Bridging Program

Improve your English skills and earn academic credit at UAlberta!

The Bridging Program (BP) is a program for excellent students who meet all of UAlberta's academic criteria but need to improve their English skills in order to enter a degree program.

BP students can take English language courses at UAlberta and earn academic credit at the same time.

After you complete the BP successfully, you can continue as a full-time undergraduate student at UAlberta, one of Canada's leading universities… and you'll already have credit that will count towards your degree!

Why choose the UAlberta BP?

  • The BP will put you on the right path to becoming a UAlberta graduate. If you complete the program successfully, you will continue in a full-time degree program.
  • In the UAlberta BP, you'll be enrolled in a Faculty and take classes with other UAlberta students. You'll be a part of the campus community.
  • You'll be eligible for entrance scholarships!
  • As a BP student, you can stay in a UAlberta student residence. It's convenient to live on campus, and it's the perfect way to make new friends!
  • You'll get your own ONEcard, a student ID card that will give you access to public transit and UAlberta libraries, athletic facilities, and more.
  • You'll have access to top-quality student services. Our Faculty advisors and the BP advisor are here to help you succeed!

What can I study in the BP?

When you begin your studies in the BP, you will be part of one of these Faculties. 

  • Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences
  • Faculty of Arts 
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
  • Faculty of Native Studies
  • Augustana Campus (located in Camrose, Alberta)

How Does BP Work?

There are two Stages in the Bridging Program. Your English Language Proficiency scores will determine which Stage is right for you. You must meet the requirements of the Bridging Program within 12 months of your initial registration.

BP Stage 1

 Duration

Minimum of 2 months

Course
EAP 135
After you complete BP Stage 1 successfully, begin BP Stage 2
BP Stage 2 Duration

Minimum of 8 months

Courses
  • EAP 136 (0 credit) + EAP 137 (3 credits)
  • When taking EAP 137, students may begin studies in their
    Faculty and enroll in up to 3 additional academic courses
    in the Fall and Winter terms.

View complete program details and course options

Am I Eligible?

The BP is open to all undergraduate applicants who meet the academic criteria required for admission to the Faculties participating in the BP, but do not yet meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. Please note: not all programs in these faculties offer the Bridging Program. 

Requirements

1. Academic requirements

High school applicants Postsecondary applicants
You must present:
 You must present:
  • A GPA of 2.0 - 3.3 (depending on your program of interest)
  • Other admission criteria will vary. Contact us for more information.

2. English Language Proficiency requirements

There are 2 different stages in the BP. Students can enter either BP Stage 1 or BP Stage 2. Your English Language Proficiency scores will determine which stage is right for you.

Completion of one of the following

Scores required for BP Stage 1

Scores required for BP Stage 2

Duolingo English Test

Score of 80 with minimum subscore of 65

Score of 95 with minimum subscore of 80

IELTS

total score of 5.0, with no band score less than 4.5.

total score of at least 5.5 or higher, with no band score less than 5.0.

TOEFL iBT

total score from 40, with no band score less than 12 (subject to final approval by the University's governance.)

total score of at least 53, with no band score less than 14 (subject to final approval by the University's governance).

CAEL

total score from 40, with no band score less than 20.

total score of at least 50, with no band score less than 30.

PTE Academic

total score of at least 36, with no band score less than 29.

total score of at least 42, with no band score less than 36.

CanTest

total score of at least 3.5, with no band score less than 3.0.

total score of at least 4.0, with no band score less than 3.5.

CAE/CPE

Scale score of at least 154, with no less than 147 in each skill

Scale score of at least 162, with no less than 154 in each skill

U of A Education EAP

not applicable

EAP 135 (EXELP 7135): successful completion

When Can I Start?

Bridging Program students are admitted in the following terms depending on the faculty to which you're applying.

Fall Term (September)

Spring Term (May)
ALES Yes -
Arts Yes Yes
Augustana Yes -
Native Studies Yes Yes
Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation Yes -

How do I apply? What are the deadlines?

Bridging Program students follow the same application procedures as other applicants and must also meet the same application deadlines. See How to Apply.

To evaluate your application for admission, we will require the following documents:

  • official and complete high school transcript(s)
  • official ELP score report
  • official and complete post-secondary transcripts (two copies) and post-secondary course descriptions (transfer applicants only)
See Documentation.

