Athabasca University [AU]: Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Tuition Fee, Cost of Attendance & Scholarships

Athabasca, AlbertaLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1970established year
40722enrollment
Public

Located in Canada, Athabasca University is an open university founded in 1970 with the motive to remove barriers on access to education for adult learners around the world. It provides high-quality post-secondary education to over 40,000 students through more than 850 courses with 55 undergraduate and graduate programs. It is also one of the 4 public comprehensive universities in Alberta and is one of the reputedly ranked higher education institutes of Canada.

Over the years, the institute has entered more than 350 agreements to collaborate with other Canadian and international post-secondary institutions and employers. With a total student enrollment of over 40,000 that includes international candidates from over 87 countries around the world, the institute is undoubtedly a site of diversity and inclusion in the country.

Admission at Athabasca University is available in multiple intakes round the year and requires a nonrefundable application fee of 118 CAD. The institute observes a moderate acceptance rate and a high rate of employment which is nearly 93%. This ensures that the university not only guarantees quality education for all but also can help its candidates land some of the high-paying jobs in Canada.

Highlights

Type of university Public university specializing in online distance education
Total faculty and staff members 1000+
Courses offered 850+
Total students 40000+
Test scores accepted IELTS, CAEL, MELAB, PTE, TOEFL PBT, TWE, TOEFL iBT
Marks required IELTS- 6 CAEL- 60% MELAB- 80 PTE- 59 TOEFL PBT- 213
TWE- 4.5 TOEFL iBT- 80 with an essay score of 20
Website http://www.athabascau.ca/

Athabasca University Campus and Accommodation

  • Athabasca University laid its foundation in 1970. Initially, AU’s main campus was located in Edmonton which was later moved to Athabasca in 1984.
  • The campus is majorly online and has both rural and urban set up on campus.
  • AU’s Athabasca University is the main campus operating along with others in Edmonton, Calgary, and Center for Innovative Management and AU Learning Link.
  • Being an online university, the campus for distance learners is wherever they are learning from around the world.
  • The institute is a non-residential campus which means there is no on-campus housing opportunity for students.

Athabasca University Courses

  • There are limited classroom programs for international students at AU.
  • AU is an online university offering a plethora of courses for international students including undergraduate courses and short-term visa graduate courses related to arts, science and professional studies.
  • Some of the undergraduate programs offered include Bachelor of Arts, Commerce, General Studies, Health Administration, Professional Arts, Management, Science, etc.
  • Some of the graduate programs offered include courses in fields like Arts, Business Administration, Education, Health Studies, Nursing, Information Systems, etc.
  • They also have more than 850 courses available that can work as a pathway to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. These include Accounting, Finance, Nursing, Science, Business, etc.
  • Graduate programs such as Master of Counseling and Master of Nursing are offered with study permits issued only for the duration the student is required to be in Canada.
  • International students have the opportunity to study at other institutions in Canada while taking online courses from AU and transfer the credits.

Top Programs at Athabasca University

Programs Tuition Fees Deadlines
Master of Business Administration 52,282 CAD Fall: March 15 Winter: June 15 Spring: October 15
Mater of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies 20,449 CAD Fall: March 1st Winter: September 1st
Master of Education in Open Digital and Distance Education 20,449 CAD Fall: March 1st Winter: September 1st
Master of Counselling 27,996 CAD  Fall: February 1
Master of Nursing 19,448 CAD Spring: November 1 Fall: March 1 Winter: July

Athabasca University for Application Process

How to Apply?

