Admission Requirements

Applicants who have received a high school diploma and who have an admission average between 60-64.9% on five 30-level admissions subjects, or who have an admission average of at least 65% on four admission subjects, of which one must be English Language Arts 30-1, may be considered for Special Admission on a case-by-case basis. Please note that Special Admission does not apply to the Bachelor of Education program. Students admitted under this category will be placed on academic probation.

To fulfill the obligations of academic probation, students will be:

• Limited to registering in a maximum of nine credit hours (3 courses in the first term) and required to meet with an academic advisor before registering.
• Required to achieve a GPA of 2.0 or higher as follows:
  • Full-time studies (9 credits) – must be achieved during the student’s first term of studies; failure to do so will result in being required to withdraw for a one-year period.
  • Part-time studies (less than 9 credits) – must be achieved upon completing 9 credits; failure to do so will result in being required to withdraw for a one-year period.

Applicants in this category will have attempted or completed at least 30 credit hours at another post-secondary institution. Applicants with fewer than 30 completed credit hours will be considered for admission under the High School Standing category as determined by Admissions.

If post-secondary credit was earned at one of ApplyAlberta’s participating institutions, transcripts will automatically be obtained by StMU. If the credit was earned at a non-participating institution, the applicant must arrange to have official transcripts forwarded to Admissions.

Applicants who present a cumulative GPA below 2.0 and/or who have been required to withdraw from another institution may be admitted on a Special Admission basis and placed on academic probation.

To fulfill the obligations of academic probation, students will be:

• Limited to registering in a maximum of nine credit hours (3 courses in the first term) and required to meet with an academic advisor before registering.
• Required to achieve a GPA of 2.0 or higher as follows:
  • Full-time studies (9 credits) – must be achieved during the student’s first term of studies; failure to do so will result in being required to withdraw for a one-year period.
  • Part-time studies (less than 9 credits) – must be achieved upon completing 9 credits; failure to do so will result in being required to withdraw for a one-year period.

Applicants in this category who are applying for one of the programs below must also meet any additional course requirements as outlined below:

If you do not meet the requirements for high school or post-secondary admission, you may be considered for mature admission. Mature standing applicants must:

• Present an English 30-1 or equivalent with a minimum grade of 65%,  or present a GED with a minimum score of 525 in the 5 comprehensive areas
• Be at least 21 years of age by the beginning of the semester in which they wish to commence studies
• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (international students will be considered based on the admissions criteria for international students)

Applicants in this category who are applying for one of the programs below must also meet any additional course requirements as outlined below:

St. Mary’s University recognizes that individuals who have followed a non-traditional education path will still possess the capabilities and competencies required to succeed in a post-secondary institution. Home-educated applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for admission, applicants must provide a written recommendation from an individual other than a parent, such as a home education coordinator, teaching professional or counsellor, commenting on the applicant’s academic readiness for a university-level program of studies. References from family or friends cannot be accepted.

Home-schooled applicants will also be required to submit their Academic Portfolio for the Admissions Office to review. Portfolios should include:

• Introduction. Provide basic information about your homeschool approach or the type of curriculum used. Include any transcripts you may have.
• Test Scores. Submit official results from at least one of the following standard tests: English 30-1 with a 65 % or better; GED with a minimum score of 525; SAT reasoning test scores of 925. Applicants to the Bachelor of Science must submit scores of 50 % or higher for Biology 30, Chemistry 30, and Mathematics 30-1 or equivalent.
• Literature List. Include a list of books read during high school years. Include the title, author, and the year the book was read.
• Writing Samples. Include writing samples from grades 9 through 12. Include written reports for history, English, science, etc.
• Recognition. Include both the award title and a single page outlining the details of the award, including what it took to achieve the award or recognition. Also include letters of recommendation, if applicable.
• Extracurricular. Include activities where talents, leadership, and skills shine, whether the focus is art, dance, drama, music, sport, or other activities.
• Work Experience. Any jobs held, apprentice work completed in a specialized field, or internships during the high school years should be recorded in this section.
• Volunteerism. Include any community involvement and volunteer service

Applicants in this category who are applying for one of the programs below must also meet any additional course requirements as outlined below:

Visiting students are those enrolled in a degree program at another post-secondary institution who wish to take courses at St. Mary’s University for transfer credit. Visiting students must apply for admission at apply.stmu.ca. A letter of permission from the home institution indicating the dates of study and approved course(s) must be provided prior to registering at St. Mary’s University.

If the home institution is a member of ApplyAlberta, it is the responsibility of the home institution to request transcripts on behalf of the student upon completion of the approved course(s). If the home institution is not a member of ApplyAlberta, visiting students must request that a transcript be sent to their home institution.

If you have previously submitted an application or attended St. Mary’s University but have not attended or registered for one or more years, you must apply for re-admission at apply.stmu.ca, and must pay a $100 re-application fee. If you previously attended St. Mary’s University and were registered within one year you do not need to apply for re-admission; please contact the Registrar’s Office at info@stmu.ca. If you wish to return after being required to withdraw from the University, you will be required to meet with the Dean prior to re-entry.

If you have been attending a post-secondary institution that is not a participating member of ApplyAlberta, you must supply official transcripts from the postsecondary institution when applying for re-admission to St. Mary’s University.

Single-Entry is for students entering from high school who wish to complete both a 4-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and the 2-year Bachelor of Education degree. Applicants are only eligible for entry to Single-Entry during the year that they graduate from high school and cannot have previously completed any coursework at the post-secondary level (excluding dual-credit courses completed during high school). All other applicants should refer to Bachelor of Education Admission Requirements.

Applicants to Single-Entry must complete all BA/BSc degree requirements within 5 years by the Winter semester preceding the Fall intake of the BEd degree. They must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in the last 30 credits of their BA/BSc degree and submit an Intent to Continue Form by the same date as the Application to Graduate Form in the final year of their BA/BSc degree. At that time, applicants will also be asked to submit a resume including all experience working with children, volunteer experience, and work history, and two references using the Confidential Reference on Applicant Form. Admission to the Single-Entry does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Education degree; applicants will be reassessed upon the completion of their first degree.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must achieve a minimum 75% admission average to be considered for admission.

• Early conditional admission average is calculated on the best five grade 11 or 12 admission subjects.
• Final admission average is calculated on the best five grade 12 admission subjects

A cohort cap for the Single-Entry program will be determined annually in consultation with the Dean of Education and Vice President Academic. Admission to the Single-Entry program is competitive. Applicants are admitted on a rolling admission basis.