University of Calgary
A Brief History of Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in the south of the province. The city was named after Calgary on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
The Calgary area was inhabited by pre-Clovis people whose presence has been traced back at least 11,000 years. In 1875, the site became a post of the North-West Mounted Police (now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP). The post, originally named Fort Brisebois, was renamed Fort Calgary in 1876.
When the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the area in 1883, and a rail station was constructed, Calgary began to grow into an important commercial and agricultural centre. By the late 19th century, the Hudson’s Bay Company expanded into the interior and established posts along rivers, one of which became the modern city of Calgary. Between 1896 and 1914 settlers from all over the world poured into the area in response to the offer of free “homestead” land.
Oil was first discovered in Alberta in 1902, but it did not become a significant industry in the province until 1947 when reserves of it were discovered near Leduc. Calgary quickly found itself at the centre of the ensuing oil boom. Calgary’s economy was so closely tied to the oil industry that the city’s boom peaked with the average annual price of oil in 1981.
The 1990s marked Calgary’s transition from a mid-sized and relatively nondescript prairie city into a major cosmopolitan and diverse centre.
Education
The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a publicly funded research-intensive university founded in 1966. It has 14 faculties offering more than 250 academic programs and more than 50 research institutes and centres. As one of Canada’s top comprehensive research universities, UCalgary combines the best of university tradition with the city of Calgary’s vibrant energy and diversity.
UCalgary was ranked as the top university under the age of 50 in both Canada and North America by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and as one of the top 200 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The University of Calgary is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with four campuses in the Calgary area and a fifth in Doha, Qatar. Calgary is one of Canada’s cleanest, safest, most culturally diverse urban centres, repeatedly ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities. With a population of 1.2 million, it’s also the largest city in Alberta and the third-largest municipality in Canada. Built in the 1960s — and evolving ever since — our main campus is now home to 11 of our 14 faculties, our world-class research and athletics facilities, and extensive support services for students, faculty and staff.
The main campus occupies a beautiful setting with a view of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. The campus covers more than 200 hectares, which is an area larger than Calgary’s entire downtown.
UCalgary offers students a high-quality educational experience that prepares them for success in life, as well as research that addresses society’s most persistent challenges. Our creation and transfer of knowledge contributes every day to our country’s global competitive advantage and makes the world a better place.
The University of Calgary is a partner with IDP Education. IDP is a world leader in international student placement services and a proud co-owner of IELTS. It operates a large network of over 80 student offices in more than 30 countries, offering institutions an efficient and cost-effective way to reach potential students in multiple student source markets. IDP also partners with 600 leading institutions in five popular English-speaking countries.
For free information and study abroad application assistance, visit IDP Education offices at all ACE campuses.
IDP Study Abroad Resource Centres
