Admissions

MHC Admissions

Medicine Hat College welcomes applications from Canadian and International students who have completed high school, studied at other post-secondary institutions, and who have not completed high school.

How to Apply

On-line
Apply to Medicine Hat College on-line at www.mhc.ab.ca.

Mail in form
You may submit an application form by mail or in person to:

Student Services
Medicine Hat College
299 College Drive SE
Medicine Hat AB T1A 3Y6

Application Fee
There is a $60 application fee required to process your application.

Transcripts
All applicants are required to provide official transcripts of

High school education. Official transcripts must be ordered from the Department of Education in the province(s) where you attended high school.
Post-secondary education. Official transcripts must be provided from the Registrar’s Office of each institution attended. Photocopies or faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official, but may be used in the interim for conditional admission purposes. Please note: All high school and post-secondary school official transcripts must be received by the Admissions Office before the start of classes. Failure to provide transcripts may result in being withdrawn for the second semester of study.

Identification of Disabilities
At Medicine Hat College we are committed to ensuring that you are afforded an academic environment based on equality, respect for individual differences, and academic integrity. If you have a disability (physical, sensory, medical and learning or communication impairment) and require accommodation, please indicate these to us early in the admissions process. We will endeavor to provide you with educational opportunities that will maximize your College experience within the resources that we have available. There are many categories of disabilities including physical, sensory, medical, learning disabilities, and communication impairments.

Prior to your final acceptance, you will need to arrange for a personal interview with our Disabilities Services Coordinator. During your consultation, the Coordinator will attempt to ensure that your educational goals are realistic, that Medicine Hat College can satisfy those educational goals, and that admission to a program or course does not present a safety hazard to yourself or others.

Academic Assessment
The Academic Assessment is a tool used to determine current skill levels in English and Math. It has been designed to help you, if you have been out of school four years or more, to begin at a level that will enable you to be successful in your studies. The assessment does not provide a grade; rather it is a determination of starting level.

To register for the Academic Assessment, first apply to the College for admission. You may then make an appointment to schedule a time with the Academic Resources Centre to write the essay and math assessments.

Results are available approximately two days later. An appointment time may be scheduled with an Academic Advisor to discuss placement recommendations and to plan an appropriate course of study.

Admission of Students without a High School Diploma

Admission of students under 18 years
If you are under the age of 18 you may be accepted for admission with a letter of recommendation from a high school principal. You may be required to take the Medicine Hat College Academic Assessment. Please contact an Academic Advisor for further information at 403.529.3819 or 1.866.282.8394 ext. 3819.

Home Schooled or Home Educated
If you have completed a Home Schooled or Home Educated program you may qualify for admission by
• providing relevant provincial diploma examination;
• writing the Medicine Hat College Academic Assessment in
English and Math or
• university transfer admission.
For further information please contact:
Admissions Office
Medicine Hat College
403.529.3827 or 1.866.282.8394 ext 3827

Admission of International Students

Academic Qualifications
If you are considering application to credit programs, you will need to allow at least six months prior to program application deadlines for processing of your application and receipt of your international transcripts. Students are responsible for providing English translations of transcripts.

You will be required to meet standards similar to those required by Alberta universities. If you are an International student whose native language is not English, you must also comply with the Medicine Hat College English requirements.

Standardized Test
Applicants will be considered who present acceptable ACT (American College Testing Program) or SAT (Scholastic Achievement Test) scores and high school grades. In the case of SAT tests, the applicant must present SAT Verbal, SAT Mathematical and three additional SAT II test scores. Applicants who present only SAT I scores and who present high school records (at least five Grade
12-level courses in academic subjects including English, and 60% or better average on these courses), will be considered for admission on an individual basis.

General Certificate of Education
Applicants will be considered who present two subjects at the Advanced/Principal level and three subjects at the GCSE/Ordinary level (if you are a student from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries). Grades of D and E at the Ordinary level and Advanced supplementary levels (7, 8, 9) on school certificates are not acceptable. If you have not successfully completed two
“A” level courses, you will be able to take a combined university transfer/college program if you have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (213 CBT or 79 IBT). You must have completed five ordinary “O” courses with no grades of “D” or “E”.

