University of Alberta
Founded 1908 | Edmonton, AB
The research-intensive University of Alberta offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and over 500 graduate programs. Located on the edge of the North Saskatchewan River, near Whyte Avenue where Edmontonians shop and socialize, the main campus is a serene green space surrounded by newer steel-and-glass buildings devoted to engineering, science and medicine.
U of A has three other campuses in Edmonton, including francophone Campus Saint-Jean. The close-knit Augustana Campus is in nearby Camrose. “As one of Canada’s and the world’s top universities, we are confident you will find your purpose at the University of Alberta,” says president Bill Flanagan. “Immerse yourself in our vibrant, diverse community of changemakers and community builders, and lead with purpose.”
With an endowment of $1.5 billion, U of A is home to a $20-million Canada Excellence Research Chair and averages roughly $450 million in annual research funding. In 2020, U of A virologist Michael Houghton won a Nobel Prize for his work in the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Undergraduates receive a strong foundation from professors who have been awarded more 3M National Teaching Fellowships than any other Canadian university. Drawing on U of A programming, the new Supporting Indigenous Language Revitalization initiative will help communities to create a future where Indigenous languages are spoken in all aspects of life.
Standout Programs
• Food Science and Technology: Students learn how to apply chemistry, microbiology and engineering to the technological processes involved in the manufacturing, preservation and distribution of food.
• Transportation Engineering: Study the efficient movement of people and goods and focus on the sociological, economic and environmental impact on society.
• Land Reclamation: Students learn how to maintain healthy environments and restore damaged ecosystems through means such as soil reclamation, conservation measures and land-use planning.
Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$7,224
Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 70-78% · Science: 72-85% · Engineering: 81%
Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 30,407 · Part-time: 2,779
Graduates: Full-time: 6,596 · Part-time: 1,606
International Students: First-year: 14.7% ·
Graduate: 44.4%
Male-Female Ratio: 45 to 55
Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 3,584 (1,573 reserved for first-year students)
Residence Costs: Single room with meals: $11,919 to $18,481
Apartment-style: $5,994 to $13,456
Cool Courses
• Introduction to Personal Health and Well-Being: Learn how to plan and manage your own lifestyle within the context of the current healthcare system.
• Sustainability and Responsible Marketing: Explore responsible—and irresponsible—marketing practices and the influence of consumer trends, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.