Memorial University of Newfoundland

ABOUT MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND

Perched on Canada’s North Atlantic coast, Memorial University is a destination for discovery. A beacon for the 21st-century explorer, Newfoundland and Labrador’s university is a unique learning community founded as a living memorial to those who lost their lives in the First World War — “that in freedom of learning their cause and sacrifice might not be forgotten.”

Uniquely positioned in the harsh maritime environment of Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial boasts nationally and internationally leading research expertise. This is no more evident than in its world-renowned and longstanding ocean-related research. In fact, more than 40 per cent of Memorial’s research is ocean-related and its faculty members are global experts in fields such as ocean engineering and science, offshore industry and policy, and technology. That work is supported by world-class research and facilities – such as the world’s largest flume tank – and strong public partnerships with the people, industries and organizations that live and work here. If there’s ocean research happening in the North Atlantic, Memorial is likely involved.

Top 20

As a research-intensive institution, Memorial has notable strengths in wide range of other areas including natural resources, health, technology, social enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship, climate change and social justice. Its researchers continue to forge international collaborations, solve industry challenges and provide valuable insight to make our world a better place.

As one of Canada’s top 20 research universities, Memorial attracted more than $176 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2021. The university continually ranks as one of the best in the world, placing among the top 1,000 post-secondary institutions and is the top Canadian university for the study of marine/ocean engineering. Its multidisciplinary researchers are among the World's Top 2% Scientists. Learn more about Memorial’s institutional rankings here.

Unique offerings

To support the growing innovation economy and high-tech sector at home and abroad, Memorial offers three new graduate programs: a master of applied science in software engineering, a master of artificial intelligence and a master of data science.

Memorial also offers a number of unique programs including:

• The only co-op program in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering in the world;
• Canada’s only MBA in social enterprise and entrepreneurship;
• The only Anglophone university in Canada to offer comprehensive folklore programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Canada's only ROV Operator Program;
• Canada's first joint degree in music and business; 
• The first master of occupational health and safety degree in Atlantic Canada;
• The only four-year bachelor of fine arts degree in Atlantic Canada with options in acting or theatre production; and

• Its medical programs have the best track record in Canada at training doctors for careers in rural areas.

Its Queen Elizabeth II Library houses the largest research library collection east of Montreal. Read more fast facts about Memorial University.

Prestigious honours

Memorial researchers have been recognized with numerous awards and honours for their meaningful contributions to society. Notable honours include the Arctic Inspiration Prize, SSHRC Impact Awards (including Gold Medal and Insight Award), Governor General’s Innovation Award (2018 and 2019), the Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award and the UN’s Climate Solution Award.

Inclusive community

As a multi-campus, multidisciplinary university, Memorial is dedicated to creativity, innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship and public engagement. With campuses in St. John’s, Corner Brook, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom, Memorial welcomes students and scholars from all over the world, including more than 19,000 students from more than 115 countries. Memorial’s inclusive community, including a global network of almost 100,000 alumni, is committed to fostering and promoting ingenuity while contributing knowledge and expertise locally, nationally and internationally. 

To take a closer look at Memorial, visit www.mun.ca.