Student Service Centre Frequently Asked Questions
Browse the topics below to find what you're looking for. If we can't answer your question here, please contact us and we'll be happy to help!
Last updated: October 2024
On this page
General Information | Fees | Student resources + academic support | Admissions | Residence | Registration | Transcripts | Final exams | Financial support | Tax forms | Convocation | Continuing education
General Information
The Student Service Centre does not use an email address. You can utilize the Student Service Portal and submit a General Inquiry, which acts similarly to email. You can also access articles, known as “Solutions” suggesting information relevant to your questions. We receive your inquiries in our ticketing system, allowing us to respond and easily redirect your questions if needed.
For more information, please see our instructional video and written instructions on using the Student Service Centre. We suggest logging into the portal with your CCID, which is available for applicants, students, and staff.
The Student Service Centre does not use a phone number. During operating hours, you can add yourself to the Call back queue for assistance over the phone. You will receive text updates, including an estimated wait time before an advisor calls you.
The Student Service Portal is where you can log in (with your CCID or your personal email) and send us questions, update your file or application and send us forms to fill out. We receive your inquiries in our ticketing system which allows us to respond and easily redirect your question if needed.
Please do not send multiple inquiries about the same topic as this will slow down response times. We will respond to your questions as soon as we can.You can track your inquiries and find answers to your questions in our carefully crafted and curated article resources.
For information on how to use the Student Service Portal, please see our instructional video and written instructions.
On January 22, 2024, a number of important updates were announced by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The International Student and Visitor Services website will be updated once Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases more information. International students and campus partners with questions about these updates should contact the ISVS team for assistance.
After you apply, you will receive an email with your UAlberta Campus Computing ID (CCID). Your CCID is your login to your U of A email, and you can access your email account using the following steps:
- Navigate to the top right corner of any U of A webpage and click on the magnifying glass.
- Under “Quick Links”, click “Email + Apps”.
- Click “University Gmail” in the top left corner.
For more information on your email, CCID and other U of A information, please visit our After You Apply webpage.
Please see the CCID Password Resets guide for instructions on how to reset your CCID password.
If you have received an email from a source that does not seem legitimate, it is important to act on the side of caution. Please do not share your password or verification code with anyone or through any form. Check out Emails and Phishing on our IST site to see examples of those emails and the best way to recognize/report them.
Take a look at our University of Alberta map - you can type in the building acronym (eg. CCIS, ETLC, ECHA) from your schedule and it will direct you to the corresponding building.
Once you find the correct building, you may still be confused on how to locate your specific classroom. The Students Union website has a page on understanding room numbers to help you out!
Both the faculty and the Student Service Centre are available to provide support to students, but each unit has its own special strengths. You can find more information in the lists below:
Student Service Centre
- General advising
- Bear Tracks/My Schedule Builder navigation
- Financial support (awards/loans/bursaries)
- Enrollment & degree verification, documents, transcripts
- Fee breakdown
Faculty
- Academic & program specific advising
- Course program requirements
- Faculty/department nominated awards
- Program check for graduation, letter of completion
Before another individual can obtain specific details regarding your information on file, you must provide written consent if you would like to grant access to others to act on your behalf or to receive information about your student record. Please fill out the Informed Consent for Disclosure of Personal Information form and submit it through the Student Service Portal as a Student Service Service Request, mail or fax (780-492-7172) to the Student Service Centre at the Office of the Registrar.
If you are submitting an Informed Consent for Disclosure of Personal Information via mail, you can mail it to the following address:
Administration Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2M7
This form grants permissions to a specific individual/agency over a specified period of time and is not for a one-time request. One-time requests should be submitted in writing through the Student Service Portal as a General Inquiry.
Please refer to the University Calendar: Select Applicable Academic Year > University Regulations > Academic Regulations > Student Records for details on what information can be provided without consent.
Fees
Inquiries regarding student refunds, tuition payment options and troubleshooting, outstanding balances, etc. can be submitted through the Student Service Portal.
Should you need assistance with using the portal, please watch this instructional video or read the instructions. An online reference guide is also available to help ensure inquiries are directed to the right support channel.
For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.
For Fall/Winter registrations, student-specific online fee assessments are available in late July. The fee assessments are located in Bear Tracks under Financials > Fee Assessment
Payment options
There are several payment options available; these options can vary depending on what type of student you are and what type of fee or deposit you are paying. For a detailed breakdown, please see the Deadlines and Payment Instructions page on the Admissions & Programs website.
Once processed, payments applied to your account can be viewed in Bear Tracks under "Financials" by clicking on "Account Details" and selecting the correct term. Please note that payments can take several business days to process.
Please note, residence fees and tuition fee payments are made to separate payees. More information on how to pay the correct accounts can be found on the websites linked below.
View details on how to pay your tuition »
View details on how to pay your residence fees »
Payment deadlines
Payment deadlines for tuition fees and other types of fees and deposits are listed on the Tuition Payment Deadlines webpage.
We have two options for international students to pay their tuition from outside of Canada: Convera and PayMyTuition.
Learn more about international tuition payment options »
Convera will generate a quote that includes a document with payment instructions to complete the payment. The second page of the document is a letter that shows that Convera and the University of Alberta have entered a partnership wherein the University of Alberta collects international payments on your behalf. This shows that the funds are for educational purposes. In some instances, this can speed up the payment process.
The University of Alberta cannot direct wire transfer to students due to government regulations on incoming funds to Canada. Students can use PayMyTuition or Convera.
