Athabasca University in Alberta was the first Canadian university to specialize in online distance education. The institution is a true distance learning pioneer, having opened as Canada's first open correspondence-based university in 1973.

AU provides more than 980 courses across 50 undergraduate and graduate programs in business, health, humanities, and sciences, including architecture, accounting, data analytics, information security, finance, health administration, and both post-LPN and post-RN nursing degrees.

A specialized menu of professional development programs, courses, and micro-credentials is also available, with training in areas such as project management, digital innovation, workplace health, and AI ethics.

As an "open" university, Athabasca takes pride in its extremely flexible format, which makes higher education easy and accessible from entrance to final exams. Anyone 16 or older, regardless of previous schooling, is eligible for admission to AU.

Most courses have no requirements, and there is no competition to get into a program. Classes start on the first of each month and never fill up. Coursework can be performed on your own schedule, and final exams can be scheduled at your leisure.

Athabasca University's open online strategy efficiently eliminates many traditional barriers to higher education. According to school data, more than 70% of its students are the first in their families to complete a university degree.

With over 850 courses in a variety of topic areas, it has something for everyone! Athabasca University's online courses are designed to fit into your schedule, making learning both accessible and convenient. Athabasca University's undergraduate courses lead to a bachelor's degree, diploma, or certificate.

Founded: 1970
Phone: 1-780-675-6100
Address: 1 University DriveAthabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Website: https://www.athabascau.ca/

Directions

Laurentian University, one of the best online schools in Canada, takes pride in its unique educational vision, which reflects its location in Northern Ontario. It is the only university in Canada with a bilingual and tricultural mandate, offering courses in English and French with a focus on meeting the postsecondary needs of Indigenous students.

Online certification and professional development Microcredentials include a variety of disciplines, including fingerprint identification and analysis, fire scene management and investigation, cardiac care, palliative care, and survey design. Laurentian Online has Canada's most bilingual (English and French) distance education programs. Visualize the possibilities.

Laurentian Online offers a similarly diverse selection of 26 degree programs and over 350 courses, including undergraduate degrees in criminology, sociology, forensic identification, business administration, and Indigenous social work, as well as an MBA and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner M.Sc. program.

Courses provide you the freedom to complete a comprehensive program of study or supplement on-campus learning. Enrolling online allows you to move ahead, keep up, or catch up on your studies at your own pace.

Laurentian University's online model is largely asynchronous, with no scheduled classes. Students can study at their own pace — the school suggests 15-20 hours per week per subject for academics — but assignments have deadlines, and courses must be completed within specific academic periods.

Some courses require a final in-person exam. However, students with specific distance restrictions can take an invigilated exam at an approved site. Courses are given using the Desire2Learn or D2L Brightspace platform, a popular Canadian-born learning management system (LMS) that simplifies and intuitively facilitates online learning and communication among students and instructors.

Founded: 1960
Phone: 1.800.461.4030
Address: 935 Ramsey Lake Rd. Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6
Website: https://laurentian.ca/

Directions

The University of Fredericton (UFred) is a fully online, degree-granting institution that provides certificate, diploma, and degree programs. UFred, founded and headquartered in Fredericton, New Brunswick, takes great satisfaction in providing innovative, relevant online education focused on leadership development and lifetime learning.

UFred provides a unique, entirely online learning experience that meets its constituents' academic and professional goals. We are committed to ensuring student success by providing approachable, courteous support and service.

UFred assures that your learning experience will be positive. Online students receive the same high-quality education as those attending on-campus programs. Degree programs are completely accredited, and students in synchronous programs engage with professors and peers every week via vClass (virtual classroom).

UFred programs also allow students to ask questions, participate in conversations, and collaborate on study materials via chat, video conference, and email, which are all available through various programs.

