Student Access Process

UCalgary is committed to establishing an equitable, diverse and inclusive campus that is accessible to all.

Students have diverse identities, backgrounds and experiences that have shaped their opportunities. The Student Access Process recognizes and acknowledges this. This admissions process will consider factors that may have negatively impacted a student’s access to university admissions. We invite you to share any experiences that you feel may have negatively impacted your academic success. This could include social or economic barriers, acute illness, chronic conditions, disability, marginalization or systematic discrimination. We commit to reviewing applicants fairly and inclusively. All students should feel valued, respected and supported.

We strive to remove barriers that have been, and continue to be, encountered by members of equity-deserving groups including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minority persons, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ2S+ persons.

Student Access Process

A student’s application will not be delayed or negatively impacted by applying through the Student Access Process. Students who apply with Student Access qualifications will first be considered through the competitive admission process and may be considered for additional pathways:

Admission to their first-choice degree program
Admission to another degree program aligned with their interests
Admission to Open Studies or the Undergraduate Entrance Program (UEP)

Undergraduate applicants

How to apply under this process

Step 1: Apply for admission

Apply

As a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee applying to an undergraduate degree program from high school or as a transfer student from another post-secondary institution, you apply for admission using the online application (see: how to apply).

Indicate

You must indicate that you’re applying under the Student Access Process in the “Additional Information” section at the end of the application.

Step 2: Complete a personal statement

You must complete a personal statement that outlines your special circumstances, personal achievements and educational goals. Download the personal statement form.

Upload your personal statement via the upload link under Admissions in your Student Centre.

The deadline to submit your personal statement is:

Feb. 15 for spring undergraduate admission
March 15 for fall and summer undergraduate admission

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet these criteria:

High school students must have ELA 30-1 and at least two other 30 level (or equivalent) approved courses, including required courses for admissions as specified in Adult Student Admission.
Transfer student requirements are specified in Transfer Admission Requirements.
Provide a personal statement by the deadline.
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status.

Admission under the Student Access Process is not available in the following programs:

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program offered by the Faculty of Medicine

Important notes about this process for undergraduate applicants

Submitting the required information and documents doesn’t guarantee admission to the university. Admission decisions made under the Student Access Process are final and cannot be appealed.

Student Access admission decisions are normally made between May 1 and June 30 for fall admission.

University Entrance Program (UEP) and Open Studies applicants

How to apply under this process

Step 1: Apply for admission

Apply

As a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee applying to a University Entrance Program or the Open Studies, non-degree holder route, you apply for admission using the online application (see: how to apply).

Indicate

You must indicate that you're applying under the Student Access Process in the "Additional Information" section at the end of the application.

Step 2: Complete a personal statement

Complete and upload your personal statement that outlines your special circumstances, personal achievements and educational goals. Download the personal statement form.

Upload your personal statement via the upload link under Admissions in your Student Centre.

The deadline to submit your Personal Statement is:

Aug. 10 for fall UEP and Open Studies admission
Dec. 10 for winter UEP and Open Studies admission
April 10 for spring UEP and Open Studies admission
June 10 for summer UEP and Open Studies admission

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet these criteria:

English Language Arts 30-1 (or equivalent).
Required courses as outlined in Admission Requirements, University Entrance Programs.
Provide a personal statement by the deadline.
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have refugee status.

Important notes about this process for UEP and Open Studies applicants

Submitting the required information and documents doesn’t guarantee admission to the University. Admission decisions made under the Student Access Process are final and cannot be appealed.

The Student Access Process applies to new students only. If you’re changing your program applicant and you have questions about having exceptional circumstances considered, please connect with the faculty to which you're applying.

Connect with your faculty advisor to find out more

If you are applying under the Student Access Process as a result of being impacted by sexual violence, please note that we have dedicated sexual violence support on campus. We recommend that you seek support and advice on this process from their office before submitting your application. It can be difficult to know what to share and in appreciating that this is a very sensitive matter, we want to ensure that you feel confident regarding your safety during this process. You can contact the sexual violence support team by emailing svsa@ucalgary.ca or through the sexual violence support webpage.