General Admission Qualifications
Students may be granted Full Admission to a Seminary program as a Regular Student by meeting the following Personal Character, Academic and English Language Proficiency requirements.
Personal Qualifications
Because the primary purpose of the Seminary is to prepare students for Christian ministries, your application must demonstrate a personal commitment to Christ that has existed at least one year prior to your projected date of enrolment. You should also have balanced personality, reputable character and a motivation to learn.
Submit a 2-3 page testimony that provides a description of your faith journey and an explanation of your ministry involvement (or academic goals if you are applying to the Master of Theological Studies). In addition, submit a Pastor/Denominational Leader Reference and an Employer Reference.
Academic Qualifications
Applicants for all Seminary programs must:
- possess a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent (with a minimum of 90 credit hours) from a recognized or accredited university, college or Bible college;
- have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale in the last two years of study.
English Language Proficiency (English Language Programs)
Students whose first language is not English, and who have not studied in a recognized English-speaking post-secondary institution (where the language of instruction is English), must demonstrate English proficiency for academic purposes by fulfilling the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- TOEFL* (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- a minimum score of 560 on the paper-based; or
- a minimum score of 83 on the internet-based TOEFL; or
- a minimum score of 5.0 on the Test of Written English (TWE); or
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS Academic test; or
- MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery)
- a minimum score of 85; or
- CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment
- a minimum score of 70 with no section less than 60; or
- PTE (Pearson Test of English)
- a minimum score of 58 on the Academic version; or
- Duolingo English Test
- a minimum score of 110 with no sub-score below 100
One or more of the above may be required, and you may be asked to provide an additional writing sample.
*The TOEFL institution code for Ambrose is 8915.
Special Admission Student Requirements
Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent (with a minimum of 90 credit hours) from a recognized or accredited university, college or Bible college with a GPA greater than 2.0 and less than 2.7 on a 4.0 scale may be considered for admission as a Special Student to:
- Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies,
- Graduate Certificate in Leadership or
- Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies
Upon completion of one of the above program requirements with a 2.7 cumulative GPA, students may pursue one of the following programs:
- Master of Christian Studies,
- Master in Intercultural Ministry,
- Master in Leadership and Ministry,
- Master of Divinity, and/or
- Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Care
Mature Student Requirements
Students who do not meet the academic qualifications (have not completed a baccalaureate degree) and are at least 28 years of age may be considered for admission as a Mature Student. Mature Students must meet the personal character and English language proficiency requirements and may be admitted to the following Seminary programs:
- Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies,
- Graduate Certificate in Leadership or
- Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies
Upon completion of one of the above program requirements with a 2.7 cumulative GPA, students may pursue one of the following programs:
- Master of Christian Studies,
- Master in Intercultural Ministry,
- Master in Leadership and Ministry,
- Master of Divinity, and/or
- Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Care
Anyone seeking admission to the Master of Theological Studies program as a Mature Student must first complete a MCS or MDiv program, achieving a minimum 3.0 CGPA.
Mature students are not typically permitted to register for or participate in courses that are not a requirement of their program.
International Students
Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada require a study permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to study in a program that is longer that six months at Ambrose. Ambrose is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) recognized by the Alberta Government and IRCC – DLI# O18713147522.
Admitted international students are solely responsible for all arrangements relating to their immigration status and entry into Canada.
Open Studies
This is a status granted to eligible students wishing to take courses without enrolling in a particular academic program. This is a temporary designation only and students in this category are limited to registration in the number of courses in which they can register (3 in Seminary programs). Students enroling as an Open Studies student are expected to meet the English language proficiency requirements. To continue past Open Studies, students who have completed the maximum number of course must apply and be accepted into an academic program. Students do not graduate from Open Studies.
Visiting Students
Students who are enroled in a graduate degree program at another post-secondary institution may enrol at Ambrose with the following requirements:
- A Letter of Permission (LOP) from their home institution indicating the specific courses approved to take and the semester approved to attend Ambrose; and
- A copy of home institution transcript.
- English language proficiency may be required.
Suspended and Required to Withdraw Students
Students who have been required to withdraw or suspended for academic reasons from Ambrose or another post-secondary institution will not be permitted to enrol at Ambrose until at least twelve months have elapsed since the students was suspended.
In addition to meeting current admission requirements, students may be asked to submit a letter of explanation of their suspension, outline their education plan, and why they are now likely to be successful.
Admission consideration will be based on current admission requirements. Admission is considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the relevant Dean.
Students who have been suspended twice from Ambrose or any other post-secondary institution will not normally be considered for admission.
Admission Status
Former Student
This is an admissions status applied to a student who has been absent from the Seminary for one year and one semester. Former students must submit a new application for admission and considered for re-admission to a program.
Mature Student
This is an admissions status applied to a student admitted to a Seminary program that fulfills the personal character and English language proficiency requirement of the general admissions requirements, however, has not completed a baccalaureate degree.
Regular Student
This is an admissions status applied to a student admitted to a Seminary program that fulfills the general admissions requirements.
Special Admission Student
This is an admissions status applied to a student admitted to a Seminary program that fulfills the personal character and English language proficiency requirement of the general admissions requirements, however, does not meet the academic qualifications.
Admission Types
Students are admitted to a Seminary program under the following categories:
Full Admission
Students receive Full Admission upon satisfying all general admission requirements.
Conditional Admission
Students may be offered conditional offers of admission while certain application documents are outstanding. Conditional Admission is a temporary admission category and students must satisfy the conditions of admission by the end of the first semester of enrolment.