The University of Fredericton, which operates entirely online, offers a targeted range of certificate, degree, and diploma programs through its Sandermoen School of Business and School of Occupational Health and Safety. OHS courses include certificates and diplomas in areas such as psychological health and safety, OHS and environmental systems, and ergonomics.

UFred's flagship program, however, is the Master of Business Administration, which has consistently ranked among CourseCompare's top online MBA programs. The comprehensive and diverse curriculum allows students to choose from nine leadership disciplines: innovation, consulting, professional selling, human resources, business analytics, and cybersecurity. Aspiring leaders at all stages of their careers can also obtain pre-MBA, executive MBA, and MBA certificates.

Founded: 2005
Phone: 1-877-454-6232
Address: 371 Queen Street, Suite 400Fredericton, NB E3B 1B1
Website: https://ufred.ca/

Directions

Royal Roads University is a public institution, particularly for postgraduates and adult students, with learning approaches designed to fit around existing occupations and hectic schedules. Approximately 70% of RRU students continue to work while enrolled in the school's online and blended programs, which have been running since the 1990s.

RRU offers a specialized menu of 20 online and 57 hybrid programs in business, communication, environmental science, executive education, leadership, tourism, and hospitality management, among other areas. In keeping with its concentration on mature and working students, the course catalog emphasizes business, management, and leadership-focused education. The programs begin with a non-credit course on academic honesty that is required.

RRU's course portfolio consists primarily of blended courses with both online and on-campus components. Blended programs are primarily online but involve an intense on-campus stay of varied lengths that includes hard in-class study, team assignments, and extracurricular activities. While challenging, students describe the intensive and highly interactive residency as a particular program highlight.

Fully online courses can include both synchronous and asynchronous lectures, as well as homework with specific deadlines. Even though the programs are entirely online, collaborative work plays an important role; group assignments and meaningful involvement in debates and online forums are seen as vital and essential components of the overall learning experience.

Royal Roads University recognizes its students' needs and objectives and has developed choices to provide an educational experience that suits your schedule. The group format incorporates group-based coursework, giving you a network of similar students to discuss, challenge, and grow with throughout your degree.

Even after graduation, these organizations continue to support your goals, ensuring that your life-changing experience with us results in professional and personal transformation. No wonder it is one of the best online schools in Canada.

Founded: 1995
Phone: 1.877.778.6227
Address: 2005 Sooke RoadVictoria, BC V9B 5Y2
Website: https://www.royalroads.ca/

Directions

University Canada West is an innovative educational and technology institution located in the heart of dynamic Vancouver. UCW, which was founded in 2004, provides a variety of career-focused programs such as the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication, Associate of Arts, and Master of Business Administration.

Courses are available at both downtown Vancouver campuses and online. Offering courses online adds flexibility to education, giving students who have yet to have the opportunity to get valued certifications.

UCW's course catalog is short and focused, with two bachelor's programs: commerce and business communication. Its most popular course is the online master of business administration. This two-year curriculum includes tools, projects, and technology from top sources like Facebook Blueprint, Salesforce, and the Digital Marketing Institute. Students who complete the MBA program receive DMI and Facebook digital marketing certifications.

Those looking for small career boosts can also select from a variety of business-focused online micro-credentials, including blockchain entrepreneurship, data and web analytics, online e-commerce, and corporate social responsibility.

UCW's online courses are designed to maximize flexibility and independent learning. There are no scheduled classes, and all course materials, with the exception of quizzes and tests, are available on the first day, allowing you to design your own study schedule successfully.

University Canada West has small class sizes of 28 or fewer individuals, which encourages interaction with instructors and other students. Even in the virtual world, UCW courses emphasize open and effective communication; each program offers virtual office hours once a week, as well as group projects, discussion forums, and other collaborative activities.

Founded: 2004
Phone: 1-877-431-6887
Address: 1461 Granville StreetVancouver, British ColumbiaV6Z 0E5
Website: https://www.ucanwest.ca/

Directions

McGill University has a strong history of providing world-class education. We are continuing the tradition of excellence by purposely offering select programs online. Some of these were recently launched, such as the Bachelor of Nursing (Integrated), which is the same as the in-person curriculum but delivered online to practicing registered nurses' homes across Quebec.

