University of Manitoba
Western Canada's oldest university, where most first-years start in University 1 before choosing a faculty.
- Students
- 31,922
- 27,372 undergraduates
- International
- 20%
- of students
- Tuition
- CA$24,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1877
About UM
Founded in 1877, the University of Manitoba is Manitoba's largest and most research-intensive university and a member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities. It had 31,922 students in fall 2025, including 27,372 undergraduates, and about one in five students (19.7%) is international, from 123 countries. It has two main campuses in Winnipeg, Fort Garry and Bannatyne, plus several satellite campuses.
UM offers more than 100 undergraduate programs across 13 faculties, 4 schools and 9 colleges, including the I. H. Asper School of Business, the Price Faculty of Engineering, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. A distinctive feature is University 1, a first-year program that lets you take courses across fields before transiting into Arts, Science or applying to another faculty.
The university reports 100 Rhodes Scholars, more than any other Western Canadian university, and $246 million in sponsored research income in 2024. It hosts the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Admission is accessible: University 1 asks for a 70% average in four Grade 12 courses, while Engineering and Commerce ask for 80%. It suits students who want a big research university at moderate cost and the freedom to decide on a major after first year.
Floreat
“Flourish” — university motto
Why students choose UM
University 1 lets first-year students explore different fields before transiting to Arts or Science with a 2.0 GPA, or applying to another faculty.
More than 50 programs offer co-op education, and all engineering degrees have co-op or internship options.
UM counts 100 Rhodes Scholars, more than any other university in Western Canada.
Tuition is moderate by Canadian standards: about $7,400 a year for Canadians and $25,800 for international students in University 1, including fees.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry
Selectivity
UM does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Direct-entry programs set minimum Grade 12 averages (70% for University 1, 80% for Engineering and Commerce); where eligible applicants exceed available spaces, higher averages are required.
Typical entry requirements
| Manitoba high school (University 1) | Minimum 70% average over English 40S, Mathematics 40S and two academic 40S courses, with no less than 60% in each |
|---|---|
| Manitoba high school (Engineering) | Minimum 80% average over English 40S, Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S, Chemistry 40S and Physics 40S, with no less than 70% in each |
| Manitoba high school (Asper Bachelor of Commerce Honours) | Minimum 80% average over English 40S, Pre-Calculus Mathematics 40S and two academic 40S courses, with no less than 70% in each; ranked by average if oversubscribed |
| Other provinces and international curricula | Equivalent courses and averages listed by province and by country on UM's international admission requirements page |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 86 IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each module; TOEFL iBT 86 with 20 in each section for tests before 20 January 2026, or 4.5 overall with 4.0 in each section on the new scale; Duolingo 120 with 105 in each subscore; PTE 58; Cambridge C1 or C2 180. Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose primary language is English are exempt. |
Deadlines
- Engineering and Asper Commerce (direct entry) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
Same deadline for domestic and international applicants; final documents due July 7, 2027. Apply by March 1 to be automatically considered for most entrance scholarships.
- University 1 (international applicants) Non-binding In ~7 monthsMay 1, 2027
Final document deadline August 1, 2027.
- University 1 (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) Non-binding In ~10 monthsAugust 1, 2027
Applications open in early September.
Deadlines are from UM's program information portal for fall 2027 direct entry. Some programs, such as the Bachelor of Music (January 15, 2027 for international applicants), have earlier dates.
How to apply
Apply directly to UM through its online application portal (application fee $130 for international applicants), choosing a program and entry term, then upload transcripts and documents by the final document deadline. International applicants who need a Provincial Attestation Letter must pay a non-refundable $2,000 tuition deposit within 10 business days of a decision.
What admissions looks for
- The minimum average in the specific Grade 12 courses your program requires, such as English, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry and Physics for Engineering.
- No course below the program floor (60% for University 1, 70% for Engineering and Commerce).
- Higher averages when a program is oversubscribed: Commerce and other competitive programs rank applicants by admission average.
- Auditions or portfolios for Music and Fine Arts.
Tips for applying to UM
- 1 Apply by March 1 even for University 1 if you want to be automatically considered for entrance scholarships.
- 2 If you are unsure of your major, University 1 lets you transit to Arts or Science after 24 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA, without a new application fee.
- 3 International students: budget for the $2,000 tuition deposit, due within 10 business days of your decision if you need a Provincial Attestation Letter.
- 4 Check the new TOEFL scale: tests taken from January 21, 2026 need 4.5 overall and 4.0 in each section.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CAD
UM awards about $40 million a year in scholarships and bursaries, including $3.5 million in entrance scholarships to about 1,600 first-year students; most are based on high school grades and awarded automatically to students who apply for September by March 1. International students from international high schools with 85% or more receive a General Entrance Scholarship ($1,000 to $3,000 in 2024-25), and the International Excellence Entrance Scholarship is worth up to $25,000.
