At Lethbridge College, we understand a career path doesn’t always progress in a straight line. So we’ve created different pathways to help you achieve your life and career goals in a way that works for you. Your future is waiting and the Academic Upgrading program will get you there.
Our upgrading courses, which are accepted in lieu of high school courses at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, can help you change directions or choose a new path to professional success. Whether you need to complete high school equivalency courses or upgrade your marks, Academic Upgrading will prepare you for where you want to go.
Upgrading information Grab and Go Program InformationCareer Opportunities
Academic Upgrading courses can lead to many opportunities. Our students have continued into certificate, diploma and degree programs. They have entered professional and apprenticeship programs and have moved on to successful careers. You'll also find that our courses offer a good foundation for beginning employment.
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
1
of the most accessible upgrading programs in Alberta based on price and course availability
17
courses on offer including biology, chemistry, physics, science, math and English
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September or January
Credential / Accreditation
Credential of Achievement
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Program Availability
View the program availability for the upcoming intakes.
Academic Centre
Admissions
This program is available for International Students.
New applicants are accepted into the Academic Upgrading program for courses beginning in the Fall (September) or Winter (January).
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Academic Requirements
The Academic Upgrading program is open to any person who has the desire and the academic skills to be successful at a selected course level. Admission is based on academic background, skills assessment and advisement.
Use the following guide from Alberta Education for course placement
Students in the Academic Upgrading program who accumulate at least 18 credits in academic upgrading courses are eligible to receive a Credential of Achievement. To qualify, students must take three courses numbered 0030 through 0039, including at least one English course, and achieve a minimum grade point average of 1.50.
Courses numbered at any of the 0010, 0020, or 0030 levels in this program are accepted in lieu of high school courses for admission at Alberta universities, colleges, and technical institutes, as well as at most colleges and universities in the United States. However, students do not receive high school credits towards a diploma from Alberta Education. Lethbridge College issues its own grades and its own credential.
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Delivery Formats
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
Courses
Students register in courses that fit their career goals on the recommendation of the Lethbridge College advising team. Transcripts and placement testing determine the course level placement.
Course offerings may be subject to change. All courses are available face-to-face given sufficient enrolment. Courses below the 0009 level are not available at the main campus.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-0020 | Biology 0020 | 6 |
| BIO-0030 | Biology 0030 | 6 |
| CHM-0020 | Chemistry 0020 | 6 |
| CHM-0030 | Chemistry 0030 | 6 |
| ENG-0009 | English Basics | 6 |
| ENG-0010 | English 0010 | 6 |
| ENG-0022 | English 0022 | 6 |
| ENG-0030 | English 0030 | 6 |
| ENG-0032 | English 0032 | 6 |
| MTH-0009 | Mathematics 0009 | 6 |
| MTH-0010 | Mathematics 0010 | 6 |
| MTH-0020 | Mathematics 0020 | 6 |
| MTH-0030 | Mathematics 0030 | 6 |
| MTH-0032 | Mathematics 0032 | 6 |
| PHY-0020 | Physics 0020 | 6 |
| PHY-0030 | Physics 0030 | 6 |
| SCI-0010 | Science 0010 | 6 |
High School Equivalencies
Academic Upgrading courses satisfy post-secondary program entrance requirements as substitutes for Grade 12 level courses. No provincial departmental exams are required. The course numbering designates grade levels:
- Courses numbered 0010-0019 parallel Grade 10 level courses.
- Courses numbered 0020-0029 parallel Grade 11 level courses.
- Courses numbered 0030-0039 parallel Grade 12 level courses.
For further details, consult the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) guide or talk to an Academic Advisor.
Course Delivery Options
Our courses are offered in a variety of formats, with the majority being offered in a face-to-face format where you will attend class at a scheduled time and location. An instructor will be physically present to assist you. The format in which a course is offered may change at short notice, depending on enrolments and student needs.
Registration Changes
Course registrations or “add/drops” must be carried out in consultation with an Academic Advisor and sponsorship supervisor, if applicable. It is the student’s responsibility to register for and maintain credit minimums as required for sponsorship and to ensure their registration is sufficient to meet their sponsoring agencies’ requirements.
Tuition and Fees
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$3,420.00
|
$1,336.00
|
$850.00
|
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$14,940.00
|
$1,336.00
|
$850.00
|
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
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Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences
Featured Graduates
John Manyok
“I realized the best thing I can do is go back to school. I was making money, but nothing changed. It was a tough decision to go back to school. But education is the key to everything.”
Angela Nelson
“I am a mature student, a single parent, and entering a career that is non-traditional for women. I was scared of not succeeding. Lethbridge College stood behind me and supported me.”
Heather Varty
Recipient of the first Sharon Hendrickson Memorial Scholarship for Upgrading students
“It meant so much more that I was selected – that they chose me, because they thought I exemplified what Sharon's scholarship sought to reward. And sometimes that was what kept me going, that they had faith, that they believed in me, even in the times when I might not have believed in myself.”
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to students who complete Academic Upgrading and enter into another Lethbridge College program