As long as your student loan is received within 30 days of the tuition payment deadline and your entire tuition and fees are paid by the loan - the interest for the overdue charges will be reversed. If your loan only covers part of your tuition you will still be responsible for the entire interest of the entire late payment.
Overdue tuition payments do not affect your current registration, so you will still be able to continue in your classes. However, a few days after the tuition payment deadline, you will see a financial hold placed on your account that prevents you from adding new classes, getting transcripts, or receiving your parchment if you are graduating. Once payment is received on your account, the hold will be removed within 1-2 business days. For more information, please visit the Student Receivables FAQ.
If you are an international student entering the final year of your program, your tuition fee will be reassessed sometime after the Add/Delete Deadline and the Payment Deadline. Please monitor your Bear Tracks for updates on your fee assessment.
Please see Refund and Withdrawals for more information on refunds.
If you have additional questions or experience difficulties in making your payments, please view our Payment Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Student Service Centre for assistance.
If you received a scholarship and your fees have already been completely paid, you will receive a refund in mid-end October.
You may choose to opt out of one or both of these plans or change your coverage through Studentcare, the benefit provider’s website. To log in, type “University of Alberta” in the field provided, and select the undergraduate option. On the next page, select “Opt Outs” from the Coverage menu on the right hand side of the screen.
- Students who begin their studies in the Fall term must opt out of, or change their coverage during the Fall Change-of-Coverage Period (September 3 to September 27, 2024).
- Students who begin their studies in the Winter term must opt out of, or change their coverage during the Winter Change-of-Coverage Period (January 6 - January 24, 2025).
If you fully opt out of your SU Health and Dental, you will see the fee adjustment on your Bear Tracks by the end of the opt-out period (end of September for Fall, end of January for Winter).
When you opt out of your SU Health and Dental, you have the option to opt out of just a portion of the fee. Ensure you have received the confirmation email from Student Care (after opting-out) which will illustrate the details of your plan and how you will be reimbursed.
If you choose to opt out of a portion of the Health & Dental plan, you will not see an adjustment in your fees assessment on Bear Tracks. You are expected to pay your tuition and fees in full to the university and you are then reimbursed by Student Care after the Change-of Coverage Period.
There are some fees (SU dedicated fees and Health & Dental plan) that you may be able to opt out of.
For information on how to change coverage, including opting out of the plan by the Fall Term deadline, or how to enroll if you are a new Winter Term student, please visit studentcare.ca.
Additional information about non-instructional fees and opt-out processes can be found here.
No, mandatory non-instructional fees cannot be appealed. These fees are approved by the Board of Governors. You may be able to opt out of some fees (SU dedicated fees and Health & Dental plan).
Information about non-instructional fees can be found here.
If your registration status in a term is designated as off-campus, you may not have been assessed for certain fees. To opt-in to services, please complete a Service Request form.
Student Resources + Academic Support
The University of Alberta provides a variety of academic support services to current students, including professional support with writing, learning and skill development workshops, peer tutoring and more. Visit the Academic Success website for information on the services and resources available.
If you are an Open Studies student, the Student Service Centre can assist you. For graduate academic program questions, please contact your department. For undergraduate academic program questions, please contact your Faculty Student Services office. The things they can help with include:
- Program/Degree planning and checklists
- Course selection/registration
- Declaring/Changing major
- Academic Standing
- Academic Appeals
- Exams - Deferred and Re-exam
- Transfer Credit
- Document Requests (Letter of Permission, Letter of Completion, Certificate application)
- Graduation Requirements
- Letter of Expected Graduation Date
- Internships/Co-ops
- Career Advising
The Wellness Supports team has curated a resource bank that provides information on a number of different resources related to mental health, finances, medical, legal, housing, addictions, and more. Please see our Wellness Supports resource list here.
If you are experiencing your own personal challenge or if you are supporting someone through a difficult time, contact the Wellness Supports office for assistance at 780-492-1619 or wellness@ualberta.ca.
Admissions
Please see our Undergraduate Admissions page for full details about how to apply to programs at the University of Alberta. Applications for most Fall 2025 undergraduate programs will open on October 1, 2024.
There are no undergraduate degree programs that offer a Winter 2025 intake for new students. You can view the undergraduate application deadlines by Faculty here. For non degree program options, we offer a part time, non-degree granting program through Open Studies (max 2 courses/6 credits per term).
The university will evaluate courses and marks from high school applicants provided that the supporting documentation (i.e. final transcripts) is submitted by the document deadline. This means summer school courses which are not completed in time may not be used for admission.
The reasons you may have not received an admission offer can vary. Please contact the Student Service Centre to discuss your options.
If you have already graduated from high school or if the April 30 deadline has passed, you will need to apply using your final, official Grade 12 transcripts. Please see how to submit course and mark updates on the undergraduate admissions site.
After you've submitted your application, you can submit updated courses and new final grade 12 marks through the 'Course & Grade Update Form' that will be added to your UAlberta Launchpad between February 15 and April 30. Students studying in a quarter system may be able to also update final grades on December 1. Once submitted, your application will be re-evaluated. We will not accept updates after April 30.
Acceptable types of updates:
- Add/update final marks for completed Grade 12 courses (mark should reflect the final blended grade if a provincial exam was written)
- Add/update mid-term marks for full-year courses (must reflect at least 50% of course content; interim marks will not be accepted in the second semester)
- Drop previously listed courses if you have withdrawn from them
Please note:
If you have already completed high school or are currently upgrading, you will not be able to self-report your courses and marks on the application form or submit updated courses and marks. Your evaluation will be based on final, official transcripts, once we receive them.
