International Admission Basics

NWP is committed to supporting Ukrainian residents who have come to Alberta under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. To further assist, NWP will offer domestic tuition to Ukrainians who came to Alberta through the CUAET program for the Fall 2026, Winter 2027, and Spring 2027 Semesters. This includes graduating grade 12 students and others who may wish to pursue post-secondary education.

To be eligible for domestic tuition rates, applicants must have entered Canada under the CUAET program and must submit their study permit with the CUAET designation noted on the document. They must also be connected to the province in one of the following ways:

• graduated from an Alberta secondary school;
• resided in Alberta for one year prior to the start of their post-secondary program; or
• arrived in Canada in 2022 or later and have only lived in Alberta.

Students may be required to provide proof of residency. 

For more information, please contact Admissions@NWPolytech.ca.

Understanding Semesters

Northwestern Polytechnic operates on a three-semester system:

• Fall Semester: September to December
• Winter Semester: January to April
• Spring Semester: May to August

International students should apply early to secure a place in their program of choice. 

Please note that not all programs admit students each semester. 

 Semester Start Dates 

Recommended Application Timelines

• Apply 4-6 months before your semester start date.
• Typically, we will stop issuing new Letters of Acceptance and PALs 10 weeks before the start of the semester. If you are not prepared to apply for your study permit immediately, we recommend applying to the next available intake. Deferrals are not guaranteed if you do not receive a decision in time. 
• Check Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing times for your country to confirm how long your permit might take.

Step 1: 

Submit your online application and pay the $150 CAD non-refundable fee. Within 3 business days, you’ll receive instructions on what documents to send and how to submit them.

Step 2:  

After you submit all required documents, your application will be reviewed. If admissible, you’ll receive an offer of admission by email within 3 to 5 business days. To accept your offer of admission, you’ll need to pay the tuition deposit by the stated deadline. Students are typically given up to 3 weeks to complete payment before the offer of admission is cancelled.

Step 3: 

Once you accept your offer by paying the tuition deposit, we will issue your PAL and official Letter of Admission within 3 to 5 business days from the date that we receive your payment. You’ll use these documents to apply for your Canadian study permit.

International students must have basic health care coverage from either the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), health care from another province, or health insurance from a private provider to study at NWP.
Students moving permanently to Alberta from another country or students with a valid study permit may be eligible for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).

More About AHCIP

Full-time students in most of our credit programs may be automatically enrolled in, and be required to pay for, the Student Health and Dental Plan, which provides extended health and dental care coverage not covered under AHCIP. The plan can be opted out of if alternate coverage can be proven, and eligibility requirements are met.

More About Eligibility