Prospective Student Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains answers to our most frequently asked questions. 

Admissions

ELIGIBILITY

Am I automatically ineligible if my admission GPA falls below 3.00?

In cases where an applicant's GPA falls below the minimum we may consider life achievement, providing you meet the Guidelines for Considering Life Achievement.

Please note the following:

  • In order to be considered for life achievement an applicant must meet the criteria.
  • Life achievement does not guarantee admission; it only helps determine an applicant's eligibility. Even if life achievement is met, the Admissions Committee may still choose to deny an application.
  • We do not require or accept Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results, and we cannot use GRE scores when calculating an admission GPA.
  • We are unable to provide preliminary screening. Review of an individual’s file will only take place after an application has been submitted.
How is the admissions GPA calculated?

To be eligible for consideration for admission applicants must present a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or an equivalent grade), calculated over the most recent coursework equivalent to two years of full-time study. At the University of Alberta this is ★60 (20 courses).

My school uses a different grading scheme than the University of Alberta, how would you calculate the GPA in that case?

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies uses an internal calculator that converts different grading schemes (both domestic and international) into the 4.0 scale that the University of Alberta follows.

What courses do I need to take in order to raise my GPA?
Any postsecondary, university-level (except Continuing Education) courses will be accepted.

Courses from Certificate or Diploma programs can be included in the GPA calculation but it will depend on which institutions these were taken from. If you have further questions, please consult with the Graduate Administrator.
I completed a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree. Am I eligible to apply?
No. A 3-year Bachelor’s Degree is not an eligible prerequisite to the program. If you have a 3-year Bachelor’s Degree, you need to take an additional year’s worth (~ ★30) of postsecondary courses.

Please note that for this criteria, we refer to the actual number of years. We do not accept credential evaluations (i.e. WES report).
I have an in-progress Bachelor’s Degree. Am I eligible to apply?
Effective on the Fall 2025 admissions cycle, students who have an In-Progress 4-year, Bachelor’s Degree are eligible to apply provided that your degree will be completed prior to the admission term you are applying for.

For students who have completed the degree by the time of application, you will be required to provide proof of degree completion. This can be satisfied through any of the following ways:
  1. The degree and date conferred must be printed on your transcript.
  2. Degree Certificate.
  3. If you have completed all your courses but items 1 and 2 are not yet available because you are still waiting for graduation, you must request a letter confirming program completion and expected date of graduation from the Registrar’s Office of the institution you attended.
Upload this to the Degree Certificate tab when you submit your application
Is concurrent registration allowed?
Concurrent registration can only be allowed if it’s only the last term of your closing program that will overlap with the first term of the U of A graduate program. However, this is still subject to the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), which is why the School of Library and Information Studies does not recommend applying to the program if you have an In-Progress degree that will coincide with the U of A graduate program, especially since the application fee is non-refundable.

For more information, please refer to the University Calendar.
I don’t have an undergraduate degree. Am I eligible to apply?

Individuals without a completed Bachelor's Degree may still be eligible to apply via the Life Achievement Criteria.

For this case, we suggest that you send a copy of your CV to the Graduate Administrator prior to submitting an application. Your CV will be forwarded to the Graduate Coordinator who will assess your profile to see if you indeed meet the Life Achievement Criteria for those without an undergraduate degree, if not you will be given recommendations on how you’ll be able to boost your eligibility to apply to the program.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Which of my studies do I need to provide transcripts for?

You need to submit transcripts for ALL postsecondary studies you have taken, including but not limited to: discontinued programs, study abroad, short courses, transfer credits.

For transfer credits, you need to submit BOTH transcripts:

  • Where the credits were originally taken, and
  • Where the credits were transferred to.
The only time we will not require a transcript for transfer credits is if the credits were taken from an AP exam.
There’s a study I’ve taken that no transcript was issued for. Is there anything that I need to submit in place of a transcript?
Yes, a letter from the institution confirming that no transcript was issued must be submitted in lieu of a transcript. Upload that to the corresponding “Original Language Transcript” tab (and “Official English Translation” tab if required).

