Application Process: Step by Step

Important note for all 2024 applicants: Review the U of A COVID-19 Vaccination Directive for the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 health requirements, restrictions, exemptions, and accommodations for U of A students.

The February 1st application and document deadline is firm with no exceptions; therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the application process and ensure that you are aware of the requirements in the months or weeks leading up to the deadline. You must start the online application through FGSR by 23:59 on 31-Jan-2024 and submit the application fee payment before 23:59 on 01-Feb-2024. 

Please carefully read the steps below.

Please note that applicants who have transcripts from post-secondary institutions outside of Canada (except for the United States and study abroad/exchange terms) must submit their applications by January 15, 2024, the deadline for international students, even if you are a Canadian citizen. We require extra time to process international transcripts.

It is important that applicants review the steps below prior to beginning an application. Applicants are expected to have all necessary documentation ready when they apply, and will have a set amount of time in which to produce missing documents if requested.

Step 1: Review Academic Requirements

Admission to the MScPT program is competitive. Begin reviewing the academic requirements well before you plan to enter the MScPT program. Plan your last two years of undergraduate study to ensure that you will be a competitive applicant. You will need a four-year baccalaureate degree with strong GPA, and seven prerequisite courses. 

Ensure the courses you plan to use for the 3 credits of anatomy, 6 credits of physiology, and 3 credits of human movement are on our pre-approved lists, which you can find on our Application Requirements page. If they are not on the pre-approved lists, email a detailed course outline to mscpt@ualberta.ca for approval before you apply.

Step 2: Collect Your Documents
  1. An official transcript (front and back page), no older than 6 months from the application deadline, in PDF format from each university, college, technical school, etc. ever attended is required. Obtain the official transcript and SCAN AND/OR UPLOAD to the applicant portal. Transcripts can be issued to you in a hard copy or electronic format, as long as they are official versions. For the University of Alberta ONLY you may use the unofficial transcript from Beartracks. Please follow the guidelines in File Naming Instructions and Requirements for Acceptance of Uploaded Transcripts. Do not have any documents mailed to the University unless you are specifically requested to do so. If you are recommended for final admission, you will then be informed of the procedure to have official documents sent directly from your institution.

    • If you are enrolled in Fall term (Sept - Dec) courses, only upload your transcript once all fall term grades have been reported, by February 1st. Do not upload your transcript without your Fall term grades reported.

    • If you are registered in any prerequisite courses: Upload an official transcript (pdf) indicating Fall term grades and/or Winter term registration in the course(s) by February 1st. Do not upload your transcript without your fall term course grades reported or winter term registration reflected. A final transcript (pdf) noting completion of the prerequisite course(s) is due by June 1st if you are offered admission.

    • If you are no longer attending ANY post-secondary institutions, upload all transcripts as soon as possible after starting an application.

  2. Supplemental Application Form: Applicants must download and fill out the mandatory Supplemental Application Form and upload in the applicant portal (Department Checklist section). This will replace the Google form used in previous years. The supplemental application requires you to rank your campus choices, provide information about where you reside, and which of your courses meet our prerequisite requirements. Please note, you will not be able to change your campus preferences at a later date.

    Your application to the MScPT program is not complete until you have completed and uploaded the Supplemental Application form. Applications without this document will not be considered for admission.

  3. (International Applicants) Proof of English Language Proficiency, Degree Certificates and Document Translations.

    Documents in languages other than English must be translated to English and provided by the issuing institution or by a certified translator. If the transcript is issued in French by a Canadian institution, then no English language translation is required.

    International applicants must provide course outlines for all seven prerequisite courses. Contact mscpt@ualberta.ca before submitting your application to determine what course outlines you need to provide.

    International applicants are also required to submit proof of English Language Proficiency. A list of approved tests and the minimum scores required can be found on our Application Requirements page. This is waived only if your country or institution is on this list.
Step 3: Submit the Online Application during the Application Period

Complete this Online Application (offered by the the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research [FGSR] during the application period [November - January]). Choose Master of Science (Crse) in Physical Therapy. Ensure that all transcripts and certificates (if applicable) is uploaded before you submit and pay your non-refundable $135 application fee.

You will see sections called "Funding/Supervisors" and "References" in the application. The Master of Science in Physical Therapy Program does not require you to have a supervisor or that you submit academic/personal references. Please leave these sections blank.

Updates to the status of your application will be sent only by email. You may receive email directly from the Department of Physical Therapy or from the application portal advising you to login and see a message. Save your login name and password for this purpose. If you require technical assistance with the FGSR application, please email grad.webadm@ualberta.ca. If you have questions about the admission requirements or the admission evaluation please email the Department of Physical Therapy at mscpt@ualberta.ca. Do not use the messaging system within the application portal to contact us.

** Please note ** You only have 21 days to complete your application after you start it, otherwise it will be deleted and you will need to start again. Wait until you have all of your documents ready before applying. If you are in Fall courses, then wait until January to apply.

Step 4: Wait for your CCID/Student Number

2-3 business days after submitting your application you will receive an email that provides your student number and CCID (Campus Computing ID). Your CCID becomes your University of Alberta email address (CCID@ualberta.ca). Please use this email address for all communication regarding your application. Current U of A students will continue to use their existing CCID and student number.

Please check your email regularly. If you did not receive your CCID by email OR need your password reset, contact Information Services and Technology (IST) at (780)-492-9400 or send an email to ist@ualberta.ca from the email address you used when submitting your application.

Step 5: Monitor your Email for Application Status Updates

Updates to the status of your application (including interview invitations, requests for information, and admission decisions) will be sent by email. You may receive email directly from the Department of Physical Therapy. We will not use the application portal messaging system to contact applicants.

If you have questions about your application please email mscpt@ualberta.ca. During the application period (October - February), we are processing a high volume of inquiries. For a faster response to your email please:

  • Send your email from your University of Alberta email address (preferred) or the email address you used to submit your application
  • Include your full (official) name and your University of Alberta Student ID number
  • Do not send your inquiry to multiple email addresses or send the same inquiry as both a phone and email message. This will slow down the response time.

We will endeavour to respond to your email within 7-14 business days.

We do not post application updates on Beartracks or send information by Canada Post.

 

The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine would like to better understand the composition and demographics of the applicants applying to the Professional Programs of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology.  Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous survey that will tell us a little more about who you are. The results are held separately and are in no way linked to your application or have any bearing on our admissions decisions.  The aggregate results of this survey will inform our policy decision-making as we strive to create a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse learning environment that is reflective of the communities we serve.