Quick links Student fees Student enrolment Programs and degrees Student facilities and services University research International education Affiliated institutions Web site: www.ualberta.ca

University of Alberta

114 Street – 89 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1
Telephone: 780-492-3111

President: Dr. Indira Samarasekera

Profile

Opened in 1908 as a board-governed institution, the University of Alberta has grown to become one of Canada's top universities, focused on both undergraduate and graduate education and research. With external research funding in 2007-2008 topping $492 million, nearly 37,000 students in more than 200 undergraduate and more than 170 graduate programs, and a growing body of international students from more than 100 countries, the University of Alberta is one of the country's foremost research-intensive universities.

The university has three campuses located in the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Edmonton: North Campus, Enterprise Square in the downtown and Campus Saint-Jean, the university’s French-language faculty. The university offers a liberal arts education in a rural setting at the Augustana Campus in Camrose, 90 km southeast of Edmonton.

Approximately 100 members of the Royal Society of Canada have been among a distinguished faculty at the University of Alberta that leads the country in 3M Awards for Teaching Excellence -– Canada’s highest undergraduate teaching honour.

Areas of established and emerging research excellence on a national or international scale include world-class nanotechnology research, diabetes research, drug discovery and development, agri-food, and petroleum engineering. The University of Alberta’s TEC Edmonton (Technology, Entrepreneur and Company Development) has spurred development of 71 active and early stage spin-off companies.

History
Year of foundation: 1906

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate ** tuition fees: $4,901
Graduate tuition fees: $3,449

International student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate ** tuition fees: $17,034
Graduate tuition fees: $7,040

* Source: University of Alberta
** Fees for general programs in art or science.

Note: In addition to tuition fees, universities generally charge fees for goods and services supplied to students. This includes areas such as student associations, sports and health. These additional fees vary widely per university and per student and can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Check with the university for details.

Student enrolment

2008 rounded preliminary fall enrolment *
Full-time (undergraduates): 28,000
Full-time (graduates): 5,200
Part-time (undergraduates): 2,650
Part-time (graduates): 1,500

* Source: University of Alberta (enrolment numbers include Augustana Campus)

Programs and degrees

Note: The program information is compiled by AUCC staff in cooperation with staff at member institutions. The programs are classified according to the Classification of Instructional Programs 2000. To search for the programs offered by this institution, please consult the Directory of Canadian Universities’ programs database online at http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/search/index_e.html.

Student facilities and services

Personal support services
There are many services designed to provide support for students at the University of Alberta. These services include, but are not limited to: Aboriginal student service centre, Augustana student and residence services, bookstore, campus food bank, chaplain’s association, computing and network services, day care centres, fitness and lifestyle centre, health centre, international centre, Native student services, office of human rights, residence services, safewalk program, sexual assault centre, specialized support and disability services, student counselling services, student emergency accommodation, and student legal services.

Academic support services
Many services are provided to help students with academic queries. Some of these services include: academic support centre, bursaries and emergency funding, career and placement services, Fresh Start program for students who have had to withdraw in the past, math and applied sciences centre, student financial aid and information centre, student ombudservice, and Truth in Education campaign on academic honesty. 

First-year student programs
There are a number of programs at the University of Alberta designed to help first-year students adjust to university life, including: first-year program -– allows prospective students in grades 11 and 12 to experience the university in a way first-year students do; orientation -– a two-day program where groups of 20 first-year students are given an intense and detailed view of the University of Alberta, its academic programs/courses and campus; T2U, a new online workshop -- one of the first of its kind in Canada -- to help students and their parents answer questions about transition issues, to help improve long-term success at the university. MUGS -– my undergraduate groups program – helps first-year students adjust to campus life beyond the limited time frame of orientation; student distress centre -– peer counselling to the university community providing information, referrals, crisis intervention and a confidential environment; Student counseling services -– a professional agency staffed by registered psychologists and psychologists-in-training who are supervised by senior staff.

Housing
On-campus: The university can accommodate 4,007 students in dormitory-style residences, apartments and houses in Edmonton. Spaces vary from single and double occupancy to shared apartments and houses, and are available for full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Rates range from $4,822– $8,646 for an eight-month room and board contract to $361 - $1,193/month/person for apartments and houses. Augustana campus can accommodate students in dormitory-style residences for an eight-month room and board contract with rates ranging from $5,416 - $6,390. Due to the high demand and guaranteed housing policies, each University of Alberta residence has student group preferences (i.e. scholarship winners). Also, preference is given to students who live outside the greater Edmonton area. For further information on residence options, priorities and rates, please visit www.ualberta.ca/residences.

Off-campus: There is ample off-campus housing available within walking distance or a quick bus ride from the main campus. For more information, visit http://www.rentingspaces.ca.

Edmonton boasts a superb public transit system including its fast, clean and quiet Light Rail Transit system, which uses a blend of surface and underground stations, two of which are on the University of Alberta campus. Used in combination with bus transit, the LRT can take you anywhere in the city of Edmonton to and from the university. In addition, the University of Alberta Student Union has organized a carpool registry to help students find a ride (or riders) to and from school.

