Admissions·Canada· 7 min read

How to Apply Through ApplyAlberta: Alberta's University Portal

A practical guide to ApplyAlberta — applying to the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, automatic transcript sharing, fees and how it differs from BC.

Last updated 24 June 2026

Key facts

Portal: ApplyAlberta (applyalberta.ca)
Province: Alberta
Covers: Participating Alberta universities, colleges and polytechnics
Notable feature: Automatic transcript sharing for Alberta-issued records

What ApplyAlberta is

ApplyAlberta is Alberta's official online application system for post-secondary education. From one account you can apply to participating Alberta public institutions — including the University of Alberta (in Edmonton) and the University of Calgary — and to many of the province's colleges and polytechnics.

A defining feature of ApplyAlberta is built-in transcript sharing: for Alberta-issued post-secondary and high-school records, the system can transfer your official transcripts between participating Alberta institutions automatically, so you may not need to request them separately. Always confirm what is shared automatically and what you must send yourself on each institution's official admissions page.

One account for participating Alberta institutions
Includes University of Alberta and University of Calgary
Automatic transcript sharing for Alberta-issued records
Confirm what you still need to send manually

Creating your account and profile

Start at applyalberta.ca and create your account. You enter your personal details, citizenship/residency status and education history once, then use that profile to apply to your chosen institutions and programs.

International applicants should enter their name exactly as shown on their passport and select the correct applicant category, since this affects which requirements and documents apply to you.

Register at applyalberta.ca
Use your legal name as on your passport
Select the correct applicant category
Build the profile once, reuse across institutions

Choosing programs, fees and documents

Search ApplyAlberta for the programs you want and add them to your application. Each institution sets its own admission requirements, deadlines and supporting documents, so read the program pages carefully and note any English-language test, supplemental form or document upload that is required.

Application fees are charged per institution and the amount varies; pay the fee the system displays at checkout and keep the receipt. Because automatic transcript sharing covers only Alberta-issued records, international applicants and those with out-of-province or foreign credentials usually still need to arrange their own transcripts or a credential evaluation.

Add each program you want to apply to
Pay the per-institution fee shown at checkout
Note required tests, forms and document uploads
International/foreign transcripts are not auto-shared — send them yourself

How ApplyAlberta differs from BC's EducationPlannerBC

ApplyAlberta and EducationPlannerBC do the same broad job — a single front door to a province's public institutions — but they are separate systems for separate provinces. You use ApplyAlberta for Alberta universities and EducationPlannerBC for BC universities.

The most notable difference is ApplyAlberta's automatic transcript sharing between Alberta institutions. If you are applying across both provinces (for example, University of Calgary and UBC), you complete an application in each portal separately, paying each institution's fee.

ApplyAlberta = Alberta; EducationPlannerBC = BC
Alberta's portal auto-shares Alberta-issued transcripts
Applying across provinces means using both portals
Fees are charged separately in each system

Offers and the study-permit step

Admission decisions appear through the institutions' systems; accept your chosen offer and pay any deposit by the deadline in the offer letter. Your Letter of Acceptance is what you later use to apply for a study permit.

This is general information, not immigration advice. International students generally need a study permit to study in Canada, and recent requirements — including a Provincial Attestation Letter in many cases — apply. Verify the current rules on the official Government of Canada website before acting.

Accept your offer and pay any deposit on time
Keep your Letter of Acceptance for the permit step
A study permit is generally required for international students
Verify current study-permit rules on canada.ca

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply to the University of Alberta and University of Calgary with one ApplyAlberta account?

Yes. ApplyAlberta lets you apply to participating Alberta institutions, including the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, from one account. You still pay a separate application fee per institution and meet each one's requirements and deadlines.

Does ApplyAlberta really share my transcripts automatically?

For Alberta-issued high-school and post-secondary records, ApplyAlberta can transfer official transcripts between participating Alberta institutions automatically. Out-of-province and international transcripts are generally not auto-shared, so confirm on each institution's page what you must send yourself.

How much is the application fee?

Each institution sets its own application fee and amounts vary and change over time. Pay the fee shown at checkout in ApplyAlberta rather than relying on a figure from another source, and keep your receipt.

What if I want to apply in both Alberta and British Columbia?

You apply through ApplyAlberta for Alberta universities and through EducationPlannerBC for BC universities — they are separate provincial systems. You complete and pay for an application in each portal independently.

Does an Alberta offer let me come to Canada to study?

An offer is an admission decision only. International students generally also need a valid study permit, and additional requirements such as a Provincial Attestation Letter may apply. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify the current rules on canada.ca.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: ApplyAlberta — official Alberta application portal; University of Alberta — International undergraduate admission; Government of Canada — Study permit (IRCC).

Last verified: 24 June 2026.