Application Review and Admission Offers

Application review begins ~ March 1 and the first round of admissions is completed around mid-May.

  • Admission GPAs are calculated using the most recent, applicable 60 credits (20 courses) of coursework completed by January 1st of the admission year.
  • All aspects of the application are reviewed to ensure a proper fit with the program and the OT profession.
  • Fulfilling the minimum criteria and GPA only guarantees consideration for admission. When an application qualifies for consideration that application is entered into a lottery system using one or both of two routes (see description below). NOTE: Meeting the admission GPA in a particular year does not guarantee admission. Admission from one/both of the application routes is a matter of chance and will depend on the number and caliber of applications received each year.
  • Activity courses in phys. ed., studio/performance courses in fine arts, practicum courses, pass/fail courses and seminar/research/thesis courses are not included in the calculation of the admission GPA.
  • Repeated courses (or courses with similar content) of previously passed or failed courses are not included in the GPA calculation.
  • Certificate-level and Diploma-level courses are not included in the GPA calculation.
  • Most international exchange courses, graduate-level courses, and courses completed outside of a degree may be included in the calculation of the admission GPA. (For detailed information refer to the FAQ section of the website)
  • Approximately 145 students are admitted in total.
  • The CASPer results will complement the other tools and personal information that we consider when reviewing applications.
  • 102 of the seats are reserved for Alberta residents. NOTE: If offered admission applicants will be required to provide proof of Alberta residency. See the FAQ page for residency information.
  • 25 of the spaces are reserved for Saskatchewan residents. NOTE: If offered admission applicants will be required to provide proof of Saskatchewan residency.
  • A minimum of 15% of seats will be offered to out-of-province or foreign applicants.
  • Two of the spaces are reserved for Indigenous applicants. If those spaces are not filled, they will be filled using the general applicant pool. If offered admission applicants will be required to provide proof of Indigenous identity. Information regarding required documentation can be found in the University of Alberta calendar.

     

    Evidence of a strong academic history:

    The OT program is academically challenging which is why preference is given to applicants who have completed at least 24 credits (a full course load of 4- 5 courses/semester) over two consecutive terms or semesters at some point during their academic career while maintaining a strong GPA. The goal is to determine that an applicant can maintain a competitive GPA in a full-time year and vet applicants who have pursued part-time undergraduate degrees. Applicants with a history of multiple withdrawals and/or failures are usually not successful. Note that OT students take 30+credits/year over a 26 month program. The program is tightly sequenced, comprehensive and academically challenging and enrollment in each term is contingent upon successful completion of all courses in the prior term(s). Applicants need to be prepared for the academic rigor of the program.

    Selection of Applicants:

New for 2024:

Our program uses two routes for applicants in our selection process. If eligible an applicant may be considered in the process for both routes. Route 1 occurs first, followed by Route 2.

(1) For Route 1 we place all applicants with GPAs of 3.8-4.0, a CASPer score in the 4th quartile , and completion of the prerequisites into an applicant pool for lottery selection for 70% of the admitted seats.

(2) For Route 2 we place all applicants with GPAs of 3.4-4.0, a completion of the prerequisites, and a minimum of 4 additional life experiences and personal background criteria into a second applicant pool for lottery selection for 30% of the admitted seats. To determine additional life experience and personal background criteria, all applicants will complete a number of questions as part of the Statement of Purpose/Applicant Self Reflection Questionnaire (ASRQ) to provide the opportunity to self-report and give evidence of the following:

  • Member of a equity-seeking group (ie: transgendered/two-spirit, person with disability, etc)
  • First person in family to attend University
  • Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces
  • Significant work experience with an individual or organization where occupational therapy service are relevant (eg. Children with disabilities, injured workers, older adults in long-term care, unhoused populations, correctional services)
  • Formal certificate in leadership education or training
  • 15 University credits in Indigenous studies, Gender studies or Anti Racism or EDI studies

Once the initial selection for Route 1 and Route 2 is complete, all remaining applicants will be considered for admission based on a combination of GPA, CASPer score, and Statement of Purpose/ASRQ.

Applicants in Route 1 may be recommended for acceptance or conditional acceptance around mid-May of the admission year. The remaining applicants will be advised of their status from late May, mid-late June etc., through August of the admission year. So, if you don't hear from us at the end of May, your application will be reviewed again in June and so on. Normally all admissions and refusals are completed and a waiting list created by the end of June.

  •  Applicants who have been placed on the waitlist are required to submit official transcripts showing any outstanding winter/spring grades, prerequisite courses, or degree completion to the department by June 30th of the admission year. These documents must be emailed as PDF's to mscot@ualberta.ca. Applicants who do not complete this requirement by June 30th will be removed from the waitlist.
  • Successful applicants will be contacted by email. It is imperative that you maintain up-to-date contact information in Bear Tracks. If offered admission students must confirm their intentions to attend by submitting a non-refundable confirmation deposit of $175 payable to the University of Alberta (details will be included in the admission letter).


    Admission Offer:

    The Department of Occupational Therapy will review the applications and make one of the following admission recommendations:

    Unconditional offer

     

    Applicants who have completed a Bachelor's degree and the course prerequisites will be made an unconditional offer of admission via e-mail and in a letter.

    Conditional Offer

     

    Applicants who remain in the process of completing the prerequisites and/or Bachelor's degree, will be made a conditional offer via e-mail and in a letter. Conditions may be one of or a combination of: Maintaining a competitive GPA while completing degree, completion of prerequisites or completion of degree.

    Wait list offer

     

    After all first round admission offers are made, applicants who were not rejected will be sent an e-mail giving them the option of being placed on a wait list. The number of applicants placed on the wait list varies from year-to-year and will be determined by the Department of Occupational Therapy.

    In the event that a successful applicant subsequently declines admission a applicant on the wait list will be offered that seat and notified via e-mail. Historically, wait list applicants have been made offers as late as September 1st of the admission year.

    NOTE: Wait list offers of admission are subject to the Admission Committees review and may change throughout the admission cycle.

    Decline

    Applicants whose GPA or application is not competitive and/or does not meet the minimum 3.0 GPA to apply will be notified in a decline e-mail or letter. Any applicants remaining on the wait list once classes begin will be declined and notified in a decline e-mail.
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