Enrolment status
To take courses at Athabasca University, a student can either be enrolled in a program or unclassified.
Program students
Program students are enrolled in any of the undergraduate degrees, diplomas, or certificates offered by AU. Students who change from the unclassified (non-program/visiting) to a program category may use credits earned while in the unclassified (non-program/visiting) category provided the course(s) meets the requirements of the program, including any restrictions on the age of a course, if applicable. There is no application deadline for enrolling in an undergraduate degree program. Applications are accepted year round.
Because program regulations can change, students are required to complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment. Students who are admitted to a program that has any entrance requirements for admission will follow the degree regulations in effect upon completion of the transfer credit evaluation.
Pre-enrolment category
Although most of the undergraduate credentials have open admission, there are some that require documentation be provided and assessed prior to admission (refer to the specific program regulations). In these cases, students will be admitted to a pre-enrolment category until documentation is assessed. Once this process is complete, students will be advised of their admission status. See Procedure below for assessment process.
If you are applying to become an undergraduate program student (you wish to complete a credential such as a degree, diploma, or certificate at AU) you need to apply using the form that has been designed for this purpose.
ApplyAlberta is a secure online application and transcript exchange system that students will use to:
- apply to one or more of Alberta’s public post-secondary institutions through one portal, and
- authorize institution(s) to request the transfer of their Alberta high school and post-secondary transcripts.
Student personal and academic information is entered only once—it is filled in automatically on each application submitted to a post-secondary institution.
Once you have completed and submitted your personal information via the ApplyAlberta site, you will be forwarded to AU’s Office of the Registrar Online System (OROS) to finalize your application of admission with AU. Be prepared to indicate the program you are interested prior to submitting your application and paying the one-time non-refundable application fee. If you need help selecting a program, contact Counselling Services prior to submitting an Undergraduate General Application Form.
After being admitted online to AU, you will be immediately assigned an 91ÖÆƬ³§student ID number to confirm your admission.
Confirmation of your enrolment as a program student with no evaluation of previous course work will be available in your my91ÖÆƬ³§portal the day after your application is processed. To access your confirmation e-Letter, log into your portal using your ID number.
Confirmation of your enrolment as a program student with a request for an evaluation of previous course work will be mailed to you after your application is processed (typically within 10 business days).
If you enrol in a program at AU, you are responsible for selecting courses that meet the program regulations and requirements in effect on the date you enrol.
If you need help selecting courses for the program you have selected, contact Advising Services.
Unclassified (non-program/visiting) students
Unclassified students are either:
Visiting Students: Those students enrolled at a program at another institution and taking 91ÖÆƬ³§course to help fill their program requirements, or
Non-Program Students: Those students who are not enrolled in a program anywhere and are taking courses for general interest or have not yet decided what program to enrol in.
Unclassified students are not enrolled in an 91ÖÆƬ³§credential program, but are either planning to take or are currently registered in 91ÖÆƬ³§courses only. There is no limit to the total number of courses that can be taken by unclassified students; however, the maximum active course load at any one time is 6.
The 91ÖÆƬ³§unclassified category includes visiting students from other post secondary institutions who are taking 91ÖÆƬ³§courses for admission or transfer purposes to another institution. Visiting students are encouraged to obtain a Letter of Permission from their home institution before registering in an 91ÖÆƬ³§course. This will ensure the home university will accept the 91ÖÆƬ³§course in the visiting student’s program.
NOTE: It is important to note that 91ÖÆƬ³§does not evaluate previous post-secondary education or award transfer credit for students in the unclassified category. If a student wishes to change from the unclassified category to a program student category, a request for evaluation of any previously completed post secondary courses can be made any time after enrolling in an 91ÖÆƬ³§program.
Visiting students must request a transcript to be sent to their home institution once they have completed the course(s). This can be done online through myAU.
If you are applying to become an unclassified student (a non-program or visiting student) from the “” page, choose, “No, I only want to take some courses right now”. Follow the prompts to complete/submit and pay for the application.
After being admitted online to AU, you will be immediately assigned an 91ÖÆƬ³§student ID number to confirm your admission.
Confirmation of your enrolment as an unclassified student will be available in your my91ÖÆƬ³§portal the next day. To access your confirmation e-Letter, log into your portal using your ID number.
You can immediately register in courses once you are enrolled as an 91ÖÆƬ³§unclassified student.
Concurrent enrolment
Students cannot be enrolled in two Athabasca University programs at the same time. They also cannot enrol in an 91ÖÆƬ³§undergraduate degree program while they are enrolled in another undergraduate degree program at another post-secondary institution. Those students may take courses as unclassified (non-program/visiting) students until they have either completed or withdrawn from the other program.
Changing programs
Active students who want to change their enrolment from unclassified (non-program/visiting) to program, or change from one undergraduate program to another undergraduate program; or inactive students who would like to reactivate their account, must log in to my91ÖÆƬ³§and in the Student Record section, under “Manage Your Program”, select “Change Your Program”.
Changing concentrations, majors, or designations in the same program
Active program students who are changing their concentration, major, or designation, but stay in the same credential, are governed by the credential regulations in effect at the time this change is made. Students who wish to remain under the regulations that were in effect at the time of their initial enrolment in the credential may remain under the original enrolment date by making the request in writing to enrol@athabascau.ca.
A change from one credential to another constitutes a change of program. For example, a change from a three-year to a four-year credential, or a change from one university certificate to another university certificate are changes to program.
Inactive students will be asked if they require an evaluation of previous post-secondary studies. Previously-completed course work, including transfer credit, will be reassessed and applied to the student’s program in accordance with the degree regulations and procedures in effect at the time of re-enrolment. A fee is required for this service if it wasn't submitted previously.
Effective November 5, 2018, students requesting a transfer credit evaluation are responsible for providing recently issued official transcript(s) to the Enrolment Services Unit. These documents will be retained for 3 years.
International Assessment Services (e.g. IQAS, WES, etc.) documents are requested as required and will be retained indefinitely.
All students are required to fulfill the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment. Course work completed previously will be assessed toward the new credential.
Updated July 16, 2024 by Office of the Registrar