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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Graduate Studies at the U of A
Are you ready to begin the process of applying to a University of Alberta graduate program? On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know to successfully prepare and submit your application to any of our graduate programs.
Ready to apply?
Read and complete all of the steps on this page before you start your application.
Step 1: Start early.
Applying to a graduate program at the U of A takes time. In general, we recommend beginning the process as early as one year before you wish to begin your program of study.
Application Deadlines
Deadlines vary by program and term.
- Some deadlines as early as 12 months before the program begins.
- Many departments make funding decisions six to nine months before you might begin your studies.
- If you are an international student, you will also need to allow time to apply for a study permit. To learn more about meeting immigration requirements to study in Canada, visit the Studying in Canada page.
Step 2: Choose your graduate program.
The U of A offers more than 500 graduate programs in 300 research areas. To learn more about our programs and find yours, visit the Graduate Programs page.
Step 3: Review graduate entrance requirements and contact the department.
General entrance requirements
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) has general entrance requirements that apply to all applicants.
Learn more about our general entrance requirements:
Program entrance requirements
Your program may have specific requirements and deadlines. To review your program’s requirements, find your program page. Each program page will also have contact information and a link to the department site if you have further questions about the program.
Thesis-based programs
If you are applying for a thesis-based program, please note that some programs require you to identify and contact a potential supervisor before applying.
Applying to one of these programs?
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Juris Doctor (JD)
Please refer to the undergraduate programs page.
Step 4: Prepare your application documents.
Before beginning your online application, ensure you have prepared all of the required supporting documents.
Below are some helpful links for preparing your documents.
- Criteria and Formatting Requirements for Supporting Documents (e.g., transcripts, degree certificates, marksheets, etc.)
- English Language Proficiency (if applicable) scores such as IELTS, Pearson, TOEFL.
Your program may require additional documents, including:
- CV
- Statement of intent
- Writing samples
- GRE, GMAT, other test scores
- References:
- You will be required to submit the name, title, organization and email address of all your references.
- An email with a secure link will only be sent to your references after you submit and pay for your application.
Generative AI in Graduate Applications
GPS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity in our graduate application process. As such, we strictly prohibit the use of Generative AI applications (e.g., ChatGPT, etc.) or any other form of artificial intelligence-assisted writing tools in the preparation and submission of application materials, including personal statements, statements of purpose, writing samples or other parts of the application. All submitted documents must be the original work of the applicant, reflecting their own thoughts, ideas and experiences. Any detected use of AI-generated content will be considered a violation of academic integrity and may result in application rejection or other consequences.
Step 5: Apply online.
Read and complete all of the steps on this page before you start your application. Then ensure that you set aside at least an hour to complete your online application.
We recommend using the latest version of one of these browsers for your application:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Safari
Please clear your browser cache before starting your application.
Have questions?
Scholarships
Have you applied for external scholarships?
You will be automatically considered for U of A entrance scholarships once you've applied for admission, but it's great to access your own external funding.
See Scholarships + Awards for some helpful tips, including information on scholarships and awards, international student funding and postdoctoral fellow funding.