Program admissions

Admission requirements

Undergraduate admissions

To enter Athabasca University as an undergraduate student, you must be 16 or older. No other conditions apply, but some programs require previous education to register.

You don’t need to register in an AU program to take courses.

Undergraduate application details

Graduate admissions

For most graduate programs, you need to have an undergraduate degree to apply. Doctorate programs require a master’s degree.

You can take some graduate courses without being in a program if you meet the non-program student requirements for that program. Requirements for graduate programs are available on that program’s website.

Graduate application details

Some undergraduate and graduate programs may have additional enrolment requirements or restrictions. Before applying to a specific program, visit the Undergraduate Calendar to learn about the requirements for the program of study you would like to enter.

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Applying to Athabasca University

Undergraduate studies

You can become an undergraduate student at any time. Admission, program enrolment, and course registration for undergraduate studies are open year-round. To apply, complete the Undergraduate Application, and pay the one-time (non-refundable) application fee. You can either register in a program or take courses as a non-program student.

Becoming an undergraduate student

Graduate studies

For graduate studies, application procedures and schedules are different from program to program. Review the procedures specific to the program you wish to apply for before beginning an application.

Some graduate areas allow students to take courses as non-program students.

Becoming a graduate student

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International students

As an international student, you may register in a program if you have met the entrance requirements. Complete the online application, choose your program, and pay the one-time non-refundable application fee. You may also take courses as an unclassified or non-program student.

Browse our courses and programs, and register at least one month in advance of your intended start date. View our fee summary for information on applicable fees.

International students may have different timelines for processing exam requests, marking, or mail correspondence, as outlined in our service standards.

Transfer credit for non-Canadian students

Students who wish to transfer credit using credentials from institutions outside of Canada or the United States need to get an evaluation of post-secondary course work from an international assessment agency, such as the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). The agency will assess each student’s international educational documents and compare them to educational credentials in Canada.

All assessments, regardless of the agency used, must use original documents or certified copies—official documents issued directly from the sending institution are preferred. AU only accepts detailed course-by-course assessments.

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How do I re-enrol/reactivate my student status?

You will be considered 'inactive' if you have not registered in an Athabasca University course.

• within 12 months of your last course contract end date or date of withdrawal,
• within 12 months of your most recent admissions entry term,
• or on a Letter of Permission within 12 months of either of the above dates.

To restore active student status:

• Log into myAU.
• Click on "change program" in the Manage Your Program section and complete the form to reactivate your status as either a program or non-program student. No application fee is required, but if you are having an evaluation completed, you may be required to pay the transfer credit evaluation fee.

If this is your first time logging in to myAU, your password will be your birthday in the format of YYYYMMDD.

If you have lost your student ID, please contact the Information Centre.

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How do I change my program?

To change programs, log in to myAU and complete and submit the "Change of Program" form on the first tab in the Manage Your Program section. One program application (or program change) can be made per month. To change your program by mail or fax, complete and submit Athabasca University's General Application Form.

You need to follow the program regulations that are in effect at the time the change takes place. Course work completed previously, including transfer credit, will be reassessed and applied towards your new program according to the applicable regulations.

Athabasca University students may also return to a previous program of study or version of a program, but only if the previous program or version is still being offered.

If you are currently registered in a program of study that is no longer offered or has changed significantly, you should carefully consider your options before requesting registration in a new program. Athabasca University's advisors are ready to assist you in determining the results of your requested change in credential.

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How do I transfer credit?

To transfer credit from other institutions, you must submit transcripts for evaluation. We cannot evaluate your transcripts unless you are registered in a program at Athabasca University, but our online transfer credit assessment tool can be used to estimate how your course credits might transfer towards an AU degree.

Requesting a transfer credit evaluation

If you are a new student and wish to apply to an AU program, you can request a transfer credit evaluation during the undergraduate application. Unclassified, visiting, or inactive students who would like to register in an AU program can request a transfer credit evaluation using the Change of Program form on myAU. While completing the form, you will have the option of requesting an evaluation. In both cases, you will need to pay an evaluation fee.

How long will my evaluation take?

Evaluations take time. When Transfer Credit Services receives all transcripts, supporting documents, and fees, your evaluation request enters a queue.

See the current processing times.

Can I register for courses while waiting for my evaluation?

Yes! You may register for courses while you wait for your evaluation to be completed. If your course duplicates course work already completed, you can only receive credit for one of the courses. We cannot officially approve courses as being applicable to your program until your evaluation is complete.