Be ready for your academic journey by learning the essentials.
Whether you need to complete your high school equivalency or enhance your grades for further education, we designed the Academic Upgrading program to thoroughly prepare you with the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed in your chosen field. Let’s get you on the path to realizing your dreams!
Note: Please meet with an advisor before applying to ensure you are meeting your upgrading needs.
Why should you take academic upgrading at Lethbridge Polytechnic?
At Lethbridge Polytechnic, develop a strong learning foundation with our preparatory upgrading courses before you embark on your career journey. Enjoy smaller class sizes and supportive learning environments, develop meaningful connections with fellow students and be ready for your chosen path. Upon completion, academic upgrading courses taken at Lethbridge Polytechnic can be used towards admission requirements for a Lethbridge Polytechnic program or at another Alberta post-secondary institution.
1
of the most accessible upgrading programs in Alberta based on price and course availability
7
courses on offer including biology, chemistry, physics, science, math and English
30
complete your 30-level courses to meet post-secondary program admission requirements
Career Opportunities
Academic Upgrading courses can lead to many opportunities. Our students have continued into certificate, diploma and degree programs. They have entered professional and apprenticeship programs and have moved on to successful careers. You'll also find that our courses offer a good foundation for beginning employment.
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September or January
Credential / Accreditation
Credential of Achievement
International Eligibility
This program is available for International Students.
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Academic Centre
Program Availability
Admissions
Upgrading informationNew applicants are accepted into the Academic Upgrading program for courses beginning in the Fall (September) or Winter (January).
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge Polytechnic programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Academic Requirements
The Academic Upgrading program is open to any person who has the desire and the academic skills to be successful at a selected course level.
Use the following guide from Alberta Education for course placement
Students in the Academic Upgrading program who accumulate at least 18 credits in academic upgrading courses are eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement. To qualify, students must take three courses numbered 0030 through 0039, including at least one English course, and achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00.
| Partner Institution | Partner Program | Incoming/Outgoing | Effective Dates and Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Various | Outgoing |
Ongoing
VariousCourses numbered at the 0030 level in this program are accepted in lieu of high school courses for admission at Alberta universities, colleges, and technical institutes, as well as at most colleges and universities in the United States. However, students do not receive high school credits towards a diploma from Alberta Education. Lethbridge Polytechnic issues its own grades and its own credential. Courses numbered 1130 are accepted as admission for select programs at Lethbridge Polytechnic |
Students register in courses that fit their career goals. Consult the Lethbridge Polytechnic Advising team for help with course selections. Transcripts and placement testing may be used to determine the course level placement.
Course offerings may be subject to change. Courses are available face-to-face given sufficient enrolment.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-0030 | Biology 0030 | 6 |
| CHM-0030 | Chemistry 0030 | 6 |
| ENG-0030 | English 0030 | 6 |
| ENG-0032 | English 0032 | 6 |
| MTH-0030 | Mathematics 0030 | 6 |
| MTH-0032 | Mathematics 0032 | 6 |
| PHY-0030 | Physics 0030 | 6 |
High School Equivalencies
Academic Upgrading courses satisfy post-secondary program entrance requirements as substitutes for Grade 12 level courses. No provincial departmental exams are required. The course numbering designates grade levels:
- Courses numbered 0030-0039 parallel Grade 12 level courses.
For further details, consult the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) guide or talk to an Academic Advisor.
Course Delivery Options
Our courses are offered in a variety of formats, with the majority being offered in a face-to-face format where you will attend class at a scheduled time and location. An instructor will be physically present to assist you. The format in which a course is offered may change at short notice, depending on enrolments and student needs.
Registration Changes
Course registrations or “add/drops” must be carried out in consultation with a sponsorship supervisor, if applicable. It is the student’s responsibility to register for and maintain credit minimums as required for sponsorship and to ensure their registration is sufficient to meet their sponsoring agencies’ requirements.
View course timetablesTuition costs are estimates for the 2025/2026 year.
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$3,420.00
|
$1,606.00
|
$1,400.00
|
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$16,920.00
|
$1,606.00
|
$1,400.00
|
Notes
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Budget Wizard
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge Polytechnic campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge Polytechnic awards and scholarships- visit our Awards and Scholarships page for more information.
Featured Graduates
John Manyok
“I realized the best thing I can do is go back to school. I was making money, but nothing changed. It was a tough decision to go back to school. But education is the key to everything.”
Angela Nelson
“I am a mature student, a single parent, and entering a career that is non-traditional for women. I was scared of not succeeding. Lethbridge College stood behind me and supported me.”
Heather Varty
Recipient of the first Sharon Hendrickson Memorial Scholarship for Upgrading students
“It meant so much more that I was selected – that they chose me, because they thought I exemplified what Sharon's scholarship sought to reward. And sometimes that was what kept me going, that they had faith, that they believed in me, even in the times when I might not have believed in myself.”