University of Northern British Columbia

Founded 1994 | Prince George, BC

Where else but at the University of Northern British Columbia can you study in a teaching and learning centre with a 360-degree panoramic view that stretches all the way to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains? Wood-and-glass hilltop buildings nestle among the trees on the Prince George campus. The school’s heating system, which uses biomass from sawmills, has earned environmental accolades from afar, and the Wood Innovation Research Laboratory is recognized as a passive house, meaning it uses significantly less energy than a standard building. Sustainability defines UNBC, and the university responds to the region it serves.

“We are always looking for new ways to look beyond the traditional ‘four walls’ of the academy to bring the exceptional teaching, research and service that we do to the communities we serve, and beyond,” says interim president Geoff Payne. To serve the north even better, UNBC expanded with campuses in Terrace, Quesnel and Fort St. John, and also offers courses through an agreement with the Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute in Gitwinksihlkw. Students at all campuses benefit from a high degree of access to their professors. Last year, UNBC launched the northern baccalaureate nursing program at its Fort St. John campus, while education programs were expanded with a revamp in Terrace and a newly established program in Quesnel. Meanwhile, a master of applied science in engineering was launched earlier this year.

Standout Programs

• Engineering: Available in civil or environmental streams, both programs focus on northern climates and sustainability, offer co-op opportunities and prepare students for in-demand jobs.

• Northern Baccalaureate Nursing: Designed for students with experience and university credits, the program delivers the skills and knowledge that grads need to work in small urban and rural communities.

• First Nations Studies: Students draw on Indigenous knowledge to study languages, health, cultures and histories, as well as issues such as land rights and governance.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$6,531

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 65% · Science: 70% · Commerce: 66% · Engineering: 79%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 1,679 · Part-time: 1,099

Graduates: Full-time: 538 · Part-time: 100

International Students: First-year: 5.3% ·

Graduate: 27.3%

Male-Female Ratio: 38 to 62

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 490 (first come, first served)

Residence Costs: Apartment-style: $5,052

Cool Courses

• The Culture of Adventure: Students explore the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions of the travel and sporting industry and examine its impact on the environment and society.

• Carbon and Energy Management: Students work directly with local businesses to suggest ways to reduce their carbon footprints.

Student Life on Campus

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