Indigenous admissions pathways
Offering equitable access to NAIT’s competitive programs is important. Check your program page (under Admission Requirements) to see if your program is competitive or if a program interview is a part of the application.
NAIT offers the following admissions pathways to Indigenous applicants:
Competitive entrance programs
If you are an Indigenous applicant and meet the minimum entrance requirements for a competitive program, but have not met the program’s competitive entrance requirements, you will be considered for direct admission according to the date your application was completed.
Reserved seats for Indigenous learners
For degree, diploma, and certificate programs without an interview, NAIT reserves a limited number of seats for Indigenous applicants each term to support our commitment to improving access to post-secondary education. Be sure to apply early for admission! About 6 months before term starts, any unfilled seats are released to the remaining applicant pool.
Personal story option instead of a program interview
For programs that require a program interview, Indigenous applicants that meet the minimum entrance requirements can choose to share their personal story rather than participate in a formal program interview.
- Please note that sharing a personal story does not guarantee admission and can often be just as challenging as completing a traditional interview. Instead it provides Indigenous students an opportunity to share their learnings and lived experiences in a different format, highlighting their personal journey.
Review the information below to learn more, including the full personal story process and eligibility requirements.
Prefer a program interview?
You also have the option to complete a standard program interview, instead of a personal story submission. Once Admissions has processed your application, you can choose a program interview by following the steps outlined in your personal story To-Do list item in your MyNAIT portal (Open self service > Admissions). You will be placed in a personal story submission unless you follow these steps.
Tuition deposit waived for Indigenous learners
If you’re admitted to your program of choice, self-identifying Indigenous learners are not required to pay a tuition deposit* for degree, diploma or certificate programs (including Academic Upgrading). This helps remove financial barriers and supports you in pursuing your educational goals at NAIT.
Accept/Decline your offer
With your tuition deposit waived, you still need to confirm your plans to attend the program by using the accept/decline button in the MyNAIT Admissions section before the deadline in your e-letter. After receiving an admissions offer:
Accept your offer of admission
To accept your offer of admission:
- Log in to your MyNAIT portal
- Select Open Self Service
- Choose the Admissions tile
- Select your application, under your Admissions Status, you’ll see the accept and decline button
- Select Accept
- Confirm your choice to accept
If you don’t select the accept button before the deadline in your offer e-letter, your application will be cancelled, and your seat could be offered to another eager applicant.
Once you accept your offer, your tuition deposit will be waived and your program seat will be reserved.
Decline your offer of admission
If you don’t want to attend the program anymore, you can decline your admission offer. To decline your offer of admission:
- Log in to your MyNAIT portal
- Select Open Self Service
- Choose the Admissions tile
- Select your application, under your Admissions Status, you’ll see the accept and decline button
- Select Decline
- Confirm your choice to decline
Your offer of admission will then be cancelled.
Note: this accept / decline button is only visible for Indigenous students. All other applicants are required to pay a tuition deposit to accept their offer.
Personal story
This personal story option applies only to NAIT’s competitive programs that include a program interview. Carefully review the details below to learn more:
What is a personal story?
Indigenous people are storytellers. Traditionally, knowledge is shared through oral histories. Sharing your personal story allows you to share your unique experiences and provide insight into who you are and your aspirations as a NAIT student. The personal story is only applicable to competitive programs with a program interview component.
Personal story process
If you’re an Indigenous applicant to a program with a program interview, you’ll be invited via email from the program to share your personal story with a small NAIT committee, which includes an Indigenous community member from NAIT.
The personal story:
- Can be provided as a written or oral video submission.
- May be a great option if you have lived experience as an Indigenous person, such as experience with Indigenous culture, traditions or language, or you have spent time living or participating in your Indigenous community.
- Is your opportunity to answer a series of questions that provide insight into the things that are important to you, any challenges you have overcome, and what you have learned through your experiences. Be true to yourself and provide specific examples.
The committee will read or watch your story and then invite you to join them for a conversation so they can learn more about you and your experiences.
Eligibility
You are considered an Indigenous applicant if you are a First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Métis or Inuk person of Canada.
To qualify for a personal story, you must:
- Self-declare as an Indigenous applicant when completing your application
- Meet the definition of an Indigenous applicant above
- Submit documentation to verify your Indigenous identity (see below)
- Meet the minimum entrance requirements for your program
All eligible Indigenous applicants applying to programs that require an interview will be considered for a personal story.
Be aware that participating in a personal story does not guarantee a seat in the program. Applicants must meet all evaluation criteria to be considered.
Indigenous identity documents
After submitting your application to NAIT, you must submit documentation to verify your Indigenous identity. Failing to submit this documentation in your MyNAIT portal by the posted deadline may result in needing to complete a standard program interview (instead of a personal story submission).
NAIT accepts the following documents to verify your Indigenous status:
| Status |
Accepted documents |
| First Nations –
Paragraph
Status |
Status Card, issued by Indigenous and Services Canada. Older Status cards may still be used, but if the “valid to” date has passed, students are encouraged to order a new card.
