September 18, 2026 Hello from UCalgary Admissions and Recruitment! We're excited to launch our FAQ series for the 2026-27 academic year. In each edition, we'll highlight and answer some of the top questions we've received from prospective students, supporters and counsellors like you.  When are applications open and when can I apply?Exciting opportunities await! Our application for fall 2027 undergraduate programs is now open and will remain available until March 1, 2027. We encourage you to apply early, as programs are competitive, and admission is not guaranteed. For application details, click here. Once we receive your application, application fee, and all required documents, we will begin our review process. Our first round of offers are typically made in mid-November, followed by our second review in February. Most offers are made by May 1. Please note that international students and Canadian students with international credentials may require additional time to obtain transcripts. We recommend starting the process early to ensure you can meet all required deadlines. I want to apply later in the cycle because my grade 11 results are weaker than my grade 12 results. How will this impact my application?We encourage all students to apply early for admission, regardless of their academic average. If you’re not selected in our first round of reviews, rest assured that you will be automatically reconsidered when new grades are available. We do not penalize applicants who are not offered admission in earlier reviews. Applying early also allows you to submit your application for Prestige Awards, which have a deadline of December 1, 2026. How many programs can I apply to?You can apply to up to 2 programs in your application. We recommend you select the program you’re most interested in as your first choice and, for your second choice, choose a program where your academic standing matches or surpasses the estimated competitive admission average. All estimated admission averages can be viewed in our Admissions Requirements tool. If you receive an offer of admission to your first-choice program, this is the only offer of admission you’ll receive. If you receive an offer of admission to your second-choice program, you will still be considered for your first-choice each time we receive a new set of grades. You do not need to reapply and will be reconsidered automatically. What is the competitive admission average for my program?For high school applicants, we calculate the admission average using the courses required for your program at the grade 11 or grade 12 level. If both grade 11 and 12 marks are available in the same subject, your grade 12 mark will be used. To view the five courses used for your programs of interest, visit our Admissions Requirements tool. The University of Calgary publishes estimated competitive admission averages ranges. This is because averages can change depending on the applicant pool and throughout the cycle. You can find the estimated competitive admission averages for each program on our Explore Programs webpages. We encourage students to use these estimates when choosing their programs and believe students within the published range will be competitive for admission. As these ranges may be updated throughout the cycle, we recommend checking back regularly for any changes. When are offers made?Admission evaluations begin in the fall with the first round of admission offers being made mid-November. Admission offers are based on courses completed at the time of application and offers in November and December make up about 30% of total offers made to students. This means the vast majority of offers are granted after we receive first term grade 12 results in the middle of February/early March. There is no disadvantage to receiving an offer in February compared to November; we are here to help you with next steps and welcome you to the UCalgary community! Can I change the programs I have applied to?You can change your program choices until March 1, 2027 by editing your application. Please note that if you change a program choice for a program you have already been admitted to, your offer of admission to that program will be cancelled. This includes switching the program between your first and second choices. Here is a guide on how to edit an application after you submit! What is a conditional offer?For students with courses in progress, your offer of admission will be conditional. For international students, this conditional offer of admission should be used to apply for a study permit. For students who have received a conditional offer of admission, your offer will be finalized when the criteria outlined in the status link of your Student Centre is completed. Conditional offers of admission require that students maintain the academic average for the program, present all required courses for admission for their program, graduate from high school, and submit all required documents. Do you offer an application fee waiver?The University of Calgary typically does not offer waivers or discounts for the initial application fee ($125 for students with Canadian credentials and $145 for international students). However, in exceptional circumstances, students fully sponsored by third-party organizations may qualify for a waiver if their sponsor does not cover the application fee. We encourage you to reach out to your dedicated Recruiter to explore available options. How do I apply for awards?All high school students who have submitted a fall 2027 admission application are encouraged to apply for scholarships and awards. You don't need to be admitted to apply for scholarships or awards, in fact, we encourage you to apply for scholarships and awards as soon as you apply for admission. The application is in your Student Centre. UCalgary awards $22M+ annually in scholarships and awards; award decisions are made on an on-going basis:
Make sure you submit your application for our Prestige Award by December 1, 2026, and our High School Awards and Bursaries application by March 1, 2027! Do you have any tips for making a strong Prestige scholarship application?Prestige awards are our high value awards for high achieving students. The application requires the completion of essay questions. Here are some valuable tips to help you create a standout scholarship application. Remember to give yourself ample time and aim to submit your application well before the December 1, 2026, Prestige Award deadline. Extensions cannot be granted and note that it will take 24 hours for your award application to appear in your Student Centre after you submit your admission application. 1. Gather Your Information: Before you begin the application, compile all the necessary details about your volunteer and extracurricular experiences. Be prepared to provide official names, dates of involvement, and contact information for someone who can verify your participation. 2. Take Your Time: This is not an application to rush through. Draft your responses in a Word document first and then copy and paste them into the application once you’re satisfied with your answers. 3. Highlight Your Experiences: When discussing your experiences, focus on what you learned and the impact of your activities. Be sure to detail your role and how you contributed to collaborative efforts. 4. Emphasize Intrinsic Motivation: Choose to write about activities that reflect your intrinsic motivations—such as sports, clubs, volunteering, or student council—and avoid those that primarily serve personal gain, like employment or personal wellness. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling scholarship application! How can I customize my degree?UCalgary has many ways to customize your degree! Depending on your program of interest, you may consider one of the following:
Program specific questions:Why do I have to select the common first year of Engineering as a high school applicant? What is the Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) supplementary application? The BHSc program believes that we are richer and stronger when we are diverse and welcome students from a broad range of backgrounds. We acknowledge that everyone has a unique path in life, individuals face unique challenges and may not share the same opportunities. Yet, they may be a great asset to our program. Therefore, in addition to considering academic performance, applicants to the BHSc program must complete a supplementary application. Students will receive a link to this application after applying to one of the majors in the BHSc program. The supplementary application consists of four questions that help us understand how you think and express yourself. They are questions that do not have ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers and they must be completed by you alone. The questions are not shared publicly. When you submit your supplementary application to the faculty, they remove your name (and other identifying information) and assign it a number. The answers are then independently and blindly reviewed by three individuals who each provide a score. The faculty considers the average supplementary application score in conjunction with academic performance in making admission decisions. Does the Bachelor of Music (BMus) require an audition? The BMus program requires either an in-person or video audition, which you will select within the UCalgary undergraduate application for admission. In-person auditions are preferred, but you may select ‘video audition’ if your home address is more than 150 km away from the University of Calgary. If you have selected an in-person audition, you will be notified of the audition schedule after the undergraduate application deadline. For fall 2027 admission, in-person auditions will take place in February of 2027. If you select ‘video submission’ in your application, an Audition To-Do list item will generate in your Student Centre within 24-28 hours after you submit your application for admission. The video submission should be uploaded to your To-Do list as a Word or PDF document that includes the appropriate video link and password (if applicable). For more information on BMus auditions, click here. Does the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Visual Studies require a portfolio? Looking for more ways to explore?
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