Yukon University
In May 2020, Yukon College officially became Yukon University—the first university in the Canadian territories. The school’s main Ayamdigut campus is in Whitehorse, and it uses its location 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 invite students from across the country to come learn from leading experts and directly ground yourself in Canada’s North,” says president Lesley Brown. “Our programs address key challenges facing the North and provide experiences of living and working on the homelands of 14 Yukon First Nations.” 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, equipped with a lab that features 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 is transferable to fine art degrees across Canada.
Campus buzz: Students at the Ayamdigut campus can relax at the newly renovated Samay Thìa Harry Allen Lounge, home to the Elders on Campus program, which provides spiritual support and hosts events like beading club, a weekly campfire and a monthly potluck.
Quick facts
Tuition: $4,744
Minimum Entering Grades
No grade specifications
Student body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 744 | Part-time: 297
International students: 12%
Housing facts
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: As part of a partnership with the University of Alberta, YukonU offers years three and four of this program, which helps students understand environmental conditions, with a focus on Indigenous and Northern life.
Indigenous Governance: Developed 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.
