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Simplifying university information for international students so you can focus on your goals.
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Lowering the Flag: National Day for Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The national, provincial, Treaty Six, Métis Nation and university flags are at half-mast from May 5–7 to mark the National Day for Awareness for MMIWG.
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Lowering the Flag: Dr. Petar Minev
The University of Alberta banner is flying at half-mast from May 1–4, 2026, in honour of Dr. Petar Minev.
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U of A to host next-generation nuclear energy program in new $10M partnership
The U of A is set to become a new home for nuclear innovation following a $5-million provincial investment in a made-in-Canada energy project.
New here? Start with these
I am a new international student. What is the first UAlberta office I should know?
Start with International Student and Visitor Services (ISVS). ISVS is the main UAlberta unit for international student settlement, immigration-adjacent support, orientation, webinars, and referrals. Use it for study permits, work permits, visas, health insurance, Social Insurance Number information, arriving in Edmonton, cultural adjustment, emergency funding referrals, and getting connected to campus services.
Sources ISVS home Contact ISVS
How do I contact International Student and Visitor Services (ISVS)?
Use the official ISVS contact page and the student service portal. Generally use your @ualberta.ca email and include your student ID when asking about your file. ISVS also advertises in-person support, but availability can change by term, so check the contact page before going in person.
Sources Contact ISVS
What is the Student Service Centre (SSC), and when should I use it?
The Student Service Centre is the broad front door for registrar and student-service questions: admissions, registration, records, transcripts, convocation, financial support routing, general Bear Tracks questions, and referrals to health, wellness, academic, or faculty supports. For faculty-specific academic advice, degree rules, course substitutions, or program planning, SSC may refer you to your faculty or department.
Sources Student Service Centre
Should I ask UASU, GSA, ISA, my faculty, or ISVS?
Quick routing rule: International Student and Visitor Services (ISVS) for international-student immigration and settlement questions; the Student Service Centre (SSC) for records, registration, fees, and general student-service routing; the University of Alberta Students' Union (UASU) for undergraduate advocacy, student services, health/dental plan information, Safewalk, and student groups; the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) for graduate representation, graduate services, health/dental plan information, and the Graduate Student Assistance Program (GSAP); the International Students Association (ISA) for international student advocacy and community; your faculty or department for program-specific academic rules.
Is this FAQ immigration advice?
No. This is an information and routing guide. Immigration rules change and individual circumstances matter. For UAlberta-specific support, contact International Student and Visitor Services (ISVS). For official legal requirements and applications, use Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages. Do not rely only on friends, social media, or outdated blog posts for immigration decisions.
Sources Immigration resources - UAlberta Study permit extension - IRCC