Student-built · University of Alberta
One question.A clearer path.
From your first day in Canada to your next opportunity: answers, campus support and practical steps, without the runaround.
Study permits, health insurance, clubs, jobs, quiet study — all of it, in one box.
Independent and student-built · every entry links to the official source
Scroll to beginBuilt by students. Connected to official sources. Everything below is maintained by hand and links out to the office, department or government page that actually owns the answer.
- 403
- Student groups
- 390
- Co-op employers
- 156
- Support resources
- 125
- Answered questions
- 22
- Study spots
- 4.7 km
- Pedway network
01Right now
Need help right now?
If you are in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call 911 first.
More crisis and support contacts02Find help
Eight directories.Start where your question sits.
156 resources, 403 student groups and 390 co-op employers, sorted into the eight places people actually look. Every card opens a full directory.
- ImmigrationStudy permits, work permits, visas and official guidance.38 resources · 17 answered questions
- Mental HealthCounselling, crisis lines and everyday wellbeing support.32 resources · crisis lines first
- Academic ResourcesRegistration, tutoring, advising, exams and records.50 resources
- Campus LifeHousing, transit, ONEcard, food support and legal help.36 resources
- Student GroupsClubs, cultural communities and ways to get involved.403 groups
- Job OpportunitiesCo-op employers, campusBRIDGE and U of A postings.390 employers
- Study SpotsQuiet zones, group rooms and bookable spaces.22 spaces
- Campus PedwaysCross campus indoors and skip the winter walk.51 segments · 19 entrances
03Know where to go
The right people.In the right order.
You don’t need to know every office. These four are a good place to start, and they cover almost everything.
Clear directions to the people who can actually help. This is a routing guide, not legal, medical, immigration or financial advice — where official rules apply, the linked source pages are authoritative.
- 01International student supportISVSInternational Student and Visitor Services: your starting point for permits, visas, health insurance and settling into Edmonton.
- 02University administrationStudent Service CentreRegistration, student records, transcripts, fees and help navigating Bear Tracks.
- 03Your student communityUASU & GSAAdvocacy, health and dental plans, and student life. UASU for undergraduates; GSA for graduate students.
- 04Your academic directionYour faculty advisorDegree requirements, course choices, substitutions and planning your program.
04Questions
The ones everybodyasks in week one.
125 answers, each pointed at the office or authority that owns it. These five are where most people start.
Last reviewed September 4, 2026
Start with International Student and Visitor Services (ISVS), the main 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 and emergency funding referrals.
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.
The Student Service Centre is the broad front door for registrar and student-service questions: admissions, registration, records, transcripts, convocation, financial support routing and general Bear Tracks questions. For faculty-specific academic advice, degree rules or program planning, it may refer you onward to your faculty.
The quick routing rule: ISVS for international-student immigration and settlement questions; the Student Service Centre for records, registration and fees; UASU for undergraduate advocacy, health and dental plan information, Safewalk and student groups; the GSA for graduate student matters; your faculty for anything about your specific degree.
No. This is an information and routing guide. Immigration rules change and individual circumstances matter. For U of A support, contact ISVS. For official legal requirements and applications, use Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Do not rely only on friends, social media or outdated blog posts for immigration decisions.