Applying as an Indigenous Applicant

Applying as an Indigenous Applicant

February 27th, 2024

Alysha Akins

This article will guide you through what applying to undergraduate studies at UCalgary as an Indigenous applicant will look like.

Self-identifying as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) on your application can result in 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.

How are applicants considered?

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.

For high school applicants, each program has five courses required for admission. These are used to calculate your admission average.

For transfer students (students who have completed 12 or more academic post-secondary units), you will be considered for admission based using a GPA calculated on your post-secondary coursework.

For 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.

Indigenous Admissions Process

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 with a lower admission average. Most programs admit students through IAP if you are within 10% (high school and mature applicants) or 0.5 GPA (transfer students) of the annual admission average (averages are program dependent and vary each year).

A minimum 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 identity before you’ll be able to register in classes.

Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Social Work programs consider Indigenous identity as part of their supplementary review process so do not specifically consider students under the Indigenous Admission Process.

Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process

If you cannot 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.

Students with enough 30-level content can be admitted directly to their desired degree program through this pathway.

To be considered under this pathway, you’ll need submit a personal statement along with faculty-specific supplemental requirements and documentation that confirms Indigenous identity. These supplementary components will be reviewed for admission by a faculty-specific admission committee.

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 IASP form. Regardless of the method, we encourage you to include information that will demonstrate you will be successful in the program you’ve selected.

Bridging Programs

If you do not have enough 30-level content for your desired program, we’ll consider you for a bridging program, if one exists. Bridging programs offer foundation courses designed to teach you the 30-level content you are missing, along with some first-year university content. You’ll progress directly to the degree program after successful completion of bridging courses. Faculty specific bridging programs are individualized to each student.

To be considered under this pathway, you’ll need to submit a personal statement along with faculty-specific supplemental requirements and documentation that confirms Indigenous identity. These supplementary components will be reviewed for admission by a faculty-specific admission committee.

Faculty-specific bridging programs are available in these faculties:

Arts Indigenous Bridging Program (not available for Bachelor of Science in Psychology)

Architecture, Planning and Landscape Indigenous Bridging Program

Haskayne Indigenous Bridging Program

Science Indigenous Bridging Program (not available for Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience or any Biological Sciences Honours programs)

Schulich Indigenous Bridging Program

ISAP

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 subsequent years.

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

For more information on ISAP and its admission requirements, click here.

How can I make sure I’m considered for admission through all the pathways?

Apply for admission, submit your documents, and we’ll do the rest!

As soon as you apply and self-identify as Indigenous on your application for admission, you’ll have the option to submit Indigenous identity documentation and a personal statement. Regardless of whether we’ll use it, you have the option to upload these documents in your Student Centre right away. If you’re not sure you’ll be admissible through the general admission process, submitting your Identity documentation and personal statement early may support a faster evaluation process if we do end up considering your application through a pathway.

We’ll consider you through a pathway if it is the best way to offer you admission and we’ll do our best to grant you admission in a way that will allow you to be successful and meet your goals.

How many applications do I submit?

You just need to submit one application!

The best way to be considered for admission is through our undergraduate application which you’ll need to submit by March 1. After March 1, you can continue to be considered for our bridging programs by submitting the ISAP application, which remains open until July 31. If you’re interested in a bridging program and are applying between March 2-July 31 through the ISAP application, you can share your interest in the bridging programs with the ISAP coordinator when you meet as part of the ISAP application process.

What happens if I am accepted through a pathway?

You will receive a notification via email to check your Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca) for an update. If admitted, you will be able to see what program you have been admitted to and any conditions of admission. You will need to accept, your offer of admission in your Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca), pay your admission deposit by the specified deadline, and meet the conditions of your offer by the deadline noted.

What documents can I use to confirm Indigenous identity?

Please see here for recognized documentation for verifying Indigenous identity. Documents can be uploaded to your Student Centre (my.ucalgary.ca). If documentation is not available, students are encouraged to contact the Indigenous Recruitment Team.

How do I apply for admission?

Visit our how to apply page or our how to apply blog to learn more about the steps to apply for admission. Apply once to be considered for all pathways!

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