Thousands of prospective university students started to dream a little bigger this past weekend as more than 70,000 people attended this year’s Ontario Universities’ Fair (OUF) in Toronto, and Queen’s was on hand to meet with them and share what makes the tricolour experience unique. More than 200 staff, faculty, and students attended to represent Queen’s at the event.

“It’s always exciting to meet with the students at OUF and help them understand how Queen’s can help them achieve their goals for the future,” says Chris Coupland, Executive Director, Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment. “OUF is also the unofficial kickoff to the fall recruitment season, which means we’re ramping up efforts to meet in-person and online with prospective students from across Canada and around the world over the next several months.”

Queen’s Undergraduate Admission and Recruitment (UAR) team currently has more than 700 visits planned to schools and recruitment events across Canada. It is also planning to reach out to prospective students from more than 50 countries, both in-person and online. The university is poised to break its record for campus tours as well, as it is on pace to welcome more than 18,000 students and family members by the end of 2024 for a peek at its iconic limestone buildings. Queen’s will also be hosting an Ontario Universities’ Regional Fair on Oct. 17.

“We’re also continuing to expand our outreach efforts to students from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous communities,” says Coupland. “We’ve been letting students know that a Queen’s education is in reach for them and that there are resources in place to help them thrive when they’re here.”

The Access and Inclusion Team in UAR connects with students from under-served communities to encourage them to see themselves at Queen’s and help them understand how they can access higher education. Last year they reached more than 9,000 prospective students throughout the recruitment cycle – up from 5,000 in 2022-23 – and they are looking to build on that success this year by expanding their efforts past Ontario and into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Queen’s will also be busy reaching out to Indigenous students, with more than 35 recruitment destinations planned, including 16 First Nations. A new Indigenous Applicant Handbook is now available as well to help prospective Indigenous students learn what Queen’s has to offer and navigate the application process.

Learn more on the UAR website.

New booth for OUF

Queen's OUF booth was redesigned for 2024.

As part of its efforts to connect with students, Queen’s redesigned their booth for OUF this year. Measuring 180 feet long by 15 feet wide, the booth is strategically designed to help visitors find who they want to talk to and learn about the wide variety of programs available to students at Queen’s. Nine screens spread throughout the booth show footage of campus, display images related to specific programs, and carry the university’s land acknowledgement.

Next, Queen’s is looking forward to welcoming prospective students and their families and supporters to campus for Fall Preview, over the weekend of Oct. 26-27. During Fall Preview, visitors can tour campus, meet with current students and faculty, see the residences, check out campus libraries and the Athletics and Recreation Centre, and more.

Learn more and register for Fall Preview on Eventbrite.