Welcome your new community!
Orientation prepares you for life as a U of A student. The º£½ÇÉçÇø community offers online and in-person orientation experiences.
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Registration Steps | Accessibility + Accommodation | Colleges + Faculties | Week of Welcome | Orientation Events | Student Life | Varsity Events
Registration steps
Step 1:
When you register for orientation, you receive a personalized in-person orientation schedule of all the programs we recommend you attend.
Orientation registration opens mid-April 2025.
Step 2: Start online orientation
Start learning about your U of A community with online orientation. Each module introduces you to a different aspect of studying at the U of A. Use your CCID to access.
Step 3: Attend in-person orientation events
Get the complete orientation experience; attend in-person events to connect with campus resources and new friends!
New Student Orientation is your welcome to the U of A! Ease your transition to student life by attending presentations, panels and campus tours. Connect with clubs and groups at Week of Welcome’s fair and explore events hosted by the º£½ÇÉçÇø Students’ Union (UASU).
Graduate Students Orientation
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) supports your graduate journey with academic guidance, professional development, awards, and funding. The Graduate Students’ Association’s (GSA) in-person orientation introduces you to their resources.
International Students Orientation
International Student & Visitor Services (ISVS) supports you with programs, events, and resources. Their in-person International Student Orientation events cover everything you need to prepare for life in Canada.
First Peoples' House Orientation
First Peoples’ House welcomes First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students with an orientation program designed to support your academic, physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial well-being.
Campus Saint-Jean
Le Campus Saint-Jean te réserve de nombreuses surprises et nous avons très hâte de te rencontrer!
Students living in Residence
Residence orientation introduces you to your new community and the supports it offers to help you thrive. It is offered in two streams: BaseCamp for first-year students and Ascent for upper-year and graduate students. Residents are automatically enrolled in BaseCamp or Ascent when they confirm their space in residence. Residents living at Résidence Saint-Jean will attend orientation programming at both Campus Saint-Jean and North Campus and in a mixture of French and English.
Accessibility + Accommodations at the U of A
The U of A offers academic accommodations to eligible students who encounter restrictions to their ability to pursue post-secondary studies due to medical conditions, including physical and mental conditions and/or non-medical protected grounds.
Register early so that you are ready to take in your full academic experience. Available accommodation supports include adaptive technologies, alternate formats, CART/real-time transcribing, sign language interpretation, and other specialist services. Learn more»
Colleges + faculties
This list is for undergraduate students’ faculty orientations only. Graduate students will hear directly from their program about any program-specific orientations.
College of Health Sciences
Advancing the full spectrum of human health and wellness in individuals, families and communities around the world.
College of Natural + Applied Sciences
Advancing the full spectrum of scientific teaching and research to better understand our world, transform technology, sustain the environment and improve lives.
College of Social Sciences + Humanities
Expanding the boundaries of knowledge and understanding to foster a creative, equitable, inclusive, just and democratic society, with opportunity and well-being for all.
Faculty of Native Studies
Educating Indigenous and non-Indigenous students through community engagement, teaching and research focused on the complexity of Indigenous issues and thought.
- Native Studies
Week of welcome
Week of Welcome (WOW) is your first-week celebration! From free pancakes every morning to Clubs Fair and games at WOW Village to live music on the MainStage, there is truly something for everyone. WOW events take place in Main Quad, Celebration Plaza and the Students' Union Building during the first week of classes every September.
Orientation events
Student Meetups
Find your people, meet Student Success and Experience (SSE) team members and make connections at these fun, casual drop-in events.
Orientation for Students Who Parent
Join SSE and the Student Parents on Campus (SPOC) group for an in-person or online orientation on the support available to students who are parents. Whether you’re a new student or a returning student but a new parent, join us to learn about the resources available to you on and off campus.
Orientation for Students Who Parent
Building a Strong Graduate Student-Supervisor Relationship
A good supervisory relationship with your graduate supervisor is pivotal to a satisfying graduate experience and completing your degree. Join the Office of the Student Ombuds as they share practical ways to build, maintain and restore a balanced, mutually respectful and rewarding graduate student-supervisor relationship.
Get Your GREEN+GOLD T-shirt
At the º£½ÇÉçÇø, we have our own spin on the classic TGIF! “Thank Goodness It’s GREEN+GOLD Fridays” or TGIGGF is how we celebrate our school spirit one colourful Friday at a time! To welcome you to the tradition, we want to outfit you with a FREE GREEN+GOLD t-shirt! New students can pick one up at various Orientation events, while quantities last.
Varsity Events
Be the Roar!
The U of A spirit is alive at athletic events. Cheer on your fellow U of A athletes and soak in the school spirit at these varsity games.
Follow varsity teams on Instagram: and
You’re Invited to the Home Opener!
Dive right into campus life and get ready to cheer on the home team! Join us for our first GREEN+GOLD Spirit Day event of the school year in your best GREEN+GOLD outfit and support the Golden Bears football team on August 29! Kickoff is at 6:30 but the tailgate party starts at 4:30 so arrive early for facepainting, a DJ, loads of swag giveaways and a FREE GREEN+GOLD t-shirt for the first 3000 new students in attendance! Free student tickets go on sale Monday, August 25 and are available via
Student Life
We are GREEN+GOLD
The º£½ÇÉçÇø has proudly donned GREEN+GOLD for over 100 years! From athletic jerseys to convocation caps to º£½ÇÉçÇø hoodies, GREEN+GOLD is everywhere on our campuses. It’s how we recognize the people who make our university community vibrant, inclusive and innovative!
Join us in celebration by wearing our vibrant colours on GREEN+GOLD Fridays, attending GREEN+GOLD Spirit Day events and embracing your GREEN+GOLD school spirit!
YouAlberta
Start reading the YouAlberta blog by students for students to get a slice of what you can expect as a º£½ÇÉçÇø student. The YouAlberta student bloggers know what it’s like to balance study, work and play at the º£½ÇÉçÇø.
Their stories represent everything from the everyday to the extraordinary experiences of º£½ÇÉçÇø students. Topics include mental health, study tips, relationships and all things academic.
Students
Involvement