General Student Admission Guide

Application Dates for Annually Offered Programs

The following full-time programs are offered once per year in the fall term only. Applications will be accepted for fall 2010 as of January 4, 2010. However, applications for distance programming (continuous delivery) of these programs will continue to be accepted throughout the year.

• Aboriginal Community Support Worker
• Aboriginal Policing and Security
• Digital Graphics Communications
• Mental Health Rehabilitation
• Pharmacy Technician
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Social Work
• Therapeutic Recreation

Applications are accepted for all other full-time programs throughout the year.

Admission Steps

Step 1: Apply and Pay Application Fee

Familiarize yourself with the admission requirements, start dates, and admission procedures. Applicants must be 18 years or older by the start date of the program.

Go to Apply for a Program or Apply for Continuing Education. Fill out an Application for Admission form, and send us your high school transcripts and post-secondary transcripts (if you have attended a postsecondary institution in the past).

 

Application Fee

Pay the non-refundable application fee of $50 CAD. (Some part-time, evening, or short courses may be exempt from this fee.) International applicants (both in Canada and outside Canada) pay a non-refundable, nontransferable application fee of $100 CAD. Applications received without the fee will be returned. Application fees cannot be applied toward tuition. The application fee must be paid each time an application for admission is submitted.

Applications are processed according to the date they are received; therefore, you are advised to apply early.

Returning Applicants

Applicants who are reapplying to the College are required to meet all conditions (if applicable) outlined on their withdrawal forms before being considered for re-acceptance. Appointments with counsellors or advisors may be required to determine the applicant’s readiness to return.

Applications for admission from former students with outstanding financial accounts will not be considered until such time as the account has been settled.

 

Step 2:  Acknowledgement from the College

You will receive a letter of acknowledgement and/or an admission package from the Office of the Registrar notifying you of your status and whether any further information or documentation is required. Carefully read all letters from the Office of the Registrar, as there will be important information or deadlines requiring your attention. Complete and submit any items that may be required to fulfill any outstanding admission requirements as soon as possible. Ensure that we have your current address and telephone number.

The Office of the Registrar will assess your transcript to ensure that you meet admission requirements. It is your responsibility to prove that admission requirements have been met. If the information provided on transcripts does not allow the Office of the Registrar to determine admission eligibility, you may be asked to provide further information or to have an academic skills assessment.

Some programs require additional basic skills assessment testing even if you meet the academic admission criteria. See the program information section for detailed requirements.

 

Step 3: Admission Decision

Once steps 1 and 2 are complete, a decision is made regarding your admission. Certificate and diploma program applicants receive their admission decision on a firstqualified, first-accepted basis. If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter confirming your acceptance and requesting your tuition deposit. In late 2009, you can check the admission decision using your secure logon to the student portal. Applicants who do not meet admission requirements will be advised of the reason and offered assistance in choosing another program if applicable. To inquire about your application status at any time, call the Office of the Registrar at 780.644.6000.

Applicants who have not submitted all admission documents by program start date must reapply.

 

Step 4: Tuition Deposit

A tuition deposit or sponsorship confirmation is necessary for applicants to confirm their attendance in a program and reserve a seat. If you delay your tuition deposit confirmation, you may find all seats filled. Once your deposit has been paid, or sponsorship confirmation has been received, you will receive a registration package that will provide information on the registration process.

• Canadian citizen/Permanent resident deposit: Domestic applicants are required to pay a tuition deposit of $100 CDN toward the first term’s tuition
• International (both in Canada and outside Canada) deposit: International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable tuition deposit of $500 CDN towards the first term’s tuition. International applicants may not defer their seat.

If you are admissible but the program quota has been filled, you may be placed on a waiting list or permitted to defer to the next available program offering (see Seat Deferral below). Applicants are accepted from the waiting list according to their tuition deposit return date. If a space becomes available and you are next in line, you will be contacted immediately. Be sure to have your funding arrangements in place, as cancellations may occur close to the date of a program. If your funding is not in place, the space will be offered to the next qualified applicant on the waiting list.

