A.5.2 International High School Admissions
The United States and Countries Offering American-Based Curricula
Applicants who are completing or have completed their twelfth year of education in an American-based high school curriculum are considered for admission based on meeting Faculty course requirements and proof of high school graduation. Admission is competitive and meeting the minimum score does not guarantee admission.
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) are not required for admission; however, a student may choose to submit test results as part of an Equitable and Inclusive application.
Applicants who have attended a university/college should refer to section A.5.3.
Note: Only one of SAT Mathematics Level 1 or Mathematics Level 2 may be presented for admission. For SAT information, visit collegeboard.org/.
Students who are missing required courses for admission consideration may present a previously taken SAT subject tests or Advanced Placement (AP) exam as an alternative. The following lists the SAT subject tests and AP Exams that are accepted as equivalents to Alberta high school courses.
Course Requirement | SAT Subject Test |
|---|---|
English Language Arts 30-1 | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Literature |
Mathematics 30-1 | Mathematics Level 1 |
Mathematics 30-1 and Mathematics 31 | Mathematics Level 2 |
Chemistry 30 | Chemistry |
Biology 30 | Biology E/M |
Physics 30 | Physics |
Language or Language and Culture Courses at the 30 level | Spanish, Spanish with listening, French, French with listening, Chinese with listening, Italian, German, German with listening, Modern Hebrew, Latin, Japanese with listening, Korean with listening |
Course Requirement | AP Exam |
|---|---|
English Language Arts 30-1 | AP Capstone Courses: AP Seminar or AP Research, English (Language and Composition), English (Literature and Composition) |
Biology 30 | Biology |
Chemistry 30 | Chemistry |
Mathematics 30-1 and Mathematics 31 | Calculus AB, Calculus BC |
Physics 30 | Physics B, Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism), Physics C (Mechanics) |
Science 30 | Environmental Science |
Social Studies 30-1 | Government & Politics (Comparative), Government & Politics (United States), History (European History), History (United States History), History (World History) |
CTS Computing Science 30 level | Computer Science A, Computer Science AB |
Approved Course | Art History, Economics (Microeconomics), Economics (Macroeconomics), Human Geography, Psychology, Statistics |
Approved Language Course | French, German Language, Italian, Japanese Language and Culture, Latin Literature, Latin (Vergil), Spanish |
Fine Arts Approved Course | Art Studio (Drawing Portfolio), Art Studio (2-D Portfolio), Art Studio (3-D Portfolio), Music (Theory), Visual Arts |
Countries Offering the British Education System
General Certificate of Education (GCE)/General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
Students who present the GCE or GCSE will be considered using five academic courses as detailed in A.5.1.2 Standard Admission Process for Current High School Students. Applicants can be considered with one of the following options:
two courses at Advanced Level (A) and three GCSE/Ordinary Level; or
four courses at Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS) and one at the “GCSE/Ordinary” Level.
In either option, grades of "D" and "E" are not acceptable.
The University of Calgary awards advanced credit for specific Advanced Level (A) courses when a grade of "C" or better is achieved. Students should refer to section A.13 Transfer Credit/Advanced Standing for details.
Other Countries
Applicants educated in other countries may be considered for admission on their academic merits. Those completing Canadian high school courses will have the grades obtained in these courses used in lieu of equivalents obtained on international certificates.
Detailed information is available at: live-ucalgary.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/requirements.
International students seeking admission on the basis of documents not listed on the Admissions website should submit certificates indicating the courses studied and the grades achieved to the Admissions Office. When these certificates are in a language other than English, English translations (prepared by a certified translator) must accompany the original documents.
A.5.2.1 International Baccalaureate (IB)