The University of Winnipeg

About The University of Winnipeg

The University of Winnipeg received its university charter in 1967. Its institutional history reaches further back through Manitoba College, founded in 1871, and Wesley College, founded in 1888; those institutions merged as United College in 1938. Today, Manitoba’s post-secondary legislation identifies The University of Winnipeg Act as a distinct institutional statute within the province’s public system. The university combines a broad undergraduate mission with a selective graduate portfolio. Undergraduate degrees are organized principally through the faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Education, Kinesiology and Applied Health, and Science, with additional interdisciplinary and collaborative options. Graduate offerings include master’s degrees in humanities, social sciences, management, computing, environmental studies, public policy, and professional fields, as well as a PhD in Bioscience and Policy. Students should note that the wider institution also includes The University of Winnipeg Collegiate, which is a high school, and Professional, Applied and Continuing Education. Those divisions have separate programs, admission processes, and fees and should not be confused with the university’s bachelor’s or graduate degrees. The university describes itself as located on Treaty One land in the heart of the Métis homeland. Its compact downtown setting is central to the student experience: academic, residential, recreation, and service buildings are concentrated around Portage Avenue rather than spread across a suburban campus. This arrangement may appeal to students who value transit access and proximity to city amenities, while applicants seeking a self-contained residential environment should assess whether an urban campus matches their preferences.

Undergraduate admission is organized by applicant category rather than through one universal standard. The university publishes separate routes for Manitoba and other Canadian high-school students, international applicants, transfer students, mature applicants, homeschooled students, second-degree applicants, and several non-degree categories. Some science, business, education, and other programs require specific secondary-school subjects, so general university eligibility does not guarantee readiness for a chosen major. For 2026–2027, Canadian applicants from outside Manitoba generally need successful high-school completion, Grade 12 English, the university-preparatory requirements of their home province, and at least a 65% average including English and other required subjects. International applicants are assessed using country- or curriculum-specific credentials and may need national examination results. Official transcripts must normally come directly from the issuing institution. The international undergraduate application fee is CAD 120. The current international application page lists undergraduate deadlines of June 1 for September entry, October 15 for January entry, and February 15 for May entry, describing these as extended deadlines and advising applicants to apply three to four months before their intended term. Late applications may be considered without assurance of processing before classes. Applicants whose first language is not English and who lack an exemption must meet an approved language standard; the current undergraduate IELTS Academic threshold is an overall 6.5. Graduate requirements and deadlines are program-specific and should be checked separately.

Undergraduate study covers arts, business and economics, education, kinesiology and applied health, and science. The official program directory lists subjects ranging from classics, criminal justice, Indigenous studies, psychology, and urban and inner-city studies to business administration, economics, applied computer science, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, mathematics, physics, and kinesiology. Interdisciplinary, pre-professional, and applied or joint pathways are also available. Applicants should review the exact credential and partner arrangements for joint programs rather than assuming every listed pathway is delivered entirely by UWinnipeg. Graduate education is smaller and more specialized. Current offerings include master’s programs in Applied Computer Science and Society, Applied Economics, Criminal Justice, Cultural Studies, Environmental and Social Change, History, Indigenous Governance, Management, Marriage and Family Therapy, Peace and Conflict Studies, Public Administration, Religion, and other fields. The university also lists a PhD in Bioscience and Policy. Some joint master’s programs involve the University of Manitoba, which may hold primary responsibility for admission and student records, so applicants should check the relevant program page. Program formats differ substantially. The graduate directory identifies thesis-based, course-based, practicum, full-time, part-time, and hybrid structures depending on the degree. At undergraduate level, co-operative education is available in selected areas rather than across every major; current university material identifies Applied Computer Science, Business and Administration, and Economics as participating departments. Students comparing programs should consult the 2026–2027 academic calendar for degree requirements, prerequisites, progression rules, course availability, and any faculty-specific admission process.

Key Highlights

• Public Manitoba university operating under The University of Winnipeg Act
• Chartered as a university in 1967, with predecessor-college roots dating to 1871
• Compact urban campus at 515 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg
• Offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral education

Student Life & Environment

Campus life is concentrated within the university’s downtown buildings. The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association provides representation, advocacy, services, and events, while the wider campus includes student media, arts and cultural programming, food services, wellness resources, and spaces for study and social activity. International, immigrant, and refugee students can access dedicated support for settling in Winnipeg and navigating university life. Athletic and recreation facilities include the Duckworth Centre and the connected Axworthy Health and RecPlex. Facilities include a fitness centre, gymnasium, indoor track, racquet courts, artificial-turf space, sprint track, and studios. The Wesmen varsity program is associated particularly with basketball and volleyball, while recreation programming offers options beyond varsity competition. University-managed housing is available at McFeetors Hall. Its 2026–2027 published residence packages combine dorm accommodation with a choice of meal arrangements, and live-in Resident Assistants support the residential community. Availability, contract terms, winter-break charges, and payment schedules should be checked before committing. Students who want a strongly residential experience should compare the scale and cost of this housing with off-campus options, because UWinnipeg remains primarily a compact urban institution rather than a large residential campus.

Location & Surroundings

The main campus is centred at 515 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg. Official 2026–2027 student material describes it as walkable, bicycle-friendly, and accessible by public transit. The historic Exchange District is identified as approximately a 15-minute walk away, while sports, music, cultural venues, restaurants, services, and government or business offices are distributed throughout the surrounding central-city area. This location gives students access to urban amenities and potential community, cultural, volunteer, and employment connections without requiring travel from a peripheral campus. It also means daily life is integrated with a busy downtown environment. Prospective students should consider commuting patterns, winter travel, personal comfort in a central-city setting, and the relative costs of residence and private rental housing. Winnipeg has a continental climate with cold winters, so suitable clothing and realistic transportation planning are important, particularly for students arriving from warmer regions. Applicants should use current municipal and university information when budgeting for transit and choosing housing; the university’s academic address should not be assumed to represent the location of every placement, partner program, practicum, or off-campus activity.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition is charged by course and faculty, so there is no single price for every undergraduate. The university’s fee site now links to 2026–2027 tuition and course-related charges, but students should calculate their actual amount from registered courses plus annual, term, laboratory, service, health-plan, and other applicable fees. Graduate, Collegiate, continuing-education, and English-language-program charges follow separate schedules. International students should also budget for health coverage, study-permit expenses, travel, winter clothing, and exchange-rate changes. For housing, the published 2026–2027 McFeetors Hall schedule states that prices remained subject to Board of Regents approval in summer 2026. Listed fall-and-winter dorm packages range from CAD 12,390 for a double room with Meal Plan 1 to CAD 14,500 for a single room with Meal Plan 3. A CAD 350 winter-break option is separately listed. Because approval status and availability can change, applicants should obtain a current contract and payment schedule before relying on these figures. Career Services supports career planning, job-search strategy, résumés, cover letters, and interview preparation. Selected undergraduates can pursue co-operative education that combines professional development with potential paid, field-related work; it is not available in every program. University materials also describe job postings, employer networking, internships in some faculties, on-campus employment, and a work-study program. These resources create opportunities but do not guarantee placements, employment, salaries, or immigration outcomes.