Open Studies is a learner pathway to credit course registration for learners who are not following a specific certificate, diploma or degree program.
Who is it for?
Open Studies is for learners who want to study credit courses at MacEwan for personal interest, to build professional skills or to add to post-secondary qualifications, or who are Visiting Students at MacEwan.
Student profiles
1. Using Open Studies as a pathway to credit courses
- I want to take courses to get a head start on my education.
- I want to study at MacEwan, but I’m not quite sure which program to take. I’m taking some courses to see if anything interests me.
2. Visiting Students
- I’m currently enrolled in a program at another post-secondary institution. I want to take a course at MacEwan because it fits my schedule and/or the course isn’t offered at this time by my home institution.
3. General interest/lifelong learner
- I take classes for my own general interest or for my own personal/professional development.
- I’m not interested in applying to a program or obtaining any kind of credential from MacEwan at this time.
Previous Unclassified Students
- If you have taken a class in the last two years as an unclassified student, your file is active and you can go online and start enrolling in classes as an open studies student.
- If you were an unclassified student in the last two to five years, you are eligible to be reinstated into open studies. Call 780-497-5000 and we will assist you.
- If you have never taken courses as an unclassified student or if your latest course registration is more than five years old, you need to apply to Open Studies through Apply Alberta.
Open Studies Regulations
- Credit Maximum - Learners in Open Studies will be allowed to take a maximum of 30 credits. If a learner wants to access more than 30 credits, the learner will be responsible for obtaining permission from the Dean of the area in which the intended course or courses reside. This permission must be presented upon registration. Optionally, learners wishing to access more than 30 credits may want to talk with an advisor about program options.
- Prerequisites – Learners are advised that they must meet all pre-and co-requisites for individual courses.
- Policies, Regulations and Procedures – Learners are responsible for following all MacEwan policies, regulations and procedures.
General Information
Admission criteria – There are no admission criteria for Open Studies as it is not considered to be a MacEwan program.
Transfer credit – Is not assessed while a learner is in Open Studies; however, if a learner subsequently applies to and is accepted to a MacEwan certificate, diploma or degree program, transfer credit may be assessed.
Auditing courses – Open Studies students may audit courses that are eligible for audit.
Program course limit – Students intending to apply to certificate or diploma programs are generally limited to taking a maximum of two or three program courses before they must apply to the program.
Advising – Individuals interested in Open Studies may speak with an advisor in the Student Resource Centre.
There are no admission criteria for Open Studies as it is not considered a program at MacEwan.
Application process
(Visiting Students must refer to the section below)
- Complete the application form on ApplyAlberta and pay the application fee.
It is very important that you submit a valid e-mail address with your application for use in communicating with you. - You should apply at least five working days prior to the start of any class.
Visiting students – application process
- Apply to Open Studies as a Visiting Student on ApplyAlberta. It is very important that you submit a valid e-mail address with your application for use in communicating with you.
- Provide a letter of permission from your home institution outlining:
- the courses you have permission to take at MacEwan.
- that you are a student in good academic standing.
Submit this information to the Office of the Registrar/Information Centre prior to enrolling in courses.
Enrolling in courses - All students
After you are accepted as an Open Studies student, you may enrol in individual courses: courses with an “OP” in their section number are available for enrolment by Open Studies students; for example, ENGL 102 OP22.
Ways to Enrol
- In person: at the Office of the Registrar.
- Online through myStudentsystem, MacEwan's online enrolment system; you will be sent instructions on how to access the system after you apply.
Application fee
Applicants to Open Studies are charged a one-time application fee. If the student chooses to apply to a MacEwan program, a new fee will apply.
Deposits
Deposits are not required.
Fee deadlines
Tuition fees are due on the date as indicated in the Academic Schedule.
Student Financing
Under the Alberta Students Finance program, students are eligible for a maximum of 12 months of funding for Open Studies, which will be used as part of the "Years of Program +1" time limit. More specific information is available by contacting an Advisor in the Student Resource Centre.
MacEwan Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries
In general, Open Studies students are not eligible for MacEwan scholarships, awards and bursaries.
