The Department’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate 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.
An undergraduate background related to the proposed area of graduate study is preferred.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to
). Any one of the following is acceptable:
a minimum TOEFL (internet-based test) score of:
For tests written before January 21, 2026:
90 with a score of at least 21 on each of the individual skill areas or equivalent;
For tests written on or after January 21, 2026:
4.5 with a score of at least 4.5 on each of the individual skill areas or equivalent;
an IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 on each band; or
a Cambridge minimum score of 176, with at least 169 on each subscore.
The Department of East Asian Studies offers programs leading to the Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies For further information, see the Department website, www.eastasianstudies.ualberta.ca