Application Portal:

  • Online application portal – ApplyAlberta
  • UG applicants: Undergraduate General Application
  • PG applicants: Graduate Application Form

Application Fee: 89 USD (118 CAD)

Application Deadlines

UG applicants do not have to meet any application deadlines. Classes for courses begin at the starting of each month. While deadlines for postgraduate programs can be found in the table below:

Program Application Deadline
Master of Counseling February (each year)
Master of Nursing (General) March, July and November
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) April, August and December

Basic Admission Requirements

  • Standardized test scores of SAT/ ACT are not particularly required for applying to AU.
  • English proficiency test scores – International students must take English proficiency tests and send scores to the university. The minimum requirements of these test scores are:
Exam Minimum Requirements for Undergraduates Minimum Requirements for Graduates
TOEFL - IBT 80 80
TOEFL - PBT - 550
TOEFL - CBT 213 -
IELTS 6.0 6.0

Supporting Documents to be submitted with the admission application for evaluation include those which can be used for getting credits such as:

UG applicants: Official transcripts, post-secondary education records, previous diplomas, undergraduate degree credits, and foreign credentials from other institutions in the U.S. or Canada, work and life experiences.

PG applicants: Official transcripts from post-secondary institutions, resume, biography, questionnaires, and letters of reference.

Athabasca University Cost of Attendance

For all the prospective candidates of the institute seeking enrolment in the upcoming seasonal year, an estimated cost of living in Canada is as been tabulated below

Expense Estimated Cost for students living in Canada Estimated Cost for students living outside Canada
Tuition fee 1020-3060 USD (0-9 credits) 510-1530 USD (0-9 credits)
Course Administration and Technology Fee 139 USD 139 USD
Course Materials Fee 51 USD 51 USD
Out of country fee - 1127 USD

Scholarships/Financial Aid

The institute provides various awards and scholarships in Canada for international students. Candidates willing to avail financial aid must firstly apply for student financial assistance following which they must submit the course registration plan. The institute offers 55 scholarships to its students based on the level of study, residency, and various other factors.

The following table gives details of various scholarships, eligibility criteria and the amount awarded to international students:

Scholarship Name Eligibility Criteria Amount Awarded
Athabasca University Institutional Leadership Scholarship Enrolled in undergraduate or graduate program at AU; Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher 1000 USD
AU Academic Leadership Scholarship Enrolled to an undergraduate degree program at AU; Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher 1500 USD
AU PLAR Scholarship Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at AU; Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher; S
submit an essay within 1000 words explaining the role of PLAR in their success and future goals.
1000 USD
Dominique Abrioux Graduate Scholarship Enrolled to master’s degree program at AU; Completed at least 12 credits since July 1 of the previous year;
Minimum GPA of 3.6 or higher; Not be enrolled for a doctoral program
2000 USD
AU Graduate Student Scholarship Enrolled to a graduate program at AU; Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.60 or higher. 1500 USD
Walker Family – Master of Counseling Scholarship Enrolled as a full-time AU Master of Counseling student; Must be in the third year of the program;
Minimum GPA of 3.8 or higher must be achieved in the program; Must be in a practicum placement.
1000 USD

Athabasca University Placements

The Master of Counselling program graduates have an employment rate of 93% with an average salary of 65000 USD. The graduates of the Master of Nursing program have maintained a 100% employment rate with students earning an average salary of 70000 USD.

The University provides career opportunities and career tools through Career Cruising.

  • AU's MBA and Nursing program have an employment rate of 100%. 
  • Master of Counselling has an employment rate of 93%.

Average salary of AU graduates as per program:

Program/Degree  Average Salary (CAD) 
Master of Counselling  65,000 
Master of Nursing  70,000 
Bachelor of Commerce  70,000 
Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting  45,000 
Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management  91,000 
Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing  91,000 
Bachelor of Science  72,000 
Bachelor of Arts 45,000 

Alumni Network

Alumni members are entitled to several benefits including TD Home and Auto Insurance, Manulife Life and Health, rewards with Athabasca University Master card, access to online library, career counseling services, attending AU events, staying connected with other members, reading award-winning magazines etc. Some outstanding alumni members who have been recognized by AU include: Esmail Bharwani, Shastri Ramnath, Dr. Djenana Jalovcic, Barb Tiedemann and many others.

FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum GPA required for admission in Athabasca University?

Ans. A minimum of 3.0 GPA or higher is required for admission in Master of Business Administration program. 

Ques. What are the courses offered by Athabasca University?

Ans. Athabasca University offers 50 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs and 850 undergraduate and graduate online courses.

