Alberta is quickly solidifying its role as Canada’s second economic pole, with a booming oil industry in the north, a rapidly expanding financial sector in the south, and a large and diverse corporate center in Calgary.
In short, the province is an excellent gateway into the modern Canadian economy and an intelligent place to get an education.
General Education Facts
Education in Alberta runs from Kindergarten (Year 0) to Grade 12.
Individual municipalities are responsible for operating schools within their jurisdictions through local school boards.
The provincial education ministry, Alberta Education, is responsible for provincial curriculum development and management, as well as teacher certification.
All schools in Alberta must follow the same basic curriculum, regardless of religious or political affiliation, though many schools offer exciting courses and opportunities beyond the core requirements.
Post Secondary Education Facts
In Canada, there are basically four types of post-secondary educational institution:
Universities, which are empowered to grant all levels of post-secondary degree
University Colleges, which are empowered to grant four-year and two year degrees, as well as technical degrees
Colleges, which are empowered to grant two-year and vocational degrees
Private schools that offer specific religious, vocational, technical or language training.
In Canada, post-secondary education is the responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments, and the provinces administer all funds provided by the Government of Canada for the express purpose of college and university administration.
In Alberta, the ministry responsible for managing higher education is Advanced Education and Technology.
The federal government, however, still offers a variety of funding options to individuals and universities for research, student financial aid, and for various scholarships.
Alberta Opportunities for Higher Learning
The University of Alberta, one of Canada’s top research universities, is located in the oil sands capital of Edmonton. It is the oldest and best-regarded school in the province, and consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country.
The University of Calgary, well-known for its economics, politics and engineering programs, is located in the financial center of Calgary.
The University of Lethbridge is the province’s third-largest university.
Athabasca University is Canada’s distance education powerhouse, with more students than any other comparable institution.
McEwan University and Mount Royal Universities are smaller institutions offering tailored programs and a more intimate experience.
Read More:
