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Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3
Telephone: 780-675-6100
Toll-free: 1-800-788-9041
Profile
Athabasca University (AU), Canada’s Open University, is a world leader in online and distance education. AU puts students in control. AU students can study anywhere, any time and at their own pace. This flexibility allows 38,000 students a year from across Canada and around the world to obtain top quality postsecondary education without ever leaving their home or workplace.
AU offers over 700 courses in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree, diploma and certificate programs in a range of arts, science and professional disciplines.
Anyone 16 or older is eligible for admission to undergraduate study at AU regardless of previous educational experience. Students are admitted year-round and can start most undergraduate courses at their convenience.
AU uses a variety of distance learning methods including multi-media online activities, print materials, Web, e-mail, Internet, CD-ROM, computer software, audio/video conferencing and TV or radio. Any particular course might use a combination of delivery methods. Students registering for online courses require access to a computer with an Internet connection.
Students who are completing an AU program can usually receive transfer credit for courses completed previously at other accredited postsecondary institutions. Many other students take AU courses for transfer into their program at another institution. Still others take AU courses for personal or professional development.
History
Year of foundation: 1970
Student fees
Canadian student fees 2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $4,580 - $5,630
Graduate tuition fees: $13,260
International student fees 2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $9,280 - $10,330
Graduate tuition fees: $15,260
* Source: Statistics Canada. Fees for general programs in arts and humanities.
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
2009 rounded preliminary fall enrolment *
Part-time (undergraduates): 36,240
Part-time (graduates): 3,460
* Source: Athabasca University
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
Academic support services
AU’s extensive student support services include access to a network of faculty members, academic advisors, counsellors, tutors, help-desk personnel and other support staff. A range of individualized accommodations and support services are available to students with physical, sensory, psychological or learning disabilities, and support services for indigenous students are available through the Centre for World Indigenous Knowledge and Research. The Information Centre is the first point of contact for questions or to reach other departments and services. The centre can be reached through the Athabasca University website or by calling toll-free: 1-800-788-9041 (Canada and U.S.) or 780-675-6100.
First-year student programs
Specialized print and online materials and support are available to help students assess their readiness for university-level study. Assistance is also available for the development of language, math, university study and exam writing skills. One-on-one support is available to first-year students through counsellors, advisors and tutors.
Student assistance
The university offers nearly 200 scholarships, leadership awards and bursaries ranging from $100 to $3,000. Awards are available to both graduate and undergraduate students on the basis of academic achievement or financial need. All students are automatically considered for many of the academic scholarships; several others are available by application or nomination.
University research
AU is committed to excellence in research and scholarship. Mission Critical Research in the scholarship of teaching and learning in open and distance environments is the primary focus of AU’s research activity; however, the university also actively supports and maintains high standards in discipline-based research.
AU is home to the Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research (CIDER - which publishes the International Review of Research on Open and Distance Learning), the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute, the Athabasca River Basin Research Institute and the Project Management Research Institute. Four Canada Research Chairs in distance education, in space science and instrumentation, in semantic technologies and in indigenous studies lead the university’s research teams.
The AU Press, Canada’s first 21st-century academic press, promotes open access, online dissemination of scholarly research.
International education
As a distance education institution, Athabasca University is more involved in bringing postsecondary education to students worldwide than in bringing students to educational centres. However, involvement in a few international student exchanges has brought some international students to Alberta. AU is currently engaged in an international planning process and is exploring ways to promote a global outlook among its students.
Changes coming out of this process will involve curricular adjustments aimed at fostering international and intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes. In practice, AU will emphasize the formation of international cohorts -– as it already does with some programs, such as its Executive MBA program -– and is exploring agreements that could see Canadian students spend time, physically or virtually, overseas and foreign students do likewise in Canada.
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