We strongly recommend that international students applying to the seminary submit their application six (6) months prior to their desired starting date.
International Student Handbook
*Late applications may not allow enough time for a study permit to be processed by the Government of Canada. A delayed start date may need to be considered. To check processing times for study permit applications, visit the Government of Canada website.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A letter of acceptance for the purpose of obtaining a study permit cannot be released until the application portfolio is complete and reviewed and sufficient funds have been deposited into the applicant's student account.
Step 1
Be informed
Read the general Seminary Admission Requirements before proceeding.
Read the Financial Requirements [(below) before proceeding.
Read the Official Transcripts Requirements (below) before proceeding.
Read the English Language Requirement (below) before proceeding.
Step 2
Submit your Briercrest application
- Complete the Online Application Form (International students must provide a $250 non-refundable application fee made in Canadian funds; American students pay a $50 non-refundable application fee in Canadian funds).
- Submit all requested documents
- Official transcripts sent from all post-secondary and graduate institutions you have attended to be sent to Briercrest Seminary.
- Sealed Transcript can be mailed to:
Briercrest Seminary Admissions
510 College Drive, Caronport, SK S0H 0S0 - eTranscript can be sent to:
seminaryenrollment@briercrest.ca
Should be password-protected.
* Transcripts sent by you, or eTranscripts sent from unofficial school emails (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.) will not be accepted as official copies.
- Sealed Transcript can be mailed to:
- Pastoral Reference form
- Academic Reference form
- Outcomes Assessment form for the program you are applying for.
- Outcomes Assessment: Certificate of the Seminary
- Outcomes Assessment: MA Biblical Languages and Exegesis
- Outcomes Assessment: MA Leadership and Management
- Outcomes Assessment: MA Marriage and Family Therapy
- Outcomes Assessment: MA Theological Studies
- Outcomes Assessment: Master of Christian Ministries
- Outcomes Assessment: Master of Counseling
- Outcomes Assessment: Master of Divinity
- Official transcripts sent from all post-secondary and graduate institutions you have attended to be sent to Briercrest Seminary.
*Please note that the Briercrest Seminary Admission Office reserves the right to request additional information from any applicant.
Step 3: Additional Requirements for Counselling Programs
(Only for Counselling Programs – Master of Counselling, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Certificate of the Seminary in Counselling)
After Step 2, we will review your application, and once your general admission has been approved, you will receive an email from us with further instructions.
Please see this PDF file for detailed information about the application process to these programs.
Counselling Program Application Deadlines are April 30 (for start in January) and November 30 (for start in August) each year.
The other programs do not have application deadlines. We accept applications year-round.
Step 4
Deposit the full amount of your first year’s tuition, fees, and living expenses into your Briercrest Seminary student account. (Not applicable for American students, though proof of funds must be shown at customs/border crossing.)
- After applying, a cost of attendance letter will be sent to you with the estimated cost for your first year of studies and steps for depositing the required financial guarantee.
- See Financial Requirement (below) for more information.
Step 5
Prepare documents for your study permit application
- Once accepted, your letter of acceptance and a proof of funds statement will be sent to you. You will need these to apply for your study permit with the Government of Canada.
- Learn more about study permits and what’s needed here.
- NOTE: You will receive a letter of introduction from the Government of Canada once your application has been approved. Please note that this is NOT your study permit. Study permits are given at customs/borders.
Financial Requirements
All unused funds deposited to a student account for the purposes of demonstrating financial stability for entrance into the country will be refunded to the student.
See these pages for more information on:
For the study permit application, the Canadian government requires international students to provide a financial guarantee for themselves and all dependents that will be accompanying them to Canada for their first year of study. International students must deposit sufficient funds to cover tuition, living expenses, and other school fees for the student and family for the first year of studies in the applicant's Briercrest College and Seminary student account. Your financial estimate will be sent to you by your Admissions Adviser during the Briercrest application process.
NOTE: Payment should be made in Canadian funds and is payable only by wire transfer, certified cheque, MasterCard, or VISA. These amounts will be held on deposit at Briercrest until they are needed for their intended purpose. If a study permit is denied, the full cost of attendance deposited minus processing fees will be refunded to the student.
Official Transcripts Requirements
Students must submit official copies of transcripts from:
- All post-secondary institutions from which have graduated or attended
- Any classes taken from another graduate school or seminary
Where transcripts are in an original language other than French or English, notarized English translations of the transcripts must also be provided.
Transcripts will be analyzed for transfer credit.
