Open Studies

Program Details

• Admission Requirements

  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 of Agriculture & Technology 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 & Affordability

  Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.

  Tuition, Fees & Payments

  Scholarships & Student Awards

  Olds College of Agriculture & Technology 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 - $1,500 for students applying for the upcoming academic year and have paid the tuition deposit by the deadline.

  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 of Agriculture & Technology, 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.

• Is Open Studies Right For You?

  Thank you for your interest in Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and Open Studies. We want to ensure that you are selecting the right courses that match your areas of interest, so we would like to make you aware of what Open Studies is at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. 

  Reasons to Enrol in Open Studies:

  • Explore career areas
  • Add to existing training and experience
  • Gain employability skills in various career areas
  • Complete courses for transfer to other program areas

  Reasons Open Studies may not be the right fit for you:

  • Does not lead to a credential
  • Does not guarantee you specific courses 
  • Courses are VERY limited for Open Studies students as it is dependent on space availability
  • Limited funding opportunities available

  Please be aware that Olds College of Agriculture & Technology does not offer upgrading courses. Further information on upgrading within Alberta can be found on the Alberta Education website.

  Are you seeking a credential but want to take a reduced course load (fewer than 5 courses/15 credits)?

  • It is recommended to apply to the credential you are seeking and complete the appropriate add/drop forms before the drop deadline

  • This will ensure you are timetabled in the appropriate courses leading to your credential  

  If you have further questions about Open Studies or any other program at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, email recruitment@oldscollege.ca.

• Admitted Students

  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 of Agriculture & Technology 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.