Athabasca University

The Calendar lists a Bachelor of Arts in 3-year (General plus English, French, History, Psychology, and Sociology concentrations) and 4-year form (11 majors from Anthropology to Women's and Gender Studies) with 17 BA minors; Bachelor of Commerce and BComm Post Diploma with Accounting, Business Technology Management, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources Management, and Indigenous Business majors; Bachelor of General Studies; Bachelor of Health Administration; Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations; Bachelor of Management (3-year); Post-RN and Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing; Bachelor of Professional Arts in Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Governance Law and Management, and Human Services; Bachelor of Science (General, Applied Mathematics, Computing and Information Systems, Human Science, and Architecture) with 16 BSc minors; the University Diploma in Arts; 13 university certificates; the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Inclusive Education; and the English Language Proficiency Certificate of Completion.

Most of these degrees exist in both a direct and a Post Diploma version. The Post Diploma route is the one that pays off if you already hold a college credential—check it before enrolling in the standard version.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 undergraduate program regulations index · Verified August 15, 2026

AU publishes over 850 courses across 21 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the humanities, sciences, business, and health disciplines, seven levels of certificates and diplomas in over 30 specializations, and over 30 professional development programs, courses, and micro-credentials through PowerED by Athabasca University. It also reports over 350 collaborative agreements with Canadian and international post-secondary institutions, professional associations, sporting and employer groups, and First Nations institutions and communities.

Athabasca University: Athabasca University at a glance: AU by the numbers · Verified August 15, 2026

AACSB announced on February 16, 2022 that AU's Faculty of Business had earned accreditation, and AU notes that fewer than 6% of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation; the Faculty is re-evaluated every five years to maintain it. The Faculty's Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Management degrees are separately accredited by Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada. AU is also a member of the Business Schools Association of Canada, EMBAC, EDBAC, and the MBA Roundtable.

AU does not publish a first-party enrolment count or 'largest online business school' claim for the Faculty of Business—do not repeat that framing without a source.

Athabasca University: Faculty of Business accreditation and memberships (AACSB, CPHR) · Verified August 15, 2026

Grouped study courses are taken with other students in a classroom—usually at a collaborating institution—or in an online environment with common deadlines, and everyone progresses at the same pace. Year-round registration is not available, courses run at selected sites and times, availability depends on registration numbers, and you register in person at the partner institution or on that institution's grouped study form. The contract period is usually 2, 4, or 6 months, the exam date is shared within the first week of classes, and course extensions are not allowed. Courses offered at another institution may carry different fees and regulations.

Source page 404s as of 2026-08-25 and was not found mirrored elsewhere; the only surviving 'grouped study' page (exams-grades/grouped-study-examinations.html) covers exam-day logistics only and states exam dates go out 'within the first two weeks of classes,' conflicting with the 'within the first week' detail here. Do not treat these registration/contract/withdrawal facts as re-verified until AU republishes an equivalent page.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Grouped study courses and withdrawal rules · Verified August 25, 2026

The Bachelor of Arts (4-year) requires 120 credits, of which at least 75 must be senior (300 or 400 level) including 18 at the 400 level, 96 in Arts, and 6 in Science. Residency is a minimum of 30 credits obtained through AU; at least 24 AU credits are needed to be considered for Distinction. Maximums cap any one discipline at 60 credits, applied studies and/or science at 24, preparatory level at 6, junior level in one discipline at 15, and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits at 9. AU does not offer an Honours BA, and every student must satisfy an English writing skills requirement through ENGL 255 or a B- (70%) or better in an AU English course above the preparatory level.

Athabasca University: Bachelor of Arts (4-year), Psychology Major regulations · Verified August 15, 2026

The Post-RN BN requires 45 credits: 27 required nursing credits, 6 required non-nursing credits (a university-level English course, ENGL 255 recommended, plus MATH 215 or MATH 216), and 12 non-nursing option credits with at least 6 at the 300/400 level. Residency is a minimum of 15 nursing credits through AU, PLAR is capped at 9 credits, and learners must maintain an overall GPA of 2.00 to graduate. Admission requires graduation from an approved RN diploma program and regulated practicing RN registration with a Canadian province or territory, maintained throughout. Learners have a maximum of 5 years to finish from the date of admission, with no exceptions, and become inactive if they do not register within 12 months of their last course contract end date.

Athabasca University: Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing regulations and program structure · Verified August 15, 2026

AU states plainly that it does not operate a traditional bricks-and-mortar campus for students and that its students learn from anywhere. There is no residence application, no room-rate table, no guarantee deadline, and no meal plan to budget for. Your housing cost is whatever you already pay where you live, and it is not part of the AU fee schedule at any point in a degree.

The substitute question is not 'which residence?' but 'can I hold a course contract while working?'—the pacing, tutor, and invigilation rules below are the real equivalent of a residence decision at AU.

