University of Prince Edward Island

The only university on Prince Edward Island, UPEI has nine faculties, including veterinary medicine, business, nursing and the faculty of Indigenous knowledge, education, research and applied studies. All first-year students have to choose one of three mandatory courses: writing studies, inquiry studies or university studies. The Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation houses the Climate Research Lab and serves as a living lab, giving students access to nearby wetlands, forests and coastal habitats affected by climate change. “It’s an exciting time at UPEI—we’re in a period of renewal. We strive to create safe, inclusive spaces and offer innovative learning opportunities for all members of our diverse campus community,” says president Wendy Rodgers. UPEI’s large international exchange program has agreements with universities in 30 countries, and students come from 96 countries. UPEI recently established a faculty of medicine, in partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland, to bring together the strengths of both institutions—rural and family medicine, nursing, clinical psychology, paramedicine and more. At the heart of UPEI’s campus is the historic quadrangle, known for its distinctive red-brick buildings.Nearby, there’s a recreation centre with a 25-metre pool and two NHL-sized rinks. The southeastern part of campus borders on the farmers’ market, and Brackley Beach is just a short distance away.

Campus buzz: Thanks to a U SPORTS and Field Hockey Canada reclassification of field hockey as a partnership sport, the UPEI Panthers are now able to compete at the national level as a competitive club.

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$8,454 

Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 71% | Science: 70% | Commerce: 70% | Engineering: 76%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 4,764 | Part-time: 344 
Graduates: Full-time: 620
International Students: First-year: 40.6% | Graduate: 39%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 817 (first come, first serve)
Cost of double room with meals: $11,444 to $13,173
Cost of single room with meals: $13,019 to $14,421
Cost of apartment-style: $7,280 to $8,528

Standout programs

Applied Climate Change and Adaptation: Students learn to use advanced technology, including virtual reality simulations, drones and big-data analytics, to address climate challenges around food security, coastal protection, health and more.

​​Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture: Students learn to apply critical thinking in a wide array of careers. Internships and co-ops, plus career-
related mentoring and tech skills (like video production and web design) give students a leg-up.

Applied Health in Paramedicine: This program combines occupational content from any accredited two-year paramedicine program with foundational science courses, senior specialized courses in the life sciences and advanced capstone paramedicine courses.