If you would like to change your programs on your application, please submit the Program Change Request Form that can be found on your Launchpad Status page. This form is available 14 days after you submit your application for admission.
Please note that a program change is not guaranteed - more details on the process can be found in our program change article here. The deadline to submit a program change request is February 16.
After you have applied and paid for your application, you cannot amend the Academic History in your submitted application. At the bottom of your Launchpad Account, you can see what schools you had listed by clicking 'Preview Application Proof.' There are a few circumstances where you will need to reach out to have this corrected:
- You incorrectly listed your Academic History at the time of the application
- You enrolled in a new school/institution that is not listed in Academic History
- Your end date for one of the previously listed institutions has been extended
Withholding or misrepresenting information about your academic history is a violation of the Code of Applicant Behaviour and could result in the refusal of your application or further disciplinary action. Therefore it is essential to let the Admissions office know if there are any changes to your Academic History. To inform the Admissions team, please Submit a General Inquiry on the Student Service Portal by selecting 'Undergraduate Admissions' and the Topic: 'Updating/Correcting Academic History."
You are welcome to submit and pay for as many applications (with unique program choices) as you would like to be considered. Each application is evaluated independently of the other. If you receive an offer to programs on two different applications, you will need to make a decision on which program you would like to accept by the acceptance deadline.
If you have received an offer of admission or have completed your studies, you can not upload documents. Please see our Solution in the Student Service Portal for more details.
Please note that your application status in ApplyAlberta will continue to say "not complete" as your application status is not updated there. Make sure to refer to your UAlberta Launchpad for application status updates and for information about documents that may be required!
If you have not received your Temporary PIN to log in to Launchpad, please contact the Student Service Centre and we can resend it to the email address you have used to create your application.
If you have not received your temporary PIN or want to get your PIN reset, please contact us through the Student Service Portal using your personal email on file or your UAlberta email address. We will resend the PIN to you.
If you have forgotten your Launchpad password, you can reset it by clicking on the “Reset Password” button on the UAlberta Launchpad login page.
You can accept your admission offer in your UAlberta Launchpad portal. Once you log in to your status page, click on “Reply to Offer of Admission”, then select "I ACCEPT my offer of admission to the University of Alberta" and click submit.
If you are a new applicant to the university, you may also need to pay a non-refundable tuition deposit as part of the offer acceptance process. To make a payment through Launchpad, go back to your status page and click on "Submit Payment". For more payment options, please look at the Accept Your Offer webpage.
You must accept your offer and pay the tuition deposit by the deadline, otherwise, your offer may be revoked.
Please note that even after accepting your offer, you will still be required to meet any conditions stated in your offer letter. Otherwise, your offer may be revoked. For more information, see your offer letter, which you can view in your Launchpad status page by clicking "View Update."
May 1 2025 is the deadline to accept admission offers made before April 1 for most undergraduate programs; however, admission evaluations are done on a rolling basis. If you receive an offer after April 1, visit Accept Your Offer for deadline information.
You can accept your admission offer in your UAlberta Launchpad portal. Once you log in to your status page, click on “Reply to Offer of Admission”, then select "I ACCEPT my offer of admission to the University of Alberta" and click submit.
If you are a new applicant to the university, you may also need to pay a non-refundable tuition deposit as part of the offer acceptance process. To make a payment through Launchpad, go back to your status page and click on "Submit Payment".
Payment in Launchpad is via credit card. Please note that credit card payments include a convenience fee of 2.5%. This fee is collected by our payment processor, at the time of payment, in addition to the tuition deposit. For more payment options, please look at the Tuition Deposit Payment page.
We recommend paying through the Launchpad but you can pay through your online banking by following these steps:
- Access your bank website and sign in.
- Add ‘University of Alberta' as a payee on your bill payment profile
- Use your SEVEN DIGIT STUDENT ID NUMBER, then the FIRST FOUR LETTERS OF YOUR LAST NAME as your account number. If your last name has less than four letters, please use your first name to complete the four letters. For example, John Xu = 1234567XUJO
- Enter the amount to be paid and the date on which you would like to pay.
- Complete the transaction as if you were paying a utility bill.
It may take up to 10 business days for your payment to be processed.
- Within 3-5 days your payment should appear in Bear Tracks
- Within 6-10 days your payment should appear in your UAlberta Launchpad Portal
After you have submitted your application, you will have access to the UAlberta Launchpad portal to check your application status and review any checklist items for your program. If your application states that it’s pending review, then that means an advisor is currently reviewing your application. Launchpad is the first place that any updates will be posted. You will be notified by email when there are updates posted. We will contact you directly if we require any further information or documents.
Please note that we cannot give you an application evaluation update or a specific timeline by email, live chat or phone. Admissions offers are released on a rolling basis, as evaluations are completed.
Depending on what type of student you are, your transcripts may be sent to the university automatically, or you may need to arrange to have them sent. We may accept copies uploaded to your Launchpad account. If you have completed your schooling, or already have an offer of admission, you will not have the option to upload documents to your Launchpad and instead must arrange to have your official documents submitted to the University of Alberta on your behalf. Please see the Transcript submission process for more information.
We are still receiving and processing documents received by mail, but your institution can also send transcripts to us at transcript@ualberta.ca. We can only accept documents submitted by an institution in that account therefore if you have other documents to provide us for your application, please upload them through your Launchpad. Alberta high schools participating in ApplyAlberta will automatically send your official transcript to the University of Alberta at the end of the school year. If you are a current Alberta high school student, we do not need your Alberta high school transcripts any earlier and you do not need to send these through MyPass. Please monitor your Launchpad status.
