Application FAQs

Prospective students to the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences can consider the following information provided by ALES Student Services. Refer to the faculty's website and/or the Graduate + Postdoctoral Studies site for complete admission information.

What programs are available?

All four departments in the Faculty of ALES offer Masters and PhD programs:

• Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science (admission information)
• Human Ecology (admission information)
• Renewable Resources (admission information)
• Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (admission information)

At the Masters level, you can choose between thesis- and course-based options. Please see our Graduate Programs page for more details.

Do I need a supervisor?

• Applicants to Renewable Resources (thesis-based) programs require a supervisor prior to applying. Renewable Resources (course-based) programs do not require a supervisor. 
• Applicants to all Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences programs, except for Food Safety and Quality or Meat Quality Specializations, also require a supervisor prior to applying. 
• Applicants to Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology or Human Ecology programs are recommended to connect with faculty members for potential supervision prior to applying, but it is not necessary. 

How do I find a supervisor?

Applicants are responsible for finding their own supervisors. The best way to find a supervisor is to look at the department page and find a researcher who is working in an area you are interested in. You may also wish to view our Research pages for more information. You can then reach out to them over email. Unfortunately, we do not keep a list of supervisors who are accepting new students, as this information often changes.

Do I need to submit a Research Statement Form/ Statements of Goals and Objectives Form if I am Applying to a Course-based Degree?

Research Statement Forms or Statements of Goals and Objective Forms are required for all degree programs at the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. For students in course-based programs, stating your academic goals, your research interests and talking about your academic backgrounds can help us match you with an Advisor should you be admitted to the program. It can also help us ensure you find a good fit for your capstone opportunity should a capstone course be offered in your program.

How long does it take to complete a graduate degree?

Many students registered full-time can complete a thesis-based Masters degree in less than three years. The maximum amount of time that the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) grants for the completion of thesis-based Masters programs is four years from the first term of registration. 

Course-based Masters students registered full-time can complete their degree within 2 years, depending on the number of credits required to graduate. The maximum amount of time that the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) grants for the completion of course-based Masters programs is six years from the first term of registration, unless the department offering the program has other timelines.

A PhD program can be completed within 5 years if the student is registered full-time and meets all of their requirements and milestones. The maximum amount of time that the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) grants for the completion of PhD programs is six years from the first term of registration. 

How much does it cost to complete a Graduate program?

The cost of a graduate program varies by the Admission year, type of program, and whether you are an international or domestic student. Please see our Fees and Funding page for more information about tuition fees and funding opportunities for your degree.

Tuition and fees will be assessed once you register for courses. Tuition and fees are due each term by the fee payment deadline. You can find a list of important dates and deadlines in the U of A Calendar here. 

Can I apply for scholarships?

Scholarships and awards may be available to you once you are admitted to a graduate program. Please note that scholarship opportunities for course-based students are very limited.

Departments will circulate awards applications by email in March or April each year. You will be given the criteria for each award and you will be responsible for indicating each award you are interested in applying to. You will only be considered for the awards you have checked off. Adjudication for most awards occurs in the spring and recipients will be notified through the summer and fall terms. 

Some larger scholarships are announced outside of the above cycle. You can find these opportunities by monitoring your UAlberta email account, viewing the Graduate Student Association (GSA) website  and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website throughout the year. The Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences does not have any association with these scholarships, and often you will need to apply directly through other organizations. These awards cover various areas, such as travel, childcare and student engagement. 

Can I get a fully funded position?

Course-based students in the Faculty of ALES are normally self-funded and opportunities for full funding are not available. If you are looking for a fully funded position, you will need to apply to the thesis-based program.

Can I defer my admission?

If you are not able to attend in the term to which you’ve been admitted, you can request to defer your admission for up to one year through your application portal, as long as your supervisor or graduate advisor has been notified. The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) will make the final decision to defer your admission. Please note that normally only one request for an admission deferral per student is allowed, and if the deferral extends beyond a year from your original admission decision you may have to reapply for admission. 

Furthermore, if your original admission offer comes with funding, the funding may no longer be available once you defer your admission. Departmental approval will be required before any new funding may be offered. Admission deferrals should be considered carefully and only pursued if there are no other options available. 

Do I need to provide proof of English Language Proficiency? 

All international applicants need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency at the time of application. If an international applicant has received a formal educational credential from a recognized English Language country or institution on this list, then they will need to provide proof of this credential in the form of a degree/diploma or transcript from the institution to satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement. If an international applicant does not have formal education from a recognized English Language country or institution, they will need to provide satisfactory English Language Proficiency test scores.