The School of Continuing Studies has also provided several programs online, and they are striving to expand their offerings to learners all around the world. Many of the Faculties are developing more online programs, which will be listed here.

McGill's online offerings are mostly focused on professional development courses and certificate programs in areas such as agile project management, data analytics for business, applied cybersecurity, graduate ESL, and Indigenous business management. Diplomas are available in public administration, governance, and legal translation.

The online programs are created with the same level of excellence as in-person services. They must be approved using the same procedures, assuring quality from conception to implementation. It provides a variety of instructional approaches in online programs, whether through synchronous and asynchronous content delivery or the use of virtual simulations and other interactive tools.

The online programs are created and optimized for the web from the outset to provide students with the best online learning experience possible. The online programs are examined on a regular basis and changed as needed to match current discipline trends and available online educational resources.

Given McGill University's emphasis on career development credentials, most online programs are designed to meet working schedules and hours. Courses are primarily asynchronous and self-paced, requiring approximately 4-5 hours of work per week.

Programs requiring live online attendance are typically held in the evenings following standard business hours. These live online classes are designed to encourage collaboration with virtual whiteboards, breakout rooms, polls, and other interactive features.

The two diploma programs are blended, with self-paced study supplemented with live, scheduled classes, timed assignments, and instructor-led learning, with a focus on problem-based learning and engagement with peers and faculty. That's why it is one of the best online schools in Canada.

Founded: 1821
Phone: 514-398-3000/ 514-398-7777
Address: 845 Sherbrooke, Street WestMontréal (Québec), H3A 0G4
Website: https://www.mcgill.ca/

Directions

Thompson Rivers University bases its learning approach on four pillars: accessibility, flexibility, choice, and credibility. The British Columbia-based school follows the open model, aiming to make postsecondary education as accessible as possible by having minimal entry requirements and continuous enrollment for most programs.

TRU students have a wide range of options, with around 550 courses offered in over 60 programs in the arts, business and management, education, health sciences, nursing, science, social work, trades and technology, and tourism. The tuition-free adult basic education program assists aspiring students in meeting TRU program requirements or earning a high school diploma.

TRU provides students maximum freedom in their learning approach, including independent or scheduled programs. Self-paced programs allow students to enroll, begin at any time, and learn quickly over 30 weeks, with flexibility even around their final exam date. Paced programs are cohort-based and have set semesters. Some courses, such as microbiology and anatomy, have lab sessions that require in-person participation.

Personalized faculty attention and engagement are essential aspects of TRU's online courses. Students collaborate and communicate directly with teachers via email, the school's course management system, and phone to obtain direct discussion and incentives. TRU also employs professional program advisors who work with students to create education programs that assist them in reaching their learning objectives.

Distance, Regional, and Open Learning Services support students enrolled in OL courses. This department provides numerous services for students studying remotely, including online resources, interlibrary loans, and more.

Thompson Rivers University's library collection includes around 250,000 volumes, 51,000 ebooks, 13,000 films, 30,000 journals, 90 article databases, and a large collection of government papers, brochures, microforms, and audiovisual media. Resources and services are available online, by email, phone, fax, mail, and in person.

Founded: 1970
Phone: 1 250-828-5000
Address: 805 TRU Way, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8
Website: https://www.tru.ca/

Directions

The University of Manitoba was Western Canada's first university and is one of the country's largest and oldest. In 2008, a UM lecturer established the world's first massive open online course (MOOC), which drew 2,300 students worldwide. It is also listed as one of the best online schools in Canada.

Today, UM provides over 80 online courses in a variety of areas, including business, finance, and management, process and technology management, public sector and municipal administration, and applied social science.

