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

Lakehead University

955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E1
Telephone: 807-343-8110

Orillia Campus
Heritage Place, 1 Colborne Street W
Orillia, Ontario L3V 7X5
Telephone: 705-330-4008
Website: http://orillia.lakeheadu.ca

Profile

Lakehead University provides its students with a singular educational experience to help them realize their potential. High-tech campuses offer a climate of research and innovation, where course work typically takes advantage of the beautiful, local natural environments. The main campus in Thunder Bay is located near Lake Superior in Northwestern Ontario, surrounded by the boreal forest. Opened in 2006, the Orillia campus brings the Lakehead experience to the heart of Ontario’s cottage country. Work has started on a permanent campus and it will be the only LEED Platinum campus in Canada. Established in 1965, Lakehead offers its 7,900 students a perfect blend of social and recreational experiences for today with the learning and skills for a successful tomorrow.

A comprehensive university, Lakehead offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programming with nine faculties: social sciences and humanities, science and environmental studies, business administration, education, engineering, forestry and the forest environment, health and behavioural sciences, medicine and graduate studies. Many programs (e.g. biology, geology, outdoor recreation, forestry) get students out of the classroom and into the field, taking advantage of the university’s locations. Northern socio-economic issues are addressed in programs such as social work, nursing, medicine, indigenous learning and education. The Orillia campus offers a multi-disciplinary undergraduate program in arts and sciences that may be taken concurrently with education as well as programs in business, social work and consecutive education.

Known for innovative research, Lakehead has 12 specialized research centres and laboratories, including the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs, the Biorefining Research Initiative and the Food Security Research Network. Its world-class paleo-DNA laboratory is a pioneer in the field of forensic and ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Although Lakehead offers broad and diverse programming, the university remains one of Ontario’s smaller universities that is proud of a tradition of being a community-centred learning environment, where students are recognized, supported and celebrated as individuals with their own goals and aspirations. Spread around the world, some 43,000 alumni are a testament to the quality and excellence of education offered at Lakehead University.

Continue your exploration by visiting: www.lakeheadu.ca.

History
Year of foundation: 1965
Former names of the institution: Lakehead Technical Institute (1946); Lakehead College of Arts, Science and Technology (1956-1965).

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $4,835 - $4,880
Graduate tuition fees: $4,050

International student fees  2009 - 2010 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $13,000
Graduate tuition fees: $9,150

* 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 *
Full-time (undergraduates): 6,200
Full-time (graduates): 600
Part-time (undergraduates): 1,400
Part-time (graduates): 20

* Source: Council of Ontario Universities

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
Aboriginal and cultural support services, bookstore, chaplaincy with weekly services, childcare services, Ontario work-study program (on-campus jobs offered through financial aid and award services), budget counselling, safe walk, gender issues centre, student health and counselling services (health resources, health education), ombudsperson office, student newspaper, student affairs offices, international student support services, technology services, athletics, services to students with disabilities, Lakehead University Radio, clubs through the Lakehead University Student Union, residence life programming, peer help and support, orientation and commuter services.

Academic support services
Aboriginal cultural and support services, admissions and recruitment, academic advising including SAGE: Gateway to Education providing specific assistance to targeted groups with the transition to university, financial aid and award services, registration and records, learning assistance centre (academic assistance, tutoring, study skills sessions), career and cooperative education centre, student affairs offices, continuing education and distributed learning, orientation and commuter services, innovative learning initiatives including community service learning opportunities (Food Security Research and Service Exchange Network).

First-year student programs
New students kick off their university experience with student orientation each September and January. This acclimatization to university life encompasses academic success sessions and activities that promote new surroundings, new friends and a fresh start. There are opportunities to connect with academic advisors, meet with faculty members and explore the many services available.

All students have access to academic advising, academic support services (tutoring, student success workshops), activities sponsored by the student government, volunteer opportunities, and the new Lakehead Leaders’ student leadership program. Activities throughout the year are aimed at student success and engagement fostering a smooth transition to university life.

Students living in residence have many additional opportunities for involvement, including serving in residence government and participating in a wide variety of both social and academic programming throughout the year.  Students living off campus can engage in volunteer opportunities on campus and in the community.

