Canadian Applicants (Citizens and Permanent Residents)

We are currently accepting applications for Fall (September) 2025 admission. The application deadline is February 1, 2025.  Please note that we do not admit for the winter or spring/summer terms. Please email gradadmissions@chem.ualberta.ca to inquire.

1) Apply online

Use the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) online application. Please make note of the Username/Email Address and Password used to create the application. You will require this information to login to the Applicant Portal later. Before starting an application applicants should read the Application Requirements for Academic Documents.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that references and all required documents are received by the application deadline.

2) Upload required information

During the application process, you will be required to upload the following information directly to the online application:

• Transcripts: One official copy (front and back of each page) from each post-secondary institution you have attended. The copy of the transcript must include the grading scale used by the institution.
• Department Package: The department package is a single document that you are required to fill in. It includes the following sections: academic background, relevant professional employment experience, academic honours received, refereed contributions, non-refereed contributions, conference presentations, other contributions and a statement of purpose. You will also be required to list the names of three U of A Chemistry faculty members whose area of research are of interest to you. A link to the department package is found on the application form. Use the space provided, additional pages will not be accepted.
• Letters of reference
  We require three (3) letters of reference to support your application for graduate admission. They should be written by persons who are familiar with your Chemistry background and who are providing support for your application. You will be required to enter the names and email addresses of the referees. The referees will receive an automatic email instructing them how to submit the letter of reference online. The email to the referees is sent once the application has been submitted. Please ensure that your referees are ready, willing and able to submit a reference and that you have entered their correct email address on the application form.

3) Submit application and pay the application fee

There is a required non-refundable fee payment of $135 to the University of Alberta in order to complete the online application, HOWEVER, the department will pay this fee for all Canadian applicants.

Please follow these steps after your application is complete:

• On the Application Fee Shoping Cart enter the following name and email address of the third party payer:
  • Name of Payer: Connor Part
  • Email Address of Payer: gradadmission@chem.ualberta.ca
• Click the Send Payment Request button
• Please allow 2-3 business days for the payment to be made. The application is submitted after the fee payment has been made.

When the application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. This email is very important. Please KEEP this email. It contains information about the Applicant Portal. Please refer to the Applicant Portal Quick Reference Guide to manage your application.

4) Await response from the department

Once complete your application is forwarded to the Chemistry Admissions Committee for review. The review process can take several weeks, or longer during peak processing times. During this period, please refrain from contacting the Chemistry Graduate Office regarding the status of your application. The status of your application is updated via the Applicant Portal. If your application is successful, you will receive an official admission letter from the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Please do not follow any instructions on Bear Tracks and do not make arrangements to send hard copies of your documents at this time. Hard copy original documents are only required by those students that have been admitted.

5) Visit the department

If you have been accepted for admission into graduate studies, we invite you to visit the Department of Chemistry: Tour the facilities, meet our faculty and students, and explore the city of Edmonton.

In-person visits can be arranged either during the Prospective Graduate Student Weekend 2025 (March TBD, 2025) or at an alternate time.  Fill out the registration form and one of the members of our graduate recruitment committee will contact you to get things rolling.

Graduate Recruitment Committee

• Matthew Macauley: macauley@ualberta.ca
• Michael Meanwell: meanwell@ualberta.ca
• Shira Joudan: joudan@ualberta.ca

We are able to pay for local expenses such as meals and accommodation. The department also has funds available to cover travel expenses, which we will extend at our discretion to admitted Canadian students.

6) Accept our offer

We ask that you accept or decline the offer of admission via the Applicant Portal as soon as possible.