University of Alberta, Edmonton

The University of Alberta is a major public research university located in Edmonton. Established in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, Alberta’s first premier, and Henry Marshall Tory, the university’s first president, it was officially chartered through the University Act of 1906. Today, it operates under the Post-secondary Learning Act as a "comprehensive academic and research university" (CARU), offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs.

The University of Alberta includes four campuses in Edmonton, a satellite Augustana Campus in Camrose, and a staff center in downtown Calgary. The original North Campus, situated on the south rim of the North Saskatchewan River valley across from downtown Edmonton, spans 50 city blocks and includes over 150 buildings. The university hosts approximately 39,000 students from Canada and around 150 other countries, offering over 400 programs through 18 faculties.

A powerful engine for Alberta’s economy, the university contributed $19.4 billion to the province’s economy in 2022—over five percent of Alberta’s GDP that year. Its alumni and faculty members have earned wide recognition, including three Nobel Prizes and 72 Rhodes Scholarships. With over 260,000 graduates, the university maintains a strong reputation nationally and internationally, including recognition from the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) as one of Canada’s top institutions.

Campus media include Folio, the university’s official newspaper published biweekly by Marketing & Communications; The Gateway, an independent student-run newspaper published most Wednesdays; and Dagligtale, a monthly student publication based at the Augustana Campus.

With its commitment to education, research, and public service, the University of Alberta continues to play a central role in shaping Alberta’s intellectual and economic landscape.