Edmonton is Alberta's capital city and home to the University of Alberta — one of Canada's top five research universities — along with MacEwan University, NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), and Concordia University of Edmonton. With a combined student population exceeding 50,000, Edmonton is a serious and increasingly vibrant student city.
Student housing near the University of Alberta is concentrated in the Garneau and Strathcona neighbourhoods, both of which are walkable to campus. Whyte Avenue, which runs through Old Strathcona just south of campus, is the social hub of Edmonton's student life — lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, and indie shops that cater to the university crowd. Purpose-built student housing in this corridor is in demand and books out well before the academic year begins.
Edmonton's cost of living is one of its most compelling advantages over Toronto or Vancouver. Rent is significantly lower, groceries are comparable, and Alberta has no provincial income tax or provincial sales tax, which meaningfully increases take-home pay for students working part-time. For students managing tight budgets, Edmonton is one of the most financially accessible major student cities in Canada.
The University of Alberta's co-op and internship programs are among the strongest in Western Canada, particularly in engineering, computing science, business, and the life sciences. Alberta's energy sector — both conventional and renewable — creates substantial demand for engineering and science graduates, and Edmonton serves as the professional hub for that industry.
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) operates the LRT system, which connects the U of A campus directly to downtown and key areas across the city. For students in purpose-built housing near campus, a bicycle or LRT pass often covers 90% of daily transportation needs from May through October.
Winters in Edmonton are the defining experience of life in Alberta's capital. Edmonton is one of the coldest major cities in Canada, and temperatures regularly drop to -30°C or below in January and February. Proper layering, quality winter boots, and a well-insulated coat are non-negotiable. That said, the city's indoor infrastructure — including the U of A's connected building network — makes campus life manageable through even the deepest cold snaps.
Edmonton's summer, by contrast, is magnificent. Long daylight hours (the city sits at a northern latitude), the North Saskatchewan River valley park system, outdoor music festivals, and warm temperatures make the spring and summer terms genuinely special. The Edmonton Folk Music Festival, K-Days, and Fringe Theatre Festival give the city an arts and culture calendar that surprises most newcomers.
For students looking for student housing near the University of Alberta or MacEwan University, start your search in January for September availability. All-inclusive purpose-built housing in Garneau or Strathcona eliminates the complexity of setting up utilities in a city with serious heating demands. Canadian Student Living's communities in Edmonton are designed with the U of A student in mind.