For certificate courses taken through platforms like Coursera, no further documentation is required.
Are unofficial copies of transcripts accepted during the application process?

In order for unofficial transcripts to be accepted during the application process, these must contain the following:

  • Your name
  • Program
  • Institution Name/Logo
  • Print date
  • URL where it was downloaded from
If it’s missing ANY of these, then you will be required to submit an official copy of your transcript. The transcript legend is not required for unofficial copies of transcripts.

For further information, please refer to the Application Requirements for Academic Documents.
My unofficial transcript does not meet the requirements but I don’t have an official copy on hand. Can I submit the unofficial copy for now?
Yes. Even if the unofficial transcript does not meet the Application Requirements for Academic Documents, these will be accepted for the Preliminary Screening (1st stage) and Faculty Review (2nd stage) of admissions. If your application is recommended for admission, that’s when you will be required to submit an official copy of your transcript.
Can I drop off my CV, Statement of Intent, or other documents in person?
No, as we no longer require hard copies of these specific documents. You will be uploading all supporting documents to the online application system. Your referees will be automatically emailed for them to provide a letter supporting your application.
What do I need to put in my Statement of Purpose?
In approximately 1,000 words the applicant must be able to establish their interest in the MLIS program and explain why they are interested in studying at SLIS.

Make sure to convey why you would like to attend SLIS.

We recommend that you take some time and review SLIS's vision, mission and values statement, SLIS faculty pages, and course offerings to provide specific examples that support your reasons for attending our particular program. Also, please let us know why you want to be an information professional/librarian/archivist. What do these professions contribute to society?

At SLIS, equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) is central to what we do so you may want to discuss what EDID means to you. Draw on your previous education and experiences to explain why the MLIS and SLIS in particular is the program for you.
What categories of referees are accepted?
Academic and Professional referees are accepted.
How do the referees submit their letters?
There is a portion in the application where you will be asked to provide your referees’ details, including their email address. Once you submit your application and pay the application fee, they will receive an email from the University of Alberta. That email contains a link where they will be able to access a short questionnaire and upload their letters.

Please note that uploading a letter in PDF is now optional, a letter submitted through the General Appraisal box (part of the questionnaire) will fulfill this requirement.
What do my referees need to put in their letters?

Your referees must be able to:

  • Give us an idea of how you perform, whether in an academic or professional setting.
  • Let us know what makes you stand out.
  • Tell us why you are a good fit for graduate studies, the field, and/or our program.
What should my referees expect from the questionnaire?
The questionnaire is a short assessment of your skills. By default, it is set to an academic setting. For professional referees, have them convert it to a professional setting.
Is the application deadline the same deadline for referees to submit their letters?
Yes.
My documents are issued in English, why am I being asked to provide English translations?
The GSMS application portal is the generic application portal for both domestic and international applicants. By default, it creates an “Original Language” and “Official English Translation” tab for each study that you will cite.

If the institution you attended is based in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom or any of the countries included in this list, then you can simply leave the “English translation” tabs blank.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS (INTERNATIONAL)

Are the application requirements the same for international applicants?
Yes, with some additions for a few countries:

India and Pakistan: Applicants who completed degrees from Institutions based in India or Pakistan are required to submit Individual Marksheets.

China: Applicants who completed degrees from Institutions based in China are required to submit the Degree and Graduation Certificates (in Original Language and Official English Translation).
Can the ELP requirement be waived?
If you have completed a degree from any of the countries or institutions listed in the Recognized English Language Countries and Institutions, then you are no longer required to take an ELP exam.

Or, you can submit an English as Medium of Instruction Letter issued by the institution where you completed your degree from.
I am now a Permanent resident/Canadian Citizen but took my undergraduate degree from an institution not included in the Recognized English Language Countries and Institutions. Do I still need to take the ELP exam?
In most cases, the answer to the previous question will apply to you. For further information, contact the Graduate Administrator.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Can I submit an application to both the online and on-campus teaching and learning streams?
No. The MLIS is one program and applicants must select either the online OR on-campus teaching and learning stream.
Can the application fee be waived?
No.
I need to submit official transcripts, but the academic institution I attended only sends transcripts directly to other institutions. How do I upload these to the GSMS application portal?

