BRANDON UNIVERSITY

Brandon University is an institution with less than 5,000 students. As such, students’ individual aspirations are a priority: the student-teacher ratio is one of the best in the country. Despite being charted as a university in 1967, its legacy as a small liberal arts and science college with its roots in pre-20th century Canada is clearly evident. With an accessible admissions policy, the school admits a number of students with averages under 70 per cent. International tuition fees are also among the lowest in the country. Undergraduate courses are offered in Arts, Education, Health Studies, Science and the School of Music. Graduate degrees are offered in the studies of Music, Education, Rural Development, Science, and Psychiatric Nursing. The city of Brandon, with its 50,000 residents, is diverse, and its affordability and community vibe make it popular with residents and newcomers alike.

City: Brandon

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$11,628 – $15,235

Graduate tuition fees:
$5,919 – $6,211

Signature programs: Nursing, Education, Music

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is Western Canada’s oldest university. With over 90 degrees and a reputation for producing Rhodes scholars, the university has both breadth and depth. Internationally-recognized as an innovator in research and technology, it still maintains a student-centered focus. It is known for enabling international students, as well as rural and aboriginal Canadians, to attend at a reasonable tuition cost. Professional degrees are also held in high regard. Manitoba prioritizes professional degree programs in architecture, engineering, medicine, dentistry, law and pharmacy. For this reason, many graduate students both domestically and international flock to the “U of M” every year. The school has also created laddering programs with private colleges to enable access into second-year programs.

City: Winnipeg

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$15,891 – $18,058

Graduate tuition fees:
$11,750

Signature programs

Actuarial Mathematics, Architecture, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy

University of Winnipeg

Maclean’s magazine recognizes the University of Winnipeg as one of the top Canadian undergraduate schools for student satisfaction. Much of this is owed to an array of state-of-the-art facilities and student services, but it also speaks to the range of external opportunities, the arts, and school spirit. Athletics and recreation are also popular. The university’s location in the center of downtown Winnipeg ensures students are never very far away from the action. University of Winnipeg has invested heavily in the city, helping to fuel an ongoing cultural renewal at the core of the province’s capital. For example, the ultramodern Buhler center, which contains The Plug-In Institute of Contemporary Art, was opened through University of Winnipeg initiatives. The school also has a thriving music and theatre scene — the university offers one of Canada’s largest theatre and film programs, with six specializations to choose from. University of Winnipeg is a midsize school at just over 10,000 students.

City: Winnipeg

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$14,700

Graduate tuition fees:
$14,000

Signature programs

Theatre and Film, Kinesiology, Bio-anthropology, Marriage and Family Therapy

Université de Saint-Boniface

Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) is Manitoba’s French-language university and technical professional school. USB maintains connections with the University of Manitoba, also in Winnipeg, so students at USB have access to the resources of a larger university. Located in the Francophone neighborhood of downtown Winnipeg, it offers undergraduate and graduate study programs, as well as vocational training and continuing education. Its Continuing Education Division includes a language school.

City: Winnipeg

Undergraduate tuition fees:
$8,701

Signature programs

Education, French, Translation, Sciences