Students Confront Competitive Admissions for University STEM Programs

Applications for university STEM programs in Alberta are becoming increasingly competitive, leaving many students anxious about their chances of admission. Asiya Iskander, a Grade 12 student at STEM Innovation Academy with a strong academic record, has been wait-listed for the biological sciences program at the University of Calgary. Despite maintaining a 93 per cent average, she faces uncertainty about her future in a field she hopes to pursue, specifically cardiothoracic surgery.

The growing challenge for students seeking admission to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs reflects a broader trend in Alberta. According to Jeff Crane, assistant principal at STEM Innovation Academy, the competition level has transformed significantly over the past decade. “When competition gets in the way of good kids getting access to programs, that’s when there is an issue,” he remarked, highlighting the stress faced by students.

The University of Calgary has noted that the estimated competitive average for biological sciences is in the low 90s. This year, applications for fall 2025 surged by nine per cent compared to the previous year, attributed in part to a growing population of university-aged students. The university has responded by expanding enrollment in several high-demand faculties, including engineering and science, with a 12.5 per cent increase in total enrollment since 2021.

Similar trends are evident at the University of Alberta, where admission averages for engineering programs typically range from the mid- to high-80s, while certain science programs require averages in the low 90s. Over the past decade, admission rates for undergraduate STEM programs have remained consistent, dropping slightly from 53 per cent in 2016 to 50 per cent in fall 2025. During this same period, first-year STEM capacity increased by more than 15 per cent, driven primarily by a rise in domestic enrollment. However, applications to STEM programs surged by nearly 52 per cent, indicating robust interest among prospective students.

The pressure on students to maintain high academic averages has intensified. Wayne Bobrosky, co-founder of Upperhand High School & Post-Secondary Counselling, noted that it is increasingly challenging for students to achieve scores in the low 90s. “The academic averages since COVID have been exceedingly high and they’ve remained quite high,” Bobrosky observed.

In light of these challenges, STEM Innovation Academy is advocating for increased provincial funding to expand STEM program capacity. Lisa Davis, the academy’s founder, expressed hope that the upcoming provincial budget would allocate funds for new post-secondary spaces ahead of the September 2026 academic year. “We have this amazing group of students who have big dreams about what their future holds and they’re concerned that they’re not going to be able to get in the programs they need to,” she stated.

In response to these challenges, Myles McDougall, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education, announced that the province is investing more than $97 million to expand high-demand STEM programs through targeted enrollment growth in the Budget 2025. This initiative will add 624 seats in computer and software engineering, 609 seats in general engineering, and 2,874 seats in various technology programs across Alberta.

As of the 2024-25 academic year, approximately 65,000 students are enrolled in STEM programs in the province, with around 25,000 women and 40,000 men participating. The increasing pressure on students highlights the urgent need for expanded opportunities in STEM education to meet rising demand and support the aspirations of future generations.