Transcripts are to be mailed directly from the issuing institution to:
Briercrest Admissions
510 College Drive
Caronport SK S0H 0S0 Canada
See our general policy on Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning.
Foreign Credential Recognition
Briercrest requires that the academic records of applicants who have completed postsecondary education outside of Canada and/or the United States be assessed for Canadian equivalency. Briercrest requires a course-by-course or comprehensive assessment. (This policy can also be found in our Seminary Academic Calendar.)
English Language Requirements
All applicants for whom English is not their first language must show that they are able to perform at a high academic level in English. This must be demonstrated by completing one of the following:
- Completed a four-year undergraduate degree in English from Canada or one of the countries listed on the English Language Proficiency Test Exemption List GPA of 2.5.
- Completed one of the following standardized tests, and submitting test results to the Admissions Office (scores are valid for a maximum of two years):
Graduate Degree Program (M.Div, MCM, MATS, MABLE, MALM) Requirements:
*Please note that Counselling and certificate programs require alternative English proficiency scores.
| Test name | Score Required | Test Contact |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) *Briercrest Institution Code: 9644. | Minimum total score of 90 with minimum of 20 in each test category. | www.toefl.org/index.html |
| CAEL | Minimum score 60 | www.cael.ca |
| IELTS (academic) | Band score, 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each band | www.ielts.org |
| MELAB | Minimum score, 85 | www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/ |
Counselling Programs (MC, MAMFT) Requirements
| Test name | Score Required | Test Contact |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) *Briercrest Institution Code: 9644. | Minimum total score 101 with a minimum of 22 in Writing and Reading, and 25 in listening and speaking. | |
| CAEL | Minimum score 80 | www.cael.ca |
| IELTS (academic) | Band score, 7.5 Minimum of 7.0 in Writing and Reading 7.5 in Listening and Speaking | www.ielts.org |
| MELAB | Minimum score, 91 | www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/ |
Seminary Certificate Program Requirements
| Test name | Score Required | Test Contact |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) *Briercrest Institution Code: 9644. | Minimum total score of 83 with minimum of 20 in each test category. | www.toefl.org/index.html |
| CAEL | Minimum score 60 | www.cael.ca |
| IELTS (academic) | Band score, 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in each band | www.ielts.org |
| MELAB | Minimum score, 78-85 | www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/ |
- Exemptions to the English Language Proficiency Requirements: The applicant may not be required to provide an English testing result when applying from one of the following countries: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brunei, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon (with proof of instruction in English), Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pacific Island Trust Territory, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Ryukyus Island, Scotland, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Students enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Pathway program may transition through the program upon meeting the requirements below.
Intermediate level (1 semester) -> High Intermediate Level (1semester) -> EAP Pathway (1 semester) -> Enrolled in full time studies (Certificate of the Seminary)
Complete the High Intermediate level with an 85% average in each course. Students are required to have an 90% in writing class. Students who meet this requirement will be enrolled in two regular credit courses alongside EAP writing and EAP reading 600 level courses for one semester. Upon completion of the EAP classes with an 80%, students can then be enrolled in full time credit courses.
| Track | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | CAEL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Intermediate |
5.5 (minimum 5.0 in all areas) |
70 (15 or higher in all components) |
40 |
|
High Intermediate |
6.0 (minimum 5.5 in all areas) |
75 (17 or higher in all components |
50 |
|
EAP Pathway |
6.5 (minimum 5.5 in all areas) |
79 (18 or higher in all components) |
60 (50 or higher in all components) |
|
Direct Entry (Certificate of the Seminary) |
6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all areas) |
83 (19 or higher in all components) |
60 |
Important Update for Graduate Students Applying for Study Permits (2025-26 Academic Year)
Starting in Fall 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will require a new document for study permit applications: the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). This document is mandatory for all graduate-level students. Each institution will receive a limited number of PALs annually, with allocations expected to be announced in January. As a result, study permit documentation cannot be issued until institutions receive their PAL allotment. Further details on the PAL process and eligibility at Briercrest will be provided later this fall.
Important Updates on Post-Graduate Work Permit Eligibility and Student Employment
Effective November 1, 2024, additional changes will impact eligibility for Post-Graduate Work Permits and student employment in Canada. Please note that while Briercrest Seminary is a fully accredited private institution authorized to grant degrees through ATS and under a Province of Saskatchewan charter, it does not offer provincially authorized Master's programs. When researching eligibility for Post-Graduate Work Permits, on- and off-campus employment, and spousal work permits, be sure to consider this important information