Athabasca University: Athabasca University at a glance: AU by the numbers · Verified August 15, 2026

Each individualized-study course has a contract start and end date, and everything must be completed inside it. You get 6 months for a 0-, 1-, 3-, or 4-credit course and 12 months for a 6-credit course, with contract end dates always falling on the last day of a month. Contracts begin on the 1st, when you receive full access to course materials, the course website, and assigned readings; most courses give limited early access to Brightspace resources 24 to 48 hours after registration, but assignments cannot be submitted and exams cannot be written before the contract begins. Tutorial support and faculty support also start with the contract, never earlier.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Course procedures, contract periods, and tutor assignment · Verified August 15, 2026

AU courses are not classroom-based or instructor-led. In most courses you are assigned a tutor who guides you through the course, marks your assignments, quizzes, and exams, and assigns your final grade; you can call them during their posted office hours without an appointment. Other courses use a service-centre model where the AU Service Centre is your first point of contact and connects you to an academic expert for subject matter. Either way you receive an e-letter through the myAU portal with the contact name, email, phone, and support hours. A tutor or academic expert may be unavailable for illness, vacation, or holidays for a maximum of 9 business days; longer absences trigger alternate arrangements.

The Calendar adds that Faculty of Business courses route through the Student Support Centre and Faculty of Science and Technology courses through the Student Success Centre, both using academic experts rather than a named personal tutor.

Athabasca University: Academic support at AU: tutors and academic experts · Verified August 15, 2026

Every AU exam must be supervised by an AU-approved invigilator, and requesting one is a two-stage process: contact the invigilator to pick a date, time, and fee, then submit the Examination Request through myAU at least 10 days before the write date. You can use ProctorU virtual invigilation from home, or AU's Canada-wide Examination Invigilation Network of place-based invigilators. If you lack the technical requirements for virtual invigilation and there is no approved invigilator within 40 km, contact Examination Services before proposing a new one—a new invigilator must be proposed 60 days before the write date. Students outside Canada can use a virtual invigilator or request a list of approved place-based invigilators. Exams must be written inside the course contract period; only supplemental exams may be written after it. Accessibility accommodations need at least 20 days' notice, occasionally 30.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Requesting your exam and invigilation options · Verified August 15, 2026

AU states most invigilation centres charge a fee for exam invigilation and that this fee is not covered by tuition. ProctorU bills the student directly in US funds under flex scheduling: $16.21 for 60 minutes or less, $24.31 for 61–120 minutes, $31.26 for 121–180 minutes, and $41.67 for 181 minutes or more, with optional Take it Soon at +$8.00 and Take it Now at +$12.00. AU is explicit that it is not responsible for making any payments to ProctorU. A supplemental examination request costs $208 non-refundable, and lost-exam reimbursement is capped at $200.

AU marks the Take it Soon and Take it Now fees subject to change and prices ProctorU by the maximum time allowed for the exam, not the time you actually take.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 academic-related fees (application, evaluation, exams) · Verified August 25, 2026

AU answers directly: no, you cannot get a study permit for an online program, because IRCC regulations say a study permit cannot be issued for distance education courses or programs. If you already hold a study permit and switch to an AU online program you cannot maintain its conditions, and you cannot renew, extend, or apply for a new permit on the strength of an AU online program. AU does not provide letters of acceptance to students enrolled in online programs; it issues one only when you are ready to begin an in-person part of a program.

An international student already at another Canadian institution can still take AU online courses on a Letter of Permission from their home school without touching their permit status.

Athabasca University: International applications, English proficiency, and study permits · Verified August 15, 2026

All students outside Canada must comply with the normal course contract period. Course start dates for students living outside Canada and the continental United States depend on the arrival of the course package: AU couriers packages but requires a street address rather than a PO box, plus a telephone number. Most courses are completely online, including access to textbooks, so start dates are usually not affected by delivery times—check the syllabus. AU separately advises overseas applicants to sign up for courses at least a month ahead and to request any hard copy of an e-textbook or AU-produced material at least 8 weeks before the course begins.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Course procedures, contract periods, and tutor assignment · Verified August 15, 2026

For courses starting September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027, an all-inclusive 3-credit course costs an Alberta permanent resident $971.50 in the Faculties of Business and Health Disciplines and $907.50 in Humanities and Social Sciences and in Science and Technology. Canadian residents outside Alberta pay $1,162.50 and $1,098.50 for the same courses because a $191 out-of-province fee is added. Each 3-credit total combines tuition ($681 or $633), the Course Administration and Technology Fee ($185 or $169), the $90 Course Materials Fee where it applies, and $15.50 in Students' Union and Alumni Relations fees. Six-credit courses total $1,666 and $1,554 in Alberta. Re-registrations drop the materials fee: $881.50 and $817.50 for 3 credits in Alberta.