Program Details & Academic Course Options

Students can set their own pace in the Bridging Program based on when courses are offered.

  • Stage 1 is normally completed within two months.
  • Stage 2 can be completed in eight months. 
  • All EAP courses must be completed within one year.

Course offerings for the Bridging Program are below. For advice on selecting academic courses, consult your Faculty advisor.

Stage 1 Students

Stage 2 Students
Fall Term
(September to December)
  • EAP 135 (offered in July-August or Nov-Dec only)
  • EAP 136 (offered Sept-Dec)
Winter Term
(January to April)
  • EAP 135 (offered in Mar-Apr only)
  • EAP 136 (offered Jan-Apr)
  • EAP 137 (offered Jan-Apr)
  • Maximum of an additional three-credit academic courses (Jan-Apr) for students enrolled in EAP 137

Spring + Summer Terms (May to August)
  • EAP 135 (offered in July-Aug only)
  • EAP 136 (offered once: May-Aug)
  • EAP 137 (offered once: May-Aug)

Guidelines

  1. Students will have a maximum of 12 months to complete the EAP requirements of the Bridging Program. EAP 135, EAP 136 and EAP 137 can each be attempted a maximum of two times. Students who do not successfully complete EAP 137 by the end of the 12th month will be withdrawn from the Bridging Program and the Faculty.
  2. Students who are withdrawn from the Bridging Program will not be readmitted to the Bridging Program.
  3. Students in the Bridging Program may not use any other English proficiency examinations to replace the required EAP 136 and 137 courses. If a student wishes to take an external English proficiency examination such as TOEFL, IELTS, etc., to meet the University of Alberta English Language Proficiency requirements, a written statement informing the Bridging Program Advisor of the intention to withdraw from the program is required. Students will then be required to apply to a Faculty for re-admission to the next available term.
  4. Academic courses, including EAP 137,  taken while in the Bridging Program are credit courses. They will be taken into account for academic assessment after the first year as well as for admission to future academic programs. Students planning on continuing in the Faculty must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in their academic coursework.
  5. Students who successfully complete the EAP courses within 12 months and maintain the minimum GPA as defined by their Faculty will be eligible to continue in the Faculty. Students wishing to pursue programs offered by other Faculties must re-apply by the appropriate deadline.
  6. Students should consult with the appropriate faculty to determine the competitive GPA required for transfer. Students are responsible for meeting all requirements and document deadlines for the program to which they have applied.

Recommended Academic Course Options

North Campus (Edmonton)

ANTHR 101 (*3)
ANTHR 110 (*3)
ART 134 (*3)
ASTRO 120 (*3)
ASTRO 122 (*3)
BIOL 107 (*3)
BIOL 108 (*3)
CHEM 101 (*3)
CHEM 102 (*3)
CMPUT 101 (*3)

CMPUT 174 (*3)
CMPUT 175 (*3)
DES 135 (*3)
EAS 100 (*3)
EAS 105 (*3)
EASIA 101 (*3)
HECOL 100 (*3)
MATH 113 (*3)
MATH 114 (*3)
MATH 115 (*3)

 MATH 117 (*3)
MATH 118 (*3)
MATH 125 (*3)
MATH 154 (*3)
MUSIC 101 (*3)
MUSIC 102 (*3)
MUSIC 140 (*3)
MUSIC 141 (*3)
MUSIC 143 (*3)
MUSIC 144 (*3)
NS 110 (*3)		 NS 111 (*3)
NU FS 100 (*3)
NUTR 100 (*3)
PHYS 114 (*3)
PHYS 124(*3)
PHYS 126 (*3)
PHYS 144 (*3)
PHYS 146 (*3)
RLS 100 (*3)
STAT 151 (*3)
STAT 151 (*3)

Cost Estimates

BP Stage 1
Course fee for EAP 135 (0 credit) $3,009*

BP Stage 2
Course Fee for EAP 136 (0 credits) $6,018*
Course Fee for EAP 137 (3 credits) Fee included in degree

After you complete the BP successfully and continue in a UAlberta degree program you will be required to enrol in a minimum of three academic courses per term in order to maintain full-time status. You have the option to enroll in a maximum of five academic courses per term. Most academic courses are 3 credits each.

* based on 2020/21 UAlberta fee index rates - these rates are in addition to the tuition guarantee program rate

Contact Us

General inquiries: bpadvisor@ualberta.ca

Faculty-specific inquiries: