Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) — University of Alberta

Program status: Active

SpaceCat Fit Notes

CASPer: SpaceCat’s very high CASPer score is a significant advantage. For Route 1, a 4th-quartile CASPer score is required — this is an absolute threshold, not a ranking factor. SpaceCat’s very high score should comfortably clear the 4th-quartile requirement, qualifying her for the Route 1 lottery pool (if her GPA also meets the 3.8–4.0 threshold). For Route 2, CASPer requirements are less clear but a very high score strengthens her candidacy.
GPA window & upgrading strategy: GPA is calculated on the most recent 60 credits (20 courses). Taking 60 credits of strong new courses (approximately 2 full-time years) would fully reset SpaceCat’s effective GPA. Taking 30 credits (1 full-time year) would replace half the window. Route 1 requires 3.8–4.0, which is very high. Route 2 is more accessible at 3.4 GPA but requires 4+ life experience/equity criteria via the ASRQ.
Experiential / written advantage: UAlberta requires a Statement of Interest (describing knowledge of OT and what the applicant brings) and an Applicant Self Reflection Questionnaire (ASRQ). The ASRQ is particularly important for Route 2, where SpaceCat must demonstrate 4+ life experience and personal background criteria. Her shelter work experience with unhoused populations directly matches one of the listed Route 2 criteria. The Statement of Interest also allows SpaceCat to narrate her experiential background. However, there is no interview, no references, and no resume — so the written submissions are the only narrative avenue. Once threshold criteria are met, selection is by lottery (not ranked), so the written components serve as a qualification gate rather than a ranking tool.
Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - 75% of seats are reserved for Alberta residents. A maximum of 15% of seats (approximately 18 of 120) will be offered to out-of-province or foreign applicants. As of Fall 2026, Saskatchewan residents who previously had 25 dedicated seats are now considered out-of-province applicants in the
Overall assessment: Moderate fit — (via Route 2). Route 1’s 3.8–4.0 GPA requirement makes it a reach, but Route 2’s lower GPA threshold (3.4) combined with SpaceCat’s shelter work experience (directly relevant to ASRQ criteria) and very high CASPer score creates a viable path. The lottery system means once qualified, everyone has an equal chance — no further ranking by GPA. The 15% out-of-province seat cap (~18 of 120 seats) is a meaningful but not prohibitive barrier. Prerequisites (Anatomy, Stats, Indigenous History) are all available online.

Quick Facts

Institution: University of Alberta, Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
Program name: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT)
Degree granted: MScOT
City, Province: Edmonton, Alberta (primary); also Calgary, Alberta and Augustana/Camrose, Alberta (satellite campuses)
Program type: Entry-to-practice professional master’s (course-based)
Duration: 26 months (year-round, full-time)
Delivery format: In-person
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only
Language of instruction: English
Start date(s): September (Fall entry only)
Intake frequency: Annual
Application deadline(s): January 31, 11:59 p.m. MST (application system opens November 1). The Fall 2026 cycle is closed; Fall 2027 applications open November 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. (Source)
Application system: Direct to University of Alberta (online application through Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research)
Application code: Not applicable (not ORPAS; direct application)
Supplementary application portal: Statement of Interest and ASRQ forms become available under “Forms & Additional Uploads” after initial application is submitted and paid (Source)
Program URL: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/occupational-therapy/mscot/index.html
Accredited: Yes — CAOT accredited (first program in Canada with a satellite campus to receive accreditation); WFOT approved (first approved 2002, last approved 2025) (Source: CAOT) (Source: WFOT)

Admission Requirements

GPA

Minimum GPA: 3.0 on the University of Alberta 4.0 scale (75%, B) on the most recent 60 credits (20 courses). However, this is the floor for graduate programs generally — the department states applicants “must well exceed the minimum requirements to be considered for admission.” (Source)
Competitive GPA: Applicants should present at least a 3.4 GPA (80%, B+) on the most recent 60 credits to be considered. For Route 1 (70% of seats), applicants need a GPA of 3.8–4.0. For Route 2 (30% of seats), applicants need a GPA of 3.4–4.0 plus additional life experience criteria. (Source)
GPA calculated on: The most recent 60 credits (20 courses) of graded coursework, or the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. (Source) (Source)
Number of credits in GPA window: 60 credits / 20 courses — this is a moderately sized window. SpaceCat could raise her effective GPA by performing well in approximately 20 new courses (two full-time years).
GPA scale used: University of Alberta 4.0 scale
Full-time study preference: The program gives preference to applicants who have completed at least 24 credits (a full course load of 4–5 courses per semester) over two consecutive terms while maintaining a strong GPA, to demonstrate the ability to maintain a competitive GPA under full-time study load. (Source)

