The Open Studies program is designed to help you explore the areas that you are most passionate about to better inform your program choice. With the choice of a wide range of Olds College programs to explore, you can earn post-secondary credits and ease into the post-secondary environment before determining your career path.
In any course you choose at Olds College, there will be a heavy focus on hands-on learning. If you are looking to explore career areas, add to present training, gain admission requirements to other programs at the College, or to gain employable skills in specific areas, Open Studies is a great fit for you!
Length of Program: Students may study full-time (nine or more credits) or part-time (eight or less credits).
Method of Delivery: On-Campus
Program Intakes:
- Fall Intake - September program start
- Winter Intake - January program start
Applications Open: October 1 for Fall Intake, February 1 for Winter Intake
There are no admission requirements to enter Open Studies; however, please submit your high school and any post-secondary transcripts as these will be retained on file.
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition: $5,020 / Fees: $1,300 / Books & Supplies: $1,500
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
* Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*
Scholarships & Student Awards
Olds College offers over 450 awards, valued at $500,000+ in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
For additional information on scholarships, bursaries and prizes at Olds College, visit Scholarships & Awards
Entrance Awards Available!
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1500 for students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year and have a paid tuition deposit by June 15, 2022.
Awards are selected randomly from those that have applied and qualify based on the criteria.
Award will be applied as a tuition credit to the student's account after the add/drop course deadline, confirming full-time attendance.
Not all that apply will receive an entrance award.
Student Funding
For information on how to apply for government student loans, financial aid or for help with financial planning, visit our Student Funding page.
Courses
Please note, course selection for Open Studies students is based on overall enrolment in college programs and individual course capacities. With many programs and courses full at Olds College, course availability is limited to a few courses in programs such as Agricultural Management, Business Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Land Agent, Land & Water Resources.
Academic Calendar: View Courses
Class Registration: Class Registration typically happens 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. Open Studies students are required to contact the Office of the Registrar at 403-556-8281 to make an appointment to meet with an Advisor who will help them select their classes for the year. Please note, not all classes offered by Olds College are available to students in Open Studies. The Advisor will let you know which classes are an option for you and help you register in the ones you select.
First priority for course registration is given to students enrolled in the specific programs. If there is a specific area or program of interest, it is best to apply directly to that program to ensure course availability
Admitted Student Information
Program Dates: Find out when you term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
Class Registration: Open Studies students will be contacted by Student Advisors approximately one month prior to their start term to select courses. Please note, not all classes offered by Olds College are available to students in Open Studies. The Student Advisor will provide you with a list of courses at time of registration.
Technology Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College with the following technology:
- A laptop is preferred (Mac or PC)
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
- Go to portal.office.com
- Enter your Olds College email address and password
- Once logged in there is a button on the right that says "Install Office Apps"
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Materials & Supplies: Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
For More Information
Our Admissions office can help navigate you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have about your program of study.
