Kwantlen Polytechnic University

• Location: Vancouver and the Suburbs, Canada,
• Year of foundation: 1981,
• Number of students: about 20,000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is the only polytechnic university in Canada offering more than 140 bachelor's and post—bachelor's degree programs, diploma and certificate courses, and language programs for international students.

The history of the institution began in 1981 with a decision by the Government of British Columbia. Initially a community college, and more than 25 years later a technical university, KPU has gone through several large-scale stages of improvement in order to offer high-quality higher education programs in Canada today. The educational institution has five campuses near Vancouver, offering excellent conditions for theoretical and practical studies. A wide range of academic courses, extracurricular activities for the development of individual interests, administrative and student services make studying at KPU effective, efficient and versatile.

The university has many advantages: from small classes, qualified teaching staff, strong research specialization to funding programs for successful students, study abroad opportunities, and comprehensive support from teachers and staff. Hundreds of foreign students come to Canada every year to study at KPU, and the total number of students in the five educational territories reaches 12,000 full-time and about 8000 part-time students.

Valentina Nikitina

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

What are the most popular majors among students currently?

Business remains popular, but engineering and IT are quickly gaining ground. STEM fields are seen as advantageous not only for education in Canada but also for gaining professional experience, especially with the post-study work opportunities they offer. The pandemic has also sparked increased interest in biological and chemical sciences.

The educational process is aimed at providing students with applied knowledge that will be useful for them in employment and career building: the university offers its students a variety of internships on the basis of partner organizations, a study abroad program, the "Work-Study" project in educational areas and assistance to researchers in research centers.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has several specialized faculties:

• Academic, professional training,
• Art
• Health care
• Science
• Trade, technology,
• Melville School of Business,
• Wilson School of Design.

Subject departments have been organized at faculties and schools, which are focused on teaching students in specialties.

Research is one of the most important aspects of KPU. Today, dozens of highly qualified researchers work within the walls of research centers, who manage projects, teach students, and continue their academic activities. Some of the current studies are:

• Lifelong learning,
• Cognitive science: the human factor,
• Alternative personal urban mobility,
• Urban planning, sustainable development processes,
• Design theories, its history,
• Development of functional clothing for people with tube feeding, wheelchair dependence, sensory perception disorders.

The university's campuses have made great strides in the sustainable use of resources:

• Photovoltaic solar wall provides part of the energy of buildings,
• Zero use of CFC and HCFC refrigerants to reduce ozone depletion,
• Part of the electricity comes from renewable sources,
• Waste management – recycling and disposal of 75% of construction waste,
• At least 50% of building materials are produced in the same region,
• Up to 80% of stormwater is retained on the roof to reduce runoff,
• Low-flow toilets, urinals without water and sensor taps reduce water consumption by about 30%,
• All buildings use materials with low levels of energy consumption, release of toxins and volatile organic compounds,
• Natural ventilation is provided by opening windows and the use of a skylight as a central air duct.

From 1994 to 2014, KPU increased the area by 36%, while reducing natural gas consumption by 3% and electricity consumption by 9%.

In 2030, Kwantlen Polytechnic will complete the construction of the first and only residence on campus. The eight-storey residential complex will offer 358 students accommodation in single and double furnished rooms with bathrooms, four-bedroom apartments with a full range of amenities. Residents will have access to self-study and recreation areas, a dining room, and laundries.

So far, the specialized department of KPU guarantees students assistance in finding suitable housing outside the academic area. In the city, you can rent a room in a student residence, as well as an apartment, or townhouse. The University cooperates with the housing company GEC Living, which offers comfortable accommodation in traditional rooms, and with host families who will provide students with everything they need during their studies in Canada.

An extensive menu with national and international dishes, healthy snacks and drinks is available in several dining halls and cafeterias of the campus. Thematic events are often organized that complement the standard menu with new recipes, offering free tastings and full lunches.

