Overview

Nestled in the charming and historic city of Charlottetown, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) boasts a diverse range of academic programs and a tight-knit community that is perfect for international students. With a safe and pedestrian-friendly campus, UPEI has earned a reputation for excellence due to its small class sizes and dedicated professors who foster an environment that helps students not only succeed, but flourish.

　　As an increasingly popular choice for students from across the globe, UPEI's campus is home to over 1,600 international students from over 90 countries, representing roughly 30 percent of the total student population. As a public university, UPEI has the most affordable tuition and fees across Canada.

　　Prince Edward Island offers a unique blend of beauty, stimulation, and affordability that makes it an ideal place for university study. With a population of just 168,000, it is Canada's smallest province, but is rich in heritage, culture, and a high quality of life. Charlottetown boasts historic streets, parks, buildings, shops, theaters, pubs, and art galleries that provide a cozy and culturally vibrant setting for UPEI, the island's only university.

　　In addition to its rich cultural offerings, the island is also renowned for its stunning beaches, pastoral landscapes, cozy towns, and dynamic cultural community. Located on Canada's east coast, it's a safe and affordable place to live and study, making it a perfect choice for international students from around the world.

　　At the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), students can find the personalized learning experiences and career-focused outcomes they need to pursue their passions and achieve their goals. With small class sizes and easy access to professors and instructors, UPEI offers a range of programs that allow students to carve out their own niche.

　　For students who may face challenges, UPEI has a variety of support services available, including academic coaching, advising, personal counseling, and accessibility services.

　　

What's new

New Programmes and Schools

The university is pleased to announce a number of new departments and courses, which are available to all international students attending Prince Edward.

　　The School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (SMCS) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is a recent addition to the university, which builds upon the strong foundation of core mathematics and computer science courses that have been offered at the university for many years. As the only program of its kind in Atlantic Canada, the SMCS offers a comprehensive suite of majors in quantitative disciplines.

　　The new Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation provides students with a solid foundation in climate sciences and the opportunity to delve into the policy and cultural impacts of climate change. This degree program offers a balance of comprehensive theory-based courses and hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.

　　The Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture program at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is designed to prepare students for successful post-graduation employment by connecting the communication skills, leadership training, and cultural awareness gained during a liberal arts education to the real world. This degree program emphasizes the transferability of written, oral, and visual communication skills, critical thinking, and cultural awareness to a wide range of professional contexts.

　　In addition, the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering at UPEI offers a cutting-edge Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering degree, which recognizes the importance of a well-rounded engineering education. This program follows current trends in engineering education and focuses on student outcomes, with small class sizes and an activity-based learning environment that allows faculty and staff to be student-centric and provide individualized support to students.

　　

Teaching quality

The university offers students a choice of more than 70 programs at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level, all designed to help students achieve their academic or professional goals. The university houses multiple Canada Research Chairs, as well as a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology. This is in addition to a number of sponsored or endowed research chairs, a UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, and multiple 3M Teaching awardees. As a result, students can depend on exceptional staff, experienced faculty and a passionate research environment for their studies.

　　As the only university in Prince Edward Island, UPEI's size and close relationships with local industry provide unique access to experiential education opportunities not found in larger places. Hands-on research experience, co-operative education placements, global exchange partnerships, and collaboration opportunities with local business offer UPEI students access to real-world problem-solving and the development of marketable skills.

　　

Department structure

The University of Prince Edward Island houses ten faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies, Medicine, Nursing, Science, Sustainable Design Engineering, Graduate Studies, and Veterinary Medicine. These faculties house all of UPEI's official programs and courses, with some programs taking direction from multiple faculties.

　　Within the Faculty of Science, students can find the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, which offers nine specializations across its program, as well as the School of Climate Change and Adaptation and its Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation program.

　　

Faculty of Business

A business degree can provide access to numerous career options. The Faculty of Business at UPEI offers courses and programs that test students' abilities, broaden their perspectives, and enable them to pursue a variety of career paths.

　　Featuring cutting-edge and adaptable programs that prioritize enterprise and entrepreneurship, graduates of the Faculty of Business leave equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in any setting. These attributes provide graduates with the adaptability and expertise to compete and achieve success.

　　

Entry requirements

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on attracting a diverse student body, across both subjects of expertise and nationality. Whatever their country of origin, prospective students will be able to find set of entry criteria tailored to their home education systems.

　　The university has developed admissions requirements specifically for each country, based on the type of qualifications and school certificates students hold. Applicants can browse the university's website to find admissions information for their home country.

　　In addition to academic entry requirements, students will need to meet the minimum English language proficiency level set out by the university. These standards will differ depending on the type of course an international student is applying to: undergraduate, English Academic Preparation (EAP), Graduate, or Graduate English Academic Preparation (GEAP).

　　Students who can't meet the English language criteria for an undergraduate programme, for example, may be admitted onto an English Academic Preparation programme. This course is designed to help students develop the language skills necessary to transfer into a full programme at UPEI.

　　Separate entry requirements will apply to transfer students. Applicants can find full details on the university website.

　　

Scholarships & funding

University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) supports its students in their educational pursuits by offering competitive tuition rates and providing millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to undergraduate and graduate students each year. UPEI is one of the most affordable public universities in terms of tuition fees in Canada.

　　

International Entrance Award Cycle

The International Entrance Award Cycle is open to international students who are joining UPEI from high schools in Canada or overseas. These awards, funded by the university, range in amount from CAD 1,000 to CAD 3,000.

　　

International Scholastic Achievement Prize

The International Scholastic Achievement Prize is a one-time award given to international students who have made significant contributions to the campus community, maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0, and not received this award before. The prize is valued at CAD 1,500.

　　

Dr. Vianne Timmons International Student Award

The Dr. Vianne Timmons International Student Award is presented to an international student enrolled in their second year of full-time undergraduate study at UPEI who is in good academic standing and demonstrates involvement in the university and community, both on- and off-campus. This award is worth CAD 1,100.

　　

Facilities

Located in Charlottetown, the capital city of Prince Edward Island, the University of Prince Edward Island is housed in a compact, modern campus site that offers students everything they could need during their studies.

　　The university is home to a variety of buildings, with academic, administrative, recreational, or mixed-use spaces which are designed to support the effective study, wellbeing and satisfaction of students.

　　The UPEI campus is home to numerous world-class teaching and research facilities, including the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering. This 78,000 square-foot facility, designed to encourage innovative thinking, entrepreneurship, and close collaboration with industry, features design studios, spaces for ideation and discovery, assembly labs, and a design competition center to enhance the student learning experience.

　　In addition, UPEI houses several Research Centers of Excellence supported by leading academics and advanced facilities, such as multi-user lab spaces for industry-relevant research in engineering. The university also offers state-of-the-art athletic facilities for students, staff, faculty, and members of the community.

　　These include the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Outdoor Artificial Turf Field, and Alumni Canada Games Place Track and Field-together offering a comprehensive range of recreational and competitive sports and training options.

　　Students will also find a variety of places to eat, drink and socialise across the campus, as well in Charlottetown more widely.