Colleges University of Alberta

University of Alberta www.ualberta.ca

Founded in 1908, the research-intensive University of Alberta is predominantly located in the province’s capital of Edmonton, on the edge of the North Saskatchewan River valley. More than 40,000 students across 18 faculties study at five separate campus locations, which combine to make U of A the fifth largest university in Canada. The North Campus is the main campus and covers 50 city blocks, with abundant green spaces among its 150 buildings, blending the historic with the cutting edge. Located two kilometers south of the North Campus, the South Campus is much larger in terms of land area. The two campuses are linked by the Edmonton LRT system. Much of the university’s agricultural research in food safety and crop use for food and industrial products happens at the Edmonton Research Station Experimental Farms on South Campus. This campus is also home to the Saville Community Sports Centre, a 32,500-square-metre, multi-use recreation facility that hosts 14 varsity teams and several community sports clubs. U of A is also a global university that welcomes students from more than 150 countries. The university offers a wealth of extracurricular options including 450 student groups, as well as experiential and international learning opportunities and community-engaged research.

Academics

The University of Alberta is recognized as a global leader in research, knowledge translation, nanotechnology, energy systems, gender studies, precision health, smart buildings, transportation, and devices. Faculty work is amplified through more than 100 research centers and institutes. The university is a member of the U15 universities and the Worldwide Universities Network, an organization of 19 universities on six continents. Students may choose from among 200 undergraduate and 500 graduate programs. The student-faculty ratio at University of Alberta is 9:1. Popular majors include Instruments Science & Technology, Mining & Mineral Engineering, Sports Science, and Nursing.

Special Highlights

FURCA. The U of A Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (FURCA) is URI’s annual celebration of all things undergraduate research. FURCA is a great place to see examples of projects that students have been involved in, make connections with other students interested in research, and discover potential opportunities to engage in research. FURCA provides a supportive, low-stakes environment for students to share their research with a diverse audience of peers, faculty, and alumni from across all disciplines. Presenting at FURCA is a great way for students to practice their presentation skills, get feedback on their work, and add to their CV. The FURCA Involvement Fair allows students to connect with researchers, funding agencies, and other organizations that work with undergraduate (and prospective graduate) researchers.

Career Opportunities. The International Student Summer Employment Program (ISSEP) provides a wage subsidy which employers can use to provide full-time undergraduate international students with meaningful employment and experience over the summer. This program helps international students develop their career skills, learn how to navigate the Canadian job market and gain valuable knowledge and competencies which can be applied both in and out of the classroom, better preparing them to transition into the workforce after graduation. The university’s Graduate Student Internship Program (GSIP) provides flexible, paid work experience to graduate students through a variety of interdisciplinary work placements available throughout the year. These placements provide students with the chance to strengthen their professional and transferable skills. Graduate students across all departments can participate in GSIP and several graduate programs also have formal experiential programming.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

University of Alberta’s “Culture of Care” aims to create an environment where everyone feels physically, psychologically, and culturally safe. These priorities are woven into the university’s various strategic plans, and come to life in day-to-day work, ensuring the well-being, health, and flourishing of all members of the community. Outside of its five main campuses, the U of A maintains research stations across the province. Formerly known as the Devonian Botanic Garden, The university’s Botanic Garden is a stunning and extremely popular 240-acre property located in Parkland County 15 minutes southwest of Edmonton, with cultivated plant collections, indoor show houses, an extensive nature trail system, and famous gardens including the Kurimoto Japanese Gardens. The university’s colors are exemplified by “Green + Gold Day,” which is a daily showing of solidarity to recognize the people who make the university a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative community.

Student Reviews…

“Campus life is lively and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved through clubs and events, although it can feel overwhelming at first. First-year class sizes can be large, which sometimes makes it hard to get one-on-one attention. That said, the university does offer resources like tutoring and academic advising to help you stay on track.”