Seat Deferral

Applicants who are offered space in a program but who are unable to accept, or waiting list applicants who are unable to attend may defer their seat one time only to the next available program offering, based on the following guidelines:

• One seat deferral per program is granted. Deferrals will be granted only when the request is received prior to the start date of the program; otherwise a new application and application fee will be required.
• The applicant assumes the risk of deferring his/her application. If the next intake is cancelled, the applicant will not be able to defer again nor will he/she be eligible for a refund of the application fee.
• International applicants may not use the seat deferral option

College Cancellation of a Course or Program

NorQuest College reserves the right to cancel courses or programs for operational reasons. When the College cancels a course or program, all College fees (including application fees) will be refunded.

Refusal of Admission

NorQuest College reserves the right to grant or refuse admission to any individual. Former applicants who have lost good standing may be denied re-entry.

Transcripts

The application process cannot be completed until appropriate transcripts have been received. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to NorQuest College.

Provide an official transcript from each high school and post-secondary institution (college, university, technical institute) you have attended. Photocopied documents are not acceptable. Once submitted, all transcripts become the property of NorQuest College and will not be released to nor photocopied for you or anyone outside the College. This is standard practice among Canadian post-secondary institutions and is designed to protect the transcript’s authenticity.

Alberta High School Transcripts

To request an Alberta high school transcript, contact:

Alberta Education Transcript Services
2nd Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard
10044 - 108 Street, NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 5E6
Phone toll-free 310.0000,
Extension 780.427.5732
Tel. 780.427.5732
Fax 780.422.2137
www.education.gov.ab.ca

High School Transcripts from Other Provinces

Transcripts can be obtained by contacting the appropriate education board of the province in which you attended or are attending high school. Ontario high school students can apply for transcripts directly from the high school attended.

Post-Secondary Transcripts

Transcripts from post-secondary institutions must be issued and signed by the institution and bear their official seal. (It is not necessary to request official transcripts for course work previously completed at NorQuest College.) In order to obtain official copies of your post-secondary transcripts, contact the Registrar’s Office of the institution(s) you originally attended.

International Transcripts

Documents not printed in English must also include a certified English language translation. Translations must be word-for-word, and in the same format as the original document. English translation services are provided by several agencies in Alberta.

Members of the Association of Translators
and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA)
Edmonton Office
P.O. Box 546
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2K8
Tel. 780.434.8384

Edmonton Immigration Services Association
Cromdale School
11240 - 79 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5B 2K1
Tel. 780.474.8445
Fax 780.477.0883

All documents submitted in support of an Application for Admission become the property of NorQuest College and will not be returned or photocopied for you. An exception may be made for transcripts of applicants outside Canada.

IQAS Evaluation

Transcripts that have been evaluated by IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service) can be submitted to assist the Office of the Registrar with transcript evaluations; however, IQAS assessments are advisory only. NorQuest College reserves the right to ask for further proof of admission criteria if necessary.

Skills Assessment

Applicants may be required to write admissions tests. Academic skills assessment may be required for two reasons:

• To determine whether you have the academic skills you need for the program
• To determine which academic upgrading courses you should take

 

Skills Assessment Tests for Career Programs

If you have not passed courses that are required for entrance into a career program or do not have proof that you have completed the courses, you may be able to request an academic skills assessment. (Or our Admissions Advisor may recommend this assessment.)

Once your official high school and/or post-secondary transcripts have been evaluated, you can:

1. Book a testing appointment by calling 780.644.6095. If you are unable to come to Edmonton for testing, ask about testing in your home community.
2. Complete one or more tests (for example, reading, math, writing, thinking skills).

When you have completed the assessment tests, you will meet with an Assessment Advisor, who will explain the test results and make recommendations. If your scores are satisfactory, the assessment may be accepted in place of the academic admission requirements. If your scores do not meet the standard required, the Assessment Advisor will discuss educational options with you.