AU prices per course, not per year. Your annual cost is entirely a function of how many courses you register in, which is why AU cannot publish a single 'tuition' figure.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 Canadian student course fees (in and out of Alberta) · Verified August 25, 2026

AU defines non-Canadian students as those who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents, landed immigrants, or protected persons but who live temporarily in Canada. For 2026–2027 their tuition is exactly double the domestic rate—$1,362 versus $681 for a 3-credit Business or Health Disciplines course—giving an all-inclusive 3-credit total of $1,652.50 in Business and Health Disciplines and $1,540.50 in Humanities and Social Sciences and in Science and Technology while living in Alberta, and $1,843.50 and $1,731.50 while living in Canada outside Alberta once the $191 out-of-province fee is added. Six-credit courses total $3,028 and $2,820 in Alberta. There are no reduced fees for non-Canadian senior citizens.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 non-Canadian student course fees (living in Canada) · Verified August 25, 2026

This band applies to all students, Canadian and non-Canadian, who live temporarily or permanently outside Canada. For 2026–2027 an all-inclusive 3-credit course is $1,771.50 in Business and Health Disciplines and $1,707.50 in Humanities and Social Sciences and in Science and Technology, because an $800 out-of-country fee is added to the domestic tuition of $681 or $633 rather than a doubled tuition rate. A 6-credit course totals $2,466 and $2,354, and a 1-credit course carries a smaller $267 out-of-country fee. Re-registration totals are $1,681.50 and $1,617.50 for 3 credits. Canadians abroad working for a Canadian embassy, consulate, or the Canadian Forces are billed on the domestic tables instead.

An international student studying from home pays less per course than one living temporarily in Canada, because the out-of-country fee is flat while the non-Canadian-in-Canada rate doubles tuition itself.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 course fees for students living outside Canada · Verified August 25, 2026

For a 120-credit undergraduate program AU estimates $38,860 (Business and Health Disciplines) and $36,300 (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Technology) for Alberta permanent residents; $46,500 and $43,940 for Canadian residents outside Alberta; $66,100 and $61,620 for non-Canadians temporarily in Alberta; $73,740 and $69,260 for non-Canadians temporarily in Canada outside Alberta; and $70,860 and $68,300 for students living outside Canada. Indigenous and senior bands are lower—$36,100 and $33,780 for Indigenous students in Alberta. A 90-credit program is $29,145 and $27,225 for Alberta residents and $34,875 and $32,955 outside Alberta.

AU labels these costs estimated, states it can and may increase tuition annually, computes every total using 3-credit courses, and excludes academic-related fees such as lab and examination fees plus the one-time application fee. Transfer credit is the single biggest lever on the real number.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 estimated undergraduate program fees by credential length · Verified August 25, 2026

The General Application Fee is $141 and non-refundable; the transfer-credit Evaluation Fee is $139 and non-refundable. A course extension costs $230 per two-month extension, with up to 3 extensions per individualized-study registration. The mandatory, non-waivable laboratory fee is $63 and applies to 25 listed BIOL, CHEM, COMP, GEOG, GEOL, and PHYS courses, including students with lab exemptions. Withdrawal carries a $207 non-refundable processing fee on every tuition refund regardless of timing. Prior Learning Assessment costs $1,042, with $309 withdrawal and $309 extension fees. Parchment replacement is $74, transcripts are $10 plus tax through MyCreds, and a Letter of Permission is free. Post-LPN nursing clinical fees add $408 to NURS 401 and NURS 437 and $612 to NURS 441.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 academic-related fees (application, evaluation, exams) · Verified August 25, 2026

AU states that for financial-aid purposes full-time status is a minimum of 60 per cent of a full course load over a four-month semester, and that funding is available to both part-time and full-time students through provincial aid agencies. The catch is pacing: the regular 6- and 12-month course contracts are cut to 4 and 8 months for full-time AU students receiving financial aid, and all course start dates in a semester must be the same. Loan programs typically require a minimum of three 3-credit courses per four-month funding period to maintain full-time loan status, and academic progress is monitored. Apply for funding at least four months before your anticipated course start date and speak to an AU Financial Aid Advisor first to complete the Loan Study Plan.

Full-time students at another institution taking only 1 or 2 AU courses keep the regular 6- and 12-month contracts. If you take student loans through AU, the self-paced flexibility that attracted you is materially reduced.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Financial assistance and full-time funding rules · Verified August 15, 2026

Not yet published. AU's Calendar fee tables run by academic year from September 1 to August 31, and the current set—labelled for courses starting September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027—is the latest posted. AU states on its own estimated-program-fees page that it can and may increase tuition annually.

Budget with the labelled 2026–2027 per-course tables and re-check the Calendar fee section before treating any figure as a 2027–2028 quote. Because AU bills per course rather than per year, a mid-degree increase changes only the courses you have not yet registered in.

