U of Alberta Physical Therapy: Admissions Guide 2026-2027

University of AlbertaPhysical TherapyEdmonton, Alberta, Canada2026-2027 cycle

The University of Alberta's MScPT is a full-time, year-round physical therapy program offered across Edmonton, Calgary and Augustana in Camrose. Applicants need a four-year degree, seven prerequisites and Casper; work or volunteer hours are not required. Alberta residents receive preference, and out-of-province and international offers are capped at 15%.

Program: Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT)
Credential: MScPT
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Casper: Required · CSP-10211
Next deadline: January 15, 2027 (International applications and applicants with qualifying international transcripts)
Seats: Approximately 129 annually: typically 85 Edmonton, 24 Calgary and 20 Augustana; numbers may vary.
Length: Approximately 30 months, full-time and year-round

Casper Requirement for University of Alberta Physical Therapy

University of Alberta Physical Therapy requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.

Test to book: Canada Casper 2 · CSP-10211
Languages: English

Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

Complete Casper before the application deadline and select University of Alberta MScPT for score distribution. Register with the email address used for your application.

Casper format

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.

Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.

University of Alberta Physical Therapy Application Deadlines 2026-2027

Apply through: University of Alberta Graduate Admissions Portal (GAP)
Applications open: November 1, 2026
Application fee: CAD $135, non-refundable

What	When
International applications and applicants with qualifying international transcripts	January 15, 2027upcoming
Application and documents	February 1, 2027upcoming
Final transcripts for conditional admission, if requested	June 1, 2027upcoming

Applicants with postsecondary transcripts from outside Canada, except the United States and study-abroad or exchange terms, must meet the international application deadline even if they are Canadian citizens. Upload fall grades and winter registration where applicable; uploaded documents cannot be replaced.

University of Alberta Physical Therapy Admissions Statistics

Period: Current published program capacity

Seats / class size: Approximately 129 annually: typically 85 Edmonton, 24 Calgary and 20 Augustana; numbers may vary.
Interviewed: Approximately the top 30% of eligible applicants by GPA and Casper are invited to interview.
Out-of-province and international offers: Capped at 15% of total offers

Out-of-province and international offers are capped at 15% of total offers.

Eligibility Requirements for University of Alberta Physical Therapy

Degree / credits: A four-year, 120-credit bachelor's degree or academic equivalent in any field from an accredited postsecondary institution; it may be in progress when applying but must be completed for admission.
Residency: Alberta residents receive preference. Up to 15% of admission offers may go to out-of-province and international applicants.
Citizenship: International applicants may apply; applicants for reserved Indigenous seats must be Canadian citizens.
Language proficiency: Applicants whose degree or qualifications were not taught in English may need approved proof of English proficiency unless exempt. The program accepts IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, 7.0 per band, or qualifying TOEFL scores.

Admission pathways

Indigenous applicants: Considered first in the general pool, then potentially for reserved seats. Applicants for reserved seats must be Canadian citizens, meet interview criteria and pass the interview; Alberta residents receive preference.

Admission averages vary yearly by program; review the MScPT website for current prerequisites. Out-of-province and international applicants qualify with strong profiles.

Other requirements

Transcripts: Upload a transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, with fall grades and winter registration where applicable.
Interview confidentiality agreement: Applicants invited to interview must sign a confidentiality agreement.

Selection Factors University of Alberta Considers

Prerequisites

Course	Requirement
Human Anatomy	3 credits Separate gross human anatomy course; a recency requirement applies.
Human Physiology	6 credits Human physiology; mammalian physiology is not accepted.
Human Movement	3 credits A kinesiology, human kinetics or physical education degree can satisfy this requirement.
Statistics	3 credits Basic statistical concepts and data analysis.
Psychology	3 credits Introductory or general psychology; sport and exercise psychology do not qualify.
Humanities or Social Science	3 credits Course code must fall under an accepted Humanities or Social Sciences subject.
Canadian Indigenous History	3 credits or Indigenous Canada MOOC certificate A credit course requires departmental approval; the certificate must be completed by application.

