Athabasca University (AU)

Overview

Established: 1970

Nature: Public distance education university

Location: The main campus is located in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada, with branches in Edmonton and Calgary.

Students: More than 43,000 full-time and part-time students from Canada and around the world

Educational philosophy

Athabasca University is committed to providing flexible distance education to meet the needs of students from different backgrounds. The school emphasizes open learning, academic excellence and personal development, providing students who cannot attend traditional campus courses with the opportunity to receive higher education. AU also attaches great importance to research and conducts cutting-edge exploration in many fields.

Historical background

1970: Officially established by order of the Alberta government.

Modern: It has become one of the largest distance education universities in Canada and enjoys a good reputation internationally, especially in online education and open educational resources.

Subjects and courses

Undergraduate programs:

Bachelor of Arts: including psychology, sociology, history, English, etc.

Bachelor of Commerce: covering accounting, marketing, human resource management, finance, etc.

Bachelor of Science and Technology: including computer science, environmental science, biology, chemistry, etc.

Bachelor of Health Sciences: such as nursing, health management, etc.

Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology: focuses on skill development in the fields of information technology and communication.

Graduate Programs:

Master: offers master's degrees in many fields, such as business administration (MBA), education, information systems management, health research, etc.

Doctor: offers a few doctoral degrees, such as doctoral degrees in distance education, etc.

Professional Certificate: offers a variety of professional certificate courses, such as project management, human resource management, data analysis, etc.

Continuing Education: provides opportunities for adult education and lifelong learning, including short courses and career development training.

Featured Majors

Distance Education: As a distance education university, AU is a leader in online teaching and e-learning platform development.

Open Educational Resources: actively promotes open educational resources (OER) to enable more people to access high-quality learning materials for free.

Business Management: provides comprehensive business management education, especially its online MBA program is widely recognized.

Information Systems Management: has strong teaching and research strengths in information technology management and network security.

Health and Medical Education: Provides professional training in health sciences and nursing.

Distance Learning: Specialized graduate courses in distance learning are set up to cultivate professionals in educational technology and online teaching.

Campus Facilities

Online Learning Platform: It has an advanced online learning management system to support students to learn anytime and anywhere.

Library Resources: Provides a wealth of electronic books, journals and other digital resources.

Technical Support: Provides 24-hour technical support services for students.

Student Service Center: Provides a variety of services such as career planning, mental health support, and academic counseling.

Research Center: There are multiple research centers to support teachers and students in their research work.

Contact Information

Official Website: https://www.athabascau.ca/

Address: 1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3, Canada

Phone: +1 780-675-6100

Email: info@athabascau.ca

Accreditation and Recognition

Accreditation: Athabasca University is a member of the Association of Colleges and Universities of Canada, and its degrees and diplomas are recognized by the Canadian government.

Recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education: Athabasca University is one of the overseas regular universities recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and the degrees awarded are also recognized in China.

Other information

Admission requirements:

Undergraduate programs: Applicants usually need to graduate from high school and submit transcripts. Some courses may have specific language requirements, such as an IELTS score of no less than 6.5 or a TOEFL score of no less than 80.

Graduate programs: Applicants need to have a bachelor's degree in a related major and submit transcripts, personal statements, letters of recommendation and other materials. Some courses may also require an interview or additional writing samples.

Scholarships: The school offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to help students reduce their financial burden.

Internship opportunities: Although it is a distance education university, AU still provides students with internships and practical opportunities through partnerships.

International cooperation: It has established partnerships with many universities around the world to promote international exchanges and learning.