Student assistance
The University of Alberta administers approximately $73 million in scholarships and bursaries.

Undergraduate: The university provided over $18 million in 2007-2008 in undergraduate awards and scholarships. Of that, approximately half is awarded to first-entry students through award programs, a variety of which are based on academic achievement. Another $24 million from other sponsors is also awarded through the university. In general, undergraduate scholarships are organized into four broad categories: (1) Entrance Awards – For students entering the University of Alberta from high school. This includes students who may have taken time off after high school without attending another postsecondary institution. Applicants must have a minimum awards average of 80 percent to compete for University of Alberta entrance scholarships; however, many scholarships also have secondary criteria such as leadership qualities, athletic ability and/or financial need. (2) Transfer Awards – For students who are transferring to the University of Alberta from another postsecondary institution (students with less than 24 transferable credits will be considered as entrance students). (3) Continuing Awards – For undergraduate students who have completed at least 30 units of course weight at the University of Alberta (transfer and IB credits do not qualify). (4) International Awards – For international students who are studying at the University of Alberta on a Student Visa Permit.

Other forms of financial assistance such as bursaries and emergency funding are administered by the university. Award information and application procedures are available at www.registrar.ualberta.ca.

Graduate: The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research administered nearly $20 million in awards and scholarships. Other forms of financial assistance, such as teaching and research assistantships, are administered by units on campus offering graduate programs, and by external funding agencies. For more information, visit www.ualberta.ca/gradstudies.

University research

With annual research funding topping $492 million, 102 Canada Research Chairs, a billion dollars in construction, and more than 100 research centres and institutes, the University of Alberta is one of the most research intensive universities in Canada. Its international reputation continues to grow with many leading edge achievements, including the Islet Transplantation Team’s “Edmonton Protocol” treatment for diabetes; the largest engineering faculty in Canada; the use of the most powerful computer on any Canadian university campus; the opening of the Mazankowski Heart Institute and the Alberta Diabetes Institute; the creation of Canada's School of Energy and the Environment, the ongoing development of the China Institute; Canada’s only MBA program with a technology commercialization specialization; the continuing emergence of TEC Edmonton as a regional resource for commercialization; and the ground breaking work of the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT). NINT facility contains the country’s most sophisticated physical environment for nano-scale research and the widest variety of instrumentation.

The University of Alberta is nurturing the next generation of researchers by further integrating undergraduate research and teaching. In their first two years at the university, undergraduate students are exposed to research primarily through courses designed to teach them the fundamentals of how to do research, as well as through interactions with teachers, graduate students and post-docs. In some faculties, field research is integral to the discipline, and that means there are opportunities for students to get their hands dirty, literally and figuratively. There is also an increasing number of awards for undergraduates to undertake full-time research during the summer months. By the time undergraduates are entering their third year of studies, almost every faculty has a range of senior-level courses that are specifically research-oriented. The university’s academic plan, Dare to Deliver, places a strong emphasis on the importance of integrating teaching and research through initiatives related to discovery learning and incubation scholarship.

International education

The University of Alberta offers many programs and services for international students, as well as opportunities for all students to internationalize their postsecondary education through study, work, research and internships abroad, global education programming and International House, a residence where Canadian and international students live and learn together about global issues.

International students are given the service and help they need to achieve their academic and personal goals at the University of Alberta and in Edmonton through orientation, advisors and peer-planned activities and events. The International Centre is a one-stop shop for students and community members for programs, events and volunteer opportunities. www.international.ualberta.ca/current.

Through the University of Alberta's education abroad program, more than 100 work, study, and volunteer abroad opportunities are available to all University of Alberta students and approximately $250,000 is available to students studying abroad. A limited number of opportunities are also available to other Alberta postsecondary students. International co-op programs and summer, term and year exchange programs are available in more than 35 countries. www.international.ualberta.ca/goabroad.

Also, the University of Alberta's global education program provides educational opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the wider community to gain international knowledge, skills and understanding required to fill the role of a global citizen. This program ensures the University of Alberta learning environment includes an international dimension by providing extracurricular educational opportunities exploring global issues, and enhancing the international dimension of the curriculum.

In 2008, the University of Alberta launched a global citizenship curriculum development initiative. The initiative, rooted in a collaborative, university-wide dialogue, is the first of its kind at the university and one of very few in Canada. It will help prepare students to be active, responsible citizens, engaged in the democratic process and aware of their capacity to effect change in their communities, society and the world.

Global education programming is accessible to the public. Programming includes the annual international week, a documentary film series, and a global citizenship program for International House residents. www.international.ualberta.ca/globaled.

Contact
University of Alberta International
Telephone: 780-492-2692
E-mail: info@international.ualberta.ca
Website: www.international.ualberta.ca

Affiliated Institutions

St. Joseph’s College
(Roman Catholic/co-educational)
Edmonton, Alberta  T6G 2J5
Telephone: 780-492-7681

St. Stephen’s College
(United Church/co-educational)
Edmonton, Alberta  T6G 2J6
Telephone: 780-439-7311