Available Intakes
Overview
Academic Upgrading courses will help you meet the admission requirements for our certificate, diploma, applied degree and bachelor's degree programs.
Designed to be flexible, courses can be taken in the day, evening or online. You'll become accustomed to the SAIT environment and culture and develop successful strategies for ongoing learning.
All courses are Alberta high school equivalency courses (not Alberta Education courses) and may be accepted by other Alberta post-secondary educational institutions for admission. Check the current Alberta Transfer Guide published by The Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer for a listing of all formalized transfer agreements among Alberta post-secondary institutions.
It is recommended you have access to a personal computer for your classes.
Is this the right fit for me?
Attendance and punctuality are directly related to academic success. Attending all of your classes gives you a better chance of succeeding on assignments and tests.
As an Academic Upgrading student, you can also access free student support services such as tutoring, learning strategy workshops, writing support, and counselling services.
Students participating in Academic Upgrading may take Open Studies courses while in the Academic Upgrading program, provided that at least one Academic Upgrading course accompanies the Open Studies course(s) per semester.
Want to learn more about this program?
Prepare for SAIT programs
Students complete upgrading courses in order to meet the admission requirements for programs at SAIT and most other post-secondary education institutions in Alberta.
Funding available
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per semester:
Domestic total 2023/24
- 1 course: $766.66
- 2 courses: $1,376.32
- 3 courses: $2,468
International total 2023/24
- 1 course: $2,312.17
- 2 courses: $4,302.34
- 3 courses: $6,609.53
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
Why upgrade at SAIT?
Upgrade or complete high school course equivalencies in English, mathematics and sciences. Our flexible learning options will prepare you for admission to SAIT's career programs.
Admission requirements
Program requirements
Once you have applied to the program, your transcripts will be reviewed by the Academic Upgrading team to determine the appropriate level of upgrading courses.
You may be required to complete placement tests. If your transcripts are unavailable, you must complete testing in all relevant subject areas.
All applicants, including those educated in Canada, must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Admission dates
There are six intakes for this program offered per year. Applications are accepted until the program start date but are subject to change.
| Which semester should I apply for? | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| When can I apply? | June 13, 2022 | Oct. 6, 2023 | March 29, 2023 |
| When do courses start? | May | September | January |
| When can I register for courses? | Registration opens approximately two months prior to the start date. | ||
How to apply for Academic Upgrading
Step 1: Apply to Academic Upgrading and submit your transcripts.
Step 2: Ensure you meet the English language proficiency requirement. You may be required to complete a placement test within two or three weeks of applying to satisfy admissions requirements. You will receive confirmation through acceptance.
Step 3: Find out how to monitor your application status after you apply.
Placement testing
Once you have successfully submitted your application for Academic Upgrading you are required to take a placement test to determine the proper placement level in upgrading courses for math and physics. Placement tests in other subject areas are also available if you are not meeting prerequisites through high school transcripts.
You do not need placement testing if you have previously passed SAIT’s upgrading Math or Physics courses.
Learn more about placement testing
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following start and end dates.
| Classes begin | Semester start date | Semester end date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | July 4, 2023 | Oct. 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| Winter 2024 | Jan. 8, 2024 | Dec. 13, 2024 |
| Spring 2024 | May 6, 2024 | TBA |
Courses
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue >
All SAIT upgrading courses are three (3) credits. Three or more classes per semester (9+ credits) is considered full-time studies.
All SAIT upgrading courses are 90 hours in length.
All prerequisites are set at 60% except for Science 10 and SAIT courses which are 50%.
Placement testing
Before registering for a course, you must complete a placement test to determine the proper placement level for upgrading courses.
Learn more| Course code | Course name | AB Education equivalent | Pre-requisite* |
|---|---|---|---|
| APSC-180 | Science Preparation | None - Science 10 for SAIT programs only |
50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test. And one of the following:
|
| BIOL-181 | Biology I | Biology 20 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test. |
| BIOL-182 | Biology II | Biology 30 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test. 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test. And one of the following:
|
| CHEM-181 | Chemistry I | Chemistry 20 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test And one of the following:
|
| CHEM-182 | Chemistry II | Chemistry 30 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test And one of the following: |
| COMN-180* | Literature and Composition I | English 10-1 | None |
| COMM-181 | Literature and Composition II | English 20-1 |
One of the following:
|
| COMM-182 | Literature and Composition III | English 30-1 |
One of the following: |
| MATH-100* | Mathematics Foundations | None (Skill Development) | None |
| MATH-162* | Technical Mathematics II | Math 30-2 |
One of the following:
|
| MATH-172* | Applied Mathematics II | Applied Math 30 |
One of the following: |
| MATH-180 | Mathematics Preparation | Math 10C |
One of the following:
|
| MATH-181 | Mathematics I | Math 20-1 |
One of the following: |
| MATH-182 | Mathematics II | Math 30-1 |
One of the following:
|
| PHYS-181 | Physics I | Physics 20 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test And one of the following:
|
| PHYS-182 | Physics II | Physics 30 |
50% in Grade 10 math or equivalent placement test 50% in ELA 10-1, 10-2, or 10-3 or equivalent placement test. And one of the following:
|
*unavailable for summer intake
Course delivery methods
Find information on course delivery methods and how to register for your courses >
Progression
See our course upgrading pathways.
You must pass the prerequisite courses to progress through the program. Admission to SAIT and other post-secondary programs can be highly competitive. Grades higher than a minimal pass improve opportunities for admission to post-secondary programs.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the course load per semester. *
Domestic students
| Number of courses per semester | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total per semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $561 | $157 | $48.66 | $766.66 |
| 2 | $1,122 | $157 | $97.32 | $1,376.32 |
| 3 | $1,683 | $474 | $311 | $2,468 |
International students
| Number of courses per semester | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total per semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,941.51 | $157 | $213.66 | $2,312.17 |
| 2 | $3,883.02 | $157 | $262.32 | $4,302.34 |
| 3 | $5,824.53 | $474 | $311 | $6,609.53 |
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.23/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $150 to $200 per course.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Funding for Academic Upgrading
You could potentially qualify for funding for your upgrading courses if you:
- are out of high school for more than 12 consecutive months
- are unemployed, working less than 20 hours per week, and/or earning a modest annual income
- are 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or convention refugee.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
How to register for classes
You'll need to register for your classes ahead of each semester.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn how to register for your classes and find important registration deadlines.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
MATH 181, MATH 182, and MATH 172 use Open Educational Resources (OERs), so no purchase is required. Some instructors may recommend additional supportive books in the form of math workbooks.
Consider waiting to purchase COMM 181 or COMM 182 textbooks until the first class so instructors can inform you of their preferences.
Contact
Phone: 403.210.5756
Email: upgrading@sait.ca
Academic chair
Enda Morley, Academic Chair
Email: enda.morley@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
Your journey starts here
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