BRANDON, Man. — Early application and registration numbers for the 2017–18 academic year show strong continued growth in enrolment is expected at Brandon University (BU).
“The numbers are excellent, with healthy increases in applications, admissions and new-student registrations at Brandon University,” said University Registrar Andrea McDaniel. “It is still fairly early in our registration cycle, but the trend is clear and it is looking like another year of very strong growth of the student population at BU.”
Compared to this same point last year, she said that applications to the university have increased by 11 per cent, admission offers are up by 20 per cent, and registrations by first-time students are up by eight per cent.
The increases in application and registration numbers among new students have BU administration optimistic that the University will continue to build on significant increases in enrolment shown over the past several years. Brandon University experienced seven per cent growth in student enrolment in 2016 and 3.5 per cent the year before.
The numbers are positive in just about every category, including very strong growth in full-time enrolment by first-time students as well as international applications.
“At this time there is a greater proportion of new students who are registering as full-time students than at the same point last year,” McDaniel said.“International student interest has also increased significantly, with applications up 15 per cent and registration of new students up 23 per cent over this time last year.”
Brandon University continues to be a top choice for local high school students, with Vincent Massey, Crocus Plains and Neelin the top three schools sending graduates to BU. High schools in Portage la Prairie and Virden round out the top five, with significant numbers of students also coming from high schools in Dauphin, Russell, Thompson, Neepawa and Swan River.
“Brandon University brings thousands of young people to the city from near and far away, and many of them choose to stay here to live, work and invest,” said Steve Robinson, Vice President (Academic & Provost). “As we look at the demographic trends in Brandon and in the province, it is clear that Brandon is a destination for post-secondary education and we are working hard to serve that diverse student body by growing the number and type of programs that we offer.”
The soon-to-be released Campus Master Plan and Campus Space Plan both point to strategies for the university to accommodate the burgeoning number of students.
“A growing BU student population means that classroom, labs and schedules will all be fuller, as will student residences,” Robinson said. “Our downtown campus expansion, which will include a significant new-style residential component as well as innovative academic spaces, will help us welcome new students and new faculty to a new level of community engagement in the coming years.”
Last year, BU welcomed nearly 3,300 students. Final numbers for each year are tallied and reported on Nov. 1.
