Admission Policy For Indigenous Candidates To First-Entry Undergraduate Programs

Approved by Senate April 28, 2011, Amended October 30, 2018

In recognition of the need to encourage participation by members of the Indigenous community in post-secondary education, Queen’s University offers Indigenous candidates an additional and alternative pathway for admission to the first year of a full-time, first-entry undergraduate degree program.

Indigenous candidates must apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and should expect to meet the general admission conditions for each program (at minimum the university admission average) and deadlines for undergraduate admission, including completion of the Personal Statement of Experience (PSE) and any applicable supplementary essays.

Offers of admission will be made to Indigenous candidates whose total application shows strong evidence of academic preparedness and potential. Students who are admitted under this policy will be encouraged to make use of the academic advising and academic support services available to all students at Queen’s University. The Indigenous Council of Queen’s University, the Queen’s Native Students Association, and the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre are important resources for Aboriginal students. In addition, the students will be introduced to the contacts and services available at the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre during the application process, upon admission, and during Orientation Week. Queen’s University encourages students to access these services throughout their time at Queen’s.

Candidates seeking admission consideration under this policy should submit a separate letter to Undergraduate Admission stating that they wish to be considered under this policy and provide evidence of Indigenous ancestry. An Indigenous Person is considered an Indigenous Person of North America (treaty status, non-status, Métis or Inuit). In addition to the student’s Personal Statement of Experience, admission to Queen’s University will depend on the assessment of the student’s program pre-requisites (or equivalences) as well as the student’s overall average. The number of students admitted each year under this policy will be determined in the annual enrollment plan upon consultation with the faculties and schools.