Early Start Experience

Early Start Experience (ESE) promotes student success and eases the transition from high school to university.

Deadline: Applications will be accepted, as long as space remains, until Aug. 1, 2027.

Dates: August 23 to September 3, 2027, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, ending at noon on the last day.

Cost: Standard ULethbridge tuition fees for one course (part of student’s total 40 courses)

• Early residence move in cost, TBD.

Format

1. Acceptance to the Early Start Experience (ESE) is conditional on being accepted to ULethbridge for the Fall 2027 term. ESE is open to students in all majors/programs.
2. Registration | Registration opens May 5, 2027. You will be registered in Summer Session III for the course LBED 1967, as an Open Studies student. Complete the Open Studies application form (PDF) and select “Early Start” in the last section. Please return it by email to the Student Enrolment and Registrar Services (SEARS) office at regoffice@uleth.ca.
3. There is an initial $140.00 fee ($40.00 open studies fee/$100.00 tuition deposit); once you send in the form you will be contacted about payment information.
4. The ESE will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, starting on the morning of August 24. Don't worry, you won't be sitting in lectures all day! There will be 2 to 3 hours of lecture per day most days, interspersed with lots of activities, tours, discussion time, work time etc.

Questions?

Please contact:

Dr. Brendan Cummins
School of Liberal Education
Email: brendan.cummins@uleth.ca
Phone: 403-332-5281

To be eligible for the Early Start Experience, you must have already applied to the University of Lethbridge for the fall term. Then, complete the Open Studies Registration Form and in the section at the bottom, "I am registering in," select Early Start, and enter LBED 1967 under course subject and number.

Registration opens May 5, 2027. Applications will be accepted, as long as space remains, until August 1, 2027.

Early Start participants will:

• Get a full course credit for LBED 1967: Early Start Experience that counts towards your 40 required degree courses and reduced the number of classes you need to take in the first semester.
• Build social networks with a diverse group of incoming students.
• Develop the skills & resources needed to be successful in university.

Activities include:

• Library skills workshop on resources and research databases
• Writing skills workshops sessions on success and study skills
• Tours of all parts of the campus
• Guest lectures from some of our best ULethbridge profs
• Small group meetings with a selection of professors, to discuss courses, research and jobs opportunities

LBED 1967: Early Start Experience

A liberal education challenges boundaries and borders and helps establish connections between ideas and disciplines. University offers a variety of new communities —physical spaces, social relationships and academic communities. This course will introduce you to these communities and help you find your place. Using maps and the process of map-making as guiding metaphors, you will learn valuable social, cultural, and academic skills to help you succeed at ULethbridge.

This course will be based in a classroom, but you will spend a lot of time outside the classroom on tours and activities. Lecturers from diverse disciplines will introduce you to their research; you’ll engage with the academic community and develop connections to professors. Learn about the services and support available to support your success at university and beyond.

What participants have gotten from the Early Start Experience:

“The Early Start Experience has truly made me a better student not only with academics but also getting ready to become involved in the U of L community. This experience has helped me make friends and get to know others I might see around campus. Every lesson was a piece of the puzzle towards the end of the course, connecting all the tools each student needs to become successful in university.” ~ 2026 Early Start Student

“The course prepared me and gave me the opportunity to help others with their studies, learn more about my major, and ready myself for the years to come. I would recommend the course a million times over.”  ~ 2026 Early Start Student

“I am very glad I took this course, not only for the credits, but also the experience. If I could do a presentation on it every year to encourage first years to do it, I would. The changes I’ve noticed in how I feel about university have been clear this past week and it makes me excited.” ~ 2026 Early Start Student