Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy

At the University of Calgary, we seek first and foremost to attract excellent academic students. However, we also recognize that those who have achieved excellence outside academics or who have overcome significant hardships can make positive contributions to the University community, and that achieving this excellence or overcoming hardships requires discipline, desire, dedication and determination and may mean some sacrifice of academic achievement. Recognizing that excellence means more than academic excellence, the University of Calgary may admit up to 1% of its undergraduate students annually under this category.

Students may be considered under this policy for their first program choice.

Students seeking admission under this policy must demonstrate that they have:

  • Achieved excellence in non-academic areas, or
  • High potential in academic or research activities, or
  • Persevered under great difficulty or hardship.

Examples of such students may include, but are not limited to, those who have achieved significant recognition of their ability in sports or the arts, or who have shown exceptional perseverance through debilitating illness or other major extenuating circumstances.

Applicants must also:

  • Have met the minimum academic requirements as specified in this Calendar,
  • Have met the English Language Proficiency requirement,
  • Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Students who have previously been required to withdraw are not eligible for consideration under this category.

This admission category may not be available in all faculties or programs. For programs currently available, refer to the website below.

For further information and application deadlines, refer to www.ucalgary.ca/admissions/diverse_qualifications.