Admissions

Within the context of our theological conviction and mission, it is Prairie’s policy concerning the admission of students, not to discriminate on the basis of the applicant’s colour, gender or ethnic origin.

Admissions Criteria
Students from Alberta
Students from other Provinces
Students from the United States
International Students
Transfer Students
Prior Learning (APPLE) & Exemptions
Home-Schooled Students
Mature Students
Previously Enrolled Students
Exceptions to Admissions Policies

Admission to Prairie is based on three criteria:

Personal Christian Life and Testimony (character)
An applicant’s Christian life and testimony is disclosed by answering several questions on the application as well as through the information submitted on the Pastor’s and General Reference Forms.

Academic Performance
Admission to Prairie requires students to be a high school graduate with a minimum final average of 60% in six senior (Grade 12) subjects, one of which must be English. If a student is not enrolled in 6 Grade 12 subjects, course marks from relevant Grade 11 subjects may be considered. Applicants who do not meet the academic requirement may submit a written request to have it waived on the basis of motivation and improved academic skills. An Admissions Committee, composed of the Director of Admissions, the Registrar and the Director of Student Development, will make a decision on the request. Students admitted by this process will enter on Academic Probation, which imposes certain restrictions and requires certain accountability measures.

[High School Transcripts - Canada]

English language proficiency
For applicants whose first language is English, English language proficiency is measured by Grade 12 course marks. For a student whose first language is not English, English language proficiency is measured by an approved English language testing service. See the International Students section for more information.

Back to top of page

Canadian Students from Alberta

Canadian Students From Other Provinces

 In most Canadian provinces, grade 12 is equivalent to the Alberta Secondary School Diploma. The exceptions are:

Quebec: Successful completion of one year of CEGEP required.

Ontario: Old curriculum: Admission requires completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma at the grade 12 advanced level with a minimum 60% combined average in six grade 12 courses including English. Those students who have completed OAC courses may be eligible for transfer credit for certain courses.

              New curriculum: Admission requires completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a minimum 60% combined average in ENG4U "English" plus five other Grade 12 U or UC courses.

Back to top of page

Students from the United States

American students must have graduated from high school with a minimum of a C average. Although not required, students are encouraged to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for admission. Students in good standing at a college or university in the United States are also eligible to apply for admission and may receive transfer credits.

U.S. Citizens studying in Canada are required to obtain a student authorization. If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need to apply at a Canadian Consulate; instead, you will obtain a Student Authorization at the Canadian port of entry (border crossing or airport) when you enter. Be prepared to present:

• Your college acceptance letter;

• Immigration letter (sent to you upon acceptance);

• Proof of citizenship (e.g. birth certificate);

• Proof of sufficient funds for one year (a bank cheque [not a personal cheque] or statement, PBI account receipt, or a letter from your sponsor on official letterhead stationery). Canadian Immigration charges $125.00 (subject to change) for Student Authorization documents at the border.

American students are permitted by Canadian law to work on our campus during their time of studies. If you (or your spouse) would like to seek employment on our campus during your stay at Prairie, you will need to notify the Canadian Immigration Officers at the border. Please make sure that when obtaining your Student Authorization, you make mention of your desire to work on campus. If you have any questions concerning this process contact the Admissions Office at 1-800-661-2425.

Back to top of page

International Students

If you are a citizen of a country other than the United States or Canada, you should begin the application process several months before the semester you plan to enroll. We suggest the following dates for application: before May 1 for the Fall Semester and before September 1 for the Winter Semester. All international students are urged to carefully assess their ability to meet the requirements and to keep the following important things in mind:

• Upon receipt of all application materials, the Admissions Committee will evaluate your application;
• An application for admission will not be considered complete until all required documents have been received (application, transcripts, medical form and references);
• International students who do not have English as their first language must submit proof of English proficiency by completing one of the following tests: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based test or 550 for the paper-based test, or 80 on the Internet-based test OR The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam with an overall band score of 6.5.

Note: Meeting these test scores does not guarantee admission to the College and additional testing may be required before admittance is granted.

For more information, please visit our international admissions requirements page.

Back to top of page

Transfer Students

Prairie welcomes transfer students who have previously attended University, Colleges or another Bible College. You may apply to receive transfer credit for courses completed at other post-secondary institutions. Courses can be transferred if they are comparable to ones in our curriculum and you earned a grade of C or better. To have your transcript evaluated, please forward your transcript(s) to:

Admissions Office
Box 4000
Three Hills AB  T0M 2N0

Fax: 403-443-5540
Email: admissions@prairie.edu

Back to top of page

Prior Learning (APPLE Credits) & Exemptions

Through our Assessment Program for Prior Learning Experience (APPLE), we may grant college credit for learning you have done outside the classroom. To learn more about our APPLE program, please consult the PBC Academic Guide on the Registrar's Office documents download page by clicking here.  If registered in a Prairie Bible College certificate or degree program, students may be exempted from selected courses through challenge exams. For more information on exemptions, please contact the Registrar's Office

Back to top of page

Home Schooled Students

Prairie welcomes applications from home-based learners. Applicants who are unable to provide provincially/state-examined senior course results are evaluated individually in order to determine their preparedness for post-secondary studies. Home-based learners must be at least 17 years of age in September and submit a downloadable Home-Based Learners Profile which can be found here.

Mature Students

A limited number of mature students (aged 21 or older) may be allowed to enrol. Individuals must meet the program requirements.

Previously Enrolled Students

Previous students (those who have attended Prairie previously) can re-enrol provided they are a student in good standing. For most students, a simplified application procedure is available which includes submitting only a new application and pastors reference.

Exceptions to Admissions Policies

Applicants who do not meet admissions requirements may submit a written request to have it waived on the basis of motivation and improved academic skills. An Admissions Committee, composed of the Director of Admissions, the Registrar, and the Director of Student Services, will make a decision on the request. Students admitted by this process may enter on Academic Probation, which imposes certain restrictions and requires certain accountability measures to be in place.

Back to top of page