Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements – Arts and Science Programs

We are glad that you are considering becoming a student at St. Mary’s University. Admission to undergraduate Arts and Science programs may be obtained under one of the following categories as determined by the Admissions Office:

High School Standing – For the 2025/2026 Academic Year

Applicants in this category must have received a high school diploma and must have an overall average of 65 % or higher on five 30-level subjects as listed below.

For entry in: English, General Studies, History, Liberal Studies, Social Justice & Catholic Studies, Open Studies & Diploma Program

  1. English 30-1
  2. Three of:
    • Math 30-1
    • Math 30-2
    • 30-level language other than English
    • Aboriginal Studies 30
    • Biology 30
    • Chemistry 30
    • Math 31
    • Physics 30
    • Science 30
    • Social Studies 30-1
    • Art 30
    • Art 31
    • Choral Music 30
    • General Music 30
    • Instrumental Music 30
    • Drama 30
    • Dance 35
    • Musical Theatre 35
    • CTS Computing Science 30 (5 credits)

3. An additional approved 5-credit 30-level course, the average of two approved 3-credit 30-level courses, or the average of five approved 1-credit Advanced-level CTS courses from the same occupational area. For a more detailed explanation of the courses that will fulfil this requirement.

One additional course from the below list:

OR

The average of two courses from the below list:

OR

The average of five, 1-credit CTS courses at the Advanced level within the same occupational area (see the list below). An example of course codes for CTS courses at the 30-level are COM3025 or FOD3900. If there are more than five, 1-credit courses in an occupational area, the five best courses will be used to calculate the average.

For reference on which area your CTS courses are within, please reference the Provincially Authorized Senior High School Courses and Course Codes.

Courses that CANNOT be used for Admission:

Applicants to this program must use the following three courses to satisfy the category 2 requirement:

  • Mathematics 30-1
  • Biology 30
  • Chemistry 30

If deemed inadmissible to the Bachelor of Science program because not all the above courses were taken, admission will automatically be deferred to the Open Studies program.

Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 must be one of the courses used to satisfy the category 2 requirement.

If deemed inadmissible to the Psychology degree program (4 year) because Math has not been taken, admission will automatically be deferred to the Liberal Studies, Psychology program. If deemed inadmissible to the Psychology degree program (3-year) because Math has not been taken, admission will automatically be deferred to the Open Studies program.

Applicants to this program will adhere to the same admission requirements as for High School Standing, but in addition, must have one of the following subjects:

  • Mathematics 30-1 or equivalent
  • Mathematics 30-2 or equivalent
  • Or, if transferring to the University of Calgary Mathematics 30-1 or equivalent

Applicants to this program will adhere to the same admission requirements as for High School Standing, but in addition must have the following subjects:

  • Biology 30 and
  • Chemistry 30 and
  • Mathematics 30-1 or equivalent

Post-Secondary Standing

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:

Mature Standing

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility

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:

Biology

Additional Requirements of:

Psychology
Additional requirements of:

Business Transfer
Additional requirement of:

*if transferring to University of Calgary, Mathematics 30-1

Visiting Student Admission

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 Enrolment Services Office. 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.

Re-Admission to the University

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.

Special Admission

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for the other admission categories 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:

  1. Limited to register in a maximum of nine credit hours (3 courses in the first term) and required to meet with an academic advisor before registering.
  2. 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.
    • Required to complete a total of four Success Strategy Seminars during the student’s first term of studies. Failure to do so will result in being required to withdraw for a one-year period.

Out-of-Province Students

Applicants who have completed high school in a Canadian province other than Alberta will be permitted to use equivalent courses to meet admission requirements. The chart here lists courses offered in other provinces that are acceptable for admission purposes in lieu of Alberta 30-level courses. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have questions about admission course equivalencies. Applicants who have completed high school in a province other than Alberta must make arrangements to have their official transcripts forwarded directly to the Admissions Office.

Transcripts from other provinces can be obtained from the appropriate education board in the province where applicants attended or are attending high school. Transcripts can be sent by your issuing institution to admissions@stmu.ca.

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick – Contact High School

Newfoundland & Labrador

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia – Contact High School

Nunavut

Ontario – Contact High School

Prince Edward Island – Contact High School

Québec

Saskatchewan

Yukon

Home Educated Students

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:

Admission Requirements – Bachelor of Education

The Bachelor of Education (Elementary) stream is for degree holders. Students in this stream have completed, or are in their final stages of completing, a 3- or 4-year undergraduate degree.

