Bishop’s University, Acadia University and 5 other universities on this list are the smallest universities in Canada today. I have listed them here along with some of the awesome things you need to know about them.
For a higher education institution, such as a university, being rated “small” in no way means that the quality of education at such a school is poor, nor does it cast any negative light on the institution.
The “small” means that it is not large in the area of space and does not offer as many degree programs as other large universities and therefore has fewer students enrolled.
These small universities can also provide world class education and offer different specializations and their degree certificates are equally internationally recognized. They also offer undergraduate and graduate programs mostly in major fields, unlike larger universities that offer all major and minor programs in all fields.
So, this is how these universities are classified as “small” and because they are not popular, not many people go there, therefore they do not have a large population.
The total number of students at these small universities in Canada ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 on average. Because of this, these schools also receive a small amount of funding annually since they don’t do much after all; but they are well equipped with the necessary things to help their students.
Don’t let the word “small” used with these colleges make you look down on them as incapable, some of them are actually high ranking institutions.
For example, Bishop University is one of the smallest universities in Canada, but for the past two years it has been ranked among the best universities in Canada.
So, if you like sparsely populated places and want to attend a higher institution in Canada, then you may want to consider applying to one of these small universities in the country.
These universities also admit international students, as long as they meet the admission requirements. Another advantage of small universities is that they are not very competitive, although this is not true for all of them.
Most of them easily admit students, including international students, into any of the available study programs. Their requirements are not stringent and this is because they are not popular so most people don’t even know they exist and instead apply for more at these bigger and more popular schools. Thus, they allow your requirements to be easy to achieve, so more people can enter.
Please see below for a list of these universities in Canada that are among the smallest universities in the country, which have been provided along with details to help you find out more about the schools.
Contents
The 7 Smallest Universities in Canada
The following are the smallest universities in Canada by land mass and number of students enrolled;
- Bishop’s University
- The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
- University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
- First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv)
- acadian university
- Francis Xavier University
- Mount Allison University
Bishop’s University
Established in 1843 and located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Bishop’s University is one of the smallest universities in Canada with approximately 2,867 students comprising of undergraduate and graduate students.
Yes, this is a small citadel of higher education and offers a variety of graduate programs including an MA and MA in Education and an MS in Computer Science and Physics.
The undergraduate section offers a variety of programs through its five academic divisions; Williams Business School, Division of Humanities, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Social Sciences, and School of Education.
The university accepts international students in all of its programs and teaches all of its classes in the English language.
The school is well equipped with both facilities and renowned teachers who are always ready to help you fulfill your potential, create opportunities for hands-on learning and give you the tools you need to succeed in life.
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
Prince Edward Island University is one of the smallest universities in Canada established in 1860 and has undergone a few name changes over the years, Prince of Wales College and Saint Dustan’s University were what it used to be called. Before being named UPEI in 1969, it is located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and is the only university in the province.
Although one of the smallest universities in Canada, this post-secondary citadel of higher education offers a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. UPEI has eight faculties and a Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics that offer these degrees to its students. The eight colleges are Arts, Education, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Science, Engineering in Sustainable Design, Business, and Graduate Studies.
UPEI accepts students from different walks of life to enjoy their quality education and empower themselves with skills that will make them resourceful in life after school.
University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
This school is not the same as the University of British Columbia , but they are both located in the same province.
Although it is located in the same province as one of the best universities in Canada, UBC, the University of Northern British Columbia is not popular and is also listed as one of the smallest universities in Canada.
UNBC is a research intensive institution located in British Columbia and established in 1990 and has consistently ranked number one in 2015 and 2016 respectively, among the best smaller universities in Canada. This school is small but offers a wide range of degree programs for undergraduates, masters and doctoral students.
The school has different faculties, including the faculty of Arts, Commerce, Education, Health Sciences, Sciences, Applied Sciences, Nursing, Planning, Social Work, and Graduate Studies. There are also state-of-the-art facilities designed to facilitate the students’ learning experience and provide them with practical skills.
First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv)
First Nations University of Canada is currently the smallest university in Canada. The school was established in 1976 and is located in Saskatchewan, Canada.
FNUniv is actually a federated college of the University of Regina and degrees earned at FNUniv are awarded by the University of Regina .
The Canadian First Nations University has three campuses, namely; Regina Campus located at the University of Regina, the Saskatoon Campus which is located on the Saskatchewan Institute of Technologies campus, and finally the Northern Campus located in Prince Albert.
The university offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs in the Social Sciences, Humanities, Sciences and Business and a wide range of programs focused on Aboriginal practices. Its goal is to have a continuous transformative impact through education based on an indigenous knowledge base.
acadian university
Acadia University founded in 1838 and located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia is one of the smallest universities in Canada with fewer than 4,000 students in various degree programs.
The university has a wide range of undergraduate programs and 17 rigorous graduate programs. All of these degree programs are offered through the faculties of Arts, Pure and Applied Sciences, Professional Studies and Theology.
Despite being a small university, Acadia is big on innovation and pioneered the use of mobile computing technology in a post-secondary setting.
The school accepts students from all walks of life to enjoy their quality education and help students develop leadership and teamwork skills.
St Francis Xavier University
Another of Canada’s smallest universities located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, established in 1853 with a population of less than 400 students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
St. Francis Xavier University offers a wide range of academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students through its Colleges of Arts, Sciences, Education, the Gerald Schwartz School of Business, and Graduate Studies.
The university accepts local and international students from all walks of life to work alongside its renowned faculty, professors, and researchers and enjoy a truly unique academic experience. Top-notch facilities are also available for students to use to develop them on the practical side and leave them with skills that will serve them well in life after school.
Mount Allison University
As I mentioned earlier, a small university does not make it a “dummy” and Mount Allison University proves just that.
Over the past 29 years, this university has been ranked as one of the best undergraduate universities in Canada 21 times, and yet it is one of the smallest universities in the country. This is a record unmatched by any other university in Canada.
The university is located in Sackville, New Brunswick and was established in 1839 and has not hesitated to provide an excellent education to students from all over the world.
Mount Allison University offers several undergraduate and master’s degree academic programs through its Colleges of Arts, Social Sciences, and Sciences.
Mount Allison University is dedicated to continuing to offer students the best academic experience possible and to developing students to become leaders and positive contributors in their respective fields.
In summary
This ends this article on the smallest universities in Canada; The necessary links have been provided to narrow down your search and help you easily request your choice. If there are any unclear details during your application, please do not hesitate to contact the school for more information and clarity.
These universities in Canada, despite being small and unpopular, have some kind of ranking, achievements or contributions that the world has benefited from.
Sometimes as a student you can also gain a lot from a less crowded school than from a more crowded one as school resources will reach everyone and having access to your teacher also becomes easier.