If your checklist requests a document marked “Copy” you can provide an upload of this document yourself.
If your checklist requests a document marked “Official” you cannot provide this document. Official documents must be sent directly from the issuing institution, documents sent by students will not be accepted. Contact your school or exam authority to arrange for your documents to be sent to the U of A. Details on how to submit official documents can be found on our admissions documents webpage.
Please note: Alberta high schools participating in ApplyAlberta will automatically send your official transcript to the University of Alberta at the end of the school year.
A transcript which has grades in progress (courses you are registered for but have not yet completed) will always be marked as incomplete - it does not mean that your transcript is not sufficient for evaluation, it simply means that it is not the final record of your studies at your current institution.
A checklist item for a “Final, Official Transcript” may be added while you are still studying in anticipation of your final results. Please arrange to send your final transcript to the U of A as soon as your final grades are available.
Open Studies is a part-time student classification that allows students to take courses for credit without pursuing a degree program. The only requirement for admission to Open Studies is English Language Proficiency. This requirement is outlined in the University Calendar. The deadline to submit documents is the same as the application deadline for the term. A non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of $125 is required for new applicants.
Applications for admission to Open Studies are accepted each term. Deadlines are published in the U of A Calendar.
- Spring Term: April 30
- Summer Term: June 30
- Fall Term: Aug 25
- Winter Term: December 15
After submitting an application for Open Studies, students will receive email notifications at their UAlberta email account from the Office of the Registrar regarding their application. Visit Open Studies for more information.
Please note that Open Studies may not be the best pathway for high school applicants, as once a student takes university level courses, they will be evaluated as a post-secondary transfer student during the admission process. For more information, please contact the Student Service Centre to speak with an advisor.
Because our application system is a US product, if you have selected Canadian Citizen under your citizenship status, it will show up as Foreign National once you submit your application, as this is a system default.
We can see on our end that you are a Canadian Citizen, so this won't affect your application or evaluation in any way and you don't need to correct or update anything.
Please note that your application proof may indicate "no degree awarded or expected" under your academic history, even though you have indicated that you have already received a degree or will be receiving one on your application form. This is a system error that will not affect your application or evaluation in any way, as we will use your application form, transcripts, and other documents for your evaluation.
Residence
To apply for Residence, please log into our new application system, StarRez using your CCID where you can complete and pay for your application. Please note that the $25 application fee for Residence is non-refundable.
If you applied for residence for the Fall term, the first round of room offers will be sent out in late May. Room offers will continue to be made throughout the summer. Please continue to monitor your U of A email and your Residence Account for updates. For more information, please visit the Residence website.
Details regarding your move in date will be sent to your U of A email address. Further information and dates can be found on the Residence Move In website. To contact Residence Services, please email housing@ualberta.ca or phone 780-492-3345.
Registration Information
My Schedule Builder is the new schedule building and course registration system used by the University of Alberta. More information on how to use My Schedule Builder can be found on the Course Registration webpage.
As a University of Alberta student, you need to be aware of the deadlines outlined in the Academic. Deadlines are firm and strictly enforced to ensure fair treatment of all students.
Missing a deadline can affect your course registration, your grades and your fee assessment.
General guidelines for enrolment appointment times can be found on our Course Registration Information website.
You can also use our Registration and Courses webpage for an overview of the registration process.
The deadline to register in courses for the Fall 2024 term is September 16, 2024.
There may be multiple reasons why you are receiving an error message when attempting to register for classes in My Schedule Builder. Within the error message, you will see an explanation which will tell you why you are unable to register in your class. You may be able to address the error on your own, by reviewing the following scenarios:
Do you meet the prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions?
Information regarding prerequisites and corequisites can be found in the Notes section of the class. Click on the 'Notes' icon to access these details. Please read through the entire Description and Class Notes carefully to find all requirements and restrictions for each class section. If you believe you have met the prerequisites or course restrictions, please contact the teaching department in the faculty that administers the class directly.
Is the class full?
Prior to your enrolment date it is strongly recommended you create and save alternate schedules of the classes you want to take and to validate a preferred schedule. Doing so will help you navigate to the next available class you can take, knowing the alternate option still meets your scheduling needs.
Enrol in a different class
If you’re unable to find a section of the class with a spot available, you can add another class saved in an alternate schedule in your favourites to fill that spot in your schedule. If you don’t have an alternate schedule available you can search for alternate courses that meet your academic requirements and your scheduling needs.
If you’re not sure which alternative classes you might want to take, you can:
- Review the requirements for your degree to determine which classes fulfill those requirements.
- Use the filters and “Additional Search Options” functions to see the class offerings for a subject you’re interested in.
Once you’ve identified which classes you want to take as an alternative, add them to your schedule and attempt to register in them.
Add the Class to your watchlist
Add the class to your watchlist on Bear Tracks (Manage Classes > Class Search and Enroll > Add to Watchlist). If a spot opens in that section of the class, you will receive a notification via email and will have the opportunity to enrol. If a spot does not become available, please refer to the University of Alberta Calendar for other course options to meet program requirements.
For questions about planning your program, please reach out to your Faculty directly.
Enrol in a separate section of the same class
Using My Schedule Builder, find a new section of the course (e.g., SOC 100 Lec A1 for SOC 100 A3) that works with your existing registration. Once your new section is in the schedule results area, click “Get this schedule.” The action will be listed as ‘Swap.’ Click “Do actions.” Alternatively, swap transactions can also be processed in Bear Tracks (Manage Classes > Swap Classes) by selecting the course you wish to swap from and perform a class search for the new class/section. Once you have selected your new section follow the steps in Bear Tracks to complete the registration transaction.
