The college was founded in 1971 as the Grant MacEwan Community College . It is named after the politician, publicist and agricultural scientist Grant MacEwan . In 2009 it was recognized as a university and firming as a Grant MacEwan University , from 2013 as MacEwan University .
With the focus of the university on post-secondary education, it offers the more than 13,000 full-time students ten courses of study at baccalaureate level, one course of study with an applied degree and a further 43 further education offers at diploma and certificate level in the fields of fine arts and communication, health and community studies, humanities , Engineering, physical education, nursing and business.
