Students will develop their ability to discern, especially in the face of complex questions and conundrums of life. Throughout the program, they will ask the big questions:

• Who am I?
• What is my place in the world?
• What kind of person do I want to become?
• What should I do next?

Students will intentionally engage in discernment through guided activities integrated over the two-year diploma, such as:

• New Student Orientation workshop
• Small group discussions
• Presentations by professionals on discernment in their lives
• Integrative Seminar in the final term with assignments merging learning across the program 

General Requirements:

• Have or be about to obtain a High School Diploma OR have completed or be about to complete a Non-standardized Homeschool Curriculum
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee/protected person
• 70% or higher in English Language Arts 30-1 (or equivalent)
• 67% average or higher across five 30-level (Grade 12) subjects
  • Must include English Language Arts 30-1
  • Four other subjects from Humanities, Fine Arts and/or Sciences

For detailed admission requirements by province and entry path (e.g. high school, home school, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, other post secondary), visit the SJC Admission Requirements page.

The Diploma is a 60-credit program (20 3-credit courses), ideally completed in two years. The curriculum is designed to cover a range of subjects while satisfying most requirements necessary for further bachelor’s degree studies, particularly in the Arts.

Students also experience University of Alberta classes through the U of A Native Studies course (NS 200) and Transfer Option courses in their second year that allow them to pursue subjects of particular interest and more easily transition to a bachelor’s degree beyond SJC. 

Course Load:

• Students are encouraged to take 5 courses per Fall and Winter term to complete the Diploma in two years. Admissions priority will be given to applicants who intend to study full time (minimum 9 credits (3 courses) each Fall and Winter term).

Note: The requirements of FREN 101 and FREN 102 will be waived for students who have successfully completed French at the 30-level/Grade 12 (or equivalent) or students who demonstrate competency in an Indigenous language of Canada. To ensure sufficient credits to graduate, students for whom the FREN requirements have been waived must choose 2 additional courses (6 credits total). Three credits must be from SJC-offered U of A Arts option courses. The other three can be from either SJC-offered or U of A-offered Arts courses.

Diploma students who decide they want to continue with postsecondary studies after completing the Diploma in Liberal Arts have clear pathways to do so. Students who successfully complete the Diploma with a minimum 2.0 GPA in the last 24 credits of their program:

• can apply and are guaranteed entrance into their 3rd year of a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Alberta 
• can also apply to a Bachelor of Arts degree at MacEwan University and, if accepted, will enter into their 3rd year there as well.

Both options mean Diploma graduates can use their time in the Diploma program as the first two years in a 4-year Bachelor of Arts program. There is also a possibility of individual course transfer for students who move into a different faculty or want to explore a degree at another university or college. 

SJC tuition fees are set at the same rate as University of Alberta courses. Tuition and other fees are subject to change every year. 

Estimated cost for a Diploma student enrolling in Fall 2027, taking 5 courses per term in both Fall and Winter terms:

Tuition: The cost of instruction and teaching.

Books and Supplies: Every course has required reading and textbooks, but the cost can vary significantly. The above estimate assumes the higher end of costs.

Non-instructional Fees: These cover academic and non-academic supports, library services, and access to certain University of Alberta student services.

Residence

Diploma applicants can indicate in their application if they would like to receive priority placement in an SJC residence. While SJC first offers rooms to returning residents, we can prioritize offers for available rooms to interested Diploma applicants. 

Our men’s and women’s residences are both located directly on campus, half a block away from a transit hub and a short walk (sometimes just downstairs!) to the SJC Dining Hall and all SJC classrooms. Community Caretakers (CCs) in each residence provide support and lead engaging community-building activities.

• With 63 private rooms, our men’s residence creates a close-knit community with a long-running history in athletics. Home to students since 1927, the men’s residence offers a traditional, furnished dormitory experience with a mandatory meal plan. Learn more about our Men’s Residence.
• Built in 2014, the 284 room women’s residence offers modern, apartment-style living with furnished bachelorette, double, or quadruple occupancy kitchen-equipped suites. Attractive private residence lounges on each floor. Learn more about our Women’s Residence.
• Accepted Diploma students who have requested and been offered priority placement in available spaces will have until May 1, 2027 to secure their room by completing a residence application and paying their residence deposit—specific instructions will be included in the offer of admission. Later applicants or those who miss the deadline can still be added to the general waiting list. 
• Diploma applicants will have their own application to residence and are not able to apply through the residence applications currently listed on the SJC website.