- About $40 million
- Scholarships and bursaries awarded each year
- About 1,600 a year ($3.5 million)
- First-year students receiving entrance scholarships
- $1,000 (85%+), $2,000 (90%+), $3,000 (95%+)
- International General Entrance Scholarship (2024-25 values)
Academics
Academic calendar: Terms (Fall, Winter, Summer)
University 1
A first-year program unique to UM that lets students try several fields before choosing a faculty.
Engineering (BSc)
Biosystems, Civil, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical majors after a common first year, with co-op or internship in every program.
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Asper School of Business
Direct entry from high school with an 80% minimum average in English, Pre-Calculus and two academic courses.
Agricultural and Food Sciences
UM cites a 2nd-in-Canada ranking for food science and technology (ShanghaiRanking GRAS 2024).
Environmental Design (Architecture)
The Faculty of Architecture's pathway toward professional architecture degrees.
Engineering Access Program
For 40 years it has created pathways into engineering for Indigenous students.
Research
- UM received $246 million in sponsored research income in 2024 and has more than 50 research centres, institutes and shared facilities.
- It holds 59 Canada Research Chairs, a Canada Excellence Research Chair and a Canada 150 Research Chair.
- UM hosts the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- Alumnus James Peebles won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for work in cosmology.
Schools & faculties
- University 1
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Arts
- I. H. Asper School of Business
- Price Faculty of Engineering
- Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management
- Faculty of Law
- Desautels Faculty of Music
- Faculty of Science
Student life
Most undergraduates study at the Fort Garry campus, which also has residence halls and the affiliated St. Andrew's and St. John's colleges with their own residences. The UM Bisons field more than 400 student-athletes on 15 teams across 9 sports and have won 50 national championships. Fees include a Winnipeg Transit U-Pass and a UM gym pass, and more than 35,000 students, staff and community members use UM recreation facilities each year.
- UM Bisons: 15 varsity teams and 50 national championships.
- 144 student-athletes were named U Sports Academic All-Canadians in 2024-25.
- Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow and the Bison Spirit Indigenous Leadership Program.
- Exchange partnerships with 50 institutions in more than 20 destinations.
Housing. On-campus residences are available at Fort Garry, including at St. Andrew's and St. John's colleges; apply through the UM residence portal.
Location
Winnipeg is Manitoba's capital and largest city, and UM is the province's largest university. The Fort Garry campus is in the Fort Garry neighbourhood of southern Winnipeg, and the Bannatyne campus is UM's second main campus. Winters are cold, so the Winnipeg Transit U-Pass included in student fees is useful for getting around.
Nearest airport: Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
Notable alumni
- JP James PeeblesCosmologist and 2019 Nobel laureate in Physics; BSc from UM
- MM Marshall McLuhanPhilosopher and media theorist; studied at UM before Cambridge
- MH Monty HallHost of Let's Make a Deal; BSc in chemistry and zoology
- IA Israel AsperTax lawyer and founder of the media company Canwest; law degree (1957)
- WK Wab KinewPremier of Manitoba and former broadcaster; BA in economics
- MT Miriam ToewsNovelist; BA in film studies
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need to get into the University of Manitoba?
University 1 requires at least 70% across English 40S, Mathematics 40S and two academic 40S courses. Engineering and the Asper Bachelor of Commerce require at least 80%, and competitive programs may need more.
What is University 1 at the University of Manitoba?
It is a first-year program unique to UM where you take courses in several fields. After 24 credit hours with a 2.0 GPA you can transit to Arts or Science, or apply to another faculty.
When is the University of Manitoba application deadline for fall 2027?
March 1, 2027 for Engineering and Commerce. For University 1 it is May 1, 2027 for international applicants and August 1, 2027 for Canadians, but apply by March 1 to be considered for entrance scholarships.
How much is University of Manitoba tuition for international students?
UM estimates about $24,000 a year for Arts, $25,800 for University 1, $28,000 for Science and $31,400 for Engineering, including fees and health insurance.
What IELTS score does the University of Manitoba require?
IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each module. The TOEFL iBT requirement is 86 with 20 in each section (older scale) or 4.5 with 4.0 in each section (new scale).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Manitoba: Facts and figures
- University of Manitoba: Undergraduate admission requirements
- University of Manitoba: Learn how to apply
- University of Manitoba: University 1
- UM Program Information Portal: University 1, Fall 2027 direct entry (international)
- UM Program Information Portal: University 1, Fall 2027 direct entry (domestic)
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