Housing
On-campus: Thunder Bay: There are 1,197 spaces available for student residents. High school students who are offered admission to Lakehead University in May will receive a residence room offer in their admission package. All other beds are allocated by lottery. There are three dormitory-style co-ed residences. Townhouses and apartments provide single rooms in four-bedroom units. Meal plans are mandatory for students living in the dormitory-style buildings. Annual costs (including fees): traditional dormitories room and board, $8,440 (single); $7,845 (basic single); $7,395 (double); townhouse (room only), $5,650; apartment (room only), $5,675. Orillia: It is expected that a 250-bed residence will be available fall 2011.

Off-campus: Thunder Bay: prices range from $350 - $500/month (room), $475 - $500 (room and board), $400 - $750 (one-bedroom), $600 - $1,000 (two-bedroom), $650 - $1,125 (three-bedroom) and $800 - $1,500 (house). The university maintains an off-campus housing database: http://offcampus.lakeheadu.ca/. Orillia: A housing database will be compiled for the 2010-2011 academic year.  

Student assistance
Undergraduate: Each year Lakehead University awards approximately $4.4 million in scholarship and bursary funds. Entering high school students with an 80 percent minimum average are awarded scholarships ranging from $3,000 to free tuition for four years. These scholarships require no application and are renewable with an 80 percent or 90 percent average, depending on the scholarship. Applications for up to $2,300 in bursary assistance are available to all entering high school students who demonstrate financial need. Transfer students are eligible to apply for scholarship/award and bursary assistance. Work study programs and other bursary assistance are available to undergraduate students with financial need during their school year.

Website: http://financialaid.lakeheadu.ca

Graduate: Last year, Lakehead University awarded approximately $4 million to its graduate students. Scholarships, awards and bursaries (http://graduatestudies.lakeheadu.ca) are available for any of Lakehead’s 31 graduate programs. Government-funded awards include the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to a maximum of $21,000 annually, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada ($17,300 to $35,000 annually), OGS awards up to $15,000 (Visa students are also eligible), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada ($17,300 to $35,000 per annum). Graduate assistantships may be offered to full-time graduate students.

International: Undergraduate international students will be automatically considered for awards of varying values. Some bursary assistance is available during the academic year.    

University research

Research priorities outlined in Lakehead’s Strategic Research Plan address regional, national and community concerns: Aboriginal studies, advanced technology systems, biotechnology and material science, culture and society, environmental and resource-based development, education and policy, health research across the lifespan and Northern studies.

External research funding awarded to Lakehead faculty has increased greatly in the past eight years ($5.8 million in 2000-2001 to $17.9 million in 2008-2009). New research clusters emerged with the recruitment of eight Canada Research Chairs, two Ontario Research Chairs (ORCs) and a SHARCNET/MMRC Molecular Simulation Research Chair in Biorefining Technologies. These, in conjunction with the creation of Lakehead’s new Biorefining Research Initiative, will derive economic benefits from the boreal forest (value-added products) and make Lakehead University a leading research institution in biorefining technologies. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, a joint initiative of Lakehead and Laurentian universities and the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, fosters the development of new research clusters in health. Lakehead University is creating additional research-intensive graduate programs, especially new interdisciplinary PhD programs. Lakehead’s Centre for Analytical Services provides numerous training programs for undergraduate and graduate students and access to advanced research tools such as nuclear magnetic resonance and electron microscopy.

International education

Lakehead International is a valuable resource and support centre for students, faculty and staff. In addition to international admissions, Lakehead International provides advice regarding immigration issues, health coverage, ESL classes and programming for international students. All students (both international and domestic) are encouraged to participate in the various activities put on by Lakehead International (International days, International education week, etc.). Lakehead University has partner institutions for student exchange in 12 countries. The Student Exchange Program provides students with the opportunity to study abroad at a partner institution while retaining full-time registration status at Lakehead University. Participating students gain global competencies that will enhance their marketability and give them a competitive edge when looking for employment after graduation. The Office of Career and Cooperative Education Services helps students and graduates recognize and realize their career potential by providing services and resources to students seeking employment overseas.

For further information about the International Student Exchange program, please contact:

Ms. Wendy Bons, International Officer
Lakehead International
Telephone: 807-343-8133
E-mail: international.exchange@lakeheadu.ca
Website: http://international.lakehead.ca

Affiliated institution

Northern Ontario School of Medicine
(West Campus, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Telephone: 807-766-7300