Study at UAlberta

International Admission Subjects and Course Equivalencies

Admission Subjects

Eligible admission subjects are grouped into one of three general categories.

Humanities

Fine Arts

Science
English (Literature and Composition); Languages other than English; History; Cultural Geography; Social Studies; Economics Art; Drama; Music Math (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry); Biology; Calculus (Additional Math); Chemistry; Physics; Physical Geography; Science; Computer Science

Admission subjects for US, IB, AP & GCE Curriculum

The following chart outlines coursework/exams which may be considered for admission.
A combination or curricula can be considered when meeting the five required admission subjects for your program.

Subject Requirements (vary by program)

US High School Courses

SAT Critical Reading/SAT Subject Test

IB Courses

AP Courses

GCE (British) Courses
  *Advanced or Honors courses in the US curriculum may meet the subject requirements for certain Faculties Minimum score required is indicated in brackets May be completed at the higher or standard level   A minimum of 2 (sometimes 3) subjects must be completed at the AS or A-level. The remaining subjects may be presented at the O Level.
English Four years of English Language Arts with a course in the Grade 12 year. If a Grade 12 course is completed prior to the Grade 12 year, this must be indicated on the transcript or in a letter from the school. SAT Critical Reading (550) English AP English Consult the program listing.
Humanities Three years of History, Government Studies, or Civics including the Grade 12 year. A Language other than English may also be used. At least three consecutive years are required, including the Grade 12 year. American History and Social Studies (620); Chinese (750); French (580); German (560); Italian (620); Latin (600); Modern Hebrew (600); Japanese (620); Korean (600); Spanish (570); World History (620) Anthropology; Economics; Geography; History; History of the Americas; History of Europe; History of Africa; History of Asia & Middle East; History of Asia & Oceania; Islamic History; Philosophy; Psychology; Arabic; Bengali; Bosnian; Bulgarian; Cantonese; Chinese; Czech; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; French; German; Greek; Hindi; Indonesian; Italian; Japanese; Latin; Mandarin; Norwegian; Polish; Portuguese; Russian; Slovak; Spanish; Swahili; Swedish; Turkish AP Government and Politics; AP Human Geography; AP European History; AP World History; Any Language at the AP level; AP US History; AP Micro Economics; AP Macro Economics; AP Psychology Consult the program listing.
Fine Arts Three years of the same Fine Arts subject (e.g.3 years of Music or 3 years of Art, including the Grade 12 year. Combinations of disciplines will not be considered.) N/A Art & Design; Dance; Film; Music; Theatre (Drama Theatre Arts); Visual Arts AP Art History; AP Studio Art; AP Music Theory Consult the program listing.
Sciences          
Math (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry) Pre-Calculus (Calculus, Statistics, Business or Applied Mathematics will not be considered.) Mathematics Level 2 or Mathematics IIC (600) Mathematics; Math Studies N/A - There is no AP course that meets the Algebra requirement for admission Consult the program listing.
Calculus Calculus course completed in the Grade 12 year. N/A - There is no SAT Subject test in Calculus Mathematics AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC Consult the program listing. 
Biology One year high school course alone will not meet the subject prerequisite for admission.* Biology E or Biology M (590) Biology AP Biology Consult the program listing.
Chemistry One year high school course alone will not meet the subject prerequisite for admission.* Chemistry (600) Chemistry AP Chemistry Consult the program listing.
Physics One year high school course alone will not meet the subject prerequisite for admission.* Physics (600) Physics AP Physics Consult the program listing.
Science One year high school course alone will not meet the subject prerequisite for admission.* N/A Computing Science; Design; Environmental Systems AP Environmental Sciences; AP Statistics; AP Computer Science A; AP Computer Science AB Consult the program listing.
 

 * Advanced or Honors courses in the US curriculum may meet subject requirements for certain faculties. Contact us for details.

The IB Advantage

Applicants with IB coursework may qualify for:

  • Early admission based on predicted grades
  • Final admission
  • Exclusive IB-dedicated scholarships
  • Transfer credit for first-year courses
See IB Curriculum.

The AP Advantage

Applicants with AP coursework may qualify for:

  • Transfer credit or Advanced placement for first-year courses
  • Exclusive AP-dedicated scholarships
See AP Curriculum.

The GCE Advantage

Applicants with GCE coursework may qualify for:

  • Transfer credit or Advanced placement for first-year courses
  • Early admission based in final O-level marks and predicted A-level grades.
See GCE Curriculum.