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 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. In 2021, 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 last 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.

• Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management: The program draws on the region’s spectacular wilderness. Students can choose from two streams, focusing on wildland conservation or nature-based/adventure tourism.

• Northern Baccalaureate Nursing: This two-year program is designed for students with previous experience and university credits. Grads have the skills to work in small urban and rural communities.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$6,768

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 69.6% | Science: 67% | Commerce: 62.7% | Engineering: 78.6%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 1,617 | Part-time: 1,004

Graduates: Full-time: 588 | Part-time: 110

International Students: First-year: 7.3% | Graduate: 31.6%

Male-Female Ratio: 37 to 63

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 540 (250 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Single room: $5,361

Single room with meals: $7,819 to $8,116

Apartment-style: $5,361

Cool Courses

• The Earth from Above: Explore changes to the planet’s surface through satellites, aircraft and drones.

• The Anthropology of Food, Drink and Health: Examine the evolution of food and health through hunter-gathers, food domesticators and modern populations.

Student Life on Campus

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