University of Alberta: Admission, Fixed Tuition and Fees for International Students

The University of Alberta (U of A) is one of Canada's largest research universities, based in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. It offers international students something rare in Canada: the tuition for the whole bachelor's degree is fixed in the offer letter and does not change until graduation. For students who started in Fall 2026, tuition was $27,660 (CAD 39,233) a year in Arts, $28,060 (CAD 39,792) in Science and $35,220 (CAD 49,952) in Computer Engineering. Applicants from Russia submit the attestat together with their Unified State Exam (EGE) certificate, and the Fall 2027 deadline for most programmes is 1 March 2027.

Who U of A suits

U of A suits students who want a strong research university and a predictable four-year budget. It is known for engineering (including petroleum and mining), computing science and artificial intelligence research, agriculture, pharmacy and nursing. Edmonton is cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver for housing, but winters from November to March are cold.

For the national picture, see studying in Canada.

Compare it with:

• the University of Calgary, Alberta's other large university, which has a common first year in engineering (both appear in our overview of universities in Canada);
• the University of Toronto if a large city and job market matter more;
• cheaper English-language options listed in the cost of studying in Canada.

Do not confuse it with Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary or Athabasca University, the province's distance-learning university.

Entry with a Russian or Kazakh school certificate

U of A admits holders of the attestat without a foundation year, with one important condition. For Russia it requires both the attestat with transcript and the EGE results certificate showing at least the minimum pass mark in each subject; if results are only online, your school issues a certificate of marks after verifying them. Kazakh applicants need the attestat and Unified National Testing (UNT) results with the minimum pass mark in each subject. Uzbek applicants need the certificate of completed upper secondary education with transcript.

Admission rests on three elements:

1. Five academic subjects, which vary by programme (English, humanities, fine arts, mathematics and sciences).
2. Admission average, which changes every year and differs by programme.
3. English proficiency, through a test, certain school exams or three years of study in English.

If you lack required subjects, the Year One Foundation Program is a full-time on-campus year that leads into the second year of a degree.

Documents not in English or French need an official English translation by a certified translator. Official documents must come directly from the issuing institution to the Office of the Registrar, by mail or to transcripts@ualberta.ca. See also bachelor's degrees in Canada.

English requirements

Education and some health programmes, such as Nursing, also require spoken English: IELTS speaking 7.5 or TOEFL speaking 5.0 on the new scale. High school applicants must submit language documents by 1 August.

Campus Saint-Jean teaches in French and requires written and spoken French. It is the least expensive way to a U of A degree for international students.

Fall 2027 timeline

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, so applying in the autumn is the safer plan.

Tuition: how the fixed rate works

International students are on a program-based model: the offer letter states an annual and a total programme tuition. The rate is locked for the normal length of the programme plus one year, typically five years. It covers instructional tuition only; non-instructional fees, residence and books rise separately.

Tuition for international students who started in Fall 2026, from the university's cost calculator:

For 2027 entrants, the Board of Governors approved on 27 March 2026 a 5.5% increase for new international undergraduates from Fall 2027, with two exceptions: the BSc in Computing Science moves up to the engineering tuition level (a 26% increase) and the BSc in Nursing rises by 20%. Your exact figure will appear in the cost calculator once it switches to the 2027 cohort, and in your offer letter.

Other first-year costs in the calculator: about $1,460 (CAD 2,076) in mandatory fees (student services, athletics, health and dental plan, U-Pass), $850 (CAD 1,200) for books, and $6,020 (CAD 8,531) for room and board as an average estimate. A single room with private washroom in Schäffer Hall with a seven-day meal plan starts at $10,430 (CAD 14,800) for eight months. A first year in Arts with residence therefore comes to roughly $36,000–40,400 before flights and visa costs.

Payments. The CAD 150 application fee is paid by card. Most new applicants pay a CAD 5,000 deposit through U of A Launchpad to accept the offer and receive the PAL; it counts towards tuition. Fees are due in late September and late January.

Scholarships for international students

U of A awards about CAD 53 million a year in undergraduate scholarships and support.

Automatic, based on admission average:

Application-based, deadline 10 January:

You must apply to a degree programme before applying for scholarships. The large awards are competitive, so do not build your budget on them. See scholarships in Canada.

