Frequently Asked Questions

What Business degree programs are offered?
The School of Business offers the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), BCom Cooperative Education, Bilingual BCom (English and French), BCom Honors, and the BCom After Degree.

How long is the BCom degree?
The BCom degree is a four year program.

Can I enter directly from High School?
Yes. The BCom degree is a direct entry program.

Do high school courses or marks count towards entrance?
Yes. High school grades and courses are required for admission. 

How do you assess applicants for admission?
The Alberta School of Business is a limited enrolment faculty. Admission to the BCom program is not guaranteed to all applicants. Qualified applicants are ranked according to their grade point average (GPA). Applicants are admitted in order until the program quota is full. For ranking purposes, applicants may be placed into separate pools. Admission from these pools will not necessarily be equal. For more information on admission requirements and the selection process, please consult the U of A Calendar.

What is the enrolment target?
The Alberta School of Business BCom degree is a quota program and the faculty receives many more applicants than we can accept in the admission year. The faculty has an overall target number for students registered in all years. Our intake in any year will be variable depending on how many students are continuing from the previous year. New admissions can range from 700-800 students, depending on space available in the faculty.

What is the minimum GPA to apply to the BCom program?
Students must present a minimum GPA of 2.3 to apply to the BCom program. However, it is highly unlikely that a GPA of 2.3 will be competitive for admission. Admission is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

What is the competitive GPA?
The competitive GPA can change from year to year as it is based on the quality of the applicant pool and space available in the program quota. Specific admission averages and past applicant profiles are not available as they do not serve as a guarantee for future admission. You should ensure that you apply with the most competitive GPA possible, as admission is competitive.

How is GPA calculated?
The AGPA is calculated on all university transferable coursework completed in the most recent two terms of study if they contain a minimum of 24 units of course weight. If those two terms contain less than 24 units of course weight, all work in the next most recent term(s) is included in the calculation until the minimum total of 24 units of course weight is reached. Fall/Winter courses are considered Winter courses in these calculations. For applicants who have attempted less than 24 units of transferable postsecondary work, the AGPA is based on all university or university transfer credits attempted.

What is the lowest mark you will accept for transfer credit?
This will depend on your post-secondary institution. Transfer credit will be granted for transferable courses from another post-secondary institution if the grade achieved is at least a C- and the course is applicable to the BCom program. The Alberta Transfer Guide lists some requirements for transfer credit under the specific institution. All courses successfully completed at the U of A are eligible for transfer credit.

What is the application deadline and how do I apply?

Fall 2027 Application Opens - October 1, 2026
Fall 2027 Application Deadline for all students - March 1, 2027
Official Transcript/Document Deadline - June 15, 2027

Apply for Admission to the BCom program.

What is the Cooperative Education (Co-op) program?
The Cooperative Education program allows students to combine learning in the classroom with real world experience. Students put their academic knowledge into action through 3 terms of relevant, paid work experience.

How does a student apply for the Co-op program?
Students with no more than 75 credits toward their degree are eligible to apply to Co-op. Applicants to the BCom program can apply to Co-op at the same time as they apply to the BCom program. Application to Co-op is separate from application to the BCom program. You must apply for admission to the BCom program prior to applying to Co-op. Please consult the Co-op website for further details.

Can I speak with a BCom advisor?
Please contact Student Recruitment if you have further questions.