Elementary After-Degree Admission Criteria

  • Applicants to the Bachelor of Education (Elementary) after-degree program must have completed a St. Mary’s Bachelor’s degree or a 3- or 4- year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution
  • Applicants must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA (calculated from the most recently attempted 30 undergraduate credits) to be considered for admission.
    • GPA for early conditional admission is calculated from grades available at the time of application.
    • GPA for full admission is calculated from final grades.
  • All degree requirements must be completed by the Winter semester preceding the Fall intake.
  • First degrees must demonstrate a strong liberal arts component and must include the following core teachable subject areas:
    • Math – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate course in Mathematics or Statistics. Finance and Accounting courses will generally not fulfill this requirement.
    • Science – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate Science course. Examples of Science courses include: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Geography, and Science.
    • Canadian Studies – must be a 3-credit (or equivalent) undergraduate course with high Canadian content. Successful candidates often present Canadian Studies courses from the following subject areas: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, Economics, History, Indigenous Studies, Geography, Political Sciences and Sociology. Please note that the course must be focused on Canada.
    • English – must have two 3-credit (or equivalent) English courses at the undergraduate level. Please note that University Prep or Academic Upgrading English courses will not be accepted. Also note that GNED courses from Mount Royal University do not meet this requirement. Communications, Linguistics, and Writing courses will generally not fulfill this requirement either.

If you would like confirmation that coursework taken at another institution will fulfill any of the above requirement(s), please email admissions@stmu.ca with a course outline or link to a course outline.

Applicants to the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) after-degree program must have completed a 4-year St. Mary’s University Bachelor’s degree or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution. Admission to the BEd Secondary program is competitive.

Secondary After-Degree Admission Criteria

  • Applicants must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA (calculated from the most recently attempted 30 undergraduate credits) to be considered for admission.
    • GPA for early conditional admission is calculated from grades available at time of application.
    • GPA for full admission is calculated from the final grades.
  • All degree requirements must be completed by the Winter semester preceding the Fall intake.
  • First degree must include two courses (6 credits) in Literature and Composition (English or French). Please note that University Prep or Academic Upgrading English courses will not be accepted. Also note that GNED courses from Mount Royal University do not meet this requirement. Communications, Linguistics, and Writing courses will generally not fulfill this requirement either.
  • First degree must have either a major concentration in a teaching subject or an appropriate range of courses in a teaching subject, as outlined below for teachable subject areas.
  • Specific Teachable Subject Area criteria includes:
    • English Language Arts
      • 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English OR
      • Any 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution AND
        • Four courses (12 credits) in English, and
        • four Courses (12 credits) in two different Humanities areas.

          Examples of Humanities courses include the following: Art History, Classical Studies, Drama, Language Courses, Indigenous Studies, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Writing.

    • Social Studies
      • 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Anthropology, Economics, History, Geography, Political Sciences or Sociology OR
      • Any 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution AND
        • Four courses (12 credits) in History, and
        • four courses (12 credits) in two different Social Science areas.

          Examples of Social Science courses include the following: Accounting, Economics, Family Studies, Geography, History, Management Studies, Political Studies, Psychology, and Sociology. When comparing applicants with the same admissions score, applicants with a stronger background in Anthropology, Economics, History, Geography, Political Sciences or Sociology have a greater likelihood of being admitted.

    • Mathematics
      • 4-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Computing Sciences, or Mathematics OR
      • Any 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution AND
        • Four courses (12 credits) in Mathematics/Statistics, and
        • four courses (12 credits) in two different Science areas.

          Examples of Science courses include the following: Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science, and Computer Science.

    • Sciences
      • 4-year Bachelor of Science degree OR
      • Any 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution AND
        • Four courses (12 credits) in General Sciences, and
        • four courses (12 credits) in two different School Science subjects.

          Examples of School Science subjects include the following: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Physical Geography.

The Bachelor of Education, Single-Entry stream 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 Bachelor of Education degree. Applicants are only eligible for entry to the program during the year that they graduate from high school, and cannot have previously completed any coursework at the post-secondary level. Applicants to the B.Ed. The single-entry program must complete all 4-year degree requirements within 5 years by April of the year preceding the commencement of the B.Ed. degree, 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. Applicants will be asked to submit an updated resume and are encouraged to update their references and letter of intent. Admission to the Single-Entry program does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Education degree; applicants will be reassessed upon the completion of their first degree.

Admission Criteria

A cohort cap for the Single-Entry program will be determined annually in consultation with the Dean of Education and Vice President Academic. During the review process, applicants are initially evaluated in the following areas:

  1. Academic Records: Admission to the Single-Entry program is competitive:
  • Minimum high school admission average of 75%
  • 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
  1. Supporting Documents: these are submitted separately from the online application for admission. The application is considered complete when all the supporting documentation has been received and will be reviewed after that date. These documents include the following:
    1. Resumé: Include all experience working with children, volunteer experience, and work history.
    2. Letters of Reference: Two references using the Confidential Reference on Applicant Form are required. References should include one academic reference and one reference that relates to the applicant’s experience working with kids/youth. References from family or friends cannot be accepted.

All supporting documents may be submitted by mail, email or in-person to:

St. Mary’s University

Attention: Admissions

14500 Bannister Rd SE

Calgary, AB T2X 1Z4

admissions@stmu.ca

Academic Records – Transcripts

Applicants with International Credentials

Reference Forms

Evidence of Community Involvement and Interest in the Vocation of Teaching

Résumé