Which post-secondary program will work best for you? Edmonton offers a great many opportunities for you to further your education and prepare for a career.

Post-secondary institutions charge a tuition fee, but students may get financial help through student loans, scholarships, and bursaries. For information, contact the student award office at each school.

International students may be required to pay additional fees, as well as complete a proficiency exam in English, such as TOEFL (Test for English as a Foreign Language).

How Colleges Differ from Universities
Colleges of applied arts and technology offer diploma and certificate programs. Many also offer bachelor’s degrees in applied areas of study.

Colleges tend to be more directly career-oriented than universities. Some colleges offer courses that lead to certification in specific areas such as nursing and accounting. Although program length varies, a certificate program is generally 1 year or less, and a diploma program can be 2 or three 3 years.

Colleges also offer pre-trades and apprenticeship training, language training, and skills upgrading.

In addition to colleges of applied arts and technology, there are agricultural colleges, colleges of health science, colleges of art, and a military college.

Bachelor’s and Further Degrees
Universities offer undergraduate, or bachelor's degrees, and many also offer graduate (master's and doctoral) programs.

Undergraduate degrees usually take 3 years to complete. A 4^th or "Honours" year is usually required prior to admission into a graduate program. Many schools also allow students to combine subject areas (e.g., a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology).

Professional programs are also offered by many universities, such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Law. In some cases, students begin these programs after 2 or 3 years of undergraduate study.

Learn more about the Edmonton College and University experience through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.

Edmonton Universities

Athabasca University is a fully accredited institution specializing in the delivery of distance education for undergraduate and graduate programs. This is a good option for people who need to study from home or part-time.

Concordia University, College of Alberta is a degree-granting, Christian liberal arts educational institution operated by Lutheran Church-Canada.

Grant MacEwan University offers more than 60 programs, including bachelor and applied degrees, diplomas and certificates. Students can choose from full-time, part-time or online studies.

King's University College is a Christian undergraduate university that offers 3 and 4 year bachelor’s degrees in arts, education, music, and commerce.

University of Alberta is one of the largest universities in Western Canada. The site’s main page links to all faculties, research facilities, libraries, and activities.

Edmonton Colleges

Alberta College Conservatory of Music is focused entirely on music education.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a career college specializing in degrees focused on immediate employment.

Norquest College provides high quality learning opportunities to prepare graduates for careers in business, industry, services, and healthcare.

Special Information for International Students

Kings University College has a page of resources for those preparing to study at a college in Canada.

Grant MacEwan University has special resources for international students.

Norquest College provides good support services for international students.

University of Alberta - International Students provides resources and services to help international students optimize their university experience here.