Brock University (BU)

• Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, in the Niagara region,
• Undergraduate programs: 78.

Most of the authoritative rankings place the university in the list of the TOP 30 best Canadian universities.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

Most undergraduate programs take four years to complete and combine classroom learning with practical experience. Co-op is available to undergraduate and graduate students, providing hands-on work experience outside the classroom.

Student Life and Success helps new students, students transitioning from another institution, and returning students adjust to academic, financial, social, and day-to-day life. Through Mentor Link, new students are matched with mentors from the upper years.

Academic Advising offers in-person and online consultations, both by appointment and on a drop-in basis. An accessibility and inclusion advisor helps students and employees arrange necessary accommodations and provides support related to mental health and well-being.

The university comprises seven faculties and offers more than 120 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. Its more than 50 master's and doctoral programs include both research and professional options.

Programs include:

• Business Administration Co-op International Double Degree,
• Concurrent Teacher Education for Grades 7–12,
• Concurrent Teacher Education for Grades 4–10,
• Concurrent Teacher Education for Kindergarten and Grades 1–6,
• Hispanic and Latin American Studies within Modern Languages.

Brock Sports Performance draws on its experience training university athletes to work with high-level teams, professional athletes, and national team members.

Brock University’s main campus is located in the heart of the Niagara region. The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts is based at the university’s downtown campus, which is dedicated to fine and performing arts.

In-person and virtual tours are led by current students and include classrooms, residences, recreational areas, and student meeting spaces.

Campus Safety Services includes peace officers and contracted security guards who work closely with the Niagara Regional Police Service. The peace officers have limited police authority on university property that Brock owns, operates, or leases.

• A nonrefundable application fee for current Brock students applying for a second or subsequent degree or a certificate, except BSc Nursing,
• an application fee for Academic Bridging,
• an undergraduate application fee for the combined IELP and undergraduate program,
• an application fee for non-degree Open Studies.

Brock makes an offer to each applicant for only one program, so applicants list their program choices in order of priority. The offer remains valid if the applicant meets the required average and prerequisite subject requirements based on final official grades.

The university considers records of previous academic performance when reviewing an application.

• International secondary school graduates need a credential confirming completion of secondary education that qualifies them for university admission in their home country,
• prerequisite subjects for the chosen program must be completed at the Grade 12 university-preparatory level or an equivalent level,
• the minimum average for international secondary school graduates is B−, although some programs require a higher result,
• international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency,
• secondary school graduates must submit all final grades and results issued by their school or examination board,
• current secondary school students must submit available final results and current or predicted grades for subjects still in progress,
• to maintain an offer of admission, final official documents must be sent directly by the institution or examination board that issued them,
• admission to Consecutive Teacher Education requires a completed bachelor's degree,
• applicants transitioning into the BScN undergraduate nursing program need grades of at least 75% in English, mathematics, biology, and chemistry. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission because competition is strong and the number of available places is extremely limited.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision