Thompson Rivers University (TRU) builds upon the reputation for excellence established by the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops and the British Columbia Open University in Burnaby to offer students in BC and around the world a comprehensive range of programs and unique combinations of flexible learning options.
TRU was created in March 2004 when the government of BC announced that University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops would be given full university status, effective April 2005. At the same time, it announced the new university would assume full responsibility for all courses and programs of the BC Open University, located in Burnaby.
TRU offers many unique programs and learning options, including traditional on-campus programs offered at the main campus in Kamloops, a small regional campus in Williams Lake, along with distance education and flexible access to degree completion through TRU’s BC Centre for Open Learning, currently based at its Burnaby campus.
Students can choose from 50 undergraduate degree options; nearly 20 professional career diploma programs, which can ladder into a degree; job-entry certificates and trade-entry and apprenticeship training. More than 5,000 full-time students and 10,000 part-time students are currently enrolled at TRU, including 800 international students. |
Students can start their studies in September, January or May.
Academic and campus services
Academic advising, bookstore, campus activity centre, campus security, chaplaincy, counselling services, daycare, employment services, First Nations student coordinator, First Nations student centre, harassment adviser, health services, international centre, peer assistant program, services for students with disabilities, student society, student newspaper, student radio station, visual arts gallery.
First-year student programs
Orientation programs, workshop for prospective students, Student Success seminars, career development seminar, group advising for degree programs, workshops on time management, stress management, test anxiety and study skills.
Housing
On-campus: Housing is available for 302 students. All spaces are individual furnished rooms in pods of four. Floors in each residence are co-ed. There is no meal plan. International students have access to a homestay program through the International Office. About 50 percent of residents are first-year. Priority for rooms is given to returning students. Remaining rooms are allocated to first-year students on a first-come, first-served basis. Cost: regular room, $1,300 per semester; deluxe room, $1,500 per semester.
Information technology
Students have access to a wide range of computer facilities on campus, including student labs with approximately 500 computers and a support desk. E-mail accounts and Internet access are available free. Access to the central computer system as well as the Internet is available by modem for students lliving off-campus and in residences.
Student assistance
UCC offers Ambassadors’ entrance scholarships, renewable for up to four years, along with open Presidents’ entrance scholarships, transfer scholarships and entrance bursaries. UCC also offers one entrance scholarship to a student in every high school in the UCC region. The UCC sports task force entrance scholarship program offers renewable athletic scholarships to top-ranking high school athletes from across Canada, along with other awards for student athletes.The UCC Foundation offers almost $160,000 in awards every year to students with top grades or in financial need with another $190,000 given out from private donor awards. |
Student exchange programs
Student exchanges are available to Australia, England, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and USA. A new study abroad program is in place, and international work experience and practicums are offered in tourism, social work and nursing degree programs.
International liaison officer
Mr. Ivan Gyozo Somlai
Associate Director, International Contract Service
Telephone: (250) 371-5764
Fax: (250) 828-5140
E-mail: isomlai@cariboo.bc.ca |
