How to Apply

Step By Step

THINKING ABOUT APPLYING TO CITYU?

Whether you’re local or coming from another country, we’ve got step-by-step guides to walk you through it. Make sure to check what your program needs and chat with an admissions counsellor if you’ve got questions. Need help paying for school? There are plenty of options to explore.

Domestic Students

Find your program

Review the admissions requirements specific to your program.

British Columbia
Alberta
Virtual

We recommend confirming your specific application deadline with your Enrollment Advisor.

Submit your application form

Please ensured the following is ready:  

Your personal contact information
The names of university(s) or college(s) that you’ve attended (or are currently attending) and the dates you were a student
The name of the CityU program you would like to apply to
PDF copies of your university or college transcripts
If applicable, a PDF copy of your valid English language assessment 
A credit card for your $75 application fee. Documents must be in their original language and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Application Form for Domestic Students

Receive an acknowledgement email

This email will include instructions on how to complete your application, and will have important information about future procedures.

Complete the additional requirements of your program

Each program has its own steps for admission. You will need to work directly with that program to complete your application. Examples of these extra requirements may include courses, essays, etc.

Alberta
Master of Counselling Psychology
Master of Education-Education in Leadership

British Columbia
Master of Counselling
Master of Education in School Counselling

Virtual
Master of Counselling Psychology -Virtual Campus

Submit your official transcripts

You must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit. If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail. Please send all official documents to: 

British Columbia
Attentions Admissions
789 W Pender Street
Suite 310
Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
Canada
Or by email to: vancouverbc@cityu.edu

Alberta
Attentions Admissions
Suite 120, 1040 – 7th Ave S.W.
Calgary, AB, T2P 3G9
Canada
Or by email to: ABAdmissions@cityu.edu

Official documents may include:

Official university or college transcripts
These documents must be sent directly from that institution to CityU. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative. 
Certified documents
Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.
Notarized copies are not acceptable.
*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague Convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.
Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator if required. 
Original academic documents
An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.
Notarized copies are not acceptable.

International Students

Find your program

Review the admissions requirements specific to your program.

British Columbia
Alberta
Virtual

We recommend confirming your specific application deadline with your Enrollment Advisor.

Learn about additional requirements for international students

All programs at CityU require students to provide proof of completion or that are in the process of completing secondary school. Or the International Secondary School Equivalencies.
Meet our English language proficiency requirement.

Submit your application form

You will need to have ready:  

Your personal and contact information
The names of university(s) or college(s) that you’ve attended (or are currently attending) and the dates you were a student
The name of the CityU program you would like to apply to
PDF copies of your university or college transcripts
If applicable, a PDF copy of your English language assessment 
A credit card for your $200 application fee.  Documents must be in their original language and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Application Form for International Students

Receive an acknowledgement email

This email will include instructions on how to complete your application, and will have important information about future procedures.

Submit your official transcripts

Note: International students must submit their official transcripts prior to arriving in Canada. Failure to do so will result in a registration hold and you will not be permitted to register in courses

British Columbia
Attentions Admissions
789 W Pender Street
Suite 310
Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
Canada
Or by email to: vancouverbc@cityu.edu

Alberta
Attentions Admissions
Suite 120, 1040 – 7th Ave S.W.
Calgary, AB, T2P 3G9
Canada
Or by email with password protection to: ABAdmissions@cityu.edu

Official documents may include:

Official university or college transcripts
These documents must be sent directly from that institution to CityU. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative. 
Certified documents
Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.
Notarized copies are not acceptable.
*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague Convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.
Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator if required. 
Original academic documents
An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.
Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Receive a letter of offer

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCityU email inbox.

You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer. This deposit will go towards your first semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CityU.

Receive letter of acceptance and apply for study permit

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance and Provincial Attestation Letter (if applicable) in your myCityU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew a Study Permit.

Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.

Request for Information

Find out about your program and learn about upcoming events.

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English Proficiency

HOW TO MEET ENGLISH REQUIREMENT

Because all courses at CityU are taught in English, all incoming students must demonstrate proficiency in English prior to enrollment, in addition to any other admission requirements of their prospective program. English proficiency policy is overseen by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Exemptions

Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the director of English Language Programs or the appropriate school dean. The dean has final authority. Rare exceptions may be granted when a prospective student can demonstrate that he or she has met the English language proficiency standard that will allow for academic success.

English School Waiver

Students who submit official transcripts from a school or program where the primary language of instruction was English need not demonstrate further proof of English proficiency. If the registrar’s office cannot verify the primary language of instruction, students will be required to demonstrate proficiency by submitting official transcripts in English accompanied by a formal statement from the issuing school that the primary language of instruction was English or meet English Proficiency through testing or transfer credit.

Assessment Tests

English placement test scores are valid for 2 years from the date of test results. CityU’s Institutional Placement and Proficiency will be measured by the iTEP (International TEST of English Proficiency). Scores for all other tests taken outside of CityU must be authenticated by the test publisher (Official Transcripts).

Institutional versions of the tests below are not acceptable. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure their official test results are sent to CityU. Results must come directly from the examining institution to CityU; results uploaded by applicants are NOT official. CityU can receive results electronically, directly from the issuing organization, when possible as long they are securely sent with a protected password.

Below is an equivalency chart for all CityU recognized measurements of proficiency:

Standardized Test Score	Graduate Programs	Undergraduate Programs
iTEP Academic Plus	4.5	4.0
TOEFL iBT	87	76
TOEFL IPT	627	543
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)	Overall 6.5, with no band lower than 6.0	Band 6.0
CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)	8	7
Duolingo	120	51
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	Overall score of 61, with no band lower than 61	51
Cambridge English	Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)	Cambridge English First (FCE)
CEFR	N/A	B2

Permits and Visas

STUDY AND WORKING PERMITS

All international students studying in Canada in a program lasting more than 6 months require a Study Permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

You will need a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL, if applicable) from CityU when you apply for a study permit. If you require a PAL, it will be issued along with your LOA upon your successful admission.

International students from certain countries may also need to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Learn more about TRV or eTA from the IRCC.

To fulfill the conditions for on or off-campus work or a post-graduation work permit, you need to be a full-time student. At CityU, this means being registered for a minimum of nine (9) academic credits.

Apply for a Study Permit

Extending your stay
If you already have a study permit, be sure it extends throughout your CityU study period.
If you need to change the conditions of your study permit or extend your stay in Canada as a student, you must apply to the IRCC. Learn more about extending study permits on the IRCC site.

Working in Canada
International students may work in Canada while taking classes at CityU, if they hold a valid study permit that includes a condition permitting them to work on or off-campus. Learn more about the rules for working off-campus and on-campus from the IRCC.
City University’s Career Services can help you look for a job while in Canada.

Work as a co-op, practicum, or intern student
If you’re studying in a program that has a mandatory co-op or internship practicum, you need to obtain a co-op work permit.
If you have not arrived in Canada yet, you will also need to apply for a co-op work permit alongside your study permit.
If you are already physically in Canada and do not have a co-op work permit, please contact your program department to obtain a support letter for your co-op work permit application.

Working after graduation
If you want to work in Canada after graduating from CityU, you’ll need to obtain a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). Please find the most up to date of information for PGWP on the IRCC website.

Have a Question?

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Request more info

Email us!

British Columbia: BCInquiries@cityucanada.ca
Alberta: ABInquiries@cityucanada.ca