A.) If they are only sending transcripts by mail, have them mail these to the below address:

Education Student Services (ATTN: Sarita De Guzman)
1-107 Education Centre North
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2G5

B.) If they are sending these either through MyCreds or by email, have them send these to slis@ualberta.ca.

Additional Notes if submitting transcripts through either of these methods:

  1. Make sure to send transcripts to these addresses ONLY as searching for and requesting these from other offices here at the University of Alberta will cause delays to your application.
  2. Make sure to inform the Graduate Administrator beforehand.
I recently started my application, why does it say my application will be deleted by a certain date?
Each applicant is given 21 days to complete the application, submit the application and pay the application fee. If you are unable to complete these 3 steps in 21 days, then your application will be deleted and you have to start a new application once again.

However, after you complete these 3 steps, your application will now enter the application pool and will not be deleted.
I am based outside of Canada and applying to the online cohort, do I need to apply for a study permit?
Since you are based outside of Canada, the GSMS application portal will ask you if you will be “applying for a study permit”. Right now, the only answer for this question available from the dropdown menu is a “yes.”

But if you are admitted, you will not be required to apply for a study permit.
Do I need to cite an advisor during the application process?
No. By default, the GSMS application portal will ask for it. You can either cite the name of the Faculty whose research work interests you, or leave it blank. Admitted students will be assigned an academic advisor prior to the start of their program.
What is the admissions process like?

The admissions process is divided into three stages:

1. Preliminary Screening (September 15 to December 15)

  • This stage is facilitated by the Graduate Administrator. This is where:
    • Your eligibility will be determined
    • Your application requirements will be checked if correct and/or complete
    • Your admission GPA will be calculated

Note: The Graduate Administrator will give you a status of your application and will inform you if there’s any issue with your application. All eligible and completed applications will be reviewed by the Faculty at the same time, regardless of when you submitted your application.

2. Faculty Review (~January to February)

  • The SLIS Faculty will review the eligible and completed applications and decide which applicants will be recommended for admission.

3. Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies’ Review (~February to April)

  • All applications recommended for admission will be forwarded to GPS for final review. If all documents are in order, you will be issued an admission offer letter. If not, they will contact the Graduate Administrator who will then get in touch with you to get these sorted.
How do SLIS faculty review applications?
The Faculty review of applications is done through a holistic approach where the GPA, CV, reference letters, and the Statement of Purpose are all taken into consideration.
Does the program accept late applications?
No.

Program related Questions

What happens after I am admitted?
After you accept the offer of admission, you will receive an email from the graduate administrator with information on what to expect prior to the start of your program. This will also include instructions on how to register in courses.
Can I start applying for scholarships and awards?
The Graduate Administrator sends an email to students every time there’s a funding opportunity open for application. That email will contain information about internal application requirements, processes, and deadlines.

Students are encouraged to seek external scholarships and awards.
Can I switch to the other cohort after being admitted to the cohort I applied to?
No. Once you’re admitted to the program, there is no “direct” way to switch to the other cohort. You can submit an application to switch via a brand new admission application. However, take note that even if you’re already a current student, admission to the other cohort is not guaranteed.
What are the term dates and when are courses scheduled?
At the University of Alberta courses are scheduled across four terms:
  • Fall (September-December)
  • Winter (January-April)
  • Spring (May-June)
  • Summer (July-August)
Most courses are scheduled in the Fall and Winter terms. Some courses are also scheduled in Spring term, or in a Spring/Summer combined term. Course schedules for upcoming terms will be available to admitted students on Bear Tracks, the online portal for all U of A students. All SLIS students will begin their program in Fall term.