Campus Ministry

Available to all students, St. Joseph’s College has an active campus ministry team led by a full-time Director of Campus Ministry, supported by two part-time campus ministers and a spiritual director. The team accompanies students on their postsecondary journeys while also organizing optional events and services (e.g., student socials, small groups, service opportunities, retreats, spiritual direction, and a residence mentorship program, etc.) to support the personal and spiritual development of each student. Learn more about our Campus Ministry.

Two Basilian priests serve as chaplains and provide daily Mass, confession, and celebrate the well-attended 7PM Student Mass on Sundays (September to April). Learn more about our Worshipping Community.

The University of Alberta Catholic Students Association (CSA) is also very present, frequently working with the SJC Campus Ministry team on events and encouraging members to live out their faith, build lasting friendships, and contribute positively to both the university and the broader community. Learn more about CSA.

Additional Services

SJC amenities available to all students include a public study lounge on the first floor of our main building, a cozy 2-story library (integrated with the U of A Library system), a dining hall, two chapels, and a social hall available for student group rental (at discounted rates for SJC students and residents).

St. Joseph’s College is an affiliate Catholic college located at the heart of the University of Alberta in central Edmonton, AB. This places us: 

• half a block away from a transit hub
• a ten-minute walk to the North Saskatchewan River Valley (the largest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America!)
• a short bus ride or walk to the busy and bustling cafés, bookstores, and shops of Whyte Ave

Also known as Canada's Festival City, Edmonton boasts the cultural and artistic experiences of a big city, but with more affordable rent and access to green space.

Please note: 

This information is for student admission in September 2027. All deadlines are effective as of 11:59 p.m. MT on the dates indicated. SJC anticipates welcoming between 30 and 50 Diploma students in Fall 2027.

Dates are subject to change. While St. Joseph’s College will always try to provide notice for changes, SJC retains the right to alter the Academic Calendar—including tuition and deadlines—as necessary.

Welcome! Start here to make the process as smooth as possible.

Before starting your application:

• □ Check that you meet SJC minimum admission requirements (see “Admission Requirements” under the Program Details on this webpage).
• □ Ensure you’ve got access to a personal email address! Official correspondence will be delivered through email during the application process. Add notifications@populi.co’ and application-notifications@email.populi.co to your contacts to ensure any official correspondence does not end up in your spam folder.
• □ Get your grades ready. In the application, you will self-submit course names (including those you intend to take in the coming year) and available marks for your five 30-level (Grade 12) subjects (one of which must be English Language Arts 30-1 or equivalent).
• □ If you apply before you’ve completed a course, you can submit an “in-progress” mark. If you have not yet started the 30-level (Grade 12) course, you can submit your 20-level (Grade 11) marks for that subject. These marks will be used to review your application and allow SJC to offer you conditional acceptance before you’ve completed your Grade 12 year. Ensure your self-submitted marks are accurate. 
• □ While you can self-submit grades to get conditional acceptance, make sure to check out the Transcript Submission Resources to know how and when to send your official high school Transcript. This is necessary for all applicants to finalize their admission. Depending on when you apply, you may need to do it immediately.
• □ Decide if you want to request priority placement in available rooms in our residences (students who accept an admission offer will have until May 1, 2027 to accept or decline the room offer). You will be able to indicate interest in the application. Explore our Residence Services.
• □ Prepare to pay the non-refundable application fee of $80 by credit card.

We’ve prepared a What to Expect? infosheet. 

Check it out to get a preview of the process.

Applications Open October 2026

Submit an official high school Transcript 

Make sure to check out the Transcript Submission Resources to know how and when to send your official high school Transcript. Depending on when you apply, you may need to do it immediately.

When and how will you get an admission response?

Admission responses will be communicated via the primary email address provided in a student's application. An admission response may be an offer of admission (conditional or otherwise), notification of waitlisting (if the program is full), or comments indicating that further coursework or documents are required. Read the response carefully, as even an offer of admission may contain important information about the conditions of admission (e.g., to retain your offer, you may need to maintain certain academic requirements and submit required documents by particular deadlines).

Admissions for the SJC Diploma program will have two phases. In the first phase, all admissions received prior to December 31, 2026 are reviewed together and offers of admission will be sent by email by January 15, 2027. Admissions will then continue on a rolling basis until all spots are filled and tuition deposits paid.