3.1 General Admission Requirements 2020/2021

3.1 General Admission Requirements

3.1.1 Application for Admission

Concordia University of Edmonton’s Undergraduate Admission Application is available online at www.concordia.ab.ca/future-students/admissions/how-to-apply/undergraduate.

An application for admission is complete when all of the following has been received:

1. The Application, completed in full.
2. Official transcripts of all secondary and post-secondary studies (section C, Official Transcripts and Documents). Applicants to Concordia University of Edmonton’s after-degree programs are not required to present secondary (i.e., high school) transcripts.
3. Original supporting documents required for admission to specialized programs (e.g., Confidential Assessment Forms, etc.).
4. Demonstrated fulfilment of the English Language Requirement, section 3.1.3.
5. Payment of the Application Fee.
6. Other documentation that may be requested.

Incomplete applications or those submitted without the application fee are not considered.

Where applicable, applicants are advised to submit all transcripts and supporting documents as soon as they become available. Students studying at other institutions at the time of application are encouraged to forward interim transcripts or marks to Concordia University of Edmonton and to send final official transcripts immediately after they have completed their studies. This is important to ensure consideration for early admission and entrance scholarships.

Individuals interested in applying to study at Concordia University of Edmonton should review section 8.6, Applicant Conduct.

A. Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Please consult table 3.1.1.A regarding the due dates for application documents. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications and documents are accepted until the end of the next business day. Applicants who miss admission deadlines may contact Student & Enrolment Services to discuss alternate enrolment opportunities.

B. Information for International Applicants

Students who wish to study at Concordia University of Edmonton while in Canada under a study permit (student visa) should contact Student & Enrolment Services for further information. International applicants are reminded that they must pay the Application Fee before their applications may be considered.

For undergraduate applicants, after all documents have been received and evaluated, eligible applicants are issued an Offer of Admission and Letter of Acceptance for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. These letters are normally submitted to the Canadian Consulate in the applicant’s home country for processing of the study permit. At point of registration, eligible applicants submit a pre-registration deposit of $2,500 (section 5.2, Registration Deposits).

Electronic communications sent by the Office of Admissions will be deemed official. Hard copies of admission decisions/status will not be printed and mailed.

To be eligible for a study permit, international students admitted to Concordia University of Edmonton must be registered in a minimum 60% of a full-course load (normally defined as nine credits each semester). Students must submit copies of their valid study permits and copy of passport to Student & Enrolment Services in order to maintain their registration.

For complete information regarding application to Concordia University of Edmonton, please refer to Application for Admission in section 3.1.1, Application Fee in section 5.0.1, and the Concordia University of Edmonton Students’ Association Benefits Plan in section 8.5.3.B.

C. Official Transcripts and Documents

Concordia University of Edmonton is pleased to be a part of ApplyAlberta and will request transcripts on behalf of applicants who have completed Grade 12 in Alberta and for applicants who have attended post- secondary institutions that subscribe to the transcript request service through ApplyAlberta.

Applicants are responsible for requesting all other transcripts and are normally required to have their official transcripts sent directly to Concordia University of Edmonton from all of the secondary (ministry of education, if applicable) and post-secondary institutions that they have attended. However, Concordia University of Edmonton may accept hand-delivered transcripts in envelopes that have been officially sealed by issuing institutions; seals must be unbroken.

Official transcripts bear the sending institution’s official seal, stamp or imprint and the original signature of the issuer. Documents such as Statement of Results, Student Copy, Confirmation Copy, facsimiles or photocopies are not official transcripts. In addition, all documents required in support of an application (e.g., Work Experience Record, etc.) must be original; facsimiles, photocopies, and electronic documents are not acceptable. Applicants are also required to have Confidential Assessment Forms sent directly to Concordia University of Edmonton by their references. However, Student & Enrolment Services may accept hand-delivered Confidential Assessment Forms in envelopes that have been sealed and signed by the reference; seals must be unbroken.

1. International Transcripts

Official transcripts from educational institutions outside Canada must list the courses studied, grades obtained, standing in class and other related academic information. Transcripts must indicate how grades are to be interpreted. It is recommended that international transcripts of applicants’ secondary education (high school) include Grade 9 through Grade 12 or equivalent. International transcripts that are attested or certified photocopies bearing the school’s official seal and the original signature of the issuing officer may be acceptable.

