Competitive Requirements

Competitive Admission

We encourage all students to apply early, as admission to the University of Alberta is competitive, works on a rolling basis and space in each program is limited.

The University of Alberta offers a range of programs, each with their own set of course requirements and admission averages, which vary from year to year. Specific admission averages are not available, but admission-average trends reflecting the last three admission cycles are listed below. We encourage students to treat these averages as a benchmark to gauge their potential eligibility for admission and to support their selection of program choices on their application for admission. However, they do not serve as a guarantee for future admission.

Admission Factors

Every applicant and enrolment cycle is unique, which is why we assess applications on an ongoing basis. It creates an opportunity to adjust what is considered a competitive application throughout the admissions period (October 1 - August 31) based on a variety of factors, such as:

  • the number of qualified applicants to a particular program
  • the averages presented by applicants that year
  • program capacity.

Get Started

To be considered for admission, applicants need to:

  • have the required courses for their program
  • meet the minimum requirements for their program
  • complete an application for admission
  • pay the application fee.

Select Second-Choice Program

To increase your chances of receiving an offer of admission, select a second-choice program on your application that has a lower historical competitive average range. Applicants who are not accepted into their first-choice program will be assessed for their second-choice program if listed.


Minimum Requirements

Admission is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Students who receive an offer of admission must meet the minimum requirements in all subjects and must meet all conditions stated in the admission offer letter in order to remain admissible.

Minimum Grades Required for Average Calculation


Admission-Average Ranges: Three-Year Trend

The following admission-average ranges reflect the past three admission cycles. Admission is competitive. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

The University of Alberta strives to recruit First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners, and has equity averages to improve access to education for prospective First Nations, Métis and Inuit applicants. Contact our Indigenous Recruitment Team at indigenous@ualberta.ca to learn more.

Agricultural, Life + Environmental Sciences

Low to mid 70s

Arts

Arts - Low to mid 70s

  • Bachelor of Arts Criminology - Low 80s to low 90s
  • Bachelor of Arts (Drama) / Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education Combined - Low 80s to low 90s
  • Bachelor of Arts Honors - Low 80s to low 90s
  • Bachelor of Arts (Planning) - Low 80s to low 90s

Augustana
Low to mid 70s
Business
Low 80s
Campus Saint-Jean
Low to mid 70s
Education
  • Elementary - High 70s to low 80s
  • Secondary (Art, Drama, Music) - High 70s to mid 80s
  • Secondary (Others) - Mid 70s to mid 90s
Engineering
Low to mid 80s
Kinesiology, Sport + Recreation
  • Bachelor of Kinesiology - Low to high 80s
  • Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology - Low to high 80s
  • Bachelor of Kinesiology / Bachelor of Education Combined - Mid 80s to low 90s
  • Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport and Tourism - Mid to high 70s
Native Studies
Low to mid 70s
Nursing
Mid 80s to low 90s
Science
Mid 80s to low 90s

Competitive GPAs for Professional Programs

These programs require pre-professional (university-level) study.

Law (JD)

Law (JD)

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Average GPA: 3.8
  • Average LSAT Score: 161
Medicine (MD)

Medicine (MD)

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Minimum competitive GPA to apply: 3.3
  • Competitive mean MCAT score: 128
Medical Laboratory Science

Medical Laboratory Science

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7
  • Competitive GPA: 3.0
Dentistry (DDS)

Dentistry (DDS)

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Minimum GPA to apply: 3.0
  • Competitive GPA: 3.85
  • Average DAT Score: 68 out of 90 (including Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and Manual Dexterity)
Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7
  • Competitive GPA: 3.43
Dietetics

Dietetics

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7
  • Competitive GPA: 3.0
Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Average GPA: 3.2
  • Per-MMI GPA: 3.4
Pharmacy (PharmD)

Pharmacy (PharmD)

Competitive Requirements (previous year)

  • Average GPA: 3.5 for Alberta applicants and 3.7 for out-of-province applicants