How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Alberta: Direct Entry Through Arts or Science, and Requirements and Timeline for Canadian and Chinese High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Alberta (U of A) is in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. You can study psychology as a Bachelor of Arts (Faculty of Arts) or a Bachelor of Science (Faculty of Science), each with an honors option. Like Ottawa and Calgary, the U of A lets high school students choose psychology when they apply. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on the U of A’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students and international students in Canada), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. Which program to apply to

• BA in Psychology: the study of how people think, feel and behave, from infant, childhood and adolescent development to aging and memory, language and culture. The major can also be taken as part of a BA Honors degree.
• BSc in Psychology: offered by the Faculty of Science, with more math and science in its admission requirements (see below).
• Competitive averages (three-year trends):
  • Arts: low to mid 70s;
  • BA Honors: mid 80s to low 90s;
  • Science: low 80s to mid 90s (the U of A gives a single range for the faculty).
  These are benchmarks only; admission is rolling and changes with the applicant pool, and meeting them does not guarantee admission.
• Second choice: the U of A recommends adding a second-choice program with a lower historical average; if you are not accepted to your first choice, you are assessed for your second.
• Honors program: the psychology honors program is a two-year apprentice-style research program: a research apprenticeship and thesis proposal in the first year, then thesis research and a written thesis in the second. BA and BSc honors are identical apart from faculty requirements. Students must complete at least 24 units with a GPA of at least 3.0 in each fall-winter cycle, and applications are usually due in the winter term.

2. Academic requirements: Canadian high schools

• General rule: every direct-entry program uses five specific Grade 12 subjects, always including English (English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 in BC).
• BC: BA in Psychology: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12; one subject from fine arts, humanities, languages other than English or math/sciences; and three from humanities, languages other than English or math/sciences. For a major or minor in psychology, the U of A says students should present Grade 12 math (listed as Alberta’s Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2, or equivalent).
• BC: BSc in Psychology: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12; Pre-Calculus 12; two of Calculus 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12, Anatomy and Physiology 12, Computer Science 12, Geology 12, Environmental Science 12, Foundations of Mathematics 12 and others; and one more subject from fine arts, humanities, languages, options, physical education or math/sciences.
• Application fee: CAD $150 for new applicants.
• Grades: from February 19, 2027, eligible students can submit final first-semester marks; self-report final high school marks by April 30; submit outstanding high school documents by August 1.

3. Academic requirements: high schools in China

• BA in Psychology: English; one subject from fine arts, humanities, languages or math/sciences; and three from humanities, languages or math/sciences. A psychology major or minor also needs math.
• BSc in Psychology: English and mathematics; two subjects from calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, geography and others; and one more subject.
• Documents:
  • official transcripts for all three years of senior high school;
  • Huikao (graduation examination) results or Gaokao results. The U of A’s Chinese-language page says the Gaokao is not required but can help your application;
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores;
  • Chinese-language documents must be translated and notarized, or verified through CHESICC.
• When offers come: submit Grade 10 and 11 results, your Grade 12 course list, Huikao and language scores for conditional assessment; if you have finished the first semester of Grade 12, submit those final marks. Strong students may receive a conditional offer during Grade 12, which becomes final once the conditions are met.
• After admission: most new international students pay a CAD $5,000 tuition deposit to accept (CAD $1,000 if already studying in Canada), which is required to receive the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for a study permit and to register. International undergraduates receive a tuition guarantee covering the full program.

4. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; One Skill Retake results are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: for tests on or after January 21, 2026, 4.5 overall with no band below 4.5; for earlier tests, 90 overall with no section below 21. The Home Edition is not accepted for 2027–28 undergraduate admission.
• Other tests: Duolingo 120 (no integrated subscore below 100); PTE Academic 61 (no skill below 60); CAEL 70 (no band below 60); Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency 180 (no skill below 170).
• Exemptions: three or more years of full-time study in English in Canada or another English-language country or institution, with at least five academic courses a year (excluding ESL); or AP English 4, IB English A 5, English B 6 and others. Most Canadian applicants meet the requirement automatically after three years of full-time education in English in Canada.
• Compared with other schools: the IELTS requirement matches Western and Queen’s (6.5, no band below 6.0), while the new TOEFL requires 4.5 in every band as well as overall.

