Lakehead University

The spring/summer program at Lakehead University, including English language courses, have been moved to online delivery because of Covid-19. If students have applied for May entry and would like to start from home, they can register for online courses. Scholarships and funding opportunities are available to students and can be accessed on the institution’s website.

Due to the closure of some IELTS and TOEFL centres, Lakehead University will be accepting the Duolingo English test from applicants who are unable to access these centres. To meet the English language proficiency requirements, students must score at least 110 to be accepted onto most undergraduate programs.

To further support students and applicants at this time, Lakehead University is offering online services such as one-on-one counselling where students can virtually connect with a team at the university. They will be able to answer any questions about admissions, programs, accommodation, tuition and scholarships.

Students can also access Lakehead International Live events every weekday to ask important questions about anything to do with attending Lakehead University to current students, professors and Lakehead experts. Students can find out more about these opportunities by visiting the Connect to Lakehead website.

Lakehead University’s smaller class sizes allow students to have a personalized university experience and be more engaged in their studies. More than 85 percent of classes have fewer than 50 students, and 50 percent of classes have fewer than 25. Lakehead’s student to professor ratio of 15:1 at the Thunder Bay campus and 13:1 at the Orillia campus means that students will get to know their professors, play a bigger role, and be more engaged in their learning, which will greatly enhance their chances for success.

Well known for its excellence in research, Lakehead has been named by Research Infosource as the Top Canadian University in Undergraduate Research for five consecutive years (2015 – 2019). The university has 24 pioneering research centres, 11 Canada Research Chairs, a Biorefining Research Institute, one of the top three paleo-DNA laboratories across the globe, and a new Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering and Sciences. With opportunities to work for professors on real-world research projects, students can gain unparalleled experience that will help them to be highly employable in their future career or graduate school.

Work-integrated education is a key component to learning at Lakehead and is woven into curriculum across many disciplines. Opportunities include field school, community-based learning, co-operative education and internships where students can use the skills, theory and knowledge acquired in the classroom in real-world situations.

There are nine main faculties for prospective undergraduates to explore, where they will find the perfect degree program for them. These are:

Business Administration

In this AACSB-accredited business school, students receive a strong business foundation with options to specialize in their upper years. Co-op and work-integrated elements ensure students leave highly-equipped for the professional world.

Education

Lakehead fosters new ways of thinking and teaching through classes and over 100 days of in-school placement.

Engineering

The only Canadian university where you can earn an engineering diploma and degree in just four years. This blend of theoretical and hands-on learning ensures graduates are highly employable.

Health and Behavioural Sciences

Home to a number of departments and schools, students can choose from a range of health-related programs that balance theory with labs, internships and placements.

Law

Lakehead’s Law school focuses on three areas: Aboriginal and Indigenous Law, Natural Resources and Environmental Law, and Sole/Small Town Practice with the Integrated Practice Curriculum (IPC).

Medical School

The school develops students into individuals who can improve clinical practice in northern urban, rural and remote communities.

Natural Resources Management

Programs provide a balanced perspective of sustainable ecosystem management while considering the world’s social, economic and environmental issues. 100 percent employment rate after graduation.

Science and Environmental Sciences

There are several programs offered in the faculty including Anthropology Applied Life Sciences Bioinformatics Biology Chemistry Computer Science Earth Science Economics Environmental Science Geography and Water Resource Science to name a few.

Social Sciences and Humanities

Students can choose from many programs—including Criminology or Media, Film & Communications—designed to develop them into work-ready graduates in careers from community activism to government.

International students will need to meet a number of entry requirements to be considered for study at Lakehead University.

Academic requirements

Students are required to have graduated from a secondary school or equivalent, meet the specific requirements for their course of choice, and have a minimum of 70 percent overall Canadian average or equivalent. Applicants will also need to have certain program-specific pre-requisites depending on the program they are applying to.

English language requirements

Students whose first language is not English, or who have not studied in a school where English is the main language used, will need to prove their English language proficiency.

To do this, students can sit a recognized English language exam. For the majority of undergraduate programs, students will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no individual score lower than 6.0), or equivalent.

Students who meet all the admission requirements for their program except the English language requirements may be admitted to their academic program on condition of completing Lakehead University’s Academic English Program.

Lakehead University offers one of the most generous scholarship programs to students in the country. By providing this extra financial support, Lakehead makes it easier for students to focus on their studies.

International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship 2020-2021

The university offers international students an award of up to CAD 30,000 towards their tuition fees. Non-Canadian applicants who are applying from high school or equivalent will be automatically considered for the scholarship, so no application for the award is required. The amount of scholarship available is dependent on the student’s academic average:

• Those with 90.0 percent or above can receive up to CAD 30,000 (CAD 7,500 over four years).
• Those with 80.0 percent to 89.9 percent can receive up to CAD 20,000 (CAD 5,000 over four years).
• Those with 75.0 percent to 79.9 percent can receive up to CAD 4,000 (CAD 4,000 for the first year only).

For terms and conditions of the scholarships and their renewability, please visit Lakehead’s International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship page. There are a limited number of scholarships on offer, so students are advised to apply to Lakehead as soon as possible to be considered for the scholarship.

Students at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses will have plenty of opportunity to experience what Canada has to offer. Orillia is based in the Muskoka Lake and Cottage Country, where there are plenty of recreational and cultural activities to get involved in. It is also only 150 kilometers away from Canada’s largest city, Toronto.

Thunder Bay can be found on the shores of Lake Superior. As well as countless outdoor adventure activities available in the breathtaking natural surroundings, students at Thunder Bay can enjoy a large offering of arts, culture, music, shopping and more.

During their studies, international students are encouraged to take part in the many activities offered through the International Centre, and to get involved with the university community by joining one of the numerous sports teams, academic clubs or cultural societies. There are countless opportunities at the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU) where students can make a difference during their spare time.

Lakehead University’s campuses are complete with seminar-style classrooms, larger lecture halls, cutting-edge laboratories, libraries, computer labs, student services offices, bookstore, residences, cafeterias and cafés, all easily accessible by foot. The Orillia campus is designed to LEED standards for environmental sustainability and gives students access to all YMCA recreational facilities in the region. The Thunder Bay campus houses over 6000 square meters of recreational facilities on site, features a new International Center and Lounge in the central hub of campus, as well as a beautiful river, lake and walking paths for students to enjoy.

On-campus residence options at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses offer students supports and activity programming, so all students can feel that Lakehead is truly their home away from home. Off-campus residence options close to campus are also available, as well as homestay programs and temporary accommodation options.