UBC Okanagan expects more than 3,300 new undergraduate students to start their studies in 2026.
With students back in classes, UBC’s Okanagan campus is expected to welcome its largest incoming class and overall student population to date as the campus continues its growth over the past 21 years.
Early estimates point to more than 3,300 new undergraduate students starting their studies at UBC Okanagan this year, with the total campus population projected to exceed 12,000.
While final enrolment numbers aren’t confirmed until later in the fall, the university says the student experience on campus is already telling a positive story of growth and confidence in the institution.
“There’s a real sense of excitement and optimism on campus as new and returning students make UBCO their home for another academic year,” says Dr. Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “We could see that enthusiasm building even before students arrived, with continued interest from both domestic and international students.”
She adds that the increase in international student enrolment is particularly encouraging after geopolitical tensions and changes to federal immigration policies contributed to a sharp decline in international student numbers at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
“We have seen an increased interest from both domestic and international students this year because they clearly recognize what this campus has to offer: the unique combination of UBC’s global reputation and the Okanagan campus’s smaller size, outstanding programs, and enviable location in one of the most beautiful regions in the world,” she explains. “We’re also undoubtedly benefiting from Canada’s longstanding reputation as a welcoming destination for international students.”
On top of a record-setting incoming class, the campus is also reporting its highest levels of research funding in its 20-year history.
“We’ve reached $54 million in research funding at UBCO this year alone. This is research that is making a direct impact on the region and beyond,” Dr. Cormack says.
Students who returned this month saw changes to two academic programs.
This academic year marks the first cohort of the new Bachelor of Commerce, a four-year degree that will eventually replace the Bachelor of Management and offers concentrations in areas such as accounting, finance and marketing.
UBC Okanagan’s redesigned Bachelor of Arts also took effect in his September, freeing up elective room for a minor, a double major, co-op or an international exchange.
“Every one of those 12,000 students made a decision to be here, and no two of those decisions look quite the same,” Dr. Cormack says. “Some are coming straight from high school in the Okanagan. Some have moved across the world. What they have in common is that they looked at what our campus offers, saw the kind of university experience they were looking for, and could see themselves here.”
