Preparing for Your Fresh Start Year

These are the key steps to take before September:

1. Accept your admission offer to Open Studies in Launchpad

   1. You’ll receive an email from the Registrar’s Office once your application has been processed (this can take 2–4 weeks).

2. Register for 18–24 credits

   1. Use Bear Tracks to register in Fall and Winter term courses. See tips below for choosing courses.

3. Prepare to Pay the Fresh Start Program Fee

   1. The $700 fee will be added to your Bear Tracks account after Sept 15th. It’s due by Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

4. Book an advising appointment

   1. You can schedule a one-on-one check-in with your Fresh Start advisor anytime through this link.

Date: Wednesday, August 26-28, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Location: [TBD or Zoom Link]

What to expect:

• Meet your program coordinators and peers

• Learn how to succeed in your Fresh Start year

• Get set up with the Cognitive Strategies eClass

• Ask questions about course planning, resources, and more
  
  

Questions?  Contact us at fstart@ualberta.ca.

Use these tips when selecting your 18–24 credits:

• Contact your target faculty to confirm admission requirements. This might also be in your RTW letter from the faculty.

• Avoid repeating passed courses or taking equivalents. They will not count towards your admission or degree requirements.

• Start early — course availability may be limited as the summer progresses

• Review the Open Studies Course Listings for approved options
  
  

If you need help, book a course planning appointment or email fstart@ualberta.ca.

The non-credit Canvas course titled Fresh Start Cognitive Strategies opens on:
Tuesday, September 1, 2026

You’ll find it on your eClass dashboard after you register in Bear Tracks. All students must complete this course to stay in good standing.

Time commitment: about 2–3 hours per week
Assignments begin the first week of September.

If you’re having trouble:

• Contact the Student Service Centre for help with Bear Tracks, Launchpad, or your offer
  
  

• Visit the Office of the Registrar – Financial Support for bursary or funding and Student Loan info.

Our advisors are here to support you. You can:

• Book a 30- or 50-minute advising appointment here.

• Ask course planning questions

• Get advice on study strategies, time management, or how to balance your course load

We’re here to help you start strong.