Competitive Requirements
Competitive Admission
We encourage all students to apply early, as admission to the University of Alberta is competitive, works on a rolling basis and space in each program is limited.
The University of Alberta offers a range of programs, each with their own set of course requirements, class sizes and averages, which vary from year to year. Specific admission averages are not available, but admission average trends reflecting the last three admission cycles are listed below. We encourage students to treat these averages as a benchmark to gauge their potential eligibility for admission. However, they do not serve as a guarantee for future admission.
We also encourage students to select a second choice program on their application for admission that has a lower historical competitive average range to increase their chances of receiving an offer of admission. Our Student Service Centre is here to help find the best option for each student's academic journey.
Every applicant and enrolment cycle is unique, which is why we assess applications on an ongoing basis. It creates an opportunity to adjust what is considered 'a competitive application' throughout the admissions period (October 1 - August 31) based on a variety of factors, including:
- The number of qualified applicants to a particular program.
- The averages presented by applicants that year.
- Program capacity.
To be considered for admission, applicants need to:
- Have the required courses for their program.
- Meet the minimum requirements for their program.
- Fill out a complete application for admission with application fee.
- Applicants who are not accepted into their first-choice program will be assessed for their second-choice program if listed.
Minimum Requirements
Admission is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Students who receive an offer of admission must meet the minimum requirements in all subjects, even after receiving an admission offer, and all conditions stated in the admission offer letter in order to remain admissible.
Minimum Grades Required for Average Calculation:
- Grade 11 subject mark: 60% or above.
- Grade 12 subject mark: 50% or above.
- 70% minimum average across 5 required subjects based on program.
Admission Average Ranges: Three-Year Trend
The following admission average ranges reflect the past three admission cycles. Admission is competitive. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.
The University of Alberta strives to recruit First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners and has equity averages to improve access to education for prospective First Nations, Métis and Inuit applicants. Contact our Indigenous Recruitment Team at indigenous@ualberta.ca to learn more.
Faculty |
Program |
Average Ranges |
Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences | Low to mid 70s | |
Arts | Low to mid 70s | |
Bachelor of Arts Criminology | Low 80s to low 90s | |
Bachelor of Arts (Drama) / Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education Combined |
Low 80s to low 90s | |
Bachelor of Arts Honors | Low 80s to low 90s | |
Bachelor of Arts Planning | Low 80s to low 90s | |
Augustana | Low to mid 70s | |
Business | Low 80s | |
Campus Saint Jean | Low to mid 70s | |
Education | Elementary | High 70s to low 80s |
Secondary (Art, Drama, Music) | High 70s to mid 80s | |
Secondary (Others) | Mid 70s to mid 90s | |
Engineering | Low to mid 80s | |
Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation | Bachelor of Kinesiology | Low to high 80s |
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology | Low to high 80s | |
Bachelor of Kinesiology / Bachelor of Education Combined | Mid 80s to low 90s | |
Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Sport & Tourism | Mid to high 70s | |
Native Studies | Low to mid 70s | |
Nursing | Mid 80s to low 90s | |
Science | Mid 80s to low 90s |
Competitive GPAs for Professional Programs
These programs require pre-professional (university-level) study.
Program |
Competitive Requirements (previous year) |
Law (JD) |
Average GPA: 3.8 Average LSAT Score: 161 |
Medicine (MD) |
Minimum competitive GPA to apply: 3.30 Competitive mean MCAT score: 128 |
Medical Laboratory Science |
Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7 Competitive GPA: 3.0 |
Dentistry (DDS) |
Minimum GPA to apply: 3.0 Competitive GPA: 3.85 Average DAT Score: 68 out of 90 (including Reading & Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and Manual Dexterity) |
Dental Hygiene |
Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7 Competitive GPA: 3.43 |
Dietetics |
Minimum GPA to apply: 2.7 Competitive GPA: 3.0 |
Radiation Therapy |
Average GPA: 3.2 Per-MMI GPA: 3.4 |
Pharmacy (PharmD) | Average GPA: 3.5 for Alberta Applicants and 3.7 for Out-of-Province Applicants |