- Level
- ESL / English Pathway Program
- CIP code
- 32.0101
- Duration
- 1 year undergraduate academic upgrading
- Open intake
-
Off-shoreSep 2027
- Field
- Linguistics and Translation Studies
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A one year academic upgrading programme for students who do not yet meet degree entry, covering the Grade 12 level subjects required for admission alongside university study skills.
University Entrance Option is an upgrading route rather than a qualification, aimed at students whose Class 12 results fall below the degree entry bar but who already meet the English requirement. It is charged at the full international rate of CAD 23,800 despite producing no credential of its own.
University Entrance Option is taught at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Understand clearly what University Entrance Option is before applying: it is a academic upgrading programme, not a credential, and it does NOT lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit under any circumstances. You can hold a study permit while taking University Entrance Option and progress into a degree afterwards, and it is that degree which would carry work permit rights. An Alberta attestation letter is still required with the study permit application for University Entrance Option, and Mount Royal issues it with the letter of acceptance.
Admission to University Entrance Option requires Grade 12 or Class 12 at 60 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.5 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for University Entrance Option is recorded at CAD 23,800 a year with a CAD 100 application fee. No scholarship is recorded against University Entrance Option. University Entrance Option lists three September entry windows, in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Apply Study Visa manages the University Entrance Option application, the deposit, the letter of acceptance and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or Class 12 at the percentage stated for this programme.
- English: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 86 with at least 20 in every section; PTE Academic 58 with 55 in every component; or the Duolingo English Test at 120.
- Application and deposit: An application fee of CAD 100 applies. Confirm the tuition deposit and its refundability in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded against this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Work permit: University Entrance Option does NOT support a Post-Graduation Work Permit, because it is a academic upgrading programme rather than a credential and no amount of study on University Entrance Option counts toward work permit eligibility. Treat University Entrance Option as a route into a degree, and check the work permit position of that degree instead. The study permit application for University Entrance Option still requires an Alberta attestation letter.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa handles the Alberta attestation letter, the study permit application and the biometrics appointment with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Entry to a Mount Royal Degree: the intended destination
- Improved Subject Prerequisites: for science and business routes
- Academic Study Skills: before a full degree load
- Canadian Classroom Experience: in a smaller setting
- Alternative Degree Entry: where direct entry was not met
- Progression Planning: toward a chosen major
Reality check: upgrading adds a year of tuition and living costs at full international rates without producing a credential, so compare it against improving your marks at home first.
About Mount Royal University
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.5
- World rank
- #2005
- Established
- 1910
- Reference No.
- O18761482032
