Tip Sheets

Which Post-Secondary Institution(s) Should I Attend?

If only one institution offers the program you want, your choice of which institution to attend is obvious. Or is it? Maybe not, if:

	there are post-secondary institutions closer to home that offer appropriate transfer programs
	an educational consortium offers the program or transferable courses at a location near you.
	there are post-secondary institutions that offer appropriate e-campus courses.

Transfer programs

You may be able to take up to two years of post-secondary education at a closer institution (the "sending" institution) and get credit for those studies from the institution that offers the program you want to complete (the "receiving" institution). However, there are two important things you need to know before you enrol in a transfer program:

	Admission to the receiving institution program is competitive, and the number of students who can be admitted may be limited. Therefore, admission is not automatic after completion of a transfer program.
	You are responsible for the planning and consultation required to make sure that you will receive credit for all of the courses you take at the sending institution.

To decide which courses to take at the sending institution:

	check the transfer program advice in the sending institution's calendar
	check the receiving institution's calendar to get the most current program advice.

The Alberta Transfer Guide lists all the course and program transfer agreements in effect between post-secondary institutions in the province. The guide can be found on-line at www.acat.gov.ab.ca. It is also available free of charge at post-secondary institutions or from the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfers (Phone 780-422-9021 or dial 310-0000 toll-free and enter 780-422-9021). To use the guide or the Internet site effectively, you need to know:

	the program title and the codes and numbers (e.g. ART 131, BIOL 107) of the courses you want to take at the sending institution
	the codes and numbers of first and second year courses at the receiving institution.

You can search the Online Alberta Transfer Guide two ways: Fast Find and Step-by-Step.

	Fast Find allows you to search the transfer agreement database on a course-by-course basis or by program (e.g. certificate or diploma) when you know the course name and number or the program name.
	Step-by-Step provides detailed instructions and alllows you to search for multiple transfer agreements for more than one course or program.

Studying in your community

If you live in a rural area, you may have the option of taking post-secondary programs in your community through collaborative organizations and educational consortia. All programs meet the same standards and have the same entrance requirements as those offered on the main campuses of the institutions that deliver the programs. Check with:

	Alberta-North at www.abnorth.ab.ca, a partnership of six post-secondary institutions providing quality educational opportunities to adult learners in northern Alberta.
	Aboriginal Consortium: First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium at www.fnahec.org provides quality adult and higher education by and for people of the First Nations. This consortium serves the Brocket, Cardston, Edmonton, Hobbema, Morley, Siksika, St. Albert, St. Paul and Tsuu T'ina areas.
	Educational Consortia, associations of post-secondary institutions providing a range of programs and courses in communities not served directly by a single institution. There are four consortia in Alberta:

		Big Country Educational Consortium at www.bcec.ca serves the Cereal, Drumheller, Hanna, Oyen, Stettler, Three Hills and Youngstown areas
		Chinook Educational Consortium at www.chinookeducation.ca serves the Claresholm, Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek areas
		Pembina Educational Consortium at www.pec.ab.ca serves the Drayton Valley, Fox Creek, Rocky Mountain House, Westlock and Whitecourt areas
		Yellowhead Region Educational Consortium at www.yrec.ab.ca serves the Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper areas.

If more than one school offers the type of program you want...you're in the happy position of being able to choose the one(s) you want to attend. To learn more about post-secondary schools in Alberta, visit their websites. You can find links to post-secondary institutions on EDinfo on the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website at alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Visit the schools yourself and talk to other students. Most post-secondary institutions have open houses or information sessions in the spring. It's a great chance to look around, experience the learning environment, ask about program content and find out what student life is like.

Other Relevant Tips Choosing a Post-Secondary Program Getting "What You Want, When You Want It" Takes Time and Planning For more, visit the TIPS home page at alis.alberta.ca/tips

Additional Reading Adult Back to School Planner, Education and Training Planner and Time to Choose...a post-secondary education program produced by Alberta Employment and Immigration. For copies of these publications:

		download an online copy or order the publication from the Publications website at alis.alberta.ca/careershop
		call the Alberta Career Information Hotline at 1-800-661-3753 toll-free or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton
		visit your local Alberta Employment and Immigration service centre. To find the centre nearest you, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline.

Last Updated: September 5, 2007