About the U of C

• University of Calgary
• Academics
• Student Success
  
• Research
• Capital Expansion
• Student Services
• Career Services
• About Calgary
• Contact Information

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is a comprehensive research university, ranked one of Canada’s top seven research universities and a member of the 13 most research intensive universities in Canada (the G13), combining the best of long-established university traditions with the city of Calgary’s vibrant energy and diversity.

The U of C campus occupies a beautiful, park-like setting covering more than 200 hectares, an area larger than Calgary’s entire downtown. The university is home to scholars in 17 faculties (offering more than 100 academic programs) and more than 30 research institutes and centres.

More than 29,000 students are currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The U of C has graduated 135,000 alumni over its 43-year history, including the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk.

The university’s academic foundations are prevalent in all the university’s work. They are: student success, excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity, and return to community.

The U of C is in the midst of its largest capital expansion ever. Fuelled by Alberta’s nation-leading economic growth, the university has embarked upon a plan to add capacity for more students and a host of new teaching and research activities. These major developments, including the Taylor Family Library (TFL), a downtown campus and the new Energy, Environment and Experiential Learning building, are fulfilling distinct academic strategies and creating progressive learning environments.

The main campus features over 20 academic buildings—many of which are interconnected by enclosed walkways. The MacEwan Student Centre is a hub of activity at the university, with a food court, wellness centre and large concert hall. There is also a museum and art gallery, four performance theatres, two childcare centres and residences for single students and students with families.

The U of C has 2,761 academic staff actively engaged in research, scholarship and teaching in Canada and around the world, and more than 3,000 staff, making it one of the four largest employers in Calgary. The university produces an economic impact of $1 billion in the Calgary area alone.

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Academics

The University of Calgary has a full complement of academic programs ranging from pure science to social science in areas such as psychology and economics, to several options in the field of health sciences. With access to several professional schools, including the Haskayne School of Business, the Schulich School of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, students keep their options open, and discover their own personal passion. The U of C also encourages multi-disciplinary programs, meaning students can combine their interest areas and create an education that suits them.

The University of Calgary has 17 faculties with more than 60 departments and more than 30 research institutes and centres. The 17 faculties are: Law; Nursing (Calgary); Nursing (Qatar); Social Work; Communication and Culture; Education; Environmental Design; Fine Arts; Haskayne School of Business; Humanities; Kinesiology; Medicine; Schulich School of Engineering; Science; Social Sciences; Veterinary Medicine; Graduate Studies; and Continuing Education.

In August 2007, the university welcomed its first students to the campus in Doha, Qatar, offering internationally accredited nursing degrees to students in the Middle East. University of Calgary-Qatar works with the Hamad Medical Corporation to offer world-class clinical nursing education to educate nurses for clinical specialties and to develop a sustainable nursing workforce. Graduates from the Qatar program will meet the same Canadian and international standards for nursing as students from the Calgary campus.

Canada's fifth veterinary school and the first newly created program in more than 20 years-the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-opened its doors to students in September 2008. This innovative four-year doctor of veterinary medicine program leverages the principles of integration, collaboration and technology to offer a multi-species/multidisciplinary core as well as four areas emphasis: Production Animal Health, Investigative Medicine, Equine Health and Ecosystem & Public Health.

The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are located on the south campus adjacent to the Foothills Hospital. The Kananaskis Field Station, located a short drive from the city on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, located in the foothills south of the city, represent satellite institutes of the university.

Student Success

The university offers quality undergraduate education characterized by the synthesis of research, teaching and learning. We enhance the undergraduate learners’ experience by using a student-centred focus that maximizes opportunities to provide a distinctive learning experience that fully integrates the features of a research university. The university is broadening opportunities for students to take inquiry based courses that lead to greater critical thinking skills, increased exposure to research methods and greater access to leading edge scholars. Students also participate in opportunities for experiential learning, including international study, co-op programs, internships, undergraduate research and community service learning.

In fall 2008, the U of C became the first university in Canada to offer a four-year graduation guarantee to students embarking upon four-year degree programs in the faculties of Communication and Culture, Social Sciences, Science and Humanities. Through a mutual commitment on behalf of students and the university, the Graduation Guarantee program offers incoming students an agreement that ensures they will be able to graduate within four years, or the U of C will pay the tuition for any extra courses needed to finish. For more information, visit www.ucalgary.ca/graduateguarantee.

The Co-Curricular Record is the university's official document that recognizes a student's community, leadership and volunteer activities outside of the classroom. Since being introduced in 2008, more than 4,800 students have signed up. This complete record of a student’s accomplishments is invaluable to the student and future employers. The U of C has had a larger take up of this program than any other university in Canada. We are also the only university in Western Canada with a Co-Curricular Record.