- Letter from a government registered First Nations community verifying the student is a member of that First Nation.
|
| First Nations – Non status |
First Nations members who do not have Status can provide a letter from their First Nation on appropriate letterhead and signed by a First Nations Administrator.
- Non-status individuals with a Status parent or grandparent, may provide a long-form birth certificate with supporting documents of Indigenous identity from a parent or grandparent.
|
| Métis |
- Métis card issued by a member Nation of Métis National Council of Canada, including Métis Nation British Columbia, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, Manitoba Métis Federation, Métis Nation of Ontario and the Northwest Territory Métis Nation.
- Letter or membership card from one of the member Nations of the Métis Settlements General Council including Buffalo Lake, East Prairie, Elizabeth, Fishing Lake, Gift Lake, Kikino, Paddle Prairie and Peavine.
|
| Inuit |
- Inuit Beneficiary cards issued through Nunavut Trust.
- Letter from a government organization such as Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Nunavut Tunngavik, Makivik Corporation or Nunatsiavut in Labrador.
- Letter of support from Indigenous and Services Canada or Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.
- Inuit beneficiary card.
- Letter from a recognized First Nations community similar to that provided for a person who has Status.
- Letter from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and/or one of its affiliated provincial organizations.
|
If the documentation mentioned above is not available or you have questions about which documentation is required, please contact the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre for support and advice on next steps.
Not sure how to submit documents in your MyNAIT portal? Watch this video to learn how.
Timing
For programs with a fall start, personal story and committee conversation invitations typically are offered two times a year – in December and May.
The personal story conversations for winter intakes may take place in September and April. The timing of your invitations will be based on when your completed application was submitted.
Personal story questions
You can submit your personal story as either a written or video format. We'll email you instructions on how to complete it.
Take time to reflect on the following questions, as you'll need to answer all of them in your submission. We encourage you to be true to yourself and use specific examples to highlight your experiences.
Personal story questions
Resiliency
- Reflect on a time where you faced a difficult situation. Please provide details about the situation and what made it difficult. Finally, share how you overcame the situation and what you learned. Please provide specific examples.
- NAIT’s healthcare programs are often intense and demanding, so resiliency and well-being will play an important role in your NAIT journey. If challenges arise, what tips and strategies do you typically use to overcome them?
- NAIT offers a variety of services available to students, including academic support, community groups, and health and well-being resources. If you ever need support during your time at NAIT, which service would you use and why?
Community engagement and caretaking
- Healthcare workers play a critical role in taking care of their community. Tell us how you’ve taken on responsibilities or activities that have benefited those around you. This could be an example of how you have contributed to your community in a meaningful way.
- To effectively take care of others, healthcare workers must also take care of themselves. Tell us about the activities or practices you participate in that support your well-being and foster a positive mindset.
Motivation
- Why did you choose to pursue a career in healthcare?
- Share a story that showcases your suitability for a career in healthcare. This could be a story of how you solved a problem in a professional manner, or how you overcame a challenge, demonstrated bravery, etc.
Evaluation and admissions decision
Evaluation
A small committee will evaluate all story submissions and conversations with the committee. There is no correct answer as each story will be as unique as the individual behind it. This is a chance for us to learn about your journey through story-telling. It's an opportunity to tell your story as an individual and to share how your past education, educational goals, cultural knowledge, work and life experiences that will contribute to your success in the program and profession.
Based on your initial submission and committee conversation, you will be assessed with the following criteria.
| Evaluation criteria |
Description |
| Resiliency |
- How do you persevere through difficult situations?
- How do you learn from your experiences?
- If challenges arise, how do you remain resilient?
- Have you taken time to explore the supports and services available at NAIT?
|
| Motivation |
- Have you demonstrated why you want to work in the healthcare technology field?
- What makes you suitable for this career?
|
| Community engagement and caretaking |
- Have you demonstrated awareness and care for the needs of others?
- How have you contributed to your community in a meaningful way?
- How do you manage your responsibilities?
- Do you have practices that support your own well-being?
|
| Quality |
- Have you considered the questions and provided thoughtful and insightful responses?
- Have you provided detailed and relevant examples to support your answers? A well-thought-out answer will provide insight into your personality, goals, and experiences.
|
| Voice |
- Effective communication is an important component to all steps in the healthcare process. Have you answered questions in a complete, clear, and concise manner?
- Have you provided genuine and insightful answers to the questions? Did you provide stories that were authentic and true to who you are?
|
Admissions decision
Once your personal story and committee conversation is evaluated, your application status in MyNAIT will be updated and you will receive an e-letter. Please continue to monitor your MyNAIT portal regularly.
If have questions about your story submission, please contact the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre.
Additional resources
To learn more about these admissions pathways and other opportunities available to you, please book an appointment with a NAIT recruiter or submit an inquiry through the Contact Form, selecting the topic: Aboriginal students.
You can also learn more about the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre, a community gathering place committed to ensuring Aboriginal student success both inside and outside of the classroom.