Thompson Rivers University

Founded 1970 | Kamloops, BC

TRU offers a range of degree, diploma and certificate programs and is profiled in both the Maclean’s Universities Guidebook and the Maclean’s Colleges Guide. To learn more about the school’s degree programs, see the Universities Guide profile.

This profile appears in the 2023 Maclean’s Guide to Canadian Colleges. As part of a partnership with Maclean’s, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has supplied additional photos and videos as indicated below. TRU did not have editorial input into the wording of the profile itself.

Content provided by Thompson Rivers University (TRU)

Students attending Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) main campus in Kamloops are treated to spectacular views of the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. The 250-hectare campus includes a university village with shopping, dining, residential developments and outdoor meeting places. TRU’s secondary campus is in Williams Lake, with regional centres in Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Barriere, Clearwater, 100 Mile House, and Lillooet and Lytton. TRU offers more than 140 programs in trades and technical courses as well as undergraduate and master’s degree programs. The school also hosts the B.C. Centre for Open Learning, with 60-plus online programs.

TRU’s $37.2-million Chappell Family Building for Nursing and Population Health first opened in 2020 and includes state-of-the-art equipment and simulation environments. The new 57,000-square-foot Industrial Training and Technology Centre, along with the Trades and Technology building, houses the school’s trade and technology programs.

TRU’s student population is 10 per cent Indigenous; more than 30 per cent are international students. The university’s varsity athletics teams, known as the WolfPack, compete in basketball, curling, volleyball and other sports.

Popular Programs

• Bachelor of Arts General

• Bachelor of Health Science

• Bachelor of Science

• Bachelor of Business Administration

• Bachelor of Computing Science

School size

Mid-sized

Tuition

Degree $5,570-$7,759

Diploma $4,714-$8,273

Certificate $4,480-$5,579

Post-Grad $5,579

Residence Offerings

No

Cool Options

• Renewable Energy Fundamentals for Electricians: Students learn to install and maintain renewable energy power generation systems and equipment.

• Veterinary Technology: The program trains students as registered veterinary technologists and is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

• Women in Trades Training Exploratory Program: Geared toward women who are unemployed or under-employed, this program helps students prepare to work in trades, register as an apprentice or gain a credential in an Industry Training Authority program.