Indigenous Admissions

If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) on your application, you’re eligible for additional supports and resources. This includes personalized support with the application process, notification about social and cultural events, consideration for Indigenous-specific financial awards, and evaluation under all Indigenous admission pathways, if needed.  

Indigenous applicants may be considered through the following admission routes: 

• General admission 
• Indigenous Admission Process (IAP) 
• Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process (IASP) 
• Faculty-specific bridging programs 
• Indigenous Student Access Program (ISAP) 

All students are initially evaluated under our general admission process. See the courses required for each program as well as an estimated competitive admission average by selecting a program from our  Explore Program page.  
 

High school applicants
Each program has five courses required for admission. These are used to calculate your admission average.   

Transfer students (students who have completed 12 or more academic post-secondary units)
You’ll be considered for admission using a GPA calculated on your post-secondary coursework.   

Mature students (students who are 21 or older, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee and have completed fewer than 12 academic post-secondary units)
You’ll be required to present fewer required courses for some programs.  

If you meet the course requirements for your desired program but are below the competitive admission average, we’ll automatically consider you under the Indigenous Admission Process (IAP) with a lower admission average.

• If you're within 10% of the high school competitive admission average or within 0.7 GPA of the competitive transfer average, you may be automatically admitted (average is program-dependent).
• To be admitted through IAP, a 70% admission average (high school and mature applicants) or 2.00 GPA (transfer students) is required.  
• If you’re admitted through IAP, you’ll be required to submit documentation that confirms Indigenous citizenship and/or membership before you’ll be able to register in classes.   

Note: Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Social Work programs consider Indigenous citizenship/membership as part of their supplementary review process, so they don’t specifically consider students under the Indigenous Admission Process.  

If you can’t be admitted to your desired program through the Indigenous Admissions Process due to a less competitive admission average or missing required courses, we’ll consider you through the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process (IASP).   

If you have all the required courses, you can be admitted directly to the degree program. 

To be considered under this pathway, you must submit:

• A personal statement along with faculty-specific supplemental requirements
  The personal statement can be submitted in the method of your choosing. This means you can record a video or audio message, submit a letter or essay, or you can complete the  Personal Statement form. Regardless of the method, we encourage you to include information that will demonstrate you’ll be successful in the program you’ve selected.  
• Documentation that confirms Indigenous citizenship and/or membership

Your application will then be reviewed by a faculty-specific admission committee.

Note: Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Social Work programs consider Indigenous citizenship/membership as part of their supplementary review process, so they don’t specifically consider students under the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process.  
 

The Indigenous Student Access Program (ISAP) is a one-year program that provides an alternate access route for eligible Indigenous students. This admission pathway is available for students looking to apply directly to ISAP or to students who may not meet the admission requirements of their desired faculty program. ISAP students take courses through open studies and can complete upgrading or university courses to support an application to their desired undergraduate program in future years.  

Want to be an ISAP student?  
Applications are open from Dec. 1 to July 31. Due to the cohort nature of this program, students will be admitted only in the fall term.  

Indigenous citizenship and/or Membership Supporting Documents
If you self-identify as Indigenous on your initial application, you'll automatically be asked to submit documentation to verify your Indigenous citizenship and/or membership. This documentation will be required if you’re admitted through the Indigenous Admission Process or if you’d like to be considered through the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process.

We encourage you to submit early to ensure that the process is not delayed.

You’re encouraged to contact UCalgary's Indigenous Recruitment Team for support and advice regarding documentation.

(not available for Bachelor of Science in Psychology)  

Learn more about the Arts program

Learn more about the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape's Pathway program

(not available for Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience)  

Learn more about Science's Indigenous Pathways Program

Learn more about Schulich's Indigenous Pathways Program

Community-based Bachelor of Education

 Learn more about Werklund's bridging program