University of Manitoba: Rankings, Courses, Admissions, Fees, and Scholarships

The University of Manitoba (UM) is the oldest university of western Canada.  It’s a public research university established in 1877. It’s the most important university within the province of Manitoba and therefore the 17th-largest altogether of Canada. The chief campus is found within the Fort Garry neighborhood of southern Winnipeg.

The university is extremely well-known for conducting more research annually than the other universities within the region. The creation of canola oil within the 1970s and plenty of more such research contributions are done by the University of Manitoba. The University of Manitoba is also a  member of the U15 and of Universities Canada.

The total enrollment of UM is 31,020 (fall 2020) and more than 20% of its student body comprises international students.

Why study at the University of Manitoba?

• Affiliation: The university is globally affiliated with the International Association of Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
• Campus: The university itself comprises three campuses, namely Bannatyne Campus, Fort Garry Campus, and William Norrie Centre. It is spread over a large area of 676 acres. Bannatyne Campus has 10 buildings along with the medical and dental educational units. Fort Garry Campus which is the main campus of the university comprises more than 60 teaching and research buildings. William Norrie Centre is for social work education.
• Research: The university is partnered with 37 different research centers and institutes. It holds 48 Canada Research Chairs. It also houses a research park in its Fort Campus namely: Smart park Research and Technology Park wherein research related to areas such as information & communications technology, engineering & advanced materials, health & biotechnology, and agricultural & nutritional science is done.
• Academics: UM provides more learning, teaching, and research opportunities than any other university in the province. It has 24 academic faculties and more than 100 degree programs, with most faculties having a graduate school.
• Athletics: The University of Manitoba offers year-round recreational programs. It houses a  Frank Kennedy Centre, Max Bell Centre, the Investors Group Athletic Centre, and IG Field that allows students to enjoy the sports of their own choice.

University of Manitoba Rankings

• #15 among Best Global Universities in Canada- US News World University Rankings 2021
• #390 in Best Global Universities- US News World University Rankings 2021
• 301-350 in World University Rankings- Times Higher Education 2022

University of Manitoba Programs and Courses

The University of Manitoba offers a wide range of undergraduate programs to its students. In the fall term of 2020, a total of 26,521 students were enrolled in its undergraduate programs.  The university has courses in Arts, Sciences, Health Studies, Life Sciences, Business, Law, Education, Engineering, and many more. 

UM also provides a program called ‘University 1’ which basically serves as a preparatory program. It is included in the total degree program of the student’s choice and does not add any time or money to the total course. The U1 program helps students meet the requirements for admission to the second year of their choice of degree.

The most popular undergraduate degree programs at UM (by student enrollment) are:

• Bachelor of Arts
• B.Com (Hons)
• B.Sc. in Engineering
• Post-Baccalaureate diploma in Education
• Bachelor of Nursing
• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

The University of Manitoba offers Pre-Masters, Masters, Joint Masters, and PhD programs through its various faculties. Graduate level programs offered by the faculties of Engineering, Education, Arts, Agriculture & Food Sciences, Medicine, and Architecture  have the highest enrollment. 

However, almost every faculty of UM offers graduate level programs to interested students. In addition, the university offers a Postgraduate Medical Education Program.

International Student Admissions at University of Manitoba

With an international student population of more than 20%, University of Manitoba possesses a diverse student body and encourages international students to apply for admission. 

Admissions are based on merit and completion of application requirements. The University of Manitoba has an average acceptance rate of 53%, making the selection process mildly selective.

Undergraduate Admissions

International undergraduate applicants must meet with the following eligibility requirements:

• High School Academic Record:
  • 70%- Agriculture & Food, Arts, Environment, Fine arts, Music
  • 80%- Engineering & Science
  • 85%- Business, Health, Kinesiology, Dental
• English Language Proficiency:
  • IELTS- 6.5 (min 6 in each component); 
  • TOEFL iBT-86; 
  • PTE- 58

Application Fee: 95 USD

Application Deadlines: March 1 (fall); October 1 (winter)

There are two types of applicants for the University of Manitoba admissions: 

• Direct entry students: Those applicants who have completed less than 24 credit hours at the post-secondary level.
• Advanced entry students: Those applicants who have completed 24 credit hours of post-secondary education.

Direct entry students are automatically considered for the U1 (University 1) program if they do not meet requirements for direct entry into the choice of their degree program.

Apart from the general requirements mentioned above, undergraduate applicants at UM may have to meet program-specific requirements depending on their choice of degree program. Some other requirements may include:

• Personal Statement
• Portfolio of previous work
• Interview or audition

Graduate Admissions

To pursue a graduate degree program at the University of Manitoba, international students must:

• Possess an undergraduate degree(4 yr) from a recognized university with an average GPA of 3.0 (B average) in the last 2 yrs.
• Provide proof of English Language Proficiency (IELTS:6.5; TOEFL iBT- 86; PTE-61)
• Meet with other program-specific requirements which may include but are not limited to:

-Standardized test scores (GMAT/GRE)

-Statement of Purpose

-CV

-Letters of Recommendation

Some programs (such as MBA) may require a higher English language proficiency and GPA. Students should visit the program page on the university’s official website to check complete details. 

Application fee: 79 USD

Application Deadlines: March 1 (fall); Deadlines May be varying based on the program.

Prospective applicants can apply online for admission to both undergraduate and graduate level programs at the University of Manitoba.

Tuition, Fees, and Cost of Attendance

Estimated annual cost for an international student pursuing full-time studies at the University of Manitoba has been tabulated below:

Tuition rates vary by program. Medicine, law, and business programs have a higher tuition rate.

Scholarships for International Students

The University of Manitoba offers the following scholarships to international students:

• International Undergraduate Student Entrance Scholarship: Awarded to incoming international students with an aggregate of 85% or higher in the best 5 senior level academic courses (in high school). Scholarship amount ranges from 791 USD- 2372 USD
• University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship: Master’s and PhD students can apply for these scholarships. Award for Master’s students- 11,073 USD; Award for doctoral students- 14,237 USD
• G Clarence Eliot Fellowship: Master’s and doctoral students can apply for fellowship upto 7,910 USD
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: Awarded to 3 highly qualified doctoral candidates. The award is 39,548 USD per year for 3 years.

In addition to the scholarship opportunities mentioned above, the University of Manitoba also awards need-based financial aid and some program-specific scholarships.