Prerequisites

Course	Subject Area	Required / Recommended	Min Grade	Can be taken online?	Time Limit	Topic Coverage / Notes
Statistics (3 credits)	Statistics	Required	Not stated (assumed passing)	Yes — PTHER 352 offered online at UAlberta is accepted	Within 5 years of application term (changed from 10 years for Fall 2027 onward)	Intro-level quantitative statistics course; must cover standard statistical topics. Course outlines from other institutions must be emailed to mscot@ualberta.ca for pre-approval. (Source)
Human Anatomy (3 credits)	Anatomy	Required	Not stated (assumed passing)	Yes — PTHER 350 offered online at UAlberta is accepted	Within 5 years of application term (changed from 10 years for Fall 2027 onward)	Must cover gross and microscopic anatomy of tissues, organs, and organ systems of the entire human body with emphasis on relationships, interactions, and functions. “Intro to Human Anatomy” courses typically fulfill this. Physiology courses do NOT fulfill this requirement. (Source)
Canadian Indigenous History (3 credits)	Indigenous Studies	Required	Not stated	Yes — can be completed via the UAlberta Indigenous Canada MOOC (certificate version) on Coursera	Within 10 years of application term	May be fulfilled through the certificate version of the University of Alberta Indigenous Canada MOOC, or an academic equivalent (3 credits). Certificate must be uploaded by Jan 31 deadline. Free on Coursera (certificate version required). (Source) (Source)

Confirmed online providers accepted: - University of Alberta PTHER 350 (Human Anatomy, online asynchronous) (Source) - University of Alberta PTHER 352 (Introductory Statistics for Health Care Professionals, online asynchronous) (Source) - University of Alberta Indigenous Canada MOOC (Coursera, certificate version) (Source) - Other institutions’ courses may be accepted — applicants must email official course outlines/syllabus to mscot@ualberta.ca before the January 31 application deadline for review. The department maintains an approved statistics course list: (Source PDF)

Prereq source URL: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/occupational-therapy/mscot/admissions.html

Prior Degree Requirement

Minimum credits / degree required: Four-year baccalaureate degree (or academic equivalent) in any discipline from an institution recognized by the University of Alberta. (Source)
Completed degree required? Yes — must hold a completed four-year undergraduate degree.
Degree field restrictions: None — any field accepted.

Supplementary Requirements

CASPer: Required. Applicants must take the CASPer test once per admission cycle. Last testing date is scheduled before the January 31 deadline. Results are sent directly to the department from CASPer. Applicants with incomplete or missing CASPer scores will not be considered for admission. For Route 1, a CASPer score in the 4th quartile is required. (Source) (Source)
GRE: Not required.
Interview: Not required. The University of Alberta MScOT does not conduct interviews as part of the admission process. (Source)
Resume / CV: Required. Must be in a pre-set format, including a list of referees who may be contacted via telephone. (Source)
References: Not required as letters. As of 2023, the program no longer requires or accepts letters of reference. However, the CV must include referees who may be contacted by phone. (Source)
Volunteer / work experience: Not explicitly required, but significant work experience in relevant OT settings is one of the criteria assessed in the ASRQ for Route 2 eligibility (see below). (Source)
Language proficiency: For non-native English speakers: IELTS 7.5 overall, or TOEFL iBT 100 (per department-specific requirements, which are higher than the university minimum of IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90). (Source) (Source)
Other: CPR Certification, Security Clearance Check, medical examination/immunization compliance, and respirator mask fit testing are required before fieldwork placements (not at application time). (Source)

Written / Personal Components

Component	Word Limit	Prompt / Description
Statement of Interest	Not publicly stated	Personal statement describing the applicant’s knowledge of occupational therapy and what the student can bring to the program. Accessed via “Forms & Additional Uploads” after application submission. (Source)
Applicant Self Reflection Questionnaire (ASRQ)	Not publicly stated	Series of questions allowing applicants to self-report and provide evidence of additional life experience and personal background criteria, including membership in equity-seeking groups (racialized communities, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+), significant relevant work experience, and formal leadership training/certification. Critical for Route 2 eligibility — must demonstrate a minimum of 4 criteria. (Source)
Curriculum Vitae	Pre-set format	CV in a pre-set format provided by the department, including a list of referees. (Source)