A complete Academic Schedule of dates and deadlines is available in the University Calendar.
How long does it take to complete the program?
Students are given a maximum of six years to complete the program. However, the earliest possible time to complete the program can vary depending on which cohort you’re registered in. As well, the course offerings also vary each term.

For students in the On-Campus cohort, the program can be completed as early as 2 years.

For students in the Online cohort, the program can be completed as early as 2.5 years.
What courses am I required to take?

All SLIS students are required to take the five core courses listed below, plus two IT-designated elective courses. For more information please see our MLIS Program Courses page.

  • LIS 501 Foundations of Library and Information Studies
  • LIS 502 Organization of Information
  • LIS 503 Reference and Information Services
  • LIS 504 Leadership and Management Principles for Library and Information Services
  • LIS 505 Introduction to Research in Library and Information Studies
What is the difference between the course-based MLIS and a thesis-based MLIS?

All MLIS applicants are admitted to the course-based route. You have the option to change your selection once you are in the program. Students interested in completing the thesis-based MLIS may change their program route to the thesis route after their 1st year of study in the course-based MLIS program.

  • Course-based MLIS: 13 courses (★39) and a capping exercise (★0)
  • Thesis-based MLIS: 10 courses (★30) and a thesis paper

The decision to pursue a thesis depends on the nature of the student's research interests and career goals. Students interested in pursuing the thesis route should review the School's Thesis-Based procedure. The School encourages MLIS students with strong relevant background to pursue their research interests through the thesis-based program route. Students are advised, however, that the School's support of a particular thesis topic will depend directly on the availability of existing faculty who are active in the general area of the student's research so that adequate supervision can be provided.

What electives can I take?

Courses are offered on a wide range of topics; previous offerings have included such topics as comic books and graphic novels, government information, instructional practices, collection management, digital libraries, and metadata. The electives offered may change from year to year. Each year the courses available for registration will be listed in Bear Tracks (the online student service centre). For a complete list of electives, please visit the course listings page

Can on-campus students take any of the online courses?
Currently students in an on-campus MLIS program cannot take any courses reserved for students in the online MLIS. Course listings in Bear Tracks (the online student service centre) will indicate if a course is restricted to online or on-campus MLIS students.
Do I need to submit a new application if transferring to any of the following: MA/MLIS, MBA/MLIS, MLIS thesis-based route?
If you are already an admitted MLIS student, then you do NOT need to submit a new application via the GSMS portal to transfer to any of the programs listed above. Inform the Graduate Administrator of your interest to transfer programs and they will direct you on how to apply for transfer.
Does the MLIS program offer specializations?

The MLIS program is a generalist program which means that we do not have formal concentrations. However, SLIS offers a number of options that allow students to tailor their program to their interests.

  1. Students are able to take some 3-credit courses outside of SLIS that can be applied to their MLIS degree.
  2. Within courses, students often have the option to pursue topics of interest and can tailor assignments to their own interests.
  3. Students in the MLIS program take up to 6 electives. These elective courses can be tailored to student interests such as technology, social justice, public libraries, etc.
  4. Students can pursue a research topic and on-campus students can opt to take the thesis route.

ONLINE LEARNING FAQs

Are there mandatory events (like orientation) that I need to attend in-person? Are any of these events offered online?
Online students are not required to attend any on-campus events. There will be orientation resources available to all MLIS students regardless of online or on-campus program delivery. Online students will be informed of events with a recorded or live-streaming component that may be of interest to SLIS students, as well as general events within the Faculty of Education or wider university community.
What kind of software is used to conduct the online classes? Does it require me to purchase a particular type of software?

Online classes are conducted using the university's eClass platform and generally do not require the download or purchase of additional software. eClass is also designed to be compatible with those technologies designed for accessibility. 