Undergraduate programs are offered in Anthropology, Commerce, Accounting, Human Resources Management, Law, Criminal Justice, English, French, Humanities, Political Science, Psychology, Women and Gender studies including some certificate courses etc.

Graduate programs are offered in Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Counselling, Nursing, Health, Information System including certificate course in Data Analytics, Information Security, Design, Architecture etc. 

Ques. What is the Admission process for International Students in Athabasca University?

Ans. International students should have a minimum of 16 years of age for admission in undergraduate programs. They also require high school or previous academic transcripts.

Graduate admission requires a minimum of 3.0 GPA in bachelor's.

Ques. What is total Enrollment in Athabasca University?

Ans. Athabasca University has a total enrollment of 40,000 students.

Ques. What is the tuition fee in Athabasca University?

Ans. Master of Business Administration has a total tuition fees of 52,282 CAD and Master of Nursing program has a total tuition fee of 19,448 CAD. Tuition fee of other graduate and undergraduate programs varies as per total credit hours.

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Athabasca University comparison

Athabasca UniversityThompson Rivers University
Overall Ranking--
Subject Strength--
Programs
  • UG Programs- 8
  • PG Programs - 4
  • UG Programs- 48
  • PG Programs - 7
  • Doctorate Programs -1
Acceptance Rate75.0 %82.0 %
Exam Score
Cost to Study
  • Average Tuition Fees:INR 793042.4 [For UG Program]
  • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1196686 [For PG Program]
  • Hostel + Meal:INR 87495 Per Year
  • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1025073 [For UG Program]
  • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1643064 [For PG Program]
  • Hostel + Meal:INR 2550617.4 Per Year
Placement

Master of Nursing program has 100% placements with average salary of $70,000. The average salary for Bachelor of Arts is around $55,000. 


  • Thompson Rivers University's Student Placement Service assists students in finding placements and internships.
  • Under Thompson Rivers University's work and study program, students can get job placements while still studying.
  • If they study for up to two years at TRU, they will need a work permit in Canada for up to two years after graduation.
  • Students can work up to 20 hours per week and earn an average of 2400-3000 CAD (1,48,134.51- 1,85,168.14 INR)per month under the program. 
  • In Canada, a student can earn up to 120,000 CAD (74,07,207.68 INR)per year. According to PayScale, the average annual salary for University graduates is 66,306  CAD (40,91,622.58 INR).

-Read Full Comparison

Athabasca University Ranking

201920182017

Academy Ranking of World Universities logo
Education 301 out of 500 in Global Ranking

Athabasca University Scholarships


NameScholarship Per StudentLevel of StudyType
JN Tata Endowment ScholarshipScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyDoctorateTypeMerit-Based
Microsoft Tuition ScholarshipScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
updated Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program updatedScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyDoctorateTypeMerit-Based
Forte FellowshipScholarship per student₹ 20.4 L/Yr$24,623Level Of StudyMasterTypeMerit-Based
The Google Lime ScholarshipScholarship per student₹ 8.3 L/Yr$10,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
Australia Awards ScholarshipScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based

Athabasca University Admissions

Application Portal: https://www.applyalberta.ca/

  • Graduate Admissions Deadlines

    Important Date: February1 (Application deadline)
    Important Date: May1 (Application results)

Athabasca University Exam Scores

ExamsAvg. ScoreMin ScoreMax. Score%Submitted'
Language Proficiency
IELTS-6--
PTE-59--
TOEFL-80--
Check Detailed Score
Speaking-20--
Listening-20--
Writing-20--
Reading-20--

Attendance Cost

₹793,042

attendance cost

The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees

Tuition fees
Undergraduate Programs
₹793,042 / Year
Post Graduate Program
₹1,196,686 / Year
Off Campus
Homestay Rent/month
₹49,120 / Year
Accommodation rent/month
₹38,375 / Year

Faculty

Total FacultyFull TimePart TimeGraduate Assistants
1327---

Athabasca University Campus Location


+1-780-788-9041
Telephone
1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB
Address

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