FAQ for Current and Prospective Students

Current Students

Q. I am a current student on Study Permit with Ukrainian citizenship, what financial support is available to me?

As a current study permit student with Ukrainian citizenship, you will be charged the domestic tuition rate instead of the international tuition rate for the duration of your program, if you came to the university via the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Tuition rates vary by program. Find domestic and international rates for your program.

You will also have access to international need-based support (student bursaries) based on your financial need. 

If you are facing financial challenges prior to the start of the Fall term, please see Bursaries + Emergency Funding or email bursaries@ualberta.ca.

Q. How can I receive the domestic tuition rate?

You must confirm your CUAET status to receive the domestic tuition rate. In order to confirm your CUAET status with the University of Alberta, please submit your Study Permit or any other document indicating your CUAET status to the Student Service Centre. Your CUAET designation must be noted on the submitted document. You can securely submit your document via the Student Service Portal or come in person during our business hours.

Q: I am a current student with Russian or Belarusian citizenship. What financial supports are available to me?

Please email bursaries@ualberta.ca if you have any additional questions.

Prospective Students

Applications

Q. I am a Ukrainian citizen impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and wondering if the University of Alberta can help me in any way.

Prospective students joining the university in the 2027-28 year through the CUAET program will be charged the domestic tuition rate instead of the international tuition rate for the duration of their program.

Incoming students on the CUAET program will not be provided with additional need-based financial support to cover costs (including tuition, textbooks, living expenses, and other costs students may incur). We encourage you to apply for the entrance merit-based scholarships and awards.

Q: Are there supports available for non-Ukrainian citizens who have been impacted?

Non-Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war from vulnerable communities can apply to come to Canada through other immigration streams.

How you can immigrate to Canada

The Canadian government has assessed that international students with citizenship other than Ukrainian (who have fled Ukraine) can return to their country of citizenship. Interested persons can apply to study in Canada as international students. See Government of Canada Study in Canada website and start your search with the EduCanada search tool.

Q. I don’t have access to my final and official transcripts or documents required for admissions. Can I still be admitted?

If you are offered admission, official transcripts and documents will be required. We understand that it may not be possible for you to get them, so we will make exceptions where possible. In order to assess your application, we will require a copy of your transcript, translations and course descriptions, and you will need to meet the English language requirements.

Graduate students will need to meet specific English Language Proficiency requirements, as outlined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Q: I am not able to submit my Ukrainian documents with official translations into English, what are my options?

Official translations of your transcripts and documents are required.

Q: I planned to take an ELP test but now won’t be able to — is there any flexibility on this requirement?

You must meet the English language requirements in order to be admitted. The University of Alberta accepts the online versions of ELP tests such as IELTS and Duolingo.

Graduate students will need to meet specific English Language Proficiency requirements, as outlined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Q: My ELP test score is slightly below the requirement and I am not sure I will be able to retake the test — is there any flexibility on this requirement?

The University of Alberta will accept new test scores. You must meet the English language requirements in order to be admitted.

The University of Alberta has five faculties that offer a Bridging Program designed for applicants who meet all other admission requirements for their program of choice, except for English Language Proficiency (ELP). The Bridging Program allows eligible students to take English language courses and earn academic credit at the same time.

Please note: not all programs in these faculties offer the Bridging Program.

Graduate students will need to meet specific English Language Proficiency requirements, as outlined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Q: Are there any deadline extensions or exceptions for programs with closed applications?

There are no deadline extensions or exceptions for undergraduate or graduate programs.

Q: I am a displaced professional program student (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, etc.) — is there any opportunity to apply to transfer my studies to UAlberta?

The University of Alberta Medicine and Doctor of Dental Surgery (Advanced Placement) programs are only open to those with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status.

The University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery program accepts applications from international applicants however there are restrictions for non-resident applicants. Dentistry students are not eligible for the tuition waiver.

Q: Will professional programs for Fall 2027 such as the Juris Doctor program offer application fee waivers?

No, professional programs such as the Juris Doctor program will not offer application fee waivers for Fall 2027. 

Immigration and Study Permits

Q: How does the immigration/study permit process work?

The Government of Canada had created the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) to help Ukrainians and their family members to come to Canada. The deadline to apply for a visa under the CUAET measures was July 15, 2023 . If you’re Ukrainian national or a family member of a Ukrainian national and want to apply for a visitor visa to enter Canada after July 15, 2023, you can apply through the regular process.

If you applied to come to Canada under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) on or before July 15, 2023, you needed to have entered Canada by March 31, 2024, to be eligible for in-Canada measures under the CUAET.

Students who are currently outside Canada must submit a Study Permit application to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as soon as they receive their Letter of Acceptance from the University of Alberta. Detailed information about the Study Permit application process can be found on our website.

Ukrainian nationals currently in Canada under CUAET can apply for their study permit from inside Canada once they receive their Letter of Acceptance and the domestic tuition rate guarantee for CUAET students letter. Detailed information about the in-Canada study permit application process can be found here.

Please note: a valid study permit is required to start your undergraduate or graduate level study program in Canada.

Fees and Tuition

Q: If I am admitted to the University of Alberta, am I guaranteed a full tuition waiver and funding to support living costs?

No. Prospective students joining the university in the 2027-28 year through the CUAET program will be charged the domestic tuition rate instead of the international tuition rate for the duration of their program. The U of A is one of only a few universities in Canada to offer CUAET students domestic tuition rates, which can be up to a 65-80% reduction, depending on the program, from the international tuition rates. The application fee will not be waived.

Incoming students on the CUAET program will not be provided with additional need-based financial support to cover costs (including tuition, textbooks, living expenses, and other costs students may incur). We encourage you to apply for the entrance merit-based scholarships and awards.

Q. If I am admitted to the University of Alberta, how can I receive the domestic tuition rate?

In order to confirm your CUAET status with the University of Alberta, please submit your Study Permit or any other document indicating your CUAET status to the Student Service Centre. Your CUAET designation must be noted on the submitted document. You can securely submit your document via the Student Service Portal or come in person during our business hours.

Q. If I have been offered an award from the university, will this impact my eligibility for the domestic tuition rate?

No, domestic tuition rate is unaffected by any awards offers.

Q: Will Open Studies students be eligible for the domestic tuition rate?

Open Studies students will be eligible for domestic tuition, provided you supply a document that notes your participation in the CUAET program.

Students admitted into Open Studies normally are restricted to part-time study with a maximum of 6 units per term and are not enrolled in a specific degree or diploma program. Open Studies may not be the best choice to start your university career; students planning to enter a degree program should consult with an academic advisor before attempting coursework through Open Studies.

Q: I am living and studying in Ukraine but am not a Ukrainian citizen, will the domestic tuition rate be available to me?

The domestic tuition rate is only available to students admitted to an undergraduate or graduate program with Ukrainian citizenship on a study permit, or other citizenships, if they are a family member of the Ukrainian citizen and arrived to Canada under the  CUAET program .

Q: What financial aid is available for me if I am a current student on a study permit?

Continuing undergraduate students are eligible to apply for continuing awards and bursaries.

Continuing graduate students can check eligibility for Graduate Awards and Scholarships.

Scholars

Postdoctoral fellows, academic visitors, and visiting students can reach out to pdfo@ualberta.ca