Tip: Before using the “Swap Classes” feature in Bear Tracks you may want to open up your existing schedule in a new tab to ensure that the new section works with your existing registration.
See the Student Registration Experience Guide for more information.
Do you have a financial hold?
For information about financial holds, visit clearing holds on your record.
Is the class open to web registration?
Classes not available for web registration will have a 'Department Consent required to enroll in class. You will need to obtain permission to add this class' note when validating the class. For assistance registering for a closed course, contact the teaching department in the faculty that administers the class.
Is there a time-conflict?
The system protects you from creating timetable conflicts by not accepting registrations in sections which will overlap on your schedule.
Have you been admitted to two programs?
If so, you may need to change your program in Bear Tracks in order to register in your courses.
Have you been recently admitted?
Once you accept your offer and pay your tuition deposit (if applicable), it can take up to 48 hours for your registration to become activated.
Visit the Course Registration web page for more information about registering for courses.
After you have received an offer of admission, courses from other post-secondary institutions as well as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and the General Certificate of Education (GCE) are evaluated for credit toward your program at the University of Alberta. Please note that the transfer credit evaluation can take several weeks.
When transfer credit has been granted, you will be able to access it in Bear Tracks by selecting “Academic Records” then “Transfer Credit Report”. The timing of the Transfer Credit Report is determined by your Faculty.
If you have further questions about your transfer credit, contact your faculty advisors directly. Visit Faculties, Centres and Institutes for a complete listing and links to each page. Click through to your faculty’s website, then check the menu headings on that page for “Departments” or “Contact Us.”
If you are a prospective applicant looking to find out if your courses may be transferred to the U of A, please check out the Transfer Credits Search Tool.
If you would like to decline transfer credit for university-level coursework completed in high school (e.g. AP, IB, or GCE A-Levels), please fill out a transfer credit decline form by the deadline indicated on the form, applicable to the term to which you are admitted. Once complete, you can submit your form here.
If you are admitted to the Faculty of Education, you must inform your faculty advisors after credit has been declined.
If you are appearing as “Year 1” or a first-year student in Bear Tracks, it may be that your transfer credit has not yet been assessed. Please contact your faculty office to learn more about the status of your transfer credit.
You can use our Reg 101 webpage to get started on first-year course registration. You can also sign up to attend a Faculty registration workshop, either virtually or in person.
Start by looking at the Registration 101 Tip Sheet from your faculty of choice, which will outline the courses you are required to take in your first year of university and throughout your degree. If you are interested in a professional program that only requires a year or two to enter, make sure you follow the professional program requirements, found using the tip sheets or our program search tool, instead of your faculty requirements.
Don’t forget to also use our resources like the Bear Tracks user guides.
Please note that before you begin to build your schedule or register in courses, you will need to accept your offer and pay the non-refundable $500 or $1000 tuition deposit, if applicable.
You can visit the Course Listings webpage for details about the class schedules and course instruction modes.
Exploration credits provide students with the opportunity to apply for a credit/no credit notation in eligible open elective courses. Undergraduate students (excluding students in Open Studies or on academic probation) in a 4-year degree program or a 5-year combined degree program are eligible for a maximum of 12 units of exploration credits.
More details about eligibility, and how to apply for Exploration Credits can be found on the Office of the Registrar website. For questions about program requirements and course eligibility, contact your faculty advisor.
As you search for courses in My Schedule Builder (Bear Tracks > My Schedule Builder) you can filter your search to help identify courses that have online offerings.
After you select the term you would like to search in My Schedule Builder, use the “Mode of Instruction” filter to search for online courses. Select Online - Asynchronous, Online - Bichronous and/or Online - Synchronous to limit your search to online instruction modes. Course instruction mode definitions can be found on the Course Listings webpage. Use the “Select Course” search field to begin searching for courses. Messaging will appear in your search results if there are no offerings that match your filters.
Alternatively, you can also do a broader search through the Course Catalog app. Navigate to the “Advanced” search options and select “Only show courses with online classes”.
Transcripts + Verification of Enrolment
If you are a current or former student who has maintained your Bear Tracks access, you can request an authentic, tamper-evident, and legally valid official electronic transcript that will be available to share through MyCreds within a few hours of submitting your request.
MyCreds is a secure portal that allows you to view and share your digitized and portable post-secondary transcripts anytime, anywhere.
- Log into Bear Tracks using your student CCID and password.
- Select “Academic Records.”
- Click on "Request Official Transcript” from the menu on the left-hand side.
- Indicate whether you want your transcript request to be processed immediately, after grades are approved, or after your degree is awarded.
- Select “Electronic Transcript” as the Delivery Method.
- Submit your request.
- Within a few hours, you will receive an email instructing you to log into MyCreds to access your official electronic transcript. Please note that a share credit must be purchased each time you send this document and the document will be sent directly to the intended recipient. Each share credit is $6 for current U of A students and $12 for former students and alumni. Please note: The automatic process is not run on Saturdays, so students who make MyCreds requests on Saturday may not see their transcript in MyCreds until Sunday.
If the recipient will accept an electronic transcript from you (as opposed to the school directly), then you can purchase a share credit and send the document to yourself to download. Please note that this may render it “unofficial” depending on their needs, so ensure this is acceptable before downloading the document yourself. You will be required to pay for an additional share credit to send it directly to the recipient if the recipient refuses to accept a transcript that you previously shared with yourself.
