School of Computing and Information Systems - International students

Our SCIS graduate programs consists of paced work through distance learning via the internet, teamwork through online technologies and individual work supervised by an academic. Athabasca University does not have students on campus, we are a distance learning educational institution.

Distance education is different from conventional classroom-based education in that it allows you as a student to complete courses and programs without attending scheduled group classes in a central location, such as a university campus. As an AU distance education student, you can

• work from anywhere, such as your home or workplace
• work at your own pace, on a schedule that suits your individual needs
• register for a single course or enrol in an undergraduate or graduate degree, diploma or certificate program.

Wherever you are, even if you are hundreds of miles from the nearest town, your AU university campus is right there. AU students have completed courses and degrees while traveling abroad, while stationed in remote arctic outposts, while serving overseas with the Canadian Forces or with humanitarian groups and while competing as professional or Olympic athletes.

AU students can remain at home and study while enrolled in AU programs and courses, therefore Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not consider Athabasca University eligible to issue a Letter of Acceptance for the purpose of obtaining a study permit. There is an exception made if an AU student is part of a collaboration agreement that we have with another institution. If you are seeking entry to Canada for the purposes of study, you will need to apply to a traditional school that has on-campus classes.

Start here to learn more about Canadian study permits.