5. Transfer students

• Fewer than 24 units: assessed on high school admission requirements, and post-secondary performance may be considered.
• 24 units or more: you must meet high school prerequisites (some can be replaced by post-secondary courses), and your GPA is usually calculated on the most recent 24 units.
• Historical transfer AGPAs (4-point scale): Arts 2.0–2.3; BA Honors 3.0–3.3; Science 2.3 and above; BSc Honors 3.0 and above.
• Transfer credit: generally up to 60 credits, mostly first- and second-year courses. Use Transfer Alberta for Alberta institutions and the U of A’s transfer credit search tool for others.
• Dates: applications open October 1, 2026, close March 1, 2027, with final transcripts due June 15.

6. Timeline for September 2027 entry

• October 1, 2026: admission, scholarship and residence applications open.
• January 10, 2027: deadline for application-based entrance scholarships (apply for admission first to receive a CCID).
• February 15, 2027: deadline to request a program change.
• March 1, 2027: application deadline for most programs, for both Canadian and international applicants.
• April 30, 2027: self-report final high school marks; also the deadline for guaranteed North Campus residence for new students.
• May 1, 2027: accept offers made before April 1; later offers follow the date on Launchpad.
• June 15: final transcripts for post-secondary applicants. August 1: outstanding documents for high school applicants. Course registration opens in late May or early June.

7. Scholarships and costs

• International students, automatic (based on admission average, no application): the International Admission Scholarship of up to CAD $10,000, and Regional Excellence Scholarships of up to CAD $5,000 for top students from certain regions. International students at Canadian high schools may also receive up to CAD $10,000.
• International students, by application (January 10 deadline, one application for all awards):
  • President’s International Distinction Scholarship: 25 students a year, up to CAD $120,000 over four years, based on admission average and leadership;
  • International Leader Scholarship: up to CAD $15,000.
• Canadian students:
  • the Gold Standard Scholarship of up to CAD $6,000 for the top 5% in each faculty, automatically;
  • up to CAD $3,500 for top AP or IB students;
  • up to CAD $1,500 for out-of-province students (by application);
  • applicants with 95%+ and an outstanding application are considered for the most prestigious awards.
• Tuition: the U of A’s cost calculator gives an estimate by status and program.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply to the BA or BSc in Psychology by March 1, 2027, with a second choice that has a lower historical average
• BC: the BA needs English Studies 12 plus four courses from the listed categories, with Grade 12 math for a psychology major; the BSc needs English Studies 12, Pre-Calculus 12, two math/science courses and one more course
• Submit the scholarship application by January 10

Students at high schools in China:

• Three years of transcripts and Huikao results (the Gaokao is optional but helpful), with notarized translations or CHESICC verification
• For the BSc: mathematics plus two math/science subjects
• IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL 4.5 (no band below 4.5) or Duolingo 120
• Apply by March 1 and submit the scholarship application by January 10
• After accepting, pay the CAD $5,000 deposit, receive your PAL and apply for a study permit

Transfer students:

• With 24+ units, a competitive GPA over the most recent 24 units (historically 2.0–2.3 for Arts, 2.3+ for Science), plus high school prerequisites
• Apply by March 1 and submit final transcripts by June 15; up to about 60 transfer credits

Sources: University of Alberta, BA Psychology; BSc Psychology; Admission requirements; Competitive averages and transfer AGPAs; Language requirements; Chinese applicants; Dates and deadlines; Transfer students; Entrance scholarships; International entrance scholarships; International tuition and fees; Department of Psychology: Honors program. Information is for September 2027 entry; admission averages are three-year trend ranges. Check the University of Alberta for the latest details.