rate of 58%, making it one of the hardest Canadian universities to get into.

58%

University of Alberta acceptance rate

The school offers admission on a rolling basis, but spots in each program are limited, so its best to apply as early as possible. Applicants who are not accepted to their first-choice of program will be considered for their second-choice, so always provide two program choices in your application to increase your chances.

On average, the minimum grade required to attend the University of Alberta ranges from the low 70s to the high 80s. On average, most applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. For some extremely competitive programs, such as Pharmacology, average GPAs will be 3.7 or above. For international students or students applying from outside Alberta, the admissions competition can be even fiercer, so bring your best to the table. The school is highly academically inclined, but you can balance your application with a well-written college essay, great college recommendation letters or a supplemental college essay to help swing a decision in your favour.