It’s that time of year again.

The leaves will be starting to change, the temperature  will soon start to dip, families have squeezed the last few moments out of summer, and a new academic year begins.

This fall, the Queen’s community is welcoming 4,579 new undergraduate students who represent every Canadian province, two territories, 27 U.S. states, and 43 different nationalities.

The university is also welcoming 1,559 graduate students from 42 countries.

“We are excited to mark the start of another busy academic year,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “We are pleased to welcome students joining the Queen’s community this fall as well as all returning students, faculty, and staff back to campus.”

Fifty-nine per cent of the undergraduate first-year class identifies as female. Just over four per cent have indicated they are the first in their family to attend a post-secondary institution, while 1.5 per cent have said they possess Indigenous heritage. The class’ entry average is 89.3 per cent.

The first-year undergraduate class includes 138 students who are spending their academic year at the Bader International Study Centre (BISC). This group of students, enrolled in Faculty of Arts and Science and Education programs, has the unique experience of learning and living at the 600-year-old Herstmonceux Castle, Queen’s campus in Sussex, England.

This year marks a special one for the BISC, as the centre marks 25 years as an educational destination.

Classes start a bit earlier this year for everyone due to the revamped orientation schedule and the introduction of a fall-term break. The class of 2022 will be taking in their first lectures on Thursday, Sept. 6.