Male teacher with two young students

Bachelor of Education – University Transfer

If you want to become a teacher and work with children, you have options! Start your Bachelor of Education at RDP then choose to continue learning in our four-year B.Ed. degree program or transfer to another institution to complete your degree. You can take up to two years (60 credits) in the RDP B.Ed. University Transfer program. 
Domestic Status:
Open
International Status:
Open
Next Start date:
University Transfer
2 Years at RDP; 2 Years at Most Universities
Accepting International Students
Full-Time Part-Time On Campus Online Blended

About the Bachelor of Education – University Transfer

RDP offers up to two years (60 credits) of transferable coursework to a four-year Bachelor of Education program at the University of Alberta in Elementary or Secondary Education or a five-year combined degree program at the University of Alberta or the University of Lethbridge. Transfer to other institutions is also possible.

Students interested in a major or minor teaching subject that is not offered at RDP are encouraged to explore degree programs at other institutions.

You can also apply to the RDP four-year B.Ed. degree program for admission to Year One or Year Two. First-year coursework applies to multiple degree programs.

Work-integrated Learning

To help you determine if a career in teaching is the right choice for you, students will have the opportunity to observe in a variety of classrooms as part of the first-year EDUC 1500 course, 'The Teaching Profession'.

Further Study

Students in university transfer programs are strongly advised to refer to their destination university calendar and should contact appropriate university departments as required. Universities accept a limited number of students to the Bachelor of Education program.

Successful transfer admission is based on proper course selection, credit hours completed, grade point average (GPA) and other requirements. The requirements vary depending on which university, route and major/minor you choose. Some routes and majors are more competitive than others and may require a higher grade point average to gain admission.

Red Deer Polytechnic offers up to two years of coursework in Bachelor of Education programs transferable to the University of Alberta and the University of Lethbridge. Some routes and majors may require transfer after one year if RDP does not offer all the needed courses. 

Before planning your program and registering for courses, decide on which university you wish to attend, the grade level you want to teach and the subject area in which you will specialize. Contact the Student Connect Centre for detailed information regarding course selection and transfer admission requirements. 

Domestic Intakes

Winter 2025 - Open
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Fall 2025 - Open
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International Intakes

Winter 2025 - Closed
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Fall 2025 - Open
  • Application window:
    -
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  • First day of classes:

Note:

  • International students must pay their tuition deposit to receive their letters of acceptance 

  • Important dates may change 

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admissions Requirements page for detailed group descriptions.   

If you are an international student or have completed your high school education outside of Alberta, please refer to our International Course Equivalencies page for information on how your coursework may align with our admission requirements. 

Eligibility for admission to the Bachelor of Education - University Transfer program at Red Deer Polytechnic requires applicants to meet minimum academic requirements. Qualified applicants who meet all minimum requirements will be offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis.

Academic Requirements 

Students applying to Education must have a minimum overall average of 60% with no mark below 50% in the following programs or their equivalent:      

  • ELA 30-1  

  • Subject from Group A, B or C  

    • Group A • Aboriginal Studies 30 • English Language Arts (ELA) 30-1 • Social Studies 30-1 • Language 30 or 35 (other than English)   

    • Group B • Art 30 • Art 31 • Band 35 • Choir 35 • Dance 35 • Drama 30 • Music 35 • Performing Arts 35A • Note: Other 5-credit Fine Arts and/or Advanced Level CTS courses may be considered.   

    • Group C • Biology 30 • Chemistry 30 • Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 • Mathematics 31 • Physics 30 • Science 30 • Five credits of Advanced Level Computer Science (CSE)  

Students must meet high school course prerequisites for all required coursework.  

Students entering Elementary Education transferable to University of Alberta are strongly advised to possess Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 to meet the prerequisite for the required Mathematics courses in the Degree.  

If you do not meet a high school prerequisite for required coursework you will need to take upgrading coursework to meet the prerequisite and complete the courses required for your degree.  

Additional Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) for admission to credit programs by providing official documentation to the Office of the Registrar after an online application has been submitted. All ELP tests must have been obtained within two years of the date their program starts. ELP requirements are in addition to the other admission requirements noted above. 

Eligibility for Certification as a Teacher in Alberta 

Applicants should be aware that all Bachelor of Education graduates who apply for certification as a teacher in Alberta will be subject to the following restrictions on eligibility:  

  • Evidence of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency       

  • Evidence of proficiency in English or French  

  • Except where the Minister of Education decides otherwise, the Registrar (Teacher Development and Certification, Alberta Education) shall not issue a teaching certificate to:

    • a person who has been convicted for an indictable offense under the Criminal Code; or

    • a person whom the Registrar has reason to believe should not be issued a certificate.

