UNIVERSITY PREPARATION
APPLY & ENROL
You must meet the following requirements to apply for the University Preparation program.
Before you apply
Not sure where to start?
If you don’t know what you wish to do after completing University Preparation, you may want to look into career counseling or interest and aptitude testing to get a sense of your career goals.
Once you have a goal, you should research post-secondary options and determine what academic work you need to complete to attain that goal. It is your responsibility to know the entrance requirements for the program or programs you will apply to after upgrading.
You can talk to our Academic Advising Centre about programs at MacEwan University and the best way for you to meet the admission requirements.
Domestic and International students will be required to meet the same requirements.
- All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. This program requires proof of successful completion of standardized language evaluation such as CLB scores of at least 6 (with no skill under 6), an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no skill under 5.0, or equivalent.
- Once admitted to the program, students may be required to write a placement test to determine their current academic standing and placement level in the program.
- International applicants must be eligible to apply for a study permit which is valid for 6 months or longer.
We also have a video with some more information about admission requirements.
The Duolingo English Test (online test) has been added as an option to demonstrate fulfillment of the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement for all preparation programs. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are delivering online at-home versions of their English language assessment tests. The TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition Test and IELTS Indicator test will be accepted in the same way as the regular TOEFL and IELTS tests are today. The tests, which will be available until testing centres reopen, are not available in all countries.
Canadian Language Benchmark Test (CLB-PT)
Scores of at least 6 (with no skill below a 6). This test is only available for permanent residents and Canadian citizens.
Duolingo English Test
Minimum overall band score of 95.
IELTS–Academic
Overall score of 6.0 (with no skill below a 5.0).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Minimum total score of 69.
Other ELP testing options are accepted. Scores are assessed on a case by case basis.
The University Preparation program has three intakes: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Check admission dates and deadlines to find the deadlines to apply for fall, winter or spring/summer intake. If you apply after a deadline has passed, your application fee is not refunded.
After you submit your application
Username and password
After you apply, we will send your Network ID to the email account you listed on your application. This will be the username and password you use to log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca. If you have not received your Network ID within two weeks of your application, you can email sceadmissions@macewan.ca.
myPortal.MacEwan.ca
myPortal.MacEwan.ca is the university student portal where you can find several applications and tools for your use, such as:
- Your MacEwan University student email account. The university uses GMail to communicate to students.
- myStudentSystem: to review your student record
- mêskanâs: to access electronic materials for your classes
- Library access: to search for books, articles, and more
- TechSupport: for troubleshooting help
Student email
You are automatically assigned a student GMail account when you apply to the program. It is crucial that you check this account regularly. You must send all emails to MacEwan University faculty and staff from your MacEwan University student account. Access your email through myPortal.MacEwan.ca.
myStudentSystem
myStudentSystem is MacEwan's online student enrolment system. You can find myStudentSystem when you login to myPortal.MacEwan.ca. Students in the University Preparation program need permission numbers to enrol online. These numbers are provided by the office once you have an education plan. Students will have access to information and services. Use myStudentSystem to check:
- your admission status
- your tuition and fee amounts owing
- your class schedule, including room numbers and course start and end dates
- grades for courses completed at MacEwan University
You need to track your application after you apply and throughout the admission process to ensure you respond to requests for additional information or documents. Track your application online through the university’s student information system, myStudentSystem.
Check your application status
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your Network ID and password.
- Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
- From your student homepage, select Admissions & Transfer Credit.
- Select your application to see the status.
Check for outstanding conditions
You can check if you have outstanding conditions on your application or need to submit documents to the Office of the University Registrar through myStudentSystem.
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your network ID and password.
- Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
- From your student homepage, Select Admissions & Transfer Credit.
- Select your application.
- Check the To Do List tab for a list of outstanding conditions.
As you clear each condition, the item will be removed from your list. When you have cleared all conditions, an email confirmation will be sent to your myMacEwan Gmail account.
Need help using myStudentSystem?
Use myStudentSystem to track your application, manage classes, pay fees and update your personal information. If you need help using myStudentSystem, we’ve prepared instructions and videos to guide you.
If you have attended an Alberta high school, we will order Alberta Learning high school transcripts for you. If you have attended one of Alberta’s participating post-secondary institutions, we will order these transcripts as well.
You must provide transcripts, if you have attended any institution outside of Alberta or outside of Canada. Please upload an unofficial copy of your high school and/or post-secondary transcripts through the myDocuments tile your student portal. Your unofficial transcripts will assist us with your education planning. Please note that official documents are required for all applications to post-secondary programs at MacEwan. For more information, please visit Transcripts & Documents.
After you receive an offer of admission or conditional admission, you must accept or decline the offer by the deadline. Log in to myStudentSystem to indicate your response. The Accept/Decline button will be available under your application status if you have been offered admission or conditional admission.