2. Transcripts and Documents in Another Language

Applicants seeking admission on the basis of official transcripts and documents that are in a language other than English or French must submit official transcripts and documents in the original language as well as a notarized English translation.

D. Ownership of Documents

All documents, including official transcripts, received by Student & Enrolment Services become the property of Concordia University of Edmonton. Concordia University of Edmonton does not release, photocopy, or forward documents that are submitted for admission or registration purposes.

E. Protection of Information

Please refer to section 9.4, Student Records, for information regarding student records and the protection of student information.

F. Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation, falsification of documents or withholding requested information are serious offences. Students who have misrepresented facts, falsified documents or withheld requested information on official Concordia University of Edmonton forms may be subject to one or more of the following penalties:

1. Verbal and/or written reprimand
2. Disciplinary or academic probation
3. Cancellation of admission and/or registration
4. Required to withdraw from the institution
5. Placement on Document Alert, a national warning notification list used by post-secondary institutions
6. Prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada

3.1.2 Transfer Credit

Concordia University of Edmonton may grant transfer credit for university-level courses except practica, internships, or work experiences provided said credit was earned in the 7 years prior to the Student Transfer Credit Evaluation for courses completed at recognized universities or colleges. The minimum acceptable course grade for transfer credit is a D on Concordia University of Edmonton’s grading scale, or its equivalent.
Normally, transfer credit is assessed during the admission process based on the official transcripts submitted for admission.

TUse of transfer credit is limited by the residency requirement, which stipulates the number of credits that students must complete at Concordia University of Edmonton in order to earn a Concordia University of Edmonton degree, as well as the specific program requirements. Residency requirements are stated under the General Academic Requirements for the appropriate degree program.

Transfer credit granted toward Concordia University of Edmonton degrees may not be accepted by other post-secondary institutions to which students may transfer.

Applicants who have completed post-secondary course work at a college or university not listed in the Alberta Transfer Guide may be required to submit detailed course syllabi including, but not limited to, the instructor’s name and qualifications, course hours, topics covered, and textbook used before transfer credit is assessed.

Students who wish to transfer to another institution should refer to the Alberta Transfer Guide, which lists all courses and program transfer agreements between post-secondary institutions in Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. The Guide and other transfer information are available online at www.transferalberta.ca.

The undergraduate transfer credit policy is contained in section 9.9 of
this Academic Calendar.

[Approved by the General Faculties Council on May 22nd, 2020]

3.1.3 English Language Requirement

Applicants to the Bachelor of Education After Degree program require levels of English Language Proficiency consistent with Alberta Education’s requirements for certification. See section 3.4.1.A.8.

English is the principal language of instruction at Concordia University of Edmonton. To ensure that students have the best opportunity to achieve academic success, all applicants to any program or course of study whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate fulfilment of one of the following English language requirements, regardless of citizenship or country of origin:

Concordia University of Edmonton may consider other English language proficiency tests. Applicants are encouraged to contact Student & Enrolment Services for further details.

1. Applicants studying in Canada on a study permit (student visa) must normally present a satisfactory score on one of the following approved English Language proficiency examinations, taken within the last two years, as described below:
   • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT (internet-based test) score of 80 or PBT (paper-based test) score of 550. We do not accept MyBest Scores for admission purposes. When requesting official TOEFL test scores to be sent to Concordia University of Edmonton, students should indicate Concordia University of Edmonton’s institution code, 0916.

