International Students
MACT welcomes you if you are an international student who wants to study communication, technology, digital media, and organizational change in a Canadian graduate program designed for working professionals.
As an international student, you bring valuable professional, cultural, and global perspectives to the MACT learning community. Through MACT’s blended format, you attend intensive in-person residencies at the University of Alberta during the Spring Institute and continue your coursework online.
MACT offers three pathways through the program that may be relevant to you. As you consider applying, you should think about which route best fits your academic goals, professional plans, immigration status, and timeline. All MACT students are initially admitted to the course-based route. If you are interested in the thesis-based route, you may apply to transfer after completing the first Spring Institute.
Course-based route: part-time
The part-time course-based route reflects the original MACT program design. It may be a good fit if you want to complete the program while continuing to work or manage other professional commitments.
This flexibility can be especially valuable if you are studying from outside Canada. In the part-time course-based route, you may travel to Edmonton for the required Spring Institute residencies and then return home to complete online courses from your own community. MACT’s online courses are offered asynchronously, which helps reduce the challenges of studying across different time zones.
Modified full-time course-based route
You may need or prefer to study full-time during the fall and winter terms. This may be especially important if you are considering post-graduation work opportunities in Canada after completing MACT.
Because MACT was originally designed as a part-time professional program, maintaining full-time status may require a modified course plan. In some cases, this may involve taking one or more courses extra to degree in order to maintain full-time registration in particular terms.
If you are considering this route, you should consult with the MACT graduate advisor before applying and before registering in courses. You should also seek advice from University of Alberta international student advisors about study permits, registration status, work eligibility, and post-graduation work permit considerations.
For advising, contact: mact@ualberta.ca
Thesis route option
You may be considered for the thesis route after admission to the program. All MACT students are initially admitted to the course-based route. You may apply to transfer to the thesis-based route after completing the first Spring Institute.
The thesis route is a research-intensive option intended for students with strong academic preparation, a clearly developed research interest, and demonstrated scholarly promise. If you are considering this route, you should normally have a high GPA, the ability to undertake independent research, and a well-defined area of inquiry that aligns with faculty expertise.
If you are interested in the thesis route, you are encouraged to identify and contact a potential supervisor during the application process to discuss research interests and possible fit. Transfer to the thesis route requires approval and depends on academic standing, research readiness, supervisor availability, and alignment between your proposed research topic and the program’s areas of expertise.