1st 68% of program students are first in their family to get a degree
33
Average age of AU students
51% of program students support dependents
OPEN FOR ALBERTA
athabascau.ca
KIMBERLEY JONES MASTER OF NURSING ‘22
ABOUT ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
AU IS
Alberta’s only open university, >40,000 students.i
2nd largest university in Albertaii, with flexible, online, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs, plus courses for personal and professional development.
Alberta’s only fully digital and ruralbased university, proudly grounded in Athabasca.
Students learn at their own pace in their own place, whatever their background.
Helping Alberta meet the demand for skilled workers, staying in their communities and jobs.
A research university, leading work into sustainable communities, quality education, health and well-being, and climate change.
AU’S FUNDING
Receives 2% of Alberta’s postsecondary funding but serves more than 14% of its students
62% of funding comes from tuition fees
29% of funding comes from Government of Alberta AU
VICKRAM MINHAS MBA ‘17PowerED™
STUDENTS STUDY WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK i. Includes undergraduate, graduate, and
students ii. Includes undergraduate, graduate, and PowerED™ students
AU’S OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ALBERTA GROWTH
How AU helps with key issues facing Alberta
AU has the largest undergraduate nursing and nurse practitioner program in Canada –upskilling more nurses while they continue to work.
AU’s business school ranks in the top 6% worldwide with the world’s first online MBA and Canada’s first online DBA programs.
Meeting demands for a skilled workforce without requiring people to leave their communities or jobs.
Offers microcredentials for students to upskill or reskill where they are.
Accessible in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities through its open, virtual campus.
Traditional institutions
Place-based learning
Competitive admissions for undergrad programs
Students gather in one place at a scheduled time
Students typically dedicate a regular amount of time to their studies
Classes typically start 3 times a year
Emergency remote learning during COVID-19
Online learning from anywhere
Open admissions policy ensures everyone 16 or older who wants to learn, can
Students collaborate digitally, from anywhere, and learn at their own pace
Students have flexibility to manage school and their lives—including work and family
Classes start every month
Purpose-built, engaging, and flexible online curriculum
Athabasca University!
NATASHA DONAHUE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ‘21
AU’S UNIQUE ROLE
Canada’s only rural-based university
Courses are accessible from anywhere, any time
60% of first-year students work full-time
Flexible - most students can enroll in any month
Provides regional benefits
68% self-identify as women
5.4%
self-identify as Indigenous
4% have self-identified disabilities
Let us know how you think AU can continue to support Alberta’s people and economy.
Contact our president, Dr. Alex Clark, at president@athabascau.ca
CONNECT WITH US
ARC building in Athabasca, Alberta
CARTER YELLOWBIRD MBA ‘12