Otherwise, you can arrange to have it sent directly from the University of Alberta to the intended recipient by entering in their information (instead of your own) after purchasing a share credit.
If you are a former student without access to Bear Tracks, you can access an electronic version of your Official Transcript using our Transcript Request Form here. The electronic transcript request will be fulfilled through MyCreds™ | MesCertif™. Please note, electronic transcripts are unavailable to students who attended post-secondary studies at the University of Alberta before 1980 or students who attended Augustana Faculty (Camrose) before September 2006.
Your Verification of Enrollment certificate will be available in Bear Tracks 120 days prior to the start of the applicable term, whether you are registered in one, or both linked terms. You may continue to access it for 120 days following the term’s official end date. A Verification of Enrolment document will only be available for terms that you have course registration in.
You can request an authentic, tamper-evident, and legally valid official electronic Verification of Enrollment certificate for the current academic year through Bear Tracks (Academic Records > Verification Documents > Enrollment Verification). An hour or so after submitting your request, you will receive an email with instructions on creating and logging into your MyCreds account (a secure portal that allows you to view and share your digitized and portable post-secondary documents anytime, anywhere). Please note that this process does not run on Saturdays, so requests submitted on Saturday will be fulfilled on Sunday.
Once you have access to MyCreds, you will be prompted to purchase a share credit for $10 CAD (plus applicable taxes) to view and share your Verification of Enrollment certificate. From the time the credit is purchased, you will have 150 days of unlimited viewing and sharing access, so you can send your certificate to as many third parties (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, banks, loan and scholarship providers, landlords, etc.) as needed during that period.
View instructions for accessing your Verification of Enrolment »
The following major RESP providers have confirmed the use of the Verification of Enrollment certificates issued through MyCreds:
- Knowledge First Financial (Heritage Education Funds)
- iA Financial: While a “stamped school document” is a part of their criteria, the University of Alberta Verification of Enrolment document will fulfill their requirements since our documents are considered an official document.
- Children’s Education Fund (CEF)
If you have a form that requires a signature from the above providers, you can submit a Verification of Enrolment document instead of having a Student Service Advisor sign the form directly (as the Verification form has a signature on it already).
View instructions for accessing your Verification of Enrolment »
Final Exams
No. Please notify your instructor of your absence by email. Statutory declarations are not currently required for missed exams or class assignments related to illness.
Please take care of yourself. Get medical assistance if you need it. Unless you need to visit your doctor, you should stay home until you are well enough to resume normal activities. For more information, please see What to do when you are sick (students).
The section on Examinations in the University Calendar contains general information about writing a deferred final exam.
IMPORTANT: You cannot apply for a deferred examination in advance of the scheduled date of your final exam.
The University of Alberta has a number of health and wellness supports you can access, both in person and from a distance.
The details of your final exam will be available on your Bear Tracks, under the ‘My Schedule and Exams’ tile and on the left side of the screen there will be a link to your ‘Final Exam Schedule’. You can also look for your exam on the Fall 2024/Winter 2025 Exam Schedule website by typing the name of your course into the search bar. When reviewing the website, ensure that you have viewed the correct section of your course.
The University has moved to holding up to 3 exams a day. If you are scheduled to write 3 exams within 4 consecutive time blocks, you may be eligible to reschedule one of those exams.
Please visit our Exam Rescheduling webpage for more details on the eligibility requirements and the application process. Please note that the deadline to apply to have your exam rescheduled for the Fall term is November 13, 2024.
The Pavilion is also known as the Butterdome at the University of Alberta. If your final exam is located in the Pavilion you can access the space by entering the Van Vliet Complex (VVC). The main entrance to the Pavilion is located on level 1.
The Main Gym is located in the Van Vliet Complex (VVC). The main entrance to the Main Gym is located on level 2 of the VVC.
The Education Gym can be accessed by entering the Education Centre South.
Student Financial Support (loans, bursaries, awards)
The Student Service Centre can assist you with your loan application and advise you on how to manage your loans and pay for your education. Check out our Student Loans website for details.
Student loans are administered by the provincial and federal governments. When you apply for provincial loans, you will be simultaneously assessed for federal funding.
Student loans are interest-free and payment-free during the period of study, followed by a grace period.
Part-time student loans require using the paper application form from Student Aid Alberta. Once your loan application is complete, you must get Page 3 of the form signed by Student Service Centre, or the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies if you are a graduate student. Once the application is complete, you must send it to Student Aid Alberta.
More information on how to apply for loans can be found on the Student Loans webpage.
Some provinces/territories may allow you to apply for grant funding without taking out a student loan. If you are applying for Alberta Student Aid and want to apply for grant funding only, please watch our instructional video on the Before You Apply page or talk to your provincial loan borrower for more information.
To access the Alberta Student Loan application you will need to create and verify an Alberta.ca account. If you have issues setting up an Alberta.ca account or logging in, please contact the Alberta.ca Account team at https://account.alberta.ca/contact-us.
If you are applying for a student loan through Alberta Student Aid, you will answer this question "No" even if some or all of your classes will be delivered online.
Student loan borrowers from other provinces should check with their province about how to report this on their student loan application.
You will only answer this question if you estimate that your income for 2024 will be less than it was for 2023. This question is a way to recognize that you may not have the same income while you're in school as you did last year. If you expect your income to be the same or higher just leave this question blank.
If you have applied for Alberta Student Loans, please check your application on your Student Aid Alberta portal to identify any possible discrepancies along with your registration. If you cannot identify any discrepancies, please use our contact form and one of our advisors can assist you.
