Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University offers 140 on-campus programs and another 60 programs online. They range from apprenticeships and certificates to bachelor’s, law and master’s degrees. A laddering system allows students to move from certificate and diploma programs to degrees. A second campus is located in Williams Lake, B.C. The campuses welcome a diverse student population that is nine per cent Indigenous and 26 per cent international. More than 15,000 students study on campus, and over 16,000 study online—about 2,200 students do both. Students benefit from small class sizes, and some undergraduates can participate in research before they reach higher-level classes. Starting this year, TRU will pilot new course delivery models, offering about 100 courses in various formats to accommodate diverse learning preferences. TRU’s main campus is flanked by 40 kilometres of pine-shaded hiking trails and is a short drive from ski hills and lakes. The Old Main building is a hub of student services, including a student employment centre, lounge, wellness centre and theatre. Recent developments include the Industrial Training and Technology Centre, the Chappell Family Building for Nursing and Population Health, and the Early Childhood Education Centre, which includes a non-profit daycare. Business students get investment experience at the Raymond James Trading Lab, which has state-of-the-art trading stations. A new initiative, TRU Wildfire, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, seeks to address the growing challenges of wildfire through research, education, training and innovation. TRU is developing a university curriculum that will cover a broad educational experience in wildfire studies.
Campus buzz: The new TRU WolfPack is Canada’s first university rodeo team to compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Quick facts
Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$6,044
Minimum Entering Grades
High school diploma; some programs require specific courses and higher grades
Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 9,285 | Part-time: 7,487
Graduates: Full-time: 1,024 | Part-time: 197
International Students: First-year: 37.5% | Graduate: 71.1%
Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 1,384 (570 reserved for first-year students)
Cost of apartment-style: $4,388 to $10,000
Standout programs
Software Engineering: Students gain a solid foundation in engineering principles and software systems development while building the skills to tackle real-world problems through co-op placements and hands-on project-based learning.
Tourism Management: This program blends theory with real-world experiences, and offers co-op opportunities.
Natural Resource Science: Students study biology, chemistry, ecology, scientific methodology and resource-specific management in such areas as forestry, fishery and recreation. Co-op and study-abroad options available.
TRU offers a range of degree, diploma and certificate programs and is profiled in both the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Universities and the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Colleges. To learn more about the school’s diploma programs, visit the TRU’s college profile.
