Undergraduate applications to Queen’s remain strong

Undergraduate applications to Queen’s remain strong

By Communications Staff

April 4, 2018

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[March Break Open House at Beamish-Munro Hall]
More than 4,000 prospective students, applicants and family members attended Queen’s March Break Open House on March 10. This annual campus-wide event offers students the opportunity to tour campus and residence, try the food, attend a mini-lecture, meet faculty, staff and current students.

Applications to first-year undergraduate studies at Queen’s for Fall 2018 are up 15 per cent over last year; this compares to an 8 per cent increase in applications province-wide.

The total number of applications to Queen’s for 4,522 spaces in direct-entry, first-year programs across all faculties and schools surpassed 40,000 for the first time to reach 42,404. Queen’s has seen significant year-over-year increases in total applications for the past several years, as well as applications among students applying from across Ontario, students applying from across Canada, and among international students.

“In addition to an increasing number of applications, we are also seeing significant year-over-year increases in the percentage of students who are ranking Queen’s as their first choice,” says Stuart Pinchin, Executive Director, Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment. “This reflects the strength of our programs and the quality of the student experience. We are now out talking to students around the world who have been offered admission, to answer any questions they may have about their academic program, residences and the entire Queen’s experience.”

Applications from high school students studying outside Ontario have increased 32 per cent, and applications from international students have increased by 53 per cent. Furthermore, applications from self-identified Indigenous students have increased 9 per cent over last year and by 88 per cent since 2011-12.

International enrolment has been guided by an undergraduate international recruitment plan, and last fall, the university established a First Generation Admission Policy to encourage students who would be first in their family to attend university to come to Queen’s. Applications from self-identified first-generation students have increased by 13 per cent.

First Generation admission award has also been created that is available to students who are granted admission through this new policy. This new award builds on the financial aid currently available to all first-generation students at Queen’s, which includes need-based admission bursaries. Further, the university has created a GTA-based outreach recruiter who connects with first-generation students from diverse backgrounds, and with community groups that serve and support these youth.

“We are committed to increasingly diversifying the incoming class,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “Our campus community is enriched by students with different backgrounds and experience from across Canada and around the world.”

Queen’s will continue to make offers of admission until mid-May.

Learn more about Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment at Queen’s.