Master of Science (Occupational Therapy)

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Master of Science (Occupational Therapy) cost?

  CAD 10,519 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 7.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  2.2 years, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  The Department’s minimum admission requirements are a four-year baccalaureate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. The selection process is competitive and will be based on the GPA in the most recent 60 units taken prior to January of the admission year. Applicants are initially rank ordered according to their admission GPA. Applicants with the same GPA who have completed 30 units over two consecutive terms will be ranked above those who have taken fewer than 30 units. Preference will be given to residents of Alberta; approximately 15% of the available seats will be offered to out-of-province and international applicants. Seats will continue to be reserved for Saskatchewan residents under the interprovincial agreement with the Province of Saskatchewan, and will not be part of the 15% for non-Alberta residents. Activity courses in Physical Education, studio/performance courses in Fine Arts, practicum courses, pass/fail courses and seminar/research/thesis/ individual studies courses are not considered part of the required 60 units of admission requirements and are not included in the calculation of the admission GPA. With the exception of prerequisite courses, courses completed extra to degree must be undergraduate senior level (typically 300- and 400-level) to be included in the admission GPA calculation. Prerequisite courses are required: one Statistics course (3 units), one Human Anatomy course (3 units), and one Canadian Indigenous History course. Statistics and Human Anatomy must be completed within five years of the admission prerequisite deadline. The Canadian Indigenous History requirement may be fulfilled through the certificate version of the University of Alberta Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), or an academic equivalent (3 units). Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement ). Any one of the following is acceptable: a minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) score of: For tests written before January 21, 2026: 100 with a score of at least 25 on each of the individual sk · English: IELTS 7.5 (no band below 7.0); TOEFL iBT 90; PTE Academic 61 · English test waiver: Applicants may satisfy the requirement without a test by holding a degree, or its academic equivalent, from an institution recognised by the University of Alberta at which the language of instruction is English; GPS also maintains a list of international post-secondary institutions at which the language requirement is English. The requirement is not waived for students temporarily in Canada, and departments and GPS may require further demonstration of proficiency. Source: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/resources/policies-procedures/graduate-program-manual/section-5-admissions/5-8-english-language-proficiency-requirement.html · Application fee: CAD 135.00 for all applications to graduate programs, charged at the end of the online application and payable by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover; Visa/Mastercard debit and prepaid cards are not accepted). Source: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/resources/policies-procedures/graduate-program-manual/section-5-admissions/5-4-application-fee.html

• Is there a scholarship?

  The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies administers over CAD 35 million each year in scholarships, awards and financial support for graduate students; opportunities vary by faculty. GPS states that there are limited funding opportunities for students in part-time graduate study or completing a certificate programme. Source View scholarship page

• Is it accredited?

  Occupational Therapy: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), through its academic accreditation process and Accreditation Council. CAOT runs a seven-year continuous quality improvement cycle and awards one of four statuses: Accredited Exemplary, Accredited, Accredited Probationary, or Non-Accredited; a new programme can hold 'Eligible for Accreditation' before its first cohort graduates. The list CAOT publishes gives the date of the NEXT accreditation review, not an expiry date.