List of universities in Canada  Universities in Canada are established and operate under provincial and territorial government charters, except in one case directed by First Nations bands and in another by federal legislation. Most schools are members of Universities Canada (formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)). The title "university" is protected under federal regulation. Higher education institutions in Canada are prevented from becoming diploma mills by provincial/territorial legislation and regulation. Each Canadian university is autonomous in academic matters including policies and procedures of quality assurance of its programs, instructors and procedures. Membership in Universities Canada and the university's government charter are seen as serving in lieu of institutional accreditation, both in Canada and abroad. Eight Canadian provinces have established bodies to provide a second level of quality assurance at universities. Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon do not have provincial/territorial quality assurance agencies. In addition, graduate programs and professional schools such as law, nursing, medicine and engineering obtain accreditation from accreditation boards, operated by various professional regulatory bodies. In Canada, universities are distinct from colleges. Universities Canada, an organization composed of Canadian universities, defines universities as degree-granting institutions, i.e. institutions that provide bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees. The organization defines colleges, similar to community colleges in the United States, as institutions that grant diplomas. Some colleges are enabled by legislation to provide a limited set of bachelor's degree programs or provide bachelor's degrees through joint programs with universities. In Ontario, for example, this ability is highly restricted and must be renewed yearly. Degree programs generally last three to four years, though some programs may take longer to complete due to cooperative education (Co-op) programs or joint programs with colleges which are touted for offering practical experience. Tuition is based on program material and content, which vary in price. For many programs, more general courses will be taken in first year while "program specific courses" begin in year two. Some universities such as University of Toronto require admission separate from initial admission from high school into specific programs based on internal standards achieved in first year (i.e. a set grade point average). Post-secondary education in Alberta is regulated by the Ministry of Advanced Education. There are eight public universities in Alberta, eleven public colleges, two polytechnical institutes (which grant degrees), and seven private colleges (all of which grant degrees). Most private universities refer to themselves as "university colleges", and they grant equivalent degrees.