English Language Requirements
The language of instruction and communication at Medicine Hat College is English. Regardless of country of origin or citizenship status, if your first language is not English, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language before you will be admitted to a credit program or permitted to enroll in credit courses. English language proficiency can be demonstrated by any one of:

1. Successful completion of the Advanced ESL (ESL 99) program at Medicine Hat College;
2. Completing an Alberta Grade 12 diploma or the equivalent;
3. Completing Alberta English, ELA 30-1 or the Canadian equivalent with grades of 60% or better;
4. Achievement of a TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test, a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or a score of at least 79 on IBT TOEFL; or
5. Achieving an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall band score of 6.0 with no band score less than
5.5. If you are considering transferring to a university or other post secondary institution from Medicine Hat College please consult with that institution or a Medicine Hat College Academic Advisor regarding the English Language requirement as they may be different from Medicine Hat College.

Admission to Credit Courses from Medicine Hat College ESL Programs
As an international student in the ESL programs, you must have official TOEFL scores of at least 500 (173 CBT, 61 IBT) to take any credit classes at Medicine Hat College. With an Official TOEFL score between 500 and 549, you will be permitted to take up to two credit courses per semester along with the ESL Program.

If you have a TOEFL score of 499 and below, or if you do not submit a TOEFL score, you must concentrate exclusively on the Intensive ESL program. You may not take additional credit courses.

Applying to Credit Programs for Admissions as an ESL Student
In order to register in specific credit courses, see an Academic Advisor and present official documents that verify you have completed the required prerequisite courses (e.g., if you plan to take university transfer English 202, you must have successfully completed English 30-1 or equivalent).

Permanent Resident
As a permanent resident whose first language is not English, you may be admitted to Medicine Hat College by meeting the English proficiency requirements and the academic admission standards of the program of your choice.

When to Apply

You may apply at anytime to Medicine Hat College. For most programs, application processing begins
November 1, 2010 for Fall semester, 2011
October 1, 2010 for Winter semester, 2011
February 1, 2011 for Spring semester, 2011

Admissions Schedule for Winter Intakes in Programs
Some programs offer winter intakes and include the following programs:
Business Administration
College Preparation
Early Learning and Child Care
Education Assistant
General Studies
Global Tourism and Marketing
University Transfer

Admission Routes

Applicants are considered for the most appropriate of three admission routes, according to their qualifications.

High School Route
High school applicants have secondary (high school) credentials only with little or no post-secondary study. You will need to consult the program(s) of interest to determine which specific high school subjects are required for admission to specific program(s). If you do not have the high school requirements indicated for admission to your initial choice of program you may qualify for other programs at Medicine Hat College. Please contact Academic Advising at 403.529.3819 and/or Admissions at 403.529.3827 for additional information.

Transfer Route
Transfer applicants have post-secondary coursework or credentials through recognized university, college, or technical institutions. If you have previous coursework, you should consult the program(s) of interest to determine if transfer status is considered for admission. For information on gaining credit towards program requirements, consult the section on Recognition of Prior Learning/ Education in the calendar.

Mature Route
Mature applicants are aged 21 years or older who may not have a complete high school matriculation. In some programs, mature student admission requirements may differ from general admission requirements. Academic assessment may be necessary.

Combined Matriculation/University Transfer
Applicants combine high school equivalent (matriculation) courses with university courses.

General Studies
Applicants are intending to complete a certificate, diploma, or combination of diploma and university studies but are not currently admitted to any specific program.

Senior Citizen
Applicants are 65 years and older. You may enroll in one 3 credit course per semester that is not part of quota programs or in the
Conservatory of Music and Dance (this may not also apply to Continuing Studies offerings and you will need to contact Continuing Studies for additional information). If space is limited in a course, paying credit students will be given preference and any credit course that has insufficient enrollment of credit students will be cancelled. Costs (books, supplies) other than tuition are your responsibility.

Special Student
Applicants have been formally admitted to study in the College, but not to a specific program and are registered in one course. It is highly recommended that you have the prerequisites for specific courses but it is not required.

Visiting Student
Applicants are formally admitted to the College, but as a student of another accredited institution, you are permitted to take courses for credit towards a degree or diploma program in your home institution.

As a visiting student you
a) must provide written authorization from a responsible officer of your home institution upon registration.
b) are permitted to register, on a courtesy basis, in only those courses specified by the responsible officer of your home institution for the session indicated.
c) will assume responsibility for formally requesting an official transcript and paying the required fees.
d) will be subject to all rules and regulations applicable to students of Medicine Hat College.

Continuing Students Who Are Changing Programs

Continuing students who have continuous registration from one semester to another and who wish to change their academic program must apply for the new program. Continuing student applicants will be considered according to the same admission