The University of Manitoba provides flexible courses and programs to help you expand your knowledge, experience, and education. Extended Education allows students to combine their professional and academic careers. This authorized university provides both physical and distance education. You will earn appropriate degree credit that will be recognized everywhere.

One unusual offering is the professional development in higher education administration program, which teaches students how to construct a career in postsecondary education. Courses and seminars cover important topics like heading academic departments, university management, and women in academic leadership.

University of Manitoba's online experience is mostly asynchronous, allowing students to study at their own pace. Courses are still regulated in length, ranging from 2 to 12 weeks. The only exception is the applied counseling program, which requires many synchronous online sessions throughout the course.

Even while studying individually and asynchronously, UM offers considerable support and tools to ensure students' success. Its Academic Learning Centre offers tutoring and workshops to help students improve abilities such as academic writing, time management, and study planning. Students who require social support and motivation can attend virtual study halls or group study sessions for certain courses.

Founded: 1877
Phone: 1-800-432-1960
Address: 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Website: https://umanitoba.ca/

Directions

Memorial University was founded in 1925, before its home province became a part of Canada, and has provided for-credit distance education since 1969. It is also the largest university in Atlantic Canada, with over 475 degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs in various specialties, including business administration, marine and maritime studies, education, criminology, food safety, human kinetics, and nursing.

Memorial University is a Canadian leader in remote and online learning, with over 50 years of expertise in delivering courses over distance. Online courses and programs allow for flexible scheduling while offering all of the reputation and benefits of a residential university at a lower cost.

While the majority of programs are entirely online, some are given in what the school refers to as "mixed mode," which combines 75 percent online and some on-campus components.

All online courses are delivered using the Brightspace (D2L) learning management system, which allows you to submit assignments, complete quizzes, participate in discussion forums and class chats, and email teachers all in one place.

Courses may also use a range of resources, including video conferencing, interactive multimedia, and other learning tools, to offer course material in an interesting and accessible manner. Memorial's online learning program is meant to be as flexible as possible. Most courses are unscheduled and designed to facilitate self-directed learning.

While self-directed, online courses are designed to encourage meaningful interaction with course content, faculty, and classmates while maintaining the necessary flexibility. Instructors and students meet on a regular basis to provide feedback and assess academic progress, and courses are structured with locations that promote effective involvement.

Memorial University's Brightspace platform features "online rooms" where students can attend office hours or talks, as well as gather for group projects, language practice, role play, and collaborative work.

Founded: 1925
Phone: 1 709-864-8000
Address: St. John's, Newfoundland
Website: https://www.mun.ca/

Directions

Royal Military College is a one-of-a-kind national military institution that prepares outstanding officers to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It offers undergraduate degrees in the Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Engineering in official languages. RMC provides 1,200 students with 20 great undergraduate degrees, each including a core curriculum closely related to the arms profession.

As one of the best online schools in Canada, the Royal Military College prepares and teaches officer cadets from all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Kingston, Ontario-based college launched its online learning program in 1997 to address the particular time needs of a military job.

As a result, RMC Online enrollment is limited to CAF personnel and their families, as well as civilians from specific federal government ministries, such as the Department of Defense. Students from chosen other universities may study RMC courses as visiting students, although the credits earned will contribute toward their home institution's degree.

RMC Online offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate certificate and degree programs, including those in military arts and sciences, public administration, military leadership and management, war studies, and master's degrees in business administration.

Royal Military College Online provides totally online instruction to accommodate military operational commitments better. Some courses offer dual delivery, with students able to choose between synchronous and asynchronous instruction. The course can still be completely asynchronous if you wish, but it also includes access to real-time learning to improve your online learning experience.

Moodle, a prominent open-source learning platform, is used by RMC Online to give students access to course materials and assignments. RMC's Moodle platform also includes courses on academic integrity and "how to succeed in online learning," which address essential topics like time management and good study practices.

Directions