How Applications Are Evaluated

The UAlberta MScOT uses a unique two-route lottery system — this is not a traditional ranked or holistic review:

Route 1 — 70% of admitted seats: - GPA of 3.8–4.0 on last 60 credits - CASPer score in the 4th quartile - All prerequisites completed - Qualifying applicants are placed in a lottery pool and randomly selected

Route 2 — 30% of admitted seats: - GPA of 3.4–4.0 on last 60 credits - All prerequisites completed - Minimum of 4 additional life experience and personal background criteria (assessed via ASRQ), including: - Membership in equity-seeking groups (racialized communities, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ community) - Significant work experience with relevant populations (children with disabilities, injured workers, older adults in long-term care, unhoused populations, correctional services) - Formal certificate in leadership education or training - Qualifying applicants are placed in a lottery pool and randomly selected

Key implications: - Fulfilling minimum criteria only guarantees consideration (entry into the lottery), not admission. - Meeting the GPA in a particular year does not guarantee admission — it is a matter of chance once qualified. - An applicant may qualify for one or both routes. - The program explicitly states admission depends on “the number and caliber of applications received each year.”

(Source)

Out-of-Province Considerations

Residency restrictions or quotas: 75% of seats are reserved for Alberta residents. A maximum of 15% of seats (approximately 18 of 120) will be offered to out-of-province or foreign applicants. As of Fall 2026, Saskatchewan residents who previously had 25 dedicated seats are now considered out-of-province applicants in the general pool. (Source) (Source)
Residency definition: Not explicitly defined on the MScOT pages. Likely follows the Alberta Student Aid definition (based on province of residence for 12+ months). (Source)
Out-of-province tuition differential: University of Alberta does not charge differential tuition for out-of-province Canadian students — all domestic Canadian students (regardless of province) pay the same tuition. Only international students pay higher fees. (Source)
Equity / priority seats: 2 seats are reserved for Indigenous applicants. The ASRQ also specifically asks about equity-seeking group membership for Route 2 consideration. (Source)

Note on remaining 10% of seats: With 75% for Alberta residents and up to 15% for out-of-province/international, the remaining approximately 10% allocation is not explicitly detailed. It may include the 2 Indigenous seats and/or flexibility in the provincial quota.

Cost

Tuition (total program, approximate): ~$31,292 CAD for domestic students (total for 26-month program). (Source)
In-province vs out-of-province: No differential — all Canadian citizens/permanent residents pay the same tuition regardless of province. International student total: ~$72,119 CAD plus ~$5,000 in additional non-instructional fees. (Source)
Additional fees: All costs associated with obtaining a professional degree are the student’s responsibility, including fieldwork placement expenses (travel, accommodation for placements outside home city), textbooks, CPR certification, security clearance, immunizations, etc. (Source)
Financial aid notes: Alberta student loans available for Alberta residents. Ontario residents can apply for OSAP for out-of-province study. No specific mention of program-level scholarships on the MScOT pages, but the university and Faculty of Graduate Studies offer general graduate awards.

Competitiveness

Cohort size: 120 students total across all campuses — 80 in Edmonton, 28 in Calgary, 16 at Augustana (Camrose). (Source) (Source)
Acceptance rate: Approximately 15% or less (estimated from 800+ annual applicants for 120 seats). No official percentage published. (Source)
Number of applicants: 800+ per year. (Source)

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

Placements guaranteed? Students are guaranteed at least one placement in their home campus/region. Placements are arranged by the department. (Source)
Total required hours: Minimum 1,000 hours of fieldwork, as mandated by CAOT. (Source)
Placement structure: Four 6–7-week fieldwork placements integrated throughout the 26-month program. Students must attend all days of the 5-day/week, 7-week placements. (Source)
Placement settings / locations: Acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care, schools, rehabilitation facilities, and private clinics. (Source)
Can placements be done out of province? Most placements are within Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the NWT. (Source)

Licensing & Career Path

Licensing exam: National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE), administered by CAOT. (Source)
Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes — graduates qualify to register with any provincial OT regulatory college in Canada after passing the NOTCE. Also eligible to write certification examinations in other countries due to WFOT approval. (Source)
Any known issues with credential recognition? None identified.

