Yukon University

In May of 2020, Yukon College officially became Yukon University—the first university in Canada’s territories. Ayamdigut, the school’s main campus, uses its location in Whitehorse to its advantage, applying northern expertise to issues affecting the North. YukonU offers six undergraduate programs across 13 campuses. Students can study arts, science, business, education and social work, including northern environmental and conservation sciences and the first made-in-the-Yukon degree: a bachelor of arts in Indigenous governance. 

“We’re truly excited for the unique future that Yukon University can offer you,” says interim president Shelagh Rowles. “We’re here for you along the way. In addition to our small class sizes and dedicated faculty, our student services team is ready to support your success, whether you need financial aid advice, counselling support or engaging campus activities to help you build connections.” As a hybrid institution, YukonU offers certificates, diplomas, university preparation, skilled-trades training and applied research opportunities along with its degree programs. Its Yukon Research Centre, which has a lab with a growth chamber and an atomic absorption spectrometer, conducts research in cold-climate construction, climate change, community health and economic diversification. The Yukon School of Visual Arts in Dawson City, a partnership between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the Dawson City Arts Society and YukonU, offers an eight-month foundation program, leading to a visual arts certificate that’s transferable to fine art degree programs across Canada.

Campus buzz: At the Ayamdigut campus, the new Polaris building is set to open in September of 2027, featuring classrooms, a lecture hall, labs, a ceremony room and a large social space for campus events. 

Quick facts

Tuition: $4,744 (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

Median Entering Grades 
Not available

Student body 
Undergraduates: Full-time: 768 | Part-time: 297
International students: 12% (2023 figures)

Housing facts (2024 figures)
Residence Spaces: 109 
Cost of single room: $4,200 to $4,600
Cost of apartment style: $5,000 to $11,600

Standout Programs

Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences: YukonU offers years three and four of this program, as part of a partnership with the University of Alberta, which helps students understand environmental conditions with a focus on Indigenous and Northern life.

Indigenous Governance: In collaboration with 14 Yukon First Nations, this program analyzes the evolution of Indigenous self-determination and self-government in Canada and internationally. 

Business Administration: Grounded in the history of the Yukon, this program offers students on-the-land learning, research opportunities and capstone-style courses.