Is the program completely flexible? Can I complete the coursework / lectures anytime I want or do I need to log in to attend classes at a certain time?
While there are no set meeting times for online classes, students will generally be expected to complete a certain portion of the class each week (i.e., doing the readings and then participating in online discussion). As in a regular classroom setting, successful teaching and learning depends on mutuality. Readings and other materials will generally be available in advance, but students should expect that discussions will only take place during a certain timeframe each week
Are all required readings and course materials online or do I need to order in books?
This is highly dependent on the individual courses and the discretion of your instructors. While many readings will be made available to you online via the eClass platform, certain courses will require the purchase or loan of additional materials. Consult your syllabus or with your instructor for further information on required readings.
Can I do a practicum or a work placement as an online student?
Online students are welcome to complete a 100-hour practicum placement, which counts as one course (three credits) towards the completion of your degree. Information about practicum requirements can be found on the course page. Students are also invited to contact the SLIS office for further details.
What is my expected course load per semester?
The online offering is completed on a part-time basis. Online students can take a maximum of two courses per semester (Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer) for a maximum of six courses per calendar year. Graduate education is demanding and students should expect to spend 12-15 hours each week engaging with course materials, participating in online discussions, and completing assignments.

Other Questions

Can I defer my admission to the program?
Yes, under certain conditions. The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is the final approver for deferrals and they don’t approve deferral requests based on financial constraints. An accepted applicant can defer their admission to the MLIS program only once and they must request their deferral by August 1st.
Can I transfer my credits from a previous study?

In order for courses to be eligible for transfer credits, these must meet items 2, and 4 to 7 in the University Calendar criteria for transfer credit.

If the courses meet these criteria, the procedure for transfer will be as follows:

  1. Check our list of LIS courses and their description to see if the courses you want transferred have a suitable LIS course description match (LIS 501 not included—all MLIS students are required to take this as their first course).
  2. When you apply to the program, you must inform us which courses you want to transfer during the application process. There is a notes section in the application portal where you will be able to indicate this. We will exclude these courses from the calculation of your GPA (transfer credit eligibility criteria #3).
  3. If and when you get admitted to the program, you will be assigned an academic advisor. You will need to submit a copy of your course outlines for the courses you want transferred to your advisor and they will check which LIS courses these can transfer to, or approve any recommendation that you may have from checking our list of courses (transfer credit eligibility criteria #1).

There are a couple other steps after these (i.e. submitting the transfer credit form and supporting documents to GPS), but those can be discussed once items 1–3 have been completed.

MLIS students can transfer a maximum of 3 courses in their program.

Can I take an LIS course before applying to the program?
No. LIS courses at SLIS are exclusive to admitted MLIS students.
How are fees calculated?
Students at the University of Alberta are assessed both instructional and non-instructional fees each term. Instructional fees (tuition) are course-based, while non-instructional fees are term-based. The instructional fee rate for MLIS courses will depend on whether a student is in the online or on-campus MLIS and if they are a domestic or international student. Non-Instructional fees (e.g., administrative, recreation facilities, insurance or Graduate Students' Association fees) are assessed based on full-time or part-time and on-campus or off-campus registration status.

For more information on the MLIS tuition and fees, please see our Tuition + Finance page.
Why was my application rejected?
We are unable to provide you with a detailed reason for the admission decision. All applications are evaluated as a whole, based on all the information provided by each applicant. Meeting all the admissions requirements does not guarantee admission. Competition for entry into our graduate program is extremely high and we often have more qualified applicants than we are able to admit.
I want to apply again next year. Will you hold my documents for me?
No, you will have to resubmit all of your documents each year you apply.
What computing skills will I need?
Information Technology is becoming an increasingly important aspect of library work. While traditional library skills will remain important, SLIS recognizes that its graduates need to have a strong background in information technology if they are going to be competitive in the workforce. Consequently, SLIS strongly encourages its students to consider this fact when registering for their elective courses. Applicants to SLIS programs are expected to have basic computing skills (e.g. familiarity with word processing programs and web browsing) and a strong comfort level with Internet-based applications, email, and electronic databases.
Do I have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
No, the GRE test is not required for admission.

