About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is one of the most famous universities in Canada, with a ranking of 198 as per World University Rankings 2025. Named after the Canadian city of Calgary, the University is located in the heart of the Canadian province of Alberta. The University is known for housing 73 Canada Research Chairs and 80+ research centers working to address society's most persistent challenges. Millions of students from all over the world apply for various study programs offered by the University, and 33,000+ students are welcomed each year on average.

The University of Calgary was founded in the year of 1966 and currently has 5 campuses, 14 faculties with 25+ programs to choose from. The University of Calgary secured the 8th position in Canada as per the rankings by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). The US News and World Report placed the University in 7th position in Canada and at 175th position globally. The key achievements of the University include hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics and tartan accreditation in 2001.
 

Why choose the University of Calgary?

• Ranks among the top 200 universities in the world
• World-class educational programs
• Customize and choose your own degree
• Strong connections to the in-demand industries
• Exceptional research opportunities
• Lucrative career prospects
• Excellent scholarship programs
• Welcoming student community
• Vibrant Student Life
   

Programs and Courses

The University of Calgary offers the following programs and courses:

Undergraduate Programs

The main undergraduate programs at the University of Calgary are the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Education (Bed), Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation (BCR), and Bachelor of Science (BSc). The subjects offered for each degree are mentioned below:

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)

• Accounting
• Business
• Business Analytics
• Business Technology Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Finance
• International Business Strategy
• Marketing
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources
• Personal Financial Planning
• Real Estate Studies
• Risk Management: Insurance and Finance
• Supply Chain Management
   

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Art History
• Communication and Media Studies
• Drama
• Economics
• English
• Film Studies
• French
• Geography
• Global Development Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• History
• International Indigenous Studies
• International Relations
• Language and Culture
• Law and Society
• Linguistics and Language
• Multidisciplinary Studies
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Urban Studies
   

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

• Dance
• Drama
• Music
• Visual Studies
   

Bachelor of Science (BSc)

• Biomechanics
• Psychology
• Geography
• Neuroscience
• Natural Sciences
• Computer Science
• Actuarial Science
• Environmental Sciences
• Data Science
• Motor and Psychological Aspects of Movement
• Kinesiology
• Geophysics
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Biochemistry
• Physics
• Astrophysics
• Chemistry
• Plant Biology
• Exercise and Health Physiology
• Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology
• Zoology
   

Admission Requirements for Bachelor's Degree at the University of Calgary

The following are the requirements for studying for a Bachelor's degree at the University of Calgary:

• A valid and original passport
• Copy of educational transcripts
• Minimum score of 3.3 GPA on a scale of 4.0
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Translation of documents
• English language test scores
• Proof of funds

Admission Deadlines for Bachelor's Degree at the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary usually has three intakes for undergraduate programs: once in spring, once in fall, and once in summer. Students are advised to apply well ahead of time to avoid processing delays.
 

Postgraduate Programs

Postgraduate programs offered by the University of Calgary are either thesis-based or course-based. While thesis-based programs require the candidates to submit a thesis to be eligible for the degree certificate, course-based programs focus on the overall performance of the candidate throughout the course. The subjects offered for the Master's degree are mentioned below:

Master of Arts (MA)

• Anthropology (Thesis-based )
• Archaeology (Thesis-based)
• Art (Course-based)
• Communication and Media Studies (Thesis-based) 
• Economics (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• English (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• Geography (Thesis-based)
• Geography Information Systems (Course-based)
• Greek and Roman Studies (Course-based)
• History (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• Languages, literature, and cultures (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• Linguistics (Thesis-based)
• Philosophy (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• Political Science (Course-based and Thesis-based)
• Religious Studies (Thesis-based)
• Sociology (Course-based and Thesis-based)
   

Masters of Science (MSc)

• Clinical Psychology (Thesis-based)
• Geography (Thesis-based)
• Psychology (Thesis-based)
   

Masters of Strategic Studies (MSS)

• Military, security, and strategic studies (Course-based and Thesis-based)

Admission Requirements for Master’s Degree at the University of Calgary

The following are the requirements for studying for a Master's degree at the University of Calgary:

• A valid and original passport
• Copy of educational transcripts
• Minimum score of 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Translation of documents
• English language test scores
• Proof of funds

Admission Deadlines for Master’s Degree at the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary accepts new applications in January and September, depending on the course you are applying for.
 

MBA Programs

The Faculty of Graduate Studies in the University of Calgary offers a variety of MBA programs for budding entrepreneurs and business professionals. The Haskayne School of Business under the University of Calgary provides the following types of MBA programs:

• Full-time MBA: Two-year MBA to be pursued as a regular full-time course.
• Evening MBA: Flexible MBA designed for working professionals and can be pursued in the evenings and weekends
• Accelerated MBA: One-year MBA with half the tuition fee
• Executive MBA: Advanced MBA for mid to senior-level professionals looking to elevate their leadership skills.
   

Credit certificates and Diploma Programs

Students and academicians willing to continue their studies at the University of Calgary can apply for credit certificates and diploma programs offered by the University. The Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary offers the following certificates and diplomas:

University of Calgary Admission Process

The admission process for the University of Calgary is identical for both undergraduate and graduate programs. International students seeking admission to the University are advised to apply at least ten months before the application deadline to avoid unnecessary delays.

The processing time for Canada student visa alone takes around six months and students must submit copies of their visa application to apply for the University. The University contacts selected applicants via mail to process their applications.
 

