Frequently Asked Questions
Admission & Registration
Click on this link for information about becoming an AU student.
Should you need course or program advice, please contact the Nukskahtowin:
Phone: 1-800-788-9041 ext. 5054
Email: indigenous@athabascau.ca
- To Apply to Athabasca University: "Undergraduate General Application Form" - there is a $118.00 application fee.
- To register for a Course: "Undergraduate Course Registration Form" Individualized study courses generally start every month, if you register before the 10th of any given month you will begin the following month.
- Ensure the course you want is available
- Check to see if there are Course Prerequisites
- Explore your course or program options, through our Undergraduate Calendar and Graduate Calendar
Financial Assistance
There are several different forms of funding available. Please contact the Nukskahtowin for advice.
Types of funding:
- Band Sponsorship
- Federal Sponsorship
- Freehorse Family Wellness Society (FFWS)
- Student Loans
- Canada Student Loans
- Alberta Student Loans
- Bursaries/Scholarships/Grants
- Indigenous bursary search (Canada portal)
- Research Funding
Prior Learning & Challenging for Credit
When you are considering your life skills and past education, you will definitely want to take a look at the:
- Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) web page from the Centre for Learning Accreditation. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) gives you credit for learning related to Athabasca University degrees, university certificates, or diplomas, regardless of where or how your learning occurred. Use PLAR to get credit towards your degree, certificate or diploma from Athabasca University and open many other doors to advancement.
- Evaluation Services webpage from the Office of the Registrar is the department who evaluates academic credit that you have earned from other accredited institutions
Here is the Challenge for Credit explanation.
Courses
- Individualized Study: In an individualized-study course students receive a course package that may include, but is not limited to, a student manual, a study guide (required reading, if included), textbook(s), CD-ROM, audiocassettes and/or videotapes, and home-lab kits. Students are assigned a tutor and are given a recommended study schedule within the time limits allowed for the course. Students determine the actual timing of assignments and exams within the course contract period.
- Individualized-study online: describes a course delivered by the Internet. Students registering in online courses require access to computers and the student's own Internet Service Provider connection. Students should refer to the suggested minimum computer requirements online.
- Paced/Grouped Study: Grouped-study (seminar) courses follow a set study schedule and the timelines associated with a traditional university semester; for example, students who begin their course in September will finish it in December. Grouped-study courses generally last 13 weeks (three-credit courses) or 26 weeks (six-credit courses) and are delivered in classroom situations by video and/or audio conference. Delivery of each grouped-study course is dependent on a minimum number of registrations. Refer to the following Web sites for details.
The Learning Services Collaborations department is responsible for the overall coordination of grouped-study courses. Learning Services Tutorial staff will assist you with questions or concerns that you may have about your tutor whether you are taking a course by home-study or individualized study delivery.
The Cree course is currently available by grouped study only, which means it can only be offered in a classroom, subject to sufficient enrolment. We are working towards developing these courses for homestudy in the future.
Programs
Go to this link to see the complete list of all of our Undergraduate and Graduate programs.
A focus on Indigenous Studies can definitely be of benefit to you. If you have interest in the subject, or intend to work specifically with Indigenous people in the future it will be a plus. In Canada , there is no doubt that having knowledge of Indigenous Studies will come in handy.
If you are not yet sure of what concentrations you want to focus on, I would suggest INST 203 - Indigenous Studies Level I. This course will give you an overview of the history about Indigenous people in Canada.
The Bachelor of Management Degree - Indigenous Nations & Organizations Major has been changed to the Bachelor of Commerce in Indigenous Business Major.
Nukskahtowin and the Faculty of Business are collaborating to offer the Bachelor of Commerce in Indigenous Business degree that focuses on principles of Indigenous business and governance from an Indigenous perspective. For more information, please contact Nukskahtowin or view the degree regulations below.
Athabasca University has many Programs in several disciplines, including Undergraduate programs (3 & 4 yr. Degrees, Post-Diploma degrees, Diploma programs, and Certificate programs) and also Graduate Studies.
Making a Decision
Though there are lots of options for courses and programs, a good way to start taking one course for interest. (INST 203) Individual courses start every month, so you don't need to wait until traditional semester start dates to sign up, you may register on any given month throughout the entire year.
Advising Services and Counselling Services can help you to clarify your educational and career goals.
INST 111 - Introductory Cree I and INST 112 - Introductory Cree II are designed for students with no previous knowledge of the Cree language. The course introduces students to the Plains Cree (Y dialect) grammar and vocabulary, and provides the opportunity to practice speaking Cree and working in the language laboratory. There are many online resources for the Cree language. Please contact Nukskahtowin for more information, or contact your local institutions' Department of Native Studies.
- ESL Resources Web Sites
- Am I Ready for Studies in Mathematics ?
- Are You Ready To Start A SCIS Program Or Course ?
- Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University Programs
- Exam Anxiety Assessment (registered students only)
- Mastering Exam Anxiety
- Intellectual Ownership and Honesty at Athabasca University
- Learning Success
- Study Related Resources by AU Staff for AU Students
- Other Study Skills Web Sites
For other questions:
For other questions, please refer to Ask AU.
For more information:
- Here is the link to Athabasca University's Office of the Registrar
- Here is a link to Athabasca University's Accessibility Services webpage
- Here is a link to Athabasca University's main Advising Services webpage and many more FAQs
Contact the Indigenous Student Advisor at Nukskahtowin!
Phone: 1-800-788-9041 ext. 5054
Email: indigenous@athabascau.ca
Updated February 07, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)