The University of Calgary has a variety of scholarships for both international students and domestic applicants. According to information on its website, students can apply for scholarships beyond the International Entrance Scholarship. Most of these scholarships come through awards. Examples include the International Student Athlete Awards, the Richard T. Clark Award for International Students, as well as the Navin and Usha Varshney International Bursary in Engineering. Other awards come through admission status. The need-based Bursaries Scholarship is intended for applicants who demonstrate financial need rather than academic excellence.

There are also opportunities for Graduate Assistantships (GA) and Teaching Assistantships (TA). It is important to explore the university’s website and identify scholarships that are available within your field of study. UCalgary itself advises international students not to rely solely on university scholarships because most awards cover only a portion of tuition and living expenses. Students are encouraged to have additional funding plans.

The university only accepts applicants for the Fall intake, which opens in November. Most graduate programs that admit students for the Fall (September) intake open applications between October and November of the previous year. Although the university generally keeps admissions open until February, some programs close much earlier. Computer Science and Mathematics & Statistics close admissions in January. Therefore, it is prudent to identify your research interests and potential supervisors between May and August and prepare your application documents between August and October in order to meet the application window, which runs from October to February.

Based on information provided on the university’s website, the following documents must be submitted through the online application portal. Kindly note that failure to upload complete documents, or to submit them on time, may result in your application being terminated, as admission to the university is highly competitive.

Transcripts: A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. Transcripts uploaded by applicants are considered unofficial. Therefore, you will be required to provide official transcripts upon admission. Once you submit your application, you will be required to log into your Student Centre and upload transcripts from each institution you have attended. If your transcript is in a language other than English, you must upload an English translation completed by a certified translator. Both documents should be combined into a single PDF file for each institution. The transcript must clearly show academic terms, the institution’s grading scale, course weights (units/credits), and grades. International students are also required to include provisional certificates and degree certificates/diplomas, where applicable, along with their transcripts.

Upon acceptance, official transcripts must be sent directly from all post-secondary institutions you have attended, whether or not you graduated from them, to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

English Language Proficiency: If English is not your first language, you will be required to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement through one of the following options:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition with a minimum score of 86 (or 4.5 for tests taken after January 21, 2026), with no section below 20 (minimum 4.0 in Reading, Writing, and Speaking, and minimum 4.5 in Listening for tests taken after January 21, 2026). When requesting official scores to be sent to the University of Calgary, use institution code 0813 and the graduate program code listed on the TOEFL website.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5, with no band below 6.0.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 59 or higher.
• Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test overall score of 70, with no section below 60.
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) with a minimum grade of B+ in each course.
• Duolingo English Test score of at least 125, with no sub-score below 105.

These are the minimum English Language Proficiency standards required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Individual programs may require higher scores. Applicants should consult the Explore Programs page for specific requirements.

Self-Calculated GPA: Some programs require applicants to calculate the GPA of a previous degree. Further information on how to complete this calculation is available on the university website.

Curriculum Vitae (CV): Some master’s and doctoral programs require a current curriculum vitae. The CV should outline your academic background, professional experience, awards, research activities, and other achievements that demonstrate your preparedness for graduate study.

Reference Letters: Most graduate programs require two or three reference letters from individuals who can attest to your ability to pursue graduate studies successfully. Preferably, these referees should be former lecturers, professors, or supervisors. UCalgary advises applicants to give referees at least one month’s notice so they have sufficient time to prepare their recommendations.

Study Proposal: A study proposal provides a clear description of the research area or topic you would like to pursue. Kindly note that many UCalgary graduate programs are thesis-based. While some programs require a Statement of Purpose (SOP), UCalgary often prefers a study proposal outlining the research you intend to conduct at the university. This is essentially a research project proposal. In its guide on writing a study proposal, the university suggests that applicants who are unsure of what to write about can draw inspiration from their undergraduate thesis projects or term papers. The website does not specify a word count, which allows applicants some flexibility in presenting their research ideas.

Writing Sample: Some graduate programs, such as the MA in English, require a writing sample. The sample must be an original piece of academic writing completed independently in an undergraduate or graduate-level course.

Click here to visit the University graduate website.