Memorial emphasizes learning by doing. The school’s co-op program places more than 1,500 students each year, many in international positions, while a database matchmaking tool connects students with researchers around the globe to work on projects such as shipwreck discovery and climate change. MUN offers more than 300 degree, diploma, certificate and graduate programs.

The main campus is minutes from downtown St. John’s—a tunnel system comes in handy during the island’s winters. St. John’s is also home to the Fisheries and Marine Institute and the Signal Hill campus, which focuses on public engagement and innovation. The Grenfell campus, in Corner Brook, is known for its fine arts and environmental policy programs, and a small campus is maintained in Harlow, England. A new Labrador campus will open this fall in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. It will focus on northern Indigenous-led programming. Last year, the university opened the new $325-million Core Science Facility.

“It is a truly world-class facility for teaching and research that will improve the student experience, enhance recruitment and retention, and support the vigorous pursuit of new knowledge,” says president Vianne Timmons. The building’s atrium houses a magnificent 3,000-kg blue whale skeleton. MUN attracts students from more than 120 countries, as well as many students from Ontario and the Maritimes who appreciate the friendly culture, inspiring landscape and tuition that’s considerably less than what they might pay at many other universities.