Study permit and the Alberta PAL

U of A undergraduates need an Alberta PAL; the province's 2026 target for PAL-required study permits is 21,582. The university issues the PAL once you accept the offer and pay the CAD 5,000 deposit. Master's and PhD applicants at public institutions do not need a PAL for applications submitted from 1 January 2026.

From 1 September 2026, IRCC requires proof of first-year tuition, travel and $16,530 (CAD 23,448) for living costs. The study permit fee is $110 (CAD 150) and biometrics $60 (CAD 85). Since 28 January 2026, Canadian visa application centres in Russia no longer accept passports or documents; when IRCC asks for the passport, it goes to a centre abroad (for example Yerevan, Almaty or Astana), and the Russian centre's site lists any services it still offers. During terms you may work off campus up to 24 hours a week. See the Canadian study permit and working while studying and the PGWP.

Master's study

International graduate students also have tuition fixed for a set programme length; course-based master's tuition is fixed for the whole programme. From Fall 2027, international thesis-based tuition falls by 5.5% while course-based master's tuition rises by 5.5%. Minimum degree requirements by country, including Russia, are published by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. See master's degrees in Canada.

Step-by-step plan for Fall 2027

1. September 2026: choose a programme, check the five required subjects, book an English test.
2. October–December 2026: apply and pay CAD 150; order certified translations.
3. By 10 January 2027: submit the scholarship application.
4. February–March 2027: add first-semester grades and answer any requests.
5. Spring 2027: accept the offer, pay the CAD 5,000 deposit, receive the PAL; apply for residence by 30 April.
6. May–July 2027: sit the EGE, receive the certificate, apply for the study permit.
7. By 1 August 2027: send final official documents and EGE results.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the EGE. For Russian school-leavers the attestat alone is not enough.
• Using IELTS One Skill Retake. U of A does not accept it.
• Assuming every cost is locked. Only tuition is fixed; fees and residence rise separately.
• Applying late. Decisions are rolling and popular programmes fill before 1 March.
• Budgeting on a scholarship. Large awards are competitive.

FAQ

Does the University of Alberta accept the Russian attestat?

Yes, without a foundation year. You need the attestat with transcript and the EGE certificate showing at least the minimum pass mark in each subject. Applicants from Kazakhstan submit UNT results instead of the EGE.

How much does U of A cost for international students?

For Fall 2026 entrants, from $27,660 (CAD 39,233) a year in Arts to $35,220 (CAD 49,952) in Computer Engineering. A 5.5% rise applies to Fall 2027 entrants, more in Computing Science and Nursing. The amount is fixed for your whole degree.

What does fixed tuition at U of A mean?

Your offer letter states the annual and total programme tuition. Both stay the same for the normal programme length plus one year, unless you switch to an unrelated programme. Only tuition is fixed, not fees or housing.

Can I study at U of A in French?

Yes, at Campus Saint-Jean in Edmonton. You must prove written and spoken French, and international tuition is lower: the Arts bachelor's cost $15,230 (CAD 21,607) a year for 2026 entrants.

Which scholarships are automatic?

The International Admission Scholarship (up to CAD 10,000) and the Regional Excellence Scholarship (up to CAD 5,000) are assessed on your admission average without an application. Awards up to CAD 120,000 need a separate application by 10 January.

How much money do I need for the study permit?

First-year tuition, travel and CAD 23,448 ($16,530) for one person when applying from 1 September 2026, plus the CAD 5,000 deposit that unlocks the PAL and is credited to tuition.

How does StudyU help with U of A?

Programme selection, checking your subjects and exam results against programme requirements, the application, the scholarship application and the study permit file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The University of Alberta decides on admission and scholarships, Alberta issues the PAL and IRCC decides on the study permit.

Sources

• U of A: international curricula by country (Russia, Kazakhstan), international admission requirements, checked 01.10.2026
• U of A: language requirements
• U of A: Fall 2027 dates and deadlines, programme deadlines
• U of A: international tuition and deposit, tuition model, tuition increases for Fall 2027, cost calculator (Fall 2026 cohort), first-year cost estimate
• U of A: international entrance scholarships
• IRCC: 2026 allocations under the student cap, PAL/TAL, proof of funds, fees, visa application centres, off-campus work
• THE World University Rankings 2027: University of Alberta

USD amounts use the ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026 (CAD 1 = $0.7051), rounded to $10. All facts checked on 01.10.2026.

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