They’re coming from every Canadian province and territory, and from dozens of countries around the world. They are accomplished, with an incoming undergraduate average of 89.1 per cent. And soon they will be settling in for a brand new academic year at Queen’s.

The university received more than 37,000 applications for 4,517 spaces in the 2017-18 first-year class. The undergraduate class includes an expected 574 international undergraduate students, representing a 39 per cent increase when compared to last year. It also includes 137 students attending the Bader International Study Centre (BISC) in Sussex, England, where the castle is celebrating its largest ever incoming class.

“Welcoming a new class is always an exciting time of year, as thousands of students begin their studies,” says Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs. “At Queen’s, we strive to provide undergraduate and graduate students with an engaged, inclusive and supportive learning environment.”

The School of Graduate Studies is welcoming 1,364 new students this fall across 125 programs. This group including 1,207 master’s students, 140 doctoral students, and 17 graduate diploma students. That group includes as many as 320 international graduate students, hailing from 43 different countries.

“Queen’s University has a vibrant and diverse community of graduate students in a wide variety of fields who are conducting research and developing career skills,” says Kim McAuley, Acting Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. “We are excited to welcome our new graduate students, who contribute to our reputation for research and academic excellence.”

For the new crop of undergraduate students, the road to 2021 begins next week. Classes start Monday, September 11.

Other Statistics About the Class of 2021

• 60 per cent of students identify as female
• 4.1 per cent of the class of 2021 says they are the first in their family to attend post-secondary
• 1.6 per cent of students identify as Indigenous