The Registrar shall refuse to issue a teaching certificate to any applicant possessing an indictable criminal conviction. The Registrar may refuse to issue a teaching certificate to an applicant possessing a criminal conviction of a nature deemed unsuitable for teaching children or for any other reason. Applicants may appeal the decision of the Registrar to a Certification Appeal Committee established by the Minister. Appeals must be made in writing within 30 days of being advised of the Registrar's decision not to issue a certificate.  

For additional information please contact the Registrar, Teacher Development and Certification, Alberta Education at 310.000 and then 780.427.2045 or visit www.alberta.ca/teacher-certification.aspx  

Practicum Requirements

While not an admission requirement for the program, applicants are advised that they will be required to provide a Police Information Check or Vulnerable Sector Check to most agencies where they will be placed for practicum experiences. The existence of a criminal record may prevent practicum placement, program completion, and professional licensure and therefore affect future employment prospects.   

Each agency or institution decides to accept or reject a student for placement or observation experience based on the results of the criminal record check. Students should be prepared for approximately $50 to $75 in extra expenses to acquire these documents annually. 

Program Cost

Domestic Students
Year 1
$5,386.00
Year 2
$5,712.00

These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year, additional fees apply.

Domestic Program Cost Estimates  

International Students
Year 1
$18,843.00
Year 2
$19,985.00

These costs are an estimate of tuition based on the recommended course load per year, additional fees apply.

International Program Cost Estimates 

Program Content

There are many pathways toward a Bachelor of Education degree (B.Ed.) that begin at Red Deer Polytechnic. Students may need to transfer to pursue majors or minors in subject areas that we do not currently offer. The following information provides further details.

Transfer to RDP Bachelor of Education Degree:

Students must meet the degree requirements and specialize in Early Years (K- 4), Middle Years (5 – 9) or Secondary. 

Transfer to University of Alberta (U of A) – three pathways: 

  • Elementary – A B.Ed. generalist degree to prepare you to teach Grades K – 6. Transfer after Year 1 or 2 

  • Secondary – This route prepares you to teach Grades 7 to 12 and you will need to choose a teaching subject major and minor. Transfer after Year 1 or 2

  • French – offered in collaboration with Campus Saint-Jean at U of A

Transfer to the University of Lethbridge (U of L) – this is a five-year combined degree program (BA or BSc + B.Ed.) that prepares you to teach Grades K – 12. Transfer after Year 1 or 2.  

 Transfer to other post-secondary institutions: check course transferability using the Alberta Transfer Guide and contact your intended institution for further information. 

See below for an indication of how the first-year courses transfer to B.Ed programs at other institutions. Although a course may be listed as transferable in the Alberta Transfer Guide, it may not fulfil the requirements for a specific degree program. A course that does not fulfill certain degree requirements is listed as N/A (not applicable to the degree). The course can still be taken, but it may be extra to your degree requirements. Consult the Academic Planning Guides for specific program details.

FIRST-YEAR COURSES:    

EDUC 1301 (EDCM 341)    

  • RDP: Required    

  • U of A Elementary: Open Option    

  • U of A Secondary: Open Option    

  • U of L: Education Option    

EDUC 1302 (EDIT 302)    

  • RDP: Required    

  • U of A Elementary: Required    

  • U of A Secondary: Required    

  • U of L: Education Option    

EDUC 1304  (New Course)

  • RDP: Required    

  • U of A Elementary: Open Option    

  • U of A Secondary: Open Option   

  • U of L: Education Option    

EDUC 1305 (EDPY 305)    

  • RDP: Required    

  • U of A Elementary: Required    

  • U of A Secondary: N/A  

  • U of L: Education Option    

EDUC 1500  (EDUC 250)    

  • RDP: Required 

  • U of A Elementary: Required 

  • U of A Secondary: Required 

  • U of L: Required 

EDPY 307

  • RDP: EDPY 200 or 307 will be used in lieu of EDUC 1305 for our RDP B.Ed. degree.

  • U of A Elementary: N/A

  • U of A Secondary: Required 

  • U of L: Education Option   (in lieu of EDUC 1305) 

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of all degree requirements, obtaining 120 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Continuing and Professional Education

Further your career by advancing your existing skills through flexible courses, micro-credentials and programs.