Academic activity shifts into high gear this week as more than 4,500 undergraduate students from the Class of 2020 and 1,400 new graduate students begin their studies on Queen’s campus and at the Bader International Study Centre in Sussex, England.

“Welcoming a new class is always an exciting time of year, as thousands of students embark on a journey of academic and personal discovery,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “While at Queen’s, undergraduate and graduate students will experience a rich and supportive learning environment.”

Queen’s attracts a high number of superb applicants for its undergraduate and graduate programs. The university received nearly 34,000 applications for 4,517 spaces in the first-year class. The School of Graduate Studies is welcoming 1,404 new students: 1,178 master’s students, 200 doctoral students, and 26 graduate diploma students.

“Our students choose graduate studies to advance their knowledge in a particular field, invest in their future, and develop crucial employability skills,” says Brenda Brouwer, Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. “We are thrilled to welcome our new graduate students, who contribute to our reputation for academic excellence.”

The university continues to grow its international enrolment. There are 438 international students in the incoming undergraduate class, a 41.3 per cent increase over the same time last year. Furthermore, 13 per cent of the incoming class attended high school outside of Canada in 44 different countries and 29 U.S. states. At the graduate level, there are 246 international students, compared to 180 in fall 2015, a 37 per cent increase. The international graduate students hail from 43 different countries.

Visit Undergraduate Admissions and School of Graduate Studies admissions for more information about applying to Queen’s.