 

Adult Upgrading/English Language Training Placement Tests

When you apply for Adult Upgrading or English Language Training programs, an assessment is done to ensure that you are given courses that match your academic skills. There is no need to study for the tests since the purpose is to determine your current level of skills. If you require your placement exam in an alternative format because of a disability, we will make special arrangements for you.

Process

1. Apply for the program. You will meet with an Admissions Advisor to discuss your educational goals. Pay the non-refundable application fee.
2. Make a testing appointment. If testing is not required, an Assessment Advisor will talk with you and plan your educational program. If you are unable to come to Edmonton for testing, ask about testing in your home community.
3. After testing (standardized reading test, essay, and/or math test), an Assessment Advisor will discuss your results with you and recommend appropriate courses

Services to Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability, it is important to identify the support you require at the time of application. You will be referred to Learning Support Services for assessment to ensure that resources are available and that extra funding sources have been requested. You will be served on a first-come, first-served basis depending on available resources. Your registration may be deferred until appropriate resources are in place. Learning Support Services will notify the Office of the Registrar when resources and supports are in place.

Students with disabilities who do not declare their disability one month prior to the start of classes or after classes have started may not be able to access their choice of accommodations. They will, however, be provided an alternative that will meet their needs and that can be provided by NorQuest College in a timely fashion.

Applicants presently on AISH funding must apply to NorQuest College well in advance to ensure that their application is processed in time for the program start date. Applicants are served on a first-come, first-served basis depending on resources available. Admission may be deferred until resources become available.

Funding

Investigate and apply for funding from sponsorship agencies as early as possible. Funding approval takes an average of four to six weeks. Please allow enough time to receive funding before classes start. Click here for further information on financial aid.

Payment of fees or a guarantee of funding must be in place in order for admitted students to start a program or course.

Please note: Students are responsible for fees unpaid by their sponsor.

English Language Proficiency
(Excerpt from Standard Practice 2.23: English Language Proficiency Requirements)

The English language proficiency (ELP) requirement applies to specified programs for applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship or country of origin.

Proof of English language proficiency must be provided by an applicant prior to an offer of admission into a program. Acceptable forms of ELP must include competencies in reading, writing, listening, and spoken English proficiency. Each competency must have been completed within two years prior to application to a program. An offer of admission may be made once the applicant meets the acceptable ELP scores for the program in which he/she is seeking admission. Acceptable evidence of English language proficiency may be obtained through any one of the following tests:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• CLBA (Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language)
• CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses)
• Other ELP test as deemed acceptable by the Office of the Registrar

Please refer to the program admission requirements on the webpage of the program you are interested in to see whether ELP is an admission requirement and what scores are acceptable. Applicants have the right to appeal if they are dissatisfied with an ELP admission decision Applicants may also be granted a waiver of ELP if they meet very specific criteria. For more information, please refer to the full ELP standard practice. This policy can be found on the student intranet Campus Life at http://student.norquest. ca under “College Services,” “Policies.”

Visiting Students
Please note that this practice is currently under review and may change. For more information, check with the Office of the Registrar.

NorQuest students visiting other accredited institutions:

• A NorQuest College student wishing to take a course at another accredited post-secondary institution must have written confirmation from the appropriate program coordinator that the course and credits will be accepted in the student’s NorQuest program prior to registering at another institution.
• NorQuest’s Office of the Registrar will provide a permission letter for the student to submit to the host institution specifying the course(s) the student can take.
• Students are responsible for ensuring that NorQuest College receives the official transcript from the host institution once their course(s) are complete.

Students from another institution visiting NorQuest:

• NorQuest College provides opportunities to students who wish to take courses while maintaining their student status at their home institution. The credits earned at NorQuest College can be transferred back to the home institution, if approval is received.
• Prior arrangements must be made by the visiting student. A letter of permission specifying the course or courses the student can take is issued by their home institution and provided to NorQuest’s Office of the Registrar.
• Visiting students will be subject to all rules and regulations applicable to the students of NorQuest College.
• Visiting students are assessed and pay full tuition and fees to NorQuest College for any courses taken.