Athabasca University: 2026–2027 estimated undergraduate program fees by credential length · Verified August 25, 2026

AU states it has articulated courses and programs from more than 240 institutions and organizations, and publishes those decisions in a searchable online database. Courses will usually be considered for transfer credit regardless of when they were completed, with exceptions: different programs set different staledating time limits, published in each program's regulations.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Evaluations and transfer credit, staledating, IQAS · Verified August 15, 2026

You must be enrolled in an AU program before transfer or advanced credit can be evaluated, though you can request the evaluation when you apply. The evaluation requires the one-time non-refundable evaluation fee and official transcripts sent directly to AU Enrolment Services from every institution you previously attended, accepted by email or mail from the institution itself. AU states the current processing time is 4 weeks after all documents are received but can take up to 12 weeks. Existing open-studies or visiting students switch by logging into myAU and selecting 'Change of Program', and are not charged the general application fee again.

An informal result from AU's transfer credit assessment tool is not an award. Only the paid, transcript-backed evaluation binds.

Athabasca University: How to transfer credits: block transfer, PLAR, challenge for credit · Verified August 15, 2026

Through articulation agreements AU accepts many college diplomas and other credentials as blocks of transfer credit rather than course-by-course, and states this can give up to 3 years of credit toward an AU degree. Only complete credentials qualify for block transfer—otherwise credit is assessed course by course—and block arrangements are tied to specific programs and may not apply to every AU credential. Holders of a previous undergraduate degree can have courses considered for credit toward up to 50% of an AU degree, but cannot take a second undergraduate degree in the same or a related field.

Athabasca University: How to transfer credits: block transfer, PLAR, challenge for credit · Verified August 15, 2026

Residency is the ceiling on transfer credit. The Bachelor of Arts (4-year) requires a minimum of 30 of its 120 credits through AU, which means up to 90 credits can in principle arrive from elsewhere, but PLAR is separately capped at 9 credits and no more than 60 credits may come from any one discipline. Distinction requires at least 24 AU credits. Professional programs run tighter: the Post-RN BN requires 15 nursing credits through AU out of 45, and the Post-LPN BN requires a minimum of 51 NURS credits through AU.

Check the residency line in your specific program's regulations before assuming a diploma converts into three years of credit—the Calendar publishes it in every program's structure table.

Athabasca University: Bachelor of Arts (4-year), Psychology Major regulations · Verified August 15, 2026

Outgoing: an AU program student must request a Letter of Permission from Transfer Credit Services before registering in a course elsewhere for AU credit, at least 4 weeks before the external registration date. There is no fee, the letter is valid for 1 year, and it maintains active program status if you are not registered in AU courses at the same time. Credit will not be applied without both the LOP and an official transcript you must actively request be sent to AU. Incoming: visiting students are advised—but not required by AU—to get an LOP from their home institution, and should check that institution's rules on completion timelines, supplemental exams, and challenge-for-credit grades before registering.

Receiving an outgoing LOP does not guarantee the course will fit your AU credential—AU states the equivalency is for the course only and does not account for your program regulations.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Letter of Permission (outgoing and incoming) · Verified August 15, 2026

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition awards credit for documented learning gained outside formal coursework, with an assigned mentor guiding development of a PLAR portfolio. Challenge for credit lets you skip a course by proving you already know the content: it is available for most undergraduate courses above the 100 preparatory level, requires approval from the responsible faculty member or designate and a non-refundable fee, gives you a single attempt—failure or an incomplete challenge means registering in and passing the course—and successfully challenged courses do not count toward the residency requirement. Graduate courses cannot be challenged, and specific course exceptions are listed on each course page.

Athabasca University: How to transfer credits: block transfer, PLAR, challenge for credit · Verified August 15, 2026

Students presenting non-Canadian and non-US credentials for transfer credit must obtain an evaluation from an international assessment agency such as the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). AU accepts only detailed course-by-course assessments, and requires copies of all foreign transcripts used in the assessment. Assessments from members of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada, or from NACES members in the United States, may also be accepted. AU states that if you elect not to use an assessment agency you may not obtain any transfer credit for that coursework, and it reserves the right to require documents sent directly from the issuing institution.

Athabasca University: Calendar: Evaluations and transfer credit, staledating, IQAS · Verified August 15, 2026

AU reports that 25% of its Alberta students are visiting learners from other institutions who rely on AU courses to help complete their degrees. AU's Calendar frames the same arrangement from the other side: it holds transfer arrangements with universities across Canada that enable visiting students to transfer AU courses back to their home institution.

AU cannot guarantee another institution will accept its credit—the receiving school decides. Get the incoming Letter of Permission before you register, not after you pass.

Athabasca University: Athabasca University at a glance: AU by the numbers · Verified August 15, 2026