Year of foundation: 1964
Approx. number of students: 21,000
Period of study: Mid September-Mid December; Early January-End April
MCI partner since: 2003
The City
Guelph is located in the Southwestern region of Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly 28 kilometers east of Kitchener-Waterloo and 100 kilometers west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. Guelph has approx. 115,000 inhabitants.
Because of its low crime rates, clean environment and generally high standard of living, Guelph is consistently rated as one of the country's most livable cities. Manufacturing is a leading sector, accounting for 18 per cent of employment.
The University
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a medium-sized university located in Guelph, Ontario. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College. While the U of G currently offers over 94 undergraduate degrees, 48 graduate programs, and 6 associate degrees in many different disciplines, it is the on-going history of achievement in its roots of agriculture and veterinary medicine, and the modern focus on life sciences that define the university.
The University of Guelph was ranked by Maclean's magazine as the fourth-best comprehensive university in Canada in 2008 and 2009 ("comprehensive" indicating institutions with significant research activity and a range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees). It has held the top place in this ranking in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007, with its reputation, innovative research-intensive programs, and lively campus life cited as particular strengths. 