The U of C is the only university in Canada that gives millions of dollars each year to our students through Quality Money—a partnership between the university and Students' Union whereby the university has given more than $8 million to students to invest as they wish in enhancing the overall student experience. Past projects include a campus bike initiative, wellness centre, and undergraduate peer mentorship programs.

Research

As one of Canada’s top seven research universities, innovation, discovery and learning are at the heart of all that we do. Our relentless pursuit of quality in our teaching and research programs is guided by our mission to contribute to the well-being of the people of Alberta, Canada and the world. U of C research funding has risen to $262 million. Research brings significant benefits provincially, nationally and internationally, and is the foundation of Alberta’s economic and social vitality. Interdisciplinary research is core to the university’s teaching and research mandate.

The U of C continues to grow one of the strongest and most comprehensive biomedical engineering programs in Canada with more than 100 researchers across six faculties— medicine, Schulich School of Engineering, kinesiology, science, nursing and veterinary medicine—applying engineering principles to the health sciences. This emerging field will transform the economy, improve the efficiency of health care and improve the quality of our lives.

The university is committed to becoming a recognized international leader in energy-environment research, education and innovation. The U of C created Institute for Sustainable Energy Environment and Economy (ISEEE) to provide strategic leadership on energy and environment initiatives. Research priorities include low-emission fossil fuel recovery and processing; North American energy systems; sustainable energy development in the Arctic; and low-carbon communities.

The new School of Public Policy will lead the country in the breadth and quality of its education, analysis and research in areas such as tax and fiscal, energy, environmental, health, social, economic, and international policy.
A research partnership between the university and the City of Calgary formed in 2007 called Urban Alliance creates an environment for researchers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. The alliance aligns more research projects at the U of C with priority areas identified by the City. Through the Urban Alliance, both organizations pursue common interests in research, development and education, with the goal of finding solutions to the complex issues facing Calgary.

Seventy-four U of C researchers are part of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries for research and development this year. The Canada Research Chairs improve Canadians’ depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country’s international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people.

Capital Expansion

Hard hats and work crews are a common site at the U of C recently as construction on several projects continue. The projects are part of the university’s capital plan, a major endeavour that encompasses $1 billion in construction and planning activity currently underway.

The University of Calgary’s Child Development Centre is Alberta’s first—and Canada’s second largest—building designed and constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, the North American benchmark for environmentally high-performance buildings. The facility, which houses the university’s second child-care facility and a full continuum of researchers, clinicians and frontline workers, is dedicated to child health. The building officially opened in October, 2007.

Opened in fall 2009, the new Global Village student residence provides a unique multicultural learning experience for local and international students. The 125-bed residence is located in the new Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House and is the university’s first living-learning community. International House is also home to Hotel Alma, one of Canada’s first on-campus hotels. Through experiential learning, a work-experience at Hotel Alma is teaching real-world skills to students.

The Taylor Family Digital Library will re-engineer the university’s library system and provide a community for intellectual and scholarly activity by providing access to digital and other information sources, including the Nickle Arts Museum. This building expands the Information Commons and provides significantly more collaborative, team and project space than currently available to our students and scholars.

Energy, Environment, and Experiential Learning building offers students improved opportunities for experiential—or hands-on—learning in multiple fields. It also provides office and research space for students, faculty and staff as part of the 1,000 student Energy &Environment expansion, and will be the home for interdisciplinary units such as ISEEE and the School of Public Policy.

The Downtown Campus is a new facility in the heart of downtown Calgary that will welcome its first students in September 2010. This new campus will house students in a variety of programs and will offer students the opportunity to work alongside community groups tackling critical societal issues. The University currently expects programs offered downtown to include business and continuing education, as well as continued support for the existing pilot projects. The downtown campus will also facilitate the expansion of experiential education opportunities, particularly community-service learning.

The capital expansion also includes a significant increase to our residence capacity and programs. Residence is an integral piece of the university experience; students do better when they feel connected to campus. Residence provides opportunities for students to get involved with their communities.

U of C’s newest top priority capital project is the National Biomedical Engineering Centre. The centre, to be housed on our main campus, will be a world-class, multidisciplinary research and education facility. It will be a Canadian-first by bringing together university, government and private sector researchers and commercialization experts to accelerate the development and commercialization of biomedical engineering medical devices.

Student Services

Health and recreation

The University of Calgary features some of the finest athletic facilities in the country, featuring Canada’s only covered speed skating oval and home to the fastest ice in the world. The Oval also houses the Canadian Sport Institute, a high-performance training centre and two Olympic-sized rinks where the reigning women’s gold medal hockey team trains. There are also tennis courts, a triple gymnasium, a yoga studio, an Olympic-size swimming pool, weight rooms, jogging tracks and a huge indoor climbing wall. Nearby is the home of U of C Dinos football team, McMahon Stadium.

