Ranked among the Top 5 in Canada in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #110 worldwide, University of Alberta, Canada, has an aggregate enrolment of 41,061 scholars from 156 countries, writes Reshma Ravishanker Sprawled across four campuses in Edmonton, University of Alberta (UoA, estb.1908) is a high-ranked public higher education institution with an aggregate enrolment of 40,061 scholars from 156 countries worldwide. This 114-year-old varsity is ranked among the Top 5 in Canada in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #110 worldwide. UoA is also highly ranked for research impact — #4 in Canada and #81 globally in the NTU (National Taiwan University) Rankings 2019. A member institution of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and Worldwide Universities Network, UoA’s 18 faculties offer over 200 undergraduate and 500 graduate programmes in the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences. Distinguished alumni include the late physicist Richard E. Taylor, Nobel Prize (1990) winner; Joe Clark, former Canada prime minister; former chief justice Beverley McLachlin and Canadian football star Nereo Bolzon. Established by the University Act 1906, UoA admitted its first batch of 45 students including seven women into its English, mathematics and modern languages faculties in 1908. Since then, the university has expanded steadily by establishing faculties of agriculture, law, medicine, engineering and applied sciences. Edmonton. Sited on the banks of North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton (pop.1.1 million) is the northern most city of North America and administrative capital of Alberta province. A government, cultural, and educational hub, Edmonton is also known as ‘Canada’s Festival City’ because it hosts a slew of festivals year-round. A popular tourist destination, it boasts West Edmonton Mall, the second largest mall in North America; Fort Edmonton Park, Canada’s largest living history museum; the Elk Island National Park, and Royal Alberta Museum. Edmonton has freezing winters and sunny summers. Winter temperatures can dip below -10oC and average 23oC in summer. Campus facilities. UoA is spread across four sites in Edmonton and one in Camrose. The main North campus is located in the heart of the city with a blend of heritage buildings and modern architecture. Set amidst sprawling green lawns, it comprises 150 buildings housing modern academic and laboratory facilities. A short shuttle ride from the North campus is Campus Sain Jean which offers degree programmes in arts, commerce, education, engineering, science, nursing, conservation and environmental sciences. South Campus is a hub for agriculture education and also hosts the university’s state-of-the-art Saville Community Sports Centre, a 32,516 sq. m multi-sports facility. The fourth Enterprise Square campus sited in downtown Edmonton’s historic Bay Building comprises TEC Edmonton, faculty of extension, Alberta School of Business executive education and family business programs, advancement and alumni relations. The Augustana campus, located in Camrose, 93 km from Edmonton equipped with modern classrooms, labs and residential facilities, offers degree programmes in the liberal arts and sciences, outdoor education and sport. UoA’s library system is the second largest nationwide and houses 13 million volumes, 1.3 million…
