Lakehead University

Description

Lakehead University is a place where ambition meets opportunity and where a degree leads to real-world impact. A fully comprehensive institution, Lakehead is known for small class sizes, hands-on learning, and unparalleled research opportunities. Our student-first approach has earned us an international reputation—including being named #1 in Ontario  and Top 5 in Canada among primarily undergraduate universities by Maclean’s magazine in 2025 and the #1 university in North America (under 10,000 students) for our commitment to sustainability and social justice in the Times Higher Education 2025 Global Impact Rankings.

With campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia—and a new STEM Hub opening in Barrie in 2026—Lakehead offers vibrant, close-knit learning environments free from the noise and pressures of major urban centres. Students are surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes where education extends beyond the classroom and into the great outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, kayaking, skiing, or simply finding space to think, Lakehead provides a uniquely balanced and enriching university experience.

With more than 85 career-focused programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level, including the recent launch of our Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, Lakehead is a training ground for graduates who think critically and drive meaningful impact in their communities and around the world.

High-Quality Programs that Put Students in the Driver’s Seat

Lakehead offers diverse programs for domestic and international students including English as a Second Language (ESL) and bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in: Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Science and Environmental Studies, as well as veterinary education delivered in partnership with the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.

Lakehead was ranked #1 in Ontario for student awards by Maclean’s magazine in 2025 with one of the countries most generous undergraduate international entrance scholarship program, and we are recognized internationally for teaching excellence—100% of senior-year students participate in experiential learning and our graduates have a 96.2% employment rate within two years of graduation (above the provincial average of 94.1%).

Exceptional Research Focused on Finding Solutions

Lakehead is consistently ranked one of the top three Undergraduate Research Universities in Canada. Our researchers have a global network of collaborators from approximately 30 countries and every student—from first-year undergraduates to postgrads—has dynamic research opportunities.

Lakehead’s research fields include social justice, sustainability, health care, biotechnology, material science, clean-water technologies, and Indigenous and pan-northern issues. 

Our research institutes contribute to solving critical global challenges, including our internationally acclaimed Biorefining Research Institute and Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health.

Key Facts:

• Undergraduate and graduate research opportunities across all disciplines
• World-class research facilities
• #1 in international government research income growth (2024)
• #1 Research University of the Year (2024) in three AI research categories
• $28 million in external research funding
• Community-based research opportunities
• 25 Research Chairs