University Studies Diploma is a diploma in Multi-Discipline programme taught at Portage College in Lac La Biche, Canada. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,606 per year (CAD 5,448 per year for local students).
This full-time diploma offers a set of transferable university-level courses intended as a foundation for further study rather than training for a specific occupation. Students complete 60 credits, including at least six credits of junior-level English, six credits in a science subject such as biology, chemistry, earth and atmospheric science or mathematics, and six credits in the humanities such as senior English, history, philosophy or religious studies, with a cap on the proportion of credits taken at the introductory level. The program suits recent high-school graduates who want a full academic year of university-transfer coursework close to home, as well as students looking to bridge into diploma programs at Portage College or transfer credits elsewhere. Course credits transfer to universities and colleges across Alberta, with established arrangements at institutions such as the University of Alberta, University of Calgary and MacEwan University. Both high-school-stream and mature-student admission pathways exist.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:60.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Direct entry requires a minimum average of 60%, with no individual mark below 50%, across English Language Arts 30-1 and four other Grade 12 (30-level), five-credit courses drawn from humanities, fine arts, sciences, or electives. Mature applicants who are at least 19 and have been out of high school for a year or more may instead qualify with a 60% average including at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1 and one other five-credit Grade 12 course. An Open Studies route is also available on completion of nine transferable post-secondary credits, and provincial high-school equivalencies are accepted against the college's chart. International applicants may additionally need to complete a Grade 12 English proficiency exam and subject-area proficiency exams matched to their chosen degree stream. An interview with an instructor or program coordinator may form part of the review. Admission is non-competitive: applicants who meet the stated thresholds are admitted.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall, Winter and Spring
Application Deadline:Domestic deadlines: December 15, 2026 (Winter intake), April 15, 2027 (Spring intake), August 15, 2027 (Fall intake). International deadlines: October 15, 2026 (Winter) and February 15, 2027 (Spring); no international Fall deadline published.
