Thanks to a significant surge of students from outside British Columbia, the University of B.C.’s first-year class of 2008 will be more geographically diverse than ever, even as the number of B.C. Grade 12 students declines in some areas.
UBC’s Vancouver campus will welcome 5,405 first-year students – up from 5,035 in 2007 – which includes increases of 50 per cent from Ontario, 36 per cent from Alberta, and 48 per cent from other Canadian jurisdictions.
The number of first-year international students is up by 19 per cent on the Vancouver campus and 27 per cent on the Okanagan campus, compared to 2007.
At UBC Okanagan, an increase of 36 per cent of students from Alberta has contributed to an incoming first-year class of 1,312, compared to 1,261 in 2007.
Overall enrolment at UBC Okanagan has grown by nine per cent to 5,325.
Total UBC Vancouver enrolment is generally steady, projected at 44,355, down by one per cent over 2007.
The growing out-of-province demand for a UBC education helps offset the impact of the decreasing number of B.C. students coming through Grade 12, which reflects an ongoing strong economy that lures students into jobs, and more higher education choices, UBC reports.
UBC President Stephen Toope identified increasing students from outside B.C. as one of his challenges when he was installed as president in 2006.
Simon Fraser University is also reporting increased enrolment. As of Aug. 18, almost 5,200 students had registered for first year, well ahead of the university’s target of 4,889 and more than last year’s intake of 5,169 first-year students.