Subject list: Access Programs for People With Disabilities, Accounting (BA), Adult upgrading, Anthropology BA, Appliance Servicing, Art, Automotive Service Technician, Biology (BSc), Brewing and Brewery Operations, Business (CPS), Business administrative, Business manager, Cannabis professional series, Carpentry / Building Construction, Chemistry BSc, Commercial Beekeeping Program, Compiling, Computer Aided Design and Drafting, Education assistant, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Farrier training, Fashion, Good beginnings, Health Foundations, Indigenous Community Justice, Interdisciplinary Politics Studies MPhil / PhD, Mathematics BSc, Metal Fabrication / Fitter, Millwright / Industrial Mechanic, NGOs&Nonprofit Studies, Oriental studies, Parts, Warehousing, Logistics and Distribution, Plant health, Plumbing and piping, Political Science BA, Power line technician, Product Design (BA), Professional Pest Management, Psychiatric nursing, Psychology (BSc), Public Relations, Public Safety Communications, Qualifying Studies, Sociology BA, Sustainable Agriculture, Technical Management and Services, Trades (CPS), Traditional Chinese Medicine - Acupuncture, Urban Ecosystems, Water&Wastewater, Welding

KPU fitness centers offer students a wide range of sports equipment, allowing them to maintain good physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Qualified coaches and assistants work in the halls every day to help students master a new type of physical activity, balance their diet correctly and recover effectively after training. Five fitness centers are equipped with the latest technology, offering multifunctional and gyms, playgrounds for team games, locker rooms and shower rooms, rehabilitation rooms.

In their free time, students can focus on improving their skills in one of the team/individual sports.:

• Cricket,
• Basketball,
• Volleyball,
• Table tennis,
• Badminton.

KPU participates in intra-university tournaments, thanks to which students can not only improve their abilities, but also win external awards and scholarships.

Hobby clubs are an important part of extracurricular activities at the university. Students gather in communities, united by their hobbies, hobbies and goals, in order to improve their abilities and receive the support of like-minded people.

Some of the clubs in KPU are:

• Anime,
• Music,
• Preparation for medical training,
• Video games,
• Psychology,
• Japanese Club,
• Association of Muslim Students,
• Debates,
• Marketing,
• Dancing.

These and many other communities accept new members throughout the year. If there is not yet a suitable club on the campuses, then you can create one by contacting the Student Council.

There are many opportunities for the development of individual abilities and qualities of students in the educational territories: musical groups, theater groups, painting and needlework classes, scientific communities, volunteer groups. Each of the areas works under the guidance of senior students and teachers, and community members perform not only on campuses, but also outside them.

• Membership in major associations: Universities Canada, BC Association of Institutes and Universities, Canadian Academic English Language Assessment and others,
• The only polytechnic university in Canada,
• Unique academic programs, for example, in acupuncture, graphic design for marketing,
• Curricula focused on obtaining applied skills,
• Classes of up to 35 people, which will allow students to receive individual attention from teachers,
• The opportunity to communicate with industry experts at extracurricular events, academic seminars,
• Extensive financial support — a scholarship fund of almost $ 2 billion annually ensures the success of particularly outstanding students,
• More than 1,400 teachers and staff with many years of experience in teaching and working with foreign students,
• More than 30 different services aimed at helping students adapt, learn comfortably, and complete their programs.,
• The opportunity to spend several semesters abroad,
• Balanced programs for combining work and study.

KPU has five study areas in the Vancouver region: Surrey, Richmond, Langley. The extensive infrastructure, numerous facilities for studying and developing individual abilities, recreation and communication with classmates allow students to immerse themselves in student life, balance their personal schedule and enjoy their stay at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Most of the academic facilities at the university are accessible to students with disabilities.

The campus on Civic Square in Surrey is a brand new academic area adjacent to the SkyTrain Expo Line station, the central station and bus ring, as well as many restaurants, cafes and shops. The campus has modern, flexible, formal and informal learning spaces for post-bachelor's degree students, connected by a common staircase.:

• Six 35-bed classrooms,
• Five 25-bed classrooms,
• Four open spaces that allow students and staff to engage in individual and group work.,
• Seven conference rooms that can be booked, an employee lounge with a kitchenette and a workspace that includes two bookable offices, and a meeting room,
• Prayer and meditation room,
• Broadcasting Center,
• The testing center.

Another academic site in Surrey is 36,800 square meters. meters of classrooms, laboratories and flexible spaces for learning and leisure development of students. Several large buildings offer pupils:

• 125-seat lecture hall,
• Fitness Center,
• Retail Bookstore,
• Courtyard recreation areas,
• A library with self-study areas and reading rooms,
• A conference center with offices that are rented for seminars,
• A studying center with classrooms, self-study classrooms, and additional areas,
• Cafeteria,
• Computer labs,
• An open laboratory system with access to standard industrial equipment: optical microscopes,
• UV-visible spectrometers, centrifuges, atomic absorption spectrometers, gas chromatographs, telescopes and climate chambers,
• Psychological laboratories for computer modeling and scientific research,
• Fine art studios covering a variety of specialties, including painting and ceramics + a public art gallery where installations by students and visiting artists are displayed.

