University of Alberta

Overview

The University of Alberta (U of A) is a public research university in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is one of the country’s most prestigious universities and among the leading public research-intensive higher education institutions globally. It maintains a reputation for excellence in various fields, including sciences, humanities, arts, business, and engineering. As a research university, it is home to world-renowned facilities, such as the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology and the National Institute for Nanotechnology. It is also the Canadian university that has the most 3M National Teaching Fellowships.

Because of its world-class academic and research excellence, the U of A attracts students from across the globe. Students can choose from any of its around 400 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, which are offered through the university’s 18 faculties. The University of Alberta has five campuses, which include a rural campus and a francophone (French-speaking) one.

Although officially established in 1908, the University of Alberta’s founding goes back to 1906 when it was chartered by the University Act in Edmonton, Alberta. The university was patterned on American state universities and was designed to focus on applied research and extension work. Meanwhile, the governance was patterned on the University of Toronto Act of 1906, which instigated a bicameral system that consists of a senate (faculty) and board of governors (citizens).

Initially, the location of the new university became a topic of debate. Heated wrangling took place between Edmonton and Calgary as to the location not just of the university, but of the provincial capital as well. It was agreed that the capital will be located north of the North Saskatchewan River, and the university will be built south of it. Ultimately, Edmonton became the capital and the university was granted to Strathcona, which used to be a separate city. In 1912, Edmonton and Strathcona were consolidated, making Edmonton both the provincial capital and seat of the University of Alberta.

Edmonton is a dynamic city with thriving energy industry. The main campus is located in the heart of the city and is currently home to about 40,000 students, around 7,000 of which are international students. The campus takes approximately 50 blocks of Edmonton. In all, the university owns 150 buildings.

With over a century of history, the University of Alberta has already produced over 250,000 alumni, most of whom have founded more than 70,000 environmental, social, and cultural organizations across the globe.