Dec. 5, 2019

Opportunities abound in the Schulich School of Engineering

Out of all the engineering schools Ethan Rigby considered, the Schulich School of Engineering at UCalgary was one he was keen to see for himself before he made a final decision about which school he was going to attend

Schulich CNRL Building Riley Brandt

Now in his third year of his combined BSc/BComm, Ethan Rigby is glad he chose UCalgary.

“It’s a really good atmosphere,” he says. “It’s met all of my expectations, and I’ve made some close friends.”

With seven majors to choose from, engineering students can tailor their degree to their interests. Majors include chemical, civil, electrical, geomatics, mechanical, oil and gas, and software engineering.

With research opportunities, internships and the possibility of doing a semester abroad, Rigby is well-satisfied with the amount of opportunities he has.

In addition to academics, Rigby says there is plenty to do within the faculty, from talks by the likes of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, to participation in mentorship programs. You can also join one of the 80 clubs and teams within the faculty or apply for the Schulich Student Activities Fund to support extra-curriculars outside the classroom.

“Keep an open mind and join clubs,” he advises. Rigby is involved in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and mentors high school students while building 120-pound robots for competitions. He’s also involved in the STEM fellowship as an ambassador and regularly speaks to high school students about engineering. Off campus, he is a volunteer instructor with the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS).

Rigby, who hails from London, Ontario, is a Schulich Leader and recently helped organize an event locally for Schulich Scholars from Edmonton and Saskatchewan. Created in 2012 by Canadian businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich, the Schulich Leader Scholarship encourages promising high school graduates to embrace STEM in their future careers. Fifty students in 20 partner universities across Canada receive the scholarship every year.

About the faculty

Schulich School of Engineering has grown from two faculty members and 59 students to encompass five departments, more than 170 faculty and 3,500 undergraduates in a new engineering complex, which opened in 2016.

For more information, visit schulich.ucalgary.ca.