Reputation & Notes

Three campus options: The distributed education model is unique in Canada. Edmonton is the primary campus (80 seats). Calgary (28 seats) is attractive for those preferring a larger city alternative. Augustana/Camrose (16 seats) offers smaller class sizes, lower student-to-instructor ratios, and rural placement opportunities. Core curriculum is identical across all campuses, delivered via synchronous video conferencing. (Source)
Lottery system is distinctive: Unlike most OT programs that rank applicants by GPA + supplementary components, UAlberta uses a lottery once thresholds are met. This introduces an element of randomness — a 3.85 GPA applicant has the same chance as a 4.0 applicant in Route 1, once both qualify. This can be advantageous for applicants who meet but don’t greatly exceed thresholds.
Route 2 is equity-focused: The 30% of seats allocated via Route 2 are explicitly designed to increase diversity in the profession. The ASRQ criteria include equity-seeking group membership alongside experiential criteria.
Saskatchewan seat change: As of Fall 2026, Saskatchewan residents lost their dedicated 25-seat allocation and now compete in the out-of-province pool. This may slightly increase competition for the ~18 out-of-province seats.
Year-round program: The 26-month program runs continuously without standard summer breaks, which is typical for professional OT programs.

Information Not Found

The following items could not be confirmed from public sources and should be verified directly with the program:

Exact word limits for the Statement of Interest and ASRQ questions — the forms are only accessible after application submission and payment.
Exact prompts for the ASRQ questions — only general themes (equity-seeking groups, work experience, leadership) are described publicly.
Complete list of Route 2 “life experience and personal background criteria” — only some examples are public. The full list of what counts toward the minimum 4 criteria is not published.
Minimum grade required for prerequisite courses — not stated; likely passing but unconfirmed.
Whether the 75% Alberta + 15% out-of-province + 2 Indigenous seats accounts for all 120 seats — the math leaves ~10% unaccounted for.
Annual tuition breakdown by term — only total program cost (~$31,292) is publicly available; per-term breakdown not found.
Whether applicants can indicate campus preference (Edmonton vs. Calgary vs. Augustana) or how campus assignment works.
CASPer score threshold for Route 2 — only Route 1 specifies 4th quartile; Route 2 CASPer requirements are unclear.
Whether online prerequisite courses from institutions other than UAlberta (e.g., Athabasca) are routinely accepted, or if it is case-by-case.

Contact: mscot@ualberta.ca

Sources

Official fee/tuition pages: - Registrar Costs, Tuition & Fees: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/registrar/costs-tuition-fees/index.html - Graduate Studies Tuition: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/fees-funding/tuition-fees/index.html - Instructional Fees (Domestic): https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/fees-funding/tuition-fees/instructional-fees-domestic.html

Online prerequisite course pages: - PTHER 350 (Anatomy): https://www.ualberta.ca/en/physical-therapy/programs/msc-in-physical-therapy/admissions/application-requirements/online-prerequisite-courses/pther-350.html - PTHER 352 (Statistics): https://www.ualberta.ca/en/physical-therapy/programs/msc-in-physical-therapy/admissions/application-requirements/online-prerequisite-courses/pther-352.html - Indigenous Canada MOOC: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html

Accreditation sources: - CAOT University Programs: https://caot.ca/site/becomeotota/uniprograms - WFOT Listing: https://wfot.org/education-programmes/master-science-occupational-therapy-msc-ot-1

Policy documents: - Alberta Student Aid Residency Definition: https://studentaid.alberta.ca/policy/student-aid-policy-manual/eligibility-for-student-loans-and-grants/residency/ - ELP Requirements (Graduate): https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/admissions-programs/apply/international-academic-requirements/english-language-proficiency/index.html - Augustana Campus Info: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/rehabilitation/programs/augustana.html

Third-party sources: - IDP Listing: https://www.idp.com/universities-and-colleges/university-of-alberta/master-of-science-in-occupational-therapy/PRG-CA-00088510/ - ALIS Alberta: https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/post-secondary-programs/master-of-science/university-of-alberta/ae5320c3-94ad-47f6-b254-a12700c5f321/