However, applicants to the MBA/MLIS combined program must also meet the MBA program admissions criteria, which does require a GMAT or GRE score.

Please note that we cannot use GRE scores when calculating your admission GPA.
How many applicants are admitted each year?
The number of admitted applicants will change from year to year, and many factors will determine how many students we can admit each year. SLIS does not admit more students than we are able to support.
Are there any research assistant or graduate assistantship positions available?
Graduate assistantships are offered to second-year students only. Occasionally a professor will advertise for research help but that should not be considered a reliable source of income.
Where are our graduates?

A degree from the School of Library and Information Studies is your key to future employment. Completion of an MLIS at SLIS will give you many skills that will make you a sought-after employee. Libraries can be found in almost all communities, organizations and regions. SLIS takes an active interest in the employment opportunities of its graduates. Every year SLIS conducts the Placement Survey in an effort to track the employability of its graduates to ensure that the training received matches the demands of the labour market. This yearly survey has consistently found that graduates of SLIS programs experience extremely high rates of employment in the library and information sciences field within three months to a year after graduation.

These surveys have also found that SLIS graduates are represented in all branches of the library and information sciences field - public libraries, academic libraries, government and medical libraries, archives and working in careers beyond the traditional library environments. A degree from the University of Alberta and the School of Library and Information Studies will take you straight into a promising and rewarding career.

Click to view an interactive map of where SLIS Alumni live around the world.

Who are our students?
At the School of Library and Information Studies we recognize that our students will learn valuable lessons from their fellow students - the people they study with, attend classes with and socialize with. In order to ensure that your experiences at SLIS are informative, stimulating, and rewarding we recruit students from a wide range of academic, professional, and social backgrounds. SLIS Students are from all parts of Canada, the United States, and many other nations including India, China, Belgium, Africa, and more, and have backgrounds in the Arts, Sciences, Trades and the Professions. We encourage our students to be active participants in the life of the School. All students are represented by the Library and Information Student's Association (LISSA), which serves as a liaison between the student body and the school's faculty and administration, LISSA also organizes frequent extracurricular, professional development and social events.
What is it like to live in Edmonton?

Edmonton is the capital of the province of Alberta, one of Canada's western prairie provinces. The City of Edmonton has a population of over one million people, and a metro population of approximately 1.5 million. The Edmonton Metropolitan Area (also known as the Capital Region) includes several surrounding cities and towns. Edmonton is Alberta's second-largest city, after Calgary, and is Canada's fifth-largest municipality. Edmonton is serviced by Edmonton International Airport (YEG), and the Edmonton Transit System (ETS) provides bus and light rail transit across the city, with multiple transit stations located on University of Alberta campuses. 

Edmonton is a dynamic and diverse city located in central Alberta on the North Saskatchewan River. The city is renowned for its support of its arts and cultural institutions, and is home to the Royal Alberta Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta, and the award-winning Edmonton Public Library system. The sunny summer months see many festivals held throughout the city celebrating diversity, the arts, and the numerous groups that contribute to life in Edmonton and Alberta. The Edmonton Heritage Festival and the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival are some of the largest and best known, and are held near the U of A's North Campus. During the winter months residents enjoy winter sports such as hockey, skiing, and outdoor skating both here in Edmonton and in the majestic Rocky Mountains. 

As a northern city Edmonton experiences long summer days with up to 17 hours of daylight. During the winter you can expect a blanket of snow under clear starry nights, and with a bit of luck you'll catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Edmonton has one one of the the largest urban park systems in North America, including the North Saskatchewan River Valley which is 22 times larger than Central Park in New York City, with over 160 km of trails and paths. Surrounding Edmonton within easy access are many natural areas including Elk Island National Park and, in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park. Elsewhere in Alberta you'll find attractions close enough for weekend trips, such as the City of Calgary and Banff National Park. 

Even after many years of steady growth the cost of living in Edmonton and Alberta remains very affordable. The cost of living, combined with the many natural features and cultural attractions in and around the city, bring many people to live, work, and study in the Edmonton area.