GPA

How it is calculated: The most recent 60 credits of eligible university-level coursework taken before the admission year's February cutoff; excluded work terms, practicums, field experience, physical-activity and studio courses do not count.
Minimum: 3.0/4.0 for admission; 3.5 or higher is an interview-selection criterion.

Both eligible attempts at a repeated course count if they fall within the most recent 60 credits. Except for prerequisites, courses taken extra to a degree must be senior undergraduate courses to count.

Admissions tests

English language proficiency (required for some applicants): If required: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall and at least 7.0 per band; TOEFL iBT 5.5 overall and at least 5 per component for tests under the newer scoring scale. Other approved tests may qualify.

Experience and volunteer hours

Not required.

Work and volunteer experience are not required for admission; applicants do not submit a Verification of Work or Volunteer Experience form.

Supplementary application

There is no Supplemental Application Document for admission. Applicants using the Indigenous Canada MOOC must upload its certificate in the portal's Supplemental Application Info section.

How applicants are ranked

Eligible applicants are considered for interviews using admission GPA and Casper; an admission GPA of 3.5 or higher is an interview criterion. After interviews, offers are ranked using Casper and interview scores and evaluator comments, not GPA. Professionalism may also be considered. Out-of-province and international offers are capped at 15%.

Interview Format at University of Alberta

Invited applicants receive the format with their invitation. Interviews use predefined scenarios assessing critical thinking, ethical decisions, communication and clinical humanistic skills.

Who is invited: Approximately the top 30% of eligible applicants by GPA and Casper.
When: Invitations in March; interviews in April. Exact interview dates have not been published.

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Curriculum at University of Alberta Physical Therapy

Program length: Approximately 30 months, full-time and year-round
Structure: Seven study blocks over eight consecutive university terms, integrating academic courses and clinical placements.
Campuses: Edmonton, Calgary, Augustana (Camrose)

Approximately 35 academic and clinical courses, including at least 31 weeks of clinical practice, and a final skills examination and scholarly project.

Campus and facilities

Distributed across Edmonton, Calgary and Augustana in Camrose. All students begin with a one-month residency in Edmonton; out-of-province and international applicants are eligible only for Edmonton.

Tuition and Funding at University of Alberta

Estimated year 1 tuition: CAD $11,000
Estimated year 2 tuition: CAD $10,400
Estimated year 3 tuition: CAD $2,400
One-time lab materials fee: CAD $200

Estimates exclude non-instructional fees; international tuition is listed separately by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

What Applicants Are Saying

Matriculated students report that Alberta residents secure offers around 3.7, while non-residents need near-perfect records unless qualifying for equity pathways like Indigenous heritage. Students report strong preparation for hospital environments but note gaps in community-based practice skills.

Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.

How to Prepare Your University of Alberta Physical Therapy Application

Calculate your GPA from the most recent 60 eligible credits and check the 3.0 minimum.
Complete the seven prerequisites, including Canadian Indigenous History.
Book Canada Casper 2 (CSP-10211) in time to finish before the application deadline.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions on ethics, communication and clinical judgment.
Check the earlier application deadline if your transcripts were issued outside Canada or the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions About University of Alberta Physical Therapy

Does University of Alberta Physical Therapy require Casper?

Yes. Book Canada Casper 2 (CSP-10211) and complete it before the application deadline.

What GPA do I need?

The minimum is 3.0/4.0, calculated from the most recent 60 eligible credits; a GPA of 3.5 or higher is an interview criterion.

Are there interviews?

Yes. Approximately the top 30% of eligible applicants by GPA and Casper are invited; invitees receive format details.

How many applicants apply?

An applicant count is not available; the program admits approximately 129 students annually.

What experience is required?

No work or volunteer experience is required.

Can international students apply?

Yes. Out-of-province and international offers together are capped at 15%; these applicants are eligible for Edmonton only.

What is the application deadline?

International applications and qualifying international transcripts have an earlier deadline than other applications and documents. See the application deadlines above for exact dates.

How are candidates selected?

GPA and Casper inform interview selection. Final offers use Casper and interview results, not GPA.

Sources

Last updated: September 26, 2026