The third campus in Surrey is an academic area where students of technical directions study: automotive, engineering, industrial equipment and others. On an area of 186,000 square feet, specialized laboratories and halls for obtaining applied skills, studios, lecture halls, and:

• 272 parking spaces,
• Retail Bookstore,
• Cafeteria,
• Student lounge,
• Library with study area,
• Computer labs.

The Richmond Learning Site is a 10—acre site that houses 204,000 square feet of academic and leisure facilities. Here students will find:

• Modern computer graphic design laboratories with the latest technologies and software,
• Interior design studios for production, project development,
• Production, sewing laboratories that meet industry standards, spacious work spaces for project development, production,
• Fully equipped scientific laboratories offering hands-on studying using industry-standard equipment,
• A studying center with classrooms, classrooms for small groups, and 900 parking spaces,
• Retail Bookstore,
• Cafeteria,
• Courtyard recreation areas,
• Library, self-study areas,
• Computer labs.

The Langley Campus is a 45—acre campus offering more than 155,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, and other learning spaces.:

• Advanced scientific laboratories,
• Botanical laboratory,
• Venlo-style greenhouses,
• 0.1 ha container nursery, underground nursery,
• A horticulture field laboratory with 0.3 hectares of gardens and beds representing the full range of care levels found in residential and commercial landscapes, an entire hectare of training lawn, including lawns conforming to USGA specifications, one lawn with modified soil, which are used for lawn care courses,
• Nursing laboratories that use sophisticated simulation technology — a life-size computer-controlled mannequin that simulates the symptoms of various diseases through changes in breathing, pulse, and eye movements.,
• Educational laboratory for brewing, including technological and testing areas,
• The 250—seat auditorium, which provides excellent acoustics for rehearsals, concerts, performances, music classrooms, study studios and individual rooms are specially designed for music education, from solo to orchestral performance.

All campuses are connected by convenient transportation.

The academic year consists of three semesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: May-August.

Each level of education and a separate program has its own dates for the beginning and completion of studies, while most students have the same rest days: weekends, holidays, and vacations.

The list of additional expenses will include services such as:

• Registration fees, deposits for booking a place on the course,
• Mandatory student fees,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Additional academic support,
• Medical insurance covering accidents and illnesses during studies,
• Personal expenses.

Future KPU students will have to go through several introductory stages:

• Filling out an online application, providing the necessary documents,
• Payment of registration fees,
• Invitation to entrance exams,
• Passing an interview, possible subject and profile tests,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Making a deposit to book a place on the program,
• Arrive on campus to begin your studies.

To date, the number of KPU graduates has more than 73,000 specialists in various fields. According to annual statistics, about 90% of students find a job in their specialty or continue their academic path within a year after completing their studies.

To enroll in one of the KPU programs, foreign applicants must have a complete set of personal documents: passport, medical insurance, visa or residence permit. Depending on the level of education a candidate enters, he/she should have a certificate of completion of secondary education, a bachelor's degree or other document confirming the completion of the previous academic stage. It must be accompanied by letters of recommendation from teachers or academic supervisors, as well as a personal statement, resume, and in some cases, a portfolio.

An important criterion for admission is the level of English language proficiency. Before enrolling, the applicant will have to pass one of the accredited tests for a score not less than that set by the admissions committee.:

• Duolingo — from 110,
• PTE — from 61,
• TOEFL iBT — from 81.

A wide range of scholarships are available to both local and international students, each of which encourages success in academics, sports, or other extracurricular activities. The main awards are:

• Six $30,000 Presidential Scholarships,
• 18 Merit Awards of $7500 each,
• Three awards for services to the indigenous population - $7500 each.

These scholarships are awarded to new students who have significant achievements at their previous place of study.

Scholarships, grants, loans are provided not only by the university, but also by its partners: foundations, large companies, government agencies. Each of the programs assigns its own award criteria, however, most of them will require excellent academic performance. Students can also apply for financial aid if they are in benefit groups.

On campuses, there is a "Work-Study" program that allows students to work on the study territory, receiving a discount on tuition fees or an amount that covers part of the costs.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision