Facts and Figures

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is a public post-secondary institution that combines academic excellence with practical, hands-on and experiential learning opportunities that prepare graduates for successful and rewarding careers, while also providing them with the critical understanding necessary for good citizenship. 

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is a public post-secondary institution that combines academic excellence with practical, hands-on and experiential learning opportunities that prepare graduates for successful and rewarding careers, while also providing them with the critical understanding necessary for good citizenship.
• KPU started as Kwantlen College in 1981, became a degree-granting institution in 1995, and became Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2008.
• The qw̓ ɑ:nƛ̓ ə̓ n̓ (Kwantlen) First Nation gifted its name to KPU and the university’s campuses are situated on the unceded traditional and ancestral territories of the qw̓ ɑ:nƛ̓ ə̓ n̓ (Kwantlen), qi̓ cə̓ y̓ (Katzie), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), scə̓ waθən (Tsawwassen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), kwikwəƛə̓ m (Kwikwetlem), and xwməθkwəyə̓ m (Musqueam) First Nations.
• KPU has five campuses, all in the Metro Vancouver region: KPU Surrey (in Newton), KPU Richmond, KPU Langley, KPU Tech (in Cloverdale), KPU Civic Plaza (in Surrey City Centre). All campuses are accessible to those with mobility and visual impairments.
• KPU has educated over 240,000 students to date and boasts a diverse student population of approximately 20,000 students each year with approximately 12,000 FTE (full-time equivalency) students annually.
• KPU students are supported by approximately 1,800 employees and backed by a network of 77,500 alumni.
• KPU has more than 140 programs available across seven faculties and schools: Faculty of Academic and Career Preparation, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Health, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Trades and Technology, Melville School of Business and Wilson School of Design.
• Distinctive programs include Entertainment Arts, Brewing and Brewery Operations, Computer Aided Design and Drafting, Fashion and Technology, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Farrier Science, Interior Design, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• KPU offers a diverse range of credentials – including bachelor’s degrees, apprenticeships, diplomas, certificates, and citations – designed to meet the evolving needs of regional and global employment markets. Post-baccalaureate and graduate diplomas further enhance opportunities for working professionals to augment their knowledge and skills.
• Co-op education opportunities are available in many programs along with international learning opportunities all over the world through field schools, exchanges, studies abroad and international co-ops, with opportunities available in most program areas.
• In the fiscal year 2024, KPU was awarded 42 public and private research contacts with a total value of $4,031,443. In last five years, KPU received research funding for 152 projects valued at $18,034,039.
• KPU’s state-of-the-art facilities for research and student experiential learning include the Applied Genomics Centre, the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, and the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems.
• More KPU graduates find work in their fields of study than provincial averages. Of those employed, 85 per cent of trades foundation graduates were in a job related to their program, 85 per cent for certificate graduates, and 77 per cent for bachelor’s degree graduates.
• The KPU Library provides 1,024,836 print and digital resources to meet needs of students across four campus library locations. The KPU Library is open to the public. In addition, students can access Learning Centres at Surrey, Richmond, Langley and Civic Plaza campuses.
• The Gathering Place at KPU Surrey celebrates the important contributions of Coast Salish Peoples and other Indigenous groups. This space supports Indigenous social and educational activities for members of the KPU community and is the home of Indigenous Services at KPU.
• Each campus has a prayer and meditation room. These spaces are available to KPU students and employees of all faiths and secular beliefs who want to participate in worship, reflection and meditation while on campus.
• Kwuntiltunaat (Kim Baird) is chancellor, Dr. Bruce Choy is president and vice-chancellor, Erin Barnes chairs the Board of Governors, and Catherine Schwichtenberg is vice-chair of Senate.
• KPU has membership in the following associations: Universities Canada; BC Association of Institutes and Universities; Business Council of BC; Post-Secondary Employers’ Association; Canada-India Business Council; Trades Training Consortium British Columbia; Canadian Academic English Language Assessment; and Vancouver Board of Trade.