University of Alberta education admission requirements: direct entry to elementary or secondary BEd

The Faculty of Education says students can enter its undergraduate programs directly from high school. Both the four year Elementary and four year Secondary BEd take you from Grade 12 to a degree. Each is 120 units and includes at least 14 weeks of student teaching. Graduates are recommended for teacher certification in Alberta.

Elementary is a generalist program for Kindergarten to Grade 6, so you don't pick a major. Secondary prepares you to teach Grades 7 to 12 in a major and a minor subject. U of A says there are over 1000 major and minor combinations.

U of A uses five subjects. You need English Language Arts 30-1, three subjects from Group A and/or C, and one more subject from Group A, B or C. Physical Education 30 (5 credits) or a 30 level CTS course (5 credits) can fill that last spot.

For Ontario students, the U of A requirements tool accepts ENG4U or EAE4U for English in the Elementary program. The secondary tool also lists ETS4U. Your other courses come from humanities, languages and math or science lists, such as CHI4U, CHY4U, SBI4U or MHF4U.

Math is not required for admission. But U of A strongly recommends Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 for Elementary, and says Math 30-1 is a prerequisite for some required courses. Some secondary majors need certain 30 level courses later for registration. Map your courses with our course planner.

The minimum admission average is 70% across five subjects. U of A says all admissions are competitive and actual averages may be higher. There are more applicants than places, and the Faculty sets an enrolment target each year.

The three year ranges show how much higher. Elementary has run from the mid 70s to the low 80s. Secondary art, drama and music majors ran from the low 70s to the low 80s. Other secondary majors ran from the low 70s to the mid 90s, so popular subjects can be much harder. U of A does not publish an acceptance rate.

Each Grade 12 mark used must be at least 50%, and Grade 11 marks at least 60%. Check your number with our Top 6 average calculator, then work out the five U of A uses.

The program pages list no essay, interview or portfolio for direct entry. Your five subject average decides it. You must also meet English language proficiency and spoken English proficiency rules.

Pick a sensible second choice on your application. U of A says applicants not accepted to their first choice are assessed for their second choice, if listed.

U of A's Fall 2027 timeline opened applications on October 1, 2026. The entrance award application deadline is January 10, 2027. The application deadline for most programs is March 1, 2027.

Self report final high school marks by April 30, 2027. Offers made before April 1 must be accepted by May 1, 2027. High school students send outstanding documents by August 1, 2027. Compare with our Canadian deadlines page.

The program pages still show admission requirements labelled 2026 to 2027. Check them again in the fall for any change for 2027.

The BEd has field placements, not co-op. Elementary and Secondary each include a five week Introductory Professional Term (IPT) and a nine week Advanced Professional Term (APT). In Secondary, you usually teach your major subject in both.

Early in the program, the Faculty also lists EDFX 200, Orientation to School Culture and Contexts.

You can take the first two years of the Elementary BEd at Augustana Campus in Camrose, then finish in Edmonton. Five year combined degrees pair the BEd with arts, music, native studies, kinesiology or science, but you apply to the partner faculty first.

The Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) is an Elementary BEd route for Indigenous students with its own cohort entry rules. U of A also runs an After Degree for people who already hold a degree.

If you miss the high school requirements or average, there is a second way in. U of A says you may be considered after finishing at least 24 credits, up to 60, of coursework that transfers to the BEd at an accredited school. Transfer students are ranked on their grade point average, with a 2.0 minimum. Some secondary majors, such as English Language Arts and Social Studies, list a 3.2 or higher transfer range.

U of A charges by course. For 2026-27, Canadian students pay $729.36 for a typical 3 credit course, based on a fee index value of $121.56. Education is not on the list of faculties with extra per course fees.

Our estimate: 30 credits a year, or ten 3 credit courses, comes to about $7,293.60 in tuition. That is our math from U of A's rate, not a university figure. Non instructional fees, books and housing are extra.

Some U of A entrance scholarships are automatic, based on your admission average when you get your offer. The top 5% of students in each faculty could receive up to $6,000. Students with 80% or more and strong leadership can be assessed for other awards.

Award applications are due January 10, 2027. Out of province Canadian students should look at the awards for them, which go up to $30,000 over four years for top students.

Choose Elementary if you want to teach every subject to young children. Its range is narrower and more predictable. Choose Secondary if you love one subject and want to teach teens. Your major choice changes how competitive admission is.

If you also love sport, the BKin and BEd combined degree is far more competitive, at the mid 80s to low 90s. Compare with our U of A kinesiology page.

The 70% minimum is not the real target. Recent Elementary ranges ran from the mid 70s to the low 80s, and some Secondary majors go much higher.

The degree leads to a recommendation for Alberta teacher certification in four years. Read our U of A guide for residence and campus details.