If you have applied for an out-of-province loan, please contact us through the Student Service Portal.
Some or all of your student loan and grant funding may be sent directly to pay your University of Alberta tuition for the current semester. You can see how much of your student loan/grant is going towards your tuition by doing the following:
Log into your Alberta Student Aid account:
- Click on the application for the current student loan year
- Click on Payment Schedule
- Near the bottom of the Payment Schedule, you will see ‘Tuition Remittance Requested by Educational Institution’. Under this, you may see a dollar amount on the right-hand side with the amount that will be sent to your current semester of outstanding tuition.
Please note that your student loan may not pay for all of your outstanding tuition. It will be your responsibility to review your University of Alberta tuition account and pay any outstanding amount not paid by your student loan before the tuition deadline or financial penalties may incur and a hold will be placed on your account.
Please visit uab.ca/bursaries for a full list of our emergency funding options, including eligibility information and how to apply. These financial supports are designed to assist students experiencing financial shortfall for the current school year's academic and basic living costs or a temporary unexpected financial emergency during the academic year.
We have supplementary bursaries for domestic and international students, which are non-repayable and take a student’s current financial situation into account. Applications will open on October 1. We also offer emergency loans, which are designed for temporary financial set backs and can be dispersed within 2-3 business days. These are a non-interest loan designed to be paid back within six months.
All awards administered through the Office of the Registrar are listed on our website. You can visit the Scholarships, Awards + Financial Support web page to find out which awards are available and determine your eligibility, as well as important deadlines. The University of Alberta does not offer fully funded scholarships.
If you would like to apply for an entrance-based scholarship, you must submit and pay for an application to the University of Alberta to be considered for University of Alberta scholarships.
For more information regarding bursaries and other financial supports, please visit:
- Financial Support
- Government of Alberta Scholarships and Bursaries
- Students' Union Awards & Scholarships
The deadline to apply for our Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships was January 10, 2024.
We also offer admission-based scholarships which you don't even have to apply for! You will be evaluated for these admission scholarships when you apply for admission. Your eligibility will be based on your high school admission average at the time of your admission offer.
Awards will be issued on a rolling basis. All students who applied for Application-based scholarships will be notified of the results of the competition by the end of September.
If you have outstanding tuition fees, your award payments will be applied directly to your tuition balance first. If you are registered full-time in both terms, the value of your awards will be split in half, with 50 per cent of the award applied to your tuition account for the Fall Term and the other 50 per cent applied to your tuition account for the Winter Term. Students will start seeing your awards as “Payments Received” after the Add/Drop deadline has passed.
An external funding cheque can take a few weeks to apply to your account. Please check your Account Details in your Bear Tracks. If it has been more than a month since the cheque was sent to the university, please confirm with the funder to see if the cheque has been processed/cashed. If you have confirmed that the cheque has been mailed to the correct address at the University, please contact the Student Service Centre.
Tax Forms
Your tax documents will be available on Bear Tracks at the end of February.
A T2202 (formerly called a T2202A) is a tax form that is required by the CRA to determine your eligibility for any Educational Tax Credits that are offered.
You can access your Tuition, Education and Textbook Amounts Certificate (T2202) on Bear Tracks. T2202 certificates are typically available in mid-to-end of February of each year.
An email notification will be sent to your U of A account once the form has been made available for the current tax year. You can also access T2202 certificates for previous tax years through Bear Tracks.
To access T2202 certificates in Bear Tracks, select “Financial Account,” click on “Tax forms” in the left-hand menu, then click on “T2202.” Select the desired tax year. Please note, Adobe Reader is required to open and print T2202 certificates.
Please note that the University of Alberta will not issue alternative tax receipts, such as a 1098-T.
Please update your address in Bear Tracks as your address may be inactive. Once your address has been updated, your T2202 will re-populate with the correct dollar value.
T4A is a document provided for tax purposes to those who have received scholarships, awards or bursaries.
If you are eligible to receive a T4A from the Office of the Registrar, your form(s) will be available in your Bear Tracks, under “Financials,” by the end of February of each year.
To access your T4As in Bear Tracks, you will need to provide your consent for electronic delivery, which can be done in Bear Tracks:
- Log into Bear Tracks
- Navigate to the “Financials” section
- Click on “T4A Tax Form”
- Select “yes”
- Click “submit” to consent
You only need to provide consent once for T4A tax forms distributed by the Office of the Registrar to receive your T4A electronically for all future years. You can change the status of your consent at any time.
If you do not consent for electronic delivery, a paper copy will be mailed to the address listed in Bear Tracks instead.
Tax slips are available to all current or former employees who have received taxable earnings or benefits in the taxation year being reported. Questions related to tax documents from taxable earnings or benefits can be directed to the Staff Service Centre. You can also view the Tax Slips for Employees webpage for more details.
Tax documents prior to 2017 (2016 or earlier) are not available through Bear Tracks. If you require a reprint of your T4A that is unavailable in Bear Tracks, you can visit the “My Account for Individuals” page on the Canada Revenue Agency website or submit a request via the Student Service Portal.
If you have received an award from an external provider (not the University of Alberta), please contact the external provider to request your T4A.
You can provide your SIN in Bear Tracks. After you have logged in you should receive a prompt to add your SIN to your student profile. If you have not received this prompt you may also click on the “Personal Information” tab and select “Social Insurance Number” from the drop-down menu.
If you experience difficulty updating your SIN through BearTracks, you can bring your original SIN documents to the Student Service Centre during our business hours or submit your updated SIN via mail.