Accept
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your network ID and password.
- Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
- From your student homepage, select Admissions & Transfer Credit.
- Select your application to review the details.
- Click ACCEPT/DECLINE to indicate your response.
- Select Accept.
- Confirm your choice to accept.
- International students must pay the admission confirmation deposit.
Please allow 24 hours to process payment of your admission confirmation deposit. Once you have accepted your offer and your payment is processed (if applicable), you are officially a student in your program. Check your MacEwan email for our welcome message with information about next steps and course enrolment.
Decline
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your network ID and password.
- Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
- From your student homepage, select Admissions & Transfer Credit.
- Select your application to review the details.
- Click ACCEPT/DECLINE to indicate your response.
- Select Decline.
- Confirm your choice to decline.
- Complete the survey to tell us why you have declined your offer.
If you selected a second choice program at the time of application, you may indicate that you wish to be evaluated for or remain on the waitlist for your alternate program choice.
Reactivate an application
If you declined your offer of admission or did not accept your offer before the deadline and would like your application reactivated, complete the Request to Reactivate Application form. You are not guaranteed a spot in the program.
Next Steps after Acceptance
Once you have accepted your offer of admission, please contact our office by email with your 7 digit MacEwan ID number and goal post-secondary program (this can be for any institution you plan on attending afterward)
We will use this information to develop an education plan based on those admission requirements and your previous course history to get you on the path moving forward towards your post-secondary goals.
Plan your Schedule
The maximum number of upgrading courses you can enroll in per term is three.
Classes are typically scheduled in-person, on-campus, every day, Monday through Friday. There are some online synchronous and evening class sections available. You can view class availability in the Manage Classes tile in myStudentSystem or by using the schedule planner.
Enrol in classes
After we have created an education plan, we will provide you with permission numbers for the courses you can enrol in based on your academic goals. It may be helpful to know which sections (to plan for days and times) you want to be registered in before you enrol.
A note about prerequisites
myStudentSystem only recognizes prerequisite courses taken at MacEwan University. It does not recognize prerequisite courses included on your high school transcript. For example, if you try to enrol in Chemistry 30, the enrolment system will not recognize that you took Chemistry 20 in high school, and you will receive an error message: "Prerequisites are not met."
If you receive this error message when you try to enrol, email the office from your @mymacewan.ca account and include the following details:
Your MacEwan ID number
The term, course, and class number you want to enrol in (e.g., WI2023, CHEM 30 CP01 Class # 12416) or you can add the course to your shopping cart.
We will verify your prerequisite coursework and issue a permission number (PN) for you to complete your enrolment.
For more information on funding, as known as the Foundational Learning Assistance Program, please visit Tution, Fees & Aid.
Find out what you owe
Tuition and fee amounts owing are updated overnight. If you adjust your enrolment, make sure you check myStudentSystem the next day to verify the amount you owe.
Foundational Learning Assistance
If you are approved for Foundational Learning Assistance, the government will send your tuition and fees directly to MacEwan.
Make a payment
There are several ways to make a payment.
The MacEwan Card photo ID
The MacEwan Card is the official student identification and library card. Get your card from the library before classes start.
Activate your U-Pass
The U-Pass is provided by the Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU). It gives you access to Edmonton, Strathcona County, St. Albert, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan, Spruce Grove, and Beaumont transit services for every term you are registered in classes.
You can add the U-Pass to a new or existing ARC Card each term using myStudentSystem.
Learn more about the U-Pass and the Arc Card from SAMU.
Textbooks
To find the correct text books, you must know the courses and sections you are enrolled in. You can see which sections you are enrolled in on myStudentSystem. You can purchase your books online or buy them at the bookstore on campus.
Your syllabus
A syllabus is distributed in the first class of each course. It is an official outline of what you can expect to learn in the course and what is expected of you. It will list deadlines for assignments and required readings. Refer to your syllabus throughout the term.
Lockers
Each MacEwan University student is entitled to rent one locker.
You register and pay for your locker online. Unregistered or unpaid lockers are subject to cuts and the contents may be discarded or donated.
MacEwan University is not responsible for items stored in lockers.
Register & pay for a locker
- Choose your locker and make note of the building and locker number. Any empty locker without a "Reserved" sticker is available.
- Place a lock on it. Do not leave your locker without a lock at any time. If you remove your lock, the locker is considered vacated and will become available for another student.
- Register and pay for your locker online on the day that you begin using it. Only credit cards are accepted for payment. Locker fees are charged per term and are non-refundable.
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca and launch Locker Registration from the Quick Links menu.
Get involved
SAMU has information on clubs, activities, events and other ways to get involved on campus.