From the initial aspirations of Bishop Hellmuth to the internationally known research of our top scholars today, these leaders of vision, courage and imagination have always looked to the future in shaping Western University. Founded on March 7, 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth (1817-1901) of the Anglican Diocese of Huron, 'The Western University of London Ontario' opened its doors to students for the first time in 1881 with four faculties - Arts, Divinity, Law and Medicine. In 1916, the current campus was purchased from the Kingsmill family, and in 1923 the university was renamed The University of Western Ontario. Since that first class graduated in 1883, the university has become a vibrant centre of learning. Through 12 faculties and three affiliated university colleges, Western today offers its 36,000-plus students more than 400 specializations, majors and minors. It was at Western where Sir Frederick Banting rose from a restless sleep in 1920 and wrote out 25 words that led to his discovery of insulin. It was at Western where Canada's first French Immersion program was established at Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, in 1932 - a program that continues today.
It was at Western where researchers led by Ivan Smith developed the world's first 'cobalt bomb' to treat cancer in 1951, increasing the cure rate for cervical cancer to 75 per cent from 25 per cent. And while our excellence roots itself in history, Western continues to eye the next-generation discoveries. Western, a leader in wind engineering since 1965, testing such structures as the World Trade Center, Sears Tower and Jakarta Tower, will continue its dominance with the opening of the WindEEE Dome research facility. Western, a leader in business education since its founding, has continued to lead at home and abroad thanks to construction of a state-of-the-art Richard Ivey School of Business in 2012 and the opening of North America's first business school campus in Hong Kong in 1998. Western, a medical advancement leader since its founding, has continued to push innovation most recently when an HIV vaccine developed by Dr. Chil-Yong Kang received approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration to start human clinical trials, a first of its kind, in 2012.
Western University ranks as one of Canada's top research universities. From fundamental to applied knowledge, Western discoveries benefit economic, social, health and cultural development in Canada and around the world.
The university attracts students with broad worldviews seeking to study, engage, and lead in international communities. Students from 117 countries share in classroom experiences and engage in study-abroad, research and volunteer opportunities to broaden perspectives and knowledge. Western students balance academic achievement with opportunities for athletic, volunteer and social engagement, which foster a strong community that extends to more than 277,000 alumni worldwide.
Western teaches a full complement of disciplines with 3 subjects placing in the top 50 globally. With annual research funding of $235 million, Western researchers work to inform policy and share knowledge on the world stage. More than 60% of research publications involve international collaborations.
Western is home to world-renowned research centres such as the Rotman Institute of Philosophy, the Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment Research Institute, the Brain and Mind Institute, Robarts Research Institute, the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research, and the Bone and Joint Institute.
There's more to university success than classes, labs and lectures. Attending university is your time to explore and grow personally, intellectually and spiritually. Ambrose offes you the opportunity to define yourself and your future path in life. No matter your interests, you'll find a way to get involved at Ambrose. Student clubs and chapel services, leadership opportunities and sport, help you find your place in university life. In addition, our residence and student development services are here to support you along the way. As an Ambrose student, you'll be a part of this community that truly cares about who you are and what you are capable of achieving.
Ambrose is the official post-secondary institution of two Christian denominations: The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and the Church of the Nazarene Canada. However, we welcome students of any faith background and our students and faculty come from roughly 50 denominations. We pursue faith-inspired learning: ours is a supportive yet challenging learning environment in which students can pursue their academic interests and prepare for their careers while also exploring and deepening their faith. By integrating faith and advanced learning, we provide an outstanding university education that's rooted in the Christian intellectual, theological, spiritual, and missional traditions. We encourage students' personal and spiritual formation, and we make space for students and faculty to explore and express their faith through everything they learn and teach.