The Visiting Student Certificate Program is offered through the Office of the Registrar, Open Studies in concert with the International Centre, International Student Services (ISS). International Student Services will assist in the program's administration, student recruitment, ongoing student advising, and support services.

Students in the Visiting Student Certificate Program are bona fide students of other universities or colleges who have been permitted to take one or more courses for transfer credit to their own institutions. The Institutions will have agreed in advance to such an arrangement.

Document Requirements:

The Visiting Student Certificate Program is designed to accommodate the participation of international students whose home university academic calendars are not synchronous with the University of Alberta's Calendar. There are four possible start dates: May 1, July 1, September 1 and January 1.

Note: The application deadlines are January 15 for a May 1 start, April 15 for a July 1 start, June 15 for a September 1 start and October 15 for a January 1 start.

Students participate in the English Language Program (ELP) at the Faculty of Extension during the first two to four months of the Visiting Student Certificate Program.

After the initial period of participation in intensive English language instruction, students move to regular academic work for either credit or audit depending on their performance in the English Language Program and the assessment of the Academic Advisor. Students may take up to 9 in each subsequent academic term. If students have successfully completed ESL 145 they can take 15 in each subsequent academic term.

Students can take ESL 140, 145 for credit.

Subject to the approval of the academic advisor, students enrolled in ESL 140 or 145 for credit during the ESL portion of VSCP can take up to 6 additional academic credits during that term. All credits earned during the ESL portion of VSCP are in addition to the credits the student can earn during each of the subsequent academic terms.

Students must maintain satisfactory academic standing as specified in §220.3 while registered in the Visiting Student Certificate Program.

Students receive a Certificate of Participation in the Visiting Student Certificate Program and a U of A transcript. Transfer credit to their undergraduate degree is granted by their home institution.

To receive a Certificate of Participation, students must complete the intensive daytime ELP course(s) and write an ELP Post-test, take at least one regular academic course for credit or audit, demonstrate satisfactory attendance in all classes, complete all assignments and exams, participate in an extracurricular commitment, attend all VSCP meetings and interviews, and have no outstanding fees or fines to the University of Alberta.