International Students
General University Information
University Deadlines
The deadline for fall (September) admission to the University of Calgary is February 1. The application can be completed and submitted through the Internet and instructions are at http://www.ucalgary.ca/intlundergrad/apply/checklist. There is a $130 application fee that is due when you apply and can be paid online with a credit card.
Transcripts and supporting documents (i.e., proof of English Language Proficiency) must be submitted by April 1.
The Department of Music has additional requirements and forms that you will need to complete - see below for more information.
Costs and Fees
A breakdown of estimated costs per year for an International Undergraduate Student can be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/intlundergrad/cost/fees. In 2008, the cost for each course is $1688.31. Students generally take 5 courses per semester, 10 courses per year, resulting in a cost of $16881.30. In addition, there are general fees charged to students for campus services (health & dental plan, transportation pass, campus recreation, etc.). You should also include the costs of books and supplies and accommodation when considering costs.
English Language Requirements
All applicants must satisfy two separate and distinct English Language requirements for admission to the University of Calgary:
1. Pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): internet-based needs a grade of 83; computer-based needs a 220; and paper-based needs a 560. This requirement may be completed in a variety of other ways (eg., other ELP exams, university-level courses, etc.). More information can be found at the following link: http://www.ucalgary.ca/admissions/elp.
2. Complete at least 3 years of English in high school, with their final year English course being equivalent to the Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 course.
No student will be admitted unless both of the English language requirements have first been satisfied.
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Another way to satisfy the English Language Requirements is to participate in the English for Academic Purposes program. In this program, housed in the Faculty of Education, students do up to three semesters of work in English language courses (the number of semesters required of a student depends on their entering proficiency). Once students complete EAP, they then enter the Department of Music and begin work on their music degree. More information on the EAP program can be found at http://education.ucalgary.ca/eap. It should be noted that EAP is not ESL instruction; all students must present a minimum threshold TOEFL or other ELP test score for admittance.
Scholarships and Awards
The university recently created a series of new awards for International Students. You must apply for admission to the U of C by February 1 before applying online for awards. Information on these awards and the online application forms can be accessed through http://www.ucalgary.ca/awards/node/45.
In addition, the Department of Music has scholarships it awards to new and continuing students in Music programs. No application is necessary for these awards; students are considered for them on the basis of their entrance audition.
Study Permits
The document that allows you to study in Canada is called a Study Permit. Begin the application process for a Study Permit after you have received and accepted an offer of admission from the U of C. This document is processed by a Canadian Immigration Office outside of Canada (usually within Canadian Embassies) and may take some time to process.
The Centre for International Students at the U of C has prepared a description of the Study Permit process that can be accessed on pages 11-24 of their handbook.
To download a Study Permit application form, please visit: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp.
Residence
For forms and information on applying for on-campus accommodation, please visit: http://www.ucalgary.ca/residence.
Department of Music Information
The Department of Music offers four undergraduate degree routes:
- Bachelor of Music - after a first year of general music studies, students choose to specialize in performance, music history and theory, or composition.
- Bachelor of Music combined with Master of Teaching - five-year route for students who want to teach in the school systems.
- Bachelor of Arts in Music - for students who wish to study music in a liberal arts context
- Music Minor - for students completing another undergraduate degree who want to pursue their love of music
More information on these routes and all Department of Music requirements can be found at http://finearts.ucalgary.ca/music/prospective/undergraduate. Questions about the programs can also be directed to the Student Advisor for Music at (403) 220-5383.
Audition
In addition to satisfying all of the university requirements for admission, students interested in the Bachelor of Music must complete a short audition. Audition forms are available online and must be submitted before an audition can be scheduled.
Auditions typically take place in both March and May, although students who are from outside of Calgary may also submit an audio or video recording for their audition.
Theory Requirement
Students applying to any Music program must provide proof of completion of Harmony 3 from the Royal Conservatory of Music. A photocopy of the examination certificate should be submitted with the application form.
Students who do not have this documentation or who have not taken any formal examinations will be required to do a diagnostic exam. This will take place on the day of your audition OR for those requesting admission to a program that does not require an audition it will be scheduled prior to the first day of classes.
The diagnostic exam covers the following topics:
- Rudiments (scales, intervals, triads, seventh chords)
- Roman Numeral Analysis and identification of non-chord tones
- Part-Writing involving four voices and common progressions
Course Work
The U of C calendar outlines the course work required for each of the degree routes offered by the Department of Music. For more information, visit http://www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/fa-4-4.html.
Courses available from the Department of Music are listed in the University Calendar under:
MUED (Music Education)
MUHL (Music History & Literature)
MUPF (Music Performance)
MUTC (Music Theory and Composition)