Wellness
The SU Wellness Centre offers excellence in the provision of services and resources that are central to all students meeting their potential for well-being—mind, body and spirit. It brings together University Health Services, the Counselling Centre, the Multi-Faith Chaplain’s Centre and Dental Centre in one location.

Native Centre

The Native Centre at the U of C is an excellent resource for First Nations students, with staff providing ongoing academic, social and cultural support to First Nations students. Personal advising and career counselling is available, as well as peer support from graduate students. The centre organizes many recreational activities that promote awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture. It also provides outreach courses to First Nations communities in the Calgary area.

Athletics

The University of Calgary Athletic Department was created in 1964 with male teams named the Dinosaurs and female teams the Dinnies. Both genders eventually came to play under the Dinosaurs name until 1998 when the name was officially changed to ‘Dinos,’ a nickname familiar to athletes, students and fans. Since 1964, the Dinos have brought home 120 Canada West Conference Championships and 36 CIS National Championships. The Dinos consist of 22 teams competing in 12 varsity sports (men’s and women's— basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer, swimming, wrestling, track and field, cross county running, tennis, golf, men’s football and women’s field hockey).

Residence Services

For the U of C student, the university experience is stronger, richer and more personal while staying in residence. The staff are committed to connecting students to each other, the campus, and academic resources. The goal is to provide a safe living and learning environment that promotes academic success, personal growth, leadership and responsibility.

Experience shows that students in residence are more likely to demonstrate excellence in their academics and careers. There is an increased likelihood that students living in residence will continue their studies after their undergraduate years and pursue graduate studies.

Residence students’ close proximity to classes, faculty, peers, recreational facilities and study groups facilitates an exciting, interactive, accessible and supportive university learning lifestyle. Specialized living/learning communities are available as well as student family housing, apartment style and traditional residences that serve the needs of any U of C student.

For first-year students, Residence Services offers guaranteed residence if they apply by April 30. With the class entering in 2010, we are very excited to launch our multi-year housing guarantee. All qualified first-year students living in residence are guaranteed housing in their second year. For high-achieving entering students, we also have the Scholars Advantage floor. This is a small community of first-year students living in large accommodation suites.

International Students & Study Abroad

In the 21st century, global challenges and issues are at the forefront of the forces that shape our world and our communities closer to home. The U of C’s commitment to internationalization reflects the growing importance that international efforts play in developing a world-class university and education. UC International supports internationalization by recognizing it as an integral part of the economic, political and social realities of our campus and the wider community.

There are more than 2,400 international students from 110 countries at the U of C and, approximately nine percent of undergraduate international students are exchange students, here for only one or two semesters (terms).  Internationalization of the university is a priority for the U of C and international students add much to the life and diversity of the campus.

The university is committed to offering more students opportunities for study and travel abroad and already has over 125 active student exchange agreements as well as a number of field schools and group study opportunities. As part of their degree program, more than 1000 undergraduates per year include study abroad through student exchange, field schools, group study programs, internship, co-operative education, practicums or research opportunities.

Graduate Students

In striving to provide a world class scholarly atmosphere for its graduate students, the University of Calgary pursues the highest levels of excellence in research and teaching at the graduate level. The faculty provides leadership and support for excellence in graduate education and research to about 5,400 graduate students in 52 programs. For general inquiries, call 403-220-4938.

Career Services

Students looking for help with their job search and career planning questions can access all the resources they need to succeed at Career Services. Career fairs, information and networking events provide students the opportunity to connect with potential employers and discover career options. The Career Services website www.ucalgary.ca/careers hosts JobLink, an online job board restricted to U of C students, and offers access to OptimalResume, a resume, cover letter and interview application specifically customized to help students create effective documents and develop strong interview skills. In addition to the variety of career related web resources, a team of advisors are available for personal appointments to help students develop resumes/cover letters, job search strategy and work through their career planning process, including co-operative and internship program requirements. Career Services is dedicated to helping students access the tools and resources they need to successfully land the job.

About Calgary

Nestled in the foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Calgary, labelled as the Heart of the New West, is a safe, clean and vibrant city that offers the best of all worlds: a cosmopolitan city of over 1 million people and breathtaking outdoor adventure in pristine wilderness.

Contact Information

To learn more about U of C, we welcome you to visit our website, www.ucalgary.ca, or call and speak with an admissions officer at 403-210-7625.

Visit www.ucalgary.ca to watch a student-led campus tour—click on UNOW-TV.

Detailed information on admissions requirements is available in the U of C's Viewbook, available at www.ucalgary.ca/admissions. The University of Calgary application for admission is available at www.ucalgary.ca/prospectivestudents.