University of Alberta — International Summer School Program
Experience the best part of Canada at the best time of year.

Summer at the University of Alberta. It's prime time in one of Canada's greatest cities situated at the threshold to the awesome and internationally famous Canadian Rocky Mountains. It's also prime time to challenge your knowledge of Canadian society and its origins through experiences inside and outside the classroom in the company of equally inspired Canadian and fellow international students during our International Summer School Program. Scholarships are assured for eligible applicants.

The University of Alberta's International Summer School Program offers regular, academic credit courses on a condensed schedule. You will spend up to six weeks at the University of Alberta during either our Spring (May-mid June) or Summer (July-mid August) semesters. The Summer School has over 600 courses available in a multitude of disciplines such as Humanities, Sciences, Business, Physical Education and Recreation, Education, and Native Studies; many of the courses have no prerequisites. All courses within the Summer School are required academic programming in our undergraduate degree programs, so Canadian students will be sharing in, and contributing to, your learning. Regardless of your choice of course, the program offers an opportunity to merge classroom learning with interactive learning activities and field trips.

An example of one of the unique opportunities available through the Summer School was discovered by Aina from Norway when she attended the Mountains Outdoor Explorations theme during the 2008 Summer School. "The Summer course in the Rockies was an experience of a lifetime!" During her five week stay, Aina completed four courses in an extremely intensive but outstanding program offered through the Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation. The concentrated outdoor mountain experience had Aina trekking the mountain range between Jasper and Banff for several weeks, a week in the town site of Jasper at the Pallisades Centre and a week traversing the Columbia Icefields. "The Outdoor Exploration course gives you knowledge and experience while moving through amazing scenery. The course offers a good combination of history, philosophy and practical experience in beautiful nature. This course I can recommend to adventure seeking people willing to work in a team and learn how to live in the backcountry. The weeks walking through deep forests and climbing peaks was an adventure I will never forget!"

Kazuya from Japan participated in another one of a kind experience through the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. The Spring Semester Environmental, Conservation Sciences, Forestry Field School allows participants to explore the natural environment of rural Northern Alberta. At the off-campus field school, Kazuya developed practical skills in the outdoors "checking vegetation, streams, bugs, soil, animals, and so forth. As you can imagine, a broad range of materials showed up in the Field School and it was challenging to me 'cause of cultural difference and language problem. However, I gave it my best shot and think the experience is really incredible now and would be surely precious to me."

Other students from many countries including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Germany, Ireland, Brazil, and the United States have joined the Summer School. Previous participants of the Summer School have successfully transferred their Summer School coursework back to their home universities.

The academic courses offered on campus during the Summer School are condensed but include a wide range of disciplines from Tourism, Dance, History, Sociology, and Native Studies to Geology, Biology, and Math. The academic learning offered by the University of Alberta is challenging but rewarding and the facilities on campus are second to none.

Summer School participants stay right in the heart of the University of Alberta campus just steps to classes and local transportation. Accommodation includes a private room and three meals a day. Sam from the United States praises the amenities, "Living in St. Joseph's was the way to go. The meals that were prepared were world class and the facilities were excellent. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in studying abroad but isn't language oriented."

Organized activities such as a daytrip to the Calgary Stampede, Drumheller or a weekend camping in the Rockies allow participants to see some of Alberta's natural beauty and experience Canadian culture. "The Summer Program was great not just because of the quality of the courses but also because of the amazing trips which were very cheap and even free! I guess if I had not participated in the Summer program I would not have got to know so many different places in Alberta!" says Alan from Brazil.

The Summer School offers full and partial scholarships for admissible applicants. Scholarships are applied to the participants' tuition fees. The admission application is simple and can be completed online. The minimum admission criterion is a grade point average of 2.0; English language proficiency is also an admission requirement. You do not have to be a current student to participate in the Program, however, ideally you will have completed at least one semester of post-secondary schooling. No study permit is necessary to participate in the Program although students from some countries will need a visa to enter Canada. Youth participating in a Work/Holiday Program allowing a working holiday in Canada are eligible for admission to the Summer School with no additional permits required.

For details on the University of Alberta's International Summer School or to view postcards of any of the students' academic summer experience at the University of Alberta mentioned in this article visit www.international.ualberta.ca/summerschool.