If you choose to submit your updated SIN via mail, send a photocopy of your SIN documentation to the Student Service Centre. Please also include your student ID number somewhere on the photocopied document. DO NOT submit an electronic copy for security purposes.
Acceptable SIN documentation is:
- Confirmation of SIN letter
- SIN card
- Other documentation showing your SIN, which has been issued by Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Student Service Centre mailing address:
Office of the RegistrarAdministration Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
T6G 2M7
Once the document has been received and your records have been updated, your SIN documentation will be destroyed.
As a student at the University of Alberta, you are subject to Canada's taxation laws and the Province of Alberta. To help you understand the Canadian tax system, visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.
Canada has a self-assessment system, which means that each individual must determine their own taxes for each taxation year. The taxation year is based on the calendar year of January 1 to December 31. Completed tax returns should be filed by April 30 of the following year. Taxes are calculated using income, deductions and both refundable and non-refundable tax credits.
For more information and for tax walkthrough workshops, please visit the International Student Services website.
Convocation
Apply for graduation in Bear Tracks under “Graduation” in “Academic Records.” You can see the status of your application by clicking “Graduation Status” after submitting your application.
You must apply for graduation even if you don’t plan to attend your convocation ceremony.
A.Undergraduate Students
- Apply for Fall Convocation between March 15 and September 1.
- Apply for Spring Convocation between October 1 and February 1.
Graduate Students
- Apply for Fall Convocation between May 1 and September 30 (before 4 p.m.).
- Apply for Spring Convocation between November 1 and April 2 (before 4 p.m.).
You can find details on the Fall 2024 Convocation dates on the Ceremony Details web page. Fall Convocation 2024 will be held November 26 and 27 in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Augustana’s convocation ceremony will take place in Camrose, Alberta. Please visit the Augustana Campus Convocation page for additional information.
If you miss the graduation application deadline, you must contact your faculty as soon as possible to request permission to apply after the deadline.
Please visit the Convocation webpage for details on acquiring guest tickets, and additional opportunities to collect tickets.
Apparel and convocation packets (including your parchment, name card, and procedures brochure) will be available from the University Bookstore in the Students' Union Building (Lower Level). Pick-up dates and times can be found on the Convocation webpage. Photo identification in the name matching your Primary name on your student record must be presented when you pick up your parchment. A University of Alberta ONEcard or current government-issued photo identification (driver's license or passport) will be accepted.
If you cannot pick up your parchment yourself, it will only be released to an individual who presents a signed Letter of Authorization from you and their own photo ID. The Letter of Authorization must be presented as a printed hardcopy (original, scanned and printed, or faxed formats are acceptable); electronic versions on a mobile phone are not accepted.
You can confirm the legal name that will be printed on your parchment on your Graduation Status page in Bear Tracks. Parchments will be printed using the Primary Name on your student record. Preferred names will not be printed on parchments. Your full name, including middle name(s), is displayed in the Parchment Name field. This is how your name will be printed on your parchment. Names will be printed in capital letters on parchments. If your Parchment Name is not your correct legal name, you must submit a Name Change form to update your name.
Details on submitting your Name Change form can be viewed in the “Change of Legal or Primary Name” solution.
Your Preferred Name will be printed in the list of graduates and announced when you cross the stage. You can update your Preferred Name in Bear Tracks on your Personal Details page under Profile. Due to printing deadlines, students who do not update their convocation names at least one month prior to the start of Convocation may not have corrections to their information published in the program.
If you are a gender-diverse student and would like to discuss the available options regarding legal names and convocation, please reach out to the Student Service Centre.
If you did not attend your convocation ceremony, drop-in hours will be offered after both the fall and spring convocations during which you can pick up your parchments. Drop-in hours will be posted on this website when they are available.
If you are unable to pick up your parchment during the drop-in hours, your parchment will be mailed to you. Please be sure to review your information in Bear Tracks to ensure that your mailing address is up to date.
Continuing Education
Visit the Online and Continuing Education Website for programs and courses that we offer.
Please use our newly launched CERegister student registration system and portal to register for all Fall 2024 courses and Winter 2025 classes. Once you have created a CERegister account, you will be able to register and pay for your classes online!
If you have questions about CERegister or need help with your account, please contact the Student Service Centre.
We can invoice organizations for course fees. We require:
- A course registration form completed and signed by the student
- A Letter of Authorization on company letterhead or a Purchase Order that includes the student’s name(s), course name(s) and date(s), fees, and the printed name and written signature of an official with signing authority (not the student). The letter must state that the University of Alberta is authorized to invoice for payment.
Alternatively, if your organization does not already have a standard letter of authorization or purchase order that they would like to use, you can submit a Financial Guarantee for Invoicing Form. The forms can be submitted via the Student Service Portal.
We also encourage you to review our Withdrawal, Refund, and Transfer Policies and Procedures for Third Party Billing/Sponsorships.
Please see our detailed step-by-step instructions on how to view your courses in our Student Service Portal solution article: Class Confirmation for Fall2024/Winter 2025.
If you are new to the Student Service Portal, please see our instructional video and written instructions for more information.
Unfortunately, Continuing Education certificates, citations, and diploma programs are non-credit part-time programs and are not eligible for a Canadian study permit. You are more than welcome to take any course or program that is part of an online delivery from your respective country.
If you are an international student, we strongly recommend that you contact U of A International at welcome@ualberta.ca prior to applying at the University of Alberta.
Alberta Student Aid only provides student loan funding for programs and courses that are taken for post-secondary credit. Since Continuing Education Courses do not grant you with post-secondary credits, government issued funding is not available for courses and programs taken.