How to Apply to the University of Calgary

The steps to apply for the University of Calgary:

Step 1: Create a UCalgary eID from the university website

Step 2: Fill out the application form

Step 3: Complete the fee payment

Step 4: Provide the Documents required

Step 5: Wait for further information from the University authorities
 

Application Requirements at the University of Calgary

The following are the documents required to apply for the University of Calgary:

• Academic records till the recently completed degree or course
• Copy of Passports
• State of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation
• Provincial Attestation Letter
• Language Proficiency Test results
• Financial statement for the last three months
• Visa application details
• Police clearance reports
• Health Insurance Details
• Medical fitness certificates
• Fee payment receipts
• Documents specified for the course you have chosen
   

University of Calgary Acceptance Rate

The University of Calgary attracts millions of students each year. The University accepts around 10-20 students out of every 100 applicants. The table below states the figures of student enrolment in 2024:

Tuition Fees and Financial Aid

The University of Calgary follows the decision of the Board of Governors to decide on the tuition and general fees. The tuition and general fees vary for each term depending on the type of course chosen and whether you are a full-time or part-time student.
 

The table below provides an overview of the tuition fees for various types of courses offered by the University of Calgary:

Scholarships offered by the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary offers many scholarship programs to international students. The table below lists the details of the scholarships students can apply for after being admitted to the University of Calgary:

University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship

The University offers the Calgary International Entrance scholarship to eligible international students from the undergraduate program. The scholarship is given to two international students entering the first year of any undergraduate program offered by the University. The student gets an annual scholarship amount of CAD 15,000 and can renew the amount once each year. You can apply for the scholarship once your admission to the University is confirmed.
 

You would be eligible for the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship if you:

• Are a full-time registered international student in an undergraduate program
• Have a minimum score of 3.20 GPA
• Meet the language proficiency requirements (TOEFL-iBT: 85/ IELTS: 6.5 bands)
• Have newly enrolled yourself in an undergraduate program at the University
   

How to apply for the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship?

The steps to apply for the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship are listed below:

Step 1: Log in to the myUofC portal from the official website

Step 2: Go to the “Apply for Undergraduate Awards” from the “My Financials” section

Step 3: Select the International Entrance Scholarship tab

Step 4: Submit the documents required

Step 5: Fill out the form and submit
 

Campus and facilities at the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary has five campuses, with the main campus being in Calgary, Alberta, and one outside Canada, in Doha, Qatar. The following are the five campuses of the University of Calgary:

• Main Campus
• Foothills Campus
• Downtown Campus
• Spy Hill Campus
• Doha, Qatar Campus

These five campuses house more than 37,000 students, 1850 academic staff, and 2900 non-academic staff, and aim to provide world-class education and research facilities. The University of Calgary hosts one of the world’s most beautiful campuses. The University has been a venue for the Olympics as well as a high-Arctic research site.
 

University of Calgary Library

The University's Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) offers a variety of services to students and aims to improve their learning experience by focusing on user-centric resources. The library services help the students get the most out of their education and excel at their studies. The main features of the UCalgary LCR are:

• Archives and Special Collections
• Nickle Galleries
• University of Calgary Press
• The Military Museums and Archives
• Prairie Regional Research Data Centre
• University of Calgary Copyright Office

The University also provides beautiful study spaces, research help, and librarian support to all its students.
 

D2L (Desire2Learn) Learning Platform

The D2L (Desire2Learn) is the online learning management system used by the University of Calgary for all courses. It is a web-based learning platform that provides access to all course content, class discussions, and supplemental materials. It is also known as Brightspace. With a stable internet connection, students can access their course from any device at any time using the D2L.
 

The following are the main features of D2L Brightspace:

• Discussed Boards
• Video Note
• Mobile-first Design
• Skills Mapping
• Centralized Learning Analytics
   

You can access D2L Brightspace by using:

• Microsoft 365 account
• Brightspace Pulse App
• Login Menu
• Login Credentials provided by the University
   

Student Life and Extracurricular Activities

The University of Calgary promises an exciting student life and plenty of options for extracurricular activities. UCalgary’s Experience Catalogues features the following activities:

• Weekly Unwind Events
• UCalgary Strong Festival
• Campus Fair
• Student Clubs
• Creative and Performing Arts programs
• Intramural Sports
• Fitness Classes
• Recreational Sports Clubs
• Olympic Oval
• Gyms, pool, racquet courts, and climbing facilities
   

Careers and Job opportunities at the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary provides lucrative job opportunities under the placement cell. Students and graduates can apply for on-campus and part-time jobs outside the campus.

On-campus jobs: Students can take up on-campus jobs at the UCalgary campus while their course is in session. Students who meet the eligibility criteria for working while studying in Canada can work for as many hours as they want. Salaries for on-campus work on the UCalgary campus range between $24,000 and $45,000 per year.

Placements for Graduates: The University of Calgary offers a variety of placement opportunities for students, including co-ops, internships, and micro-placements. UCalgary graduates have a 95% employment rate, with the majority of students finding jobs within three months of graduation. The average placement package of UCalgary graduates ranges between $40,000 and $60,000.
 

Research and Innovation at the University of Calgary

Driven by its academic mission, the University of Calgary seeks to create, innovate, and contribute to society. The researchers and academicians at UCalgary contribute to many domains, such as environment, technology, art, culture, economy, and law.

The University has a research program named Ahead of Tomorrow, which aims to maximize research impact and tackle the biggest challenges of society. The objectives for 2030 are set as:

• Become a #1 University in U15, research revenue per scholar.
• Grow external research revenue to $750M a year.
• Grow our position as Canada's #1 creator of start-ups creators in the world.
   

Alumni and Networking at the University of Calgary

UCalgary has more than 190,000 active alumni members. The University offers resources, discounts, and various other benefits to them. The alumnae association is responsible for organizing various events programs, both online and offline. They also take part in volunteering activities arranged to promote networking among UCalgary graduates.