Despite risks posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Queen’s is meeting enrolment targets.
In the 2020-21 academic year, 26,309 students enrolled at Queen’s: 19,480 undergraduate students, 3,392 graduate students, 1,516 second degree students, 1,369 Smith MBA and graduate professional students, and 552 post-graduate medicine students.
The total shows an increase from the 2019-20 academic year, in which 25,260 total students enrolled: 18,367 undergraduate students, 3,313 graduate students, 1,650 second degree students, 1,391 Smith MBA and graduate professional students, and 539 post-graduate medicine students.
However, this year’s total also includes 3,576 total international students, which is a 7.8 per cent decrease from last year’s 3,877. The University attributes this decrease in international enrolment to the pandemic.
“This year is, of course, like no other, and we have made significant investments to transition most of our programs to remote learning, and transformed programs and services to primarily online delivery,” the University wrote in a statement to The Journal.
The total enrolment number also includes 507 self-identified Indigenous students, who account for 1.9 per cent of enrolled students.
There are 2,148 part-time undergraduate students, 951 part-time graduate students, and 1,486 distance studies students.
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In terms of undergraduate programs, in the fall, 12,626 full-time students enrolled in Arts & Science, 1,885 in Commerce, 3,162 in Engineering, 231 in Bachelor of Health Science, 375 in Nursing, and 104 at the Bader International Study Centre.
The University also saw a 94.7 per cent retention rate from first-year to second-year. The average retention rate in Queen’s group of Canadian universities is 90.1 per cent.
Queen’s saw a total of 46,061 first-year applications last year and accepted 5,338 students. The latter number is a significant increase from the previous year, when Queen’s accepted 4,550 students; the University increased its intake numbers to account for an expected decrease in the number of students who would actually enroll due to COVID-19.
There was a 2.7 per cent decrease in the number of students who made Queen’s their first choice, and a total 2.4 per cent decrease in how many students applied to Queen’s. However, there was a 1.1 per cent increase in the number of Ontario high school students who applied.
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As of Jan. 15, 45,000 students had applied for just over 4,700 spots in direct-entry, first-year undergraduate programs for the 2021-22 academic year. This is a 14 per cent increase from the same time last year, compared to a provincial 2.3 per cent increase. Applications are set to close on Feb. 1.
“As the pandemic continues to evolve and affect our living and learning environments, we remain committed to responding to student needs, wherever they are located around the world,” the University wrote.
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