     TOEFL Services
     P.O. Box 6151
     Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA
     Online: www.toefl.org

   • IELTS (International English Language Testing System), ACADEMIC. The minimum satisfactory score is 6.0 with no band below 5.5. [Information about the IELTS exam can be found at: www.ielts.org.]
   • MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery). The minimum satisfactory score is 80. [Information about the MELAB exam can be found at: cambridgemichigan.org/test-takers/tests/melab/.]
   • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment). The minimum satisfactory score is 60 with scores of at least 50 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and 60 or higher in Writing. [Information about the CAEL exam can be found at: www.cael.ca.]
   • CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark). The minimum satisfactory score is 6. [Information about the CLB exam can be found at: www.language.ca.]
   • Pearson Test of English (Academic). The minimum satisfactory score is 54. [Information about the Pearson Test of English (Academic) exam can be found at: www.pearsonpte.com.]
   • Successful completion of Pathway III offered through International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC). The Pathway III Program is not accepted for admission to the Bachelor of Education After Degree.
   • Cambridge English Language Assessment C1 Advanced (formerly known as CAE – Certificate in Advanced English, or Cambridge English: Advanced) and C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CPE – Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency). The minimum satisfactory score is 175 with no band lower than 165. [Information about the C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency exams can be found at: www.cambridgeenglish.org.]
2. Applicants who have studied for three (3) full years in Canada must normally present 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or approved equivalent. The three years must include Alberta Grade 12 or equivalent and may be a combination of secondary and post-secondary education.
3. Applicants who have studied for less than three (3) full years in Canada must normally present 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or equivalent and a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 (or PBT score of 550). Applicants who achieve 60% or greater in English 30, English Language Arts 30-1, or approved equivalent may be exempt from providing an English language proficiency exam score.
4. Applicants who demonstrate that they have completed the equivalent of an Alberta Grade 12 education and that English was the principal language of their education at the secondary and/or post-secondary level may be exempt from providing an English language proficiency exam score.
5. Applicants who have baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or university where English is the primary language of instruction and the principal language of the country meet the English language requirement.
6. Successful completion of Concordia University of Edmonton‘s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program EAP Tier 1 and EAP Tier 2 or EAP Tier 2 with a minimum score of C or higher in each tier satisfies Concordia University of Edmonton’s broader English Language Requirement for admission to Concordia University of Edmonton’s Undergraduate Degree programs with the exception of Concordia University of Edmonton’s After-Degree in Education program. Successful EAP performance is considered one component of an application to any academic program; admission requirements and competitiveness (if applicable) to any degree program is still required.
7. Formal International Visiting and Exchange Students satisfy the English Language Requirement by providing formal written confirmation from the home institution.

3.1.4 Early Admission

This section refers only to early admission consideration. For complete information on admission requirements, please refer to sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4.

Concordia University of Edmonton may grant early admission to qualified applicants prior to the receipt of final grades. All applicants, including international, are considered for early admission.

Applicants offered early admission can take advantage of early course registration, as well, applicants applying before April 1st will automatically be considered for entrance scholarships applicable to their program of study.

If early admission is not offered, the applicant’s admission file remains active. Applicants will be reassessed once further information or final grades are received.

A. High School Applicants

To be considered to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Management & Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Dual Degrees, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Management programs, applicants in their final year of high school must normally present an admission average of at least 65%. Applicants must list all Grade 12 (or equivalent) courses completed, in-progress or to be taken and available final or interim grades on their application. A minimum of two final or interim grades are required for early admission consideration; however, all grades are used in the assessment.

B. Transfer Applicants

To be considered to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science programs, applicants currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution must normally present an admission grade point average (AGPA) of at least 2.0 or 2.3 for Bachelor of Management & Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Dual Degrees or Bachelor of Management. Applicants must submit transcripts listing all final grades and current course registration.

C. After-Degree Applicants

To be considered, applicants must normally present a competitive AGPA, normally 3.0, demonstrate fulfilment of the required courses for their chosen program, submit transcripts listing all final grades and current course registration, and required documents.

D. Registration

When Concordia University of Edmonton offers early admission, applicants are required to pay the appropriate non-refundable registration deposit (section 5.2, Registration Deposits) and will then receive access to the Online Course Selector when registration opens. In the case that Concordia University of Edmonton rescinds an offer of admission, the registration deposit is refunded less the Processing Fee.

E. Final Offers of Admission

All early admission offers are reassessed for final admission once final official transcripts and required documents are received. Concordia University of Edmonton reserves the right to rescind admission offers at any time if applicants do not fulfil the conditions outlined in their early admission letter.

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for their chosen program will automatically be considered for their second choice listed on their Applicant Form.