Master of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies application information

People wishing to enrol in the Master of Arts—Interdisciplinary Studies program must hold a baccalaureate degree (3- or 4-year) from a recognized post-secondary education institution.

The MA-IS Program invites applications from candidates with a baccalaureate degree and strong analytical, writing, and critical-thinking skills. Admission is open, keeping with Athabasca University's mandate to remove "barriers that restrict access to, and success in, university-level studies." Still, some candidates may require additional preparatory work in composition and analysis prior to admission.

There are 3 program intakes per year. All application materials must be received by:

• Jan. 15 for a course start date in spring of the same year
• May 15 for a course start in fall of the same year
• Sept. 15 for a course start in winter of the following year

Please complete all components of the application process before the deadline. We cannot proceed with your file until the application is complete.

It is possible for students to transfer up to 15 credits of graduate study from other universities into the MA-IS program. Typically students are asked to demonstrate how previous work fits into their MA-IS study plans.

Students receiving the maximum number of transfer credits (15) are restricted to the Independent Track route as they will not qualify for a focus area. Students wishing to pursue a focus area will be limited to 12 transfer credits in total. For more detailed information on transferring outside credits, refer to Transfer Credit under Admission requirements in the Calendar.

How to apply 

• Create an account as a new user or sign in if a returning user and select the program intake for the Master of Arts- Interdisciplinary Studies program
• Complete all components of the application by the deadline and pay the application fee, which will include the following:

1. Transcripts

Official transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s) by mail, email, or MyCreds. They must include the date of graduation, degrees granted, and any completed courses. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted to finalize the application, but official transcripts will be required before admission is considered.

a. Mailing address:

b. Email address: augradapply@athabascau.ca

Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada or the United States, documentation measuring its equivalence based on Canadian qualifications can be acquired using an evaluation service.

2. Academic Writing Proficiency Requirement

As English is the primary language of instruction at AU, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure they have adequate proficiency in academic writing. Moreover, since the MA-IS is a graduate-level program, it is to be expected that the materials will be challenging. Although faculty will try to facilitate the learning process as much as possible, they may have to redirect students to remedial resources.

As part of the Application process for the MA-IS Program, all applicants must complete an Academic Writing Assessment (AWA) and comply with the results. This AWA aims to help determine whether students coming into the program will require assistance with improving their academic writing skills in preparation for graduate-level studies. It is a diagnostic tool that we hope will benefit our students and help them achieve their potential in the courses they take throughout the MA-IS and beyond.

3. International students: English Proficiency Requirement

In addition to completing the AWA, international students must provide documentation supporting the successful completion of at least 1 of the English as a Second Language (ESL) assessments before their application is considered.

Equivalencies may be considered upon request.