The University of Lethbridge plans to begin offering a Bachelor of Engineering in fall 2027, giving students in southern Alberta the option to study engineering without leaving the region.
The new Integrated Engineering degree will draw on several engineering disciplines, including agri-food, chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil and software engineering. University of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Digvir Jayas said the curriculum will combine laboratory instruction and collaborative projects with training in areas such as design, communication and project management.
“Southern Alberta communities have told us for years about the dire need for engineers in rural and small urban centres, and this program is uniquely designed to meet that market need,” Jayas said.
The university said the degree responds to demand for engineers in Alberta. Its analysis of job-posting data found an average of about 3,500 engineering positions advertised annually between 2020 and 2025. During the same period, the University of Alberta and University of Calgary graduated fewer than 1,700 engineering students combined per year on average, according to the university.
The university said 28.5 per cent of unique engineering job postings recorded during those years were located outside Edmonton and Calgary.
Jayas said the degree is intended to give graduates enough breadth to work in communities where employers may require engineers with experience spanning multiple fields.
“Our program will train versatile engineers able to excel in multidisciplinary positions and complement the engineering programs offered by the University of Alberta and the University Calgary.”
Students will continue to have access to the University of Lethbridge’s existing pre-engineering transfer arrangement with the University of Alberta.
The degree will incorporate work-integrated learning, co-operative education and other applied-learning opportunities, the university said.
“Our program will work to create a partnership between students, the University and the employer, bridging academic theory with professional development and practical application,” Jayas said.
The Alberta government is supporting the program through its Targeted Enrolment Expansion initiative, which provides additional spaces in high-demand post-secondary programs. Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall said engineering was identified as an area requiring additional capacity in southern Alberta.
“Southern Alberta continues to grow, it is more important than ever that investments in post-secondary education reflect the needs of students, employers and local communities,” McDougall said.
The program will be jointly delivered by the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic. The institutions say the arrangement is being structured to satisfy Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board requirements and will give students a semester of hands-on instruction in a polytechnic setting.
Lethbridge Polytechnic President Brad Donaldson said the arrangement allows the two institutions to combine their respective resources.
“Bringing engineering education across both campuses builds on the strengths of the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic,” Donaldson said.
Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf said the new degree will expand local post-secondary options while responding to engineering requirements identified by employers in the region.
The university said local engineering firms have also expressed support for the program.
Mark Bellamy, an engineer and member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, said employers across southern Alberta are seeking engineering expertise.
“Graduates of this program will be equipped with a versatile skill set which will support economic growth and innovation in our region as well as in smaller urban and rural areas throughout Alberta,” Bellamy said.
Applications for fall 2027 programs at the University of Lethbridge opened Sept. 14, 2026.
