A breakdown of KPU’s enrolment and demographics for 2021-2022

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article had an infographic that showed percentages of the faculties instead of enrollment numbers. The article has been updated with the correct infographic. The Runner regrets the error. 

Every year, Kwantlen Polytechnic University releases a data breakdown for enrolment and demographics among students. 

The 2021 to 2022 school year shows a total of 20,529 students enrolled at KPU with 13,005 as domestic students, and 7,524 as international students. 

Compared to the 2020 to 2021 school year, this is an increase with a headcount of 19,136 enrolments, comprising 13,503 domestic students and 5,633 international students. However, the 2018 to 2019 school year saw a total of 21,311 students enrolled, with 16,344 domestic students and 4,967 international students. This data includes students who either enrolled into at least one course late or withdrew from at least one course. This is a trend in data as the overall number of KPU students has been declining yearly.

The faculty of business had the highest enrollment with 8,858. Next in line is the faculty of arts with 6,109 students, followed by science and horticulture with 2,602 students. Trades and technology and health are the only faculties with an enrollment of over 1,000 students in the past few years. 

A student satisfaction survey report for 2021 found most students, both domestic and international, are aged between 19 to 22, with 18 per cent of domestic and 11 per cent of international students being under 19, and 43 per cent of domestic and 26 per cent of international students being over 23. The response rate for the survey was 38 per cent of the KPU student population. 

When responding to questions about ethnicity in the survey, 48 per cent of students identified as Indian and 25 per cent identifying as white. No other ethnic group comprised more than 10 per cent of the overall student body. 

KPU also reports at least 86 unique languages are spoken by the student body. The majority of international students can speak either Punjabi or Hindi alongside English. Among domestic students, 19 per cent reported speaking Punjabi, 12 per cent speak Hindi, and 11 per cent speak French. These are the only languages spoken by more than 10 per cent of domestic students, alongside English.

When asked about religion in the survey, 57 per cent of international students believe in Sikhism, and 18 per cent Hinduism. There are no other religious groups that comprise more than 10 per cent of international students. Most religious domestic students are Christian at 26 per cent, followed by Sikhism at 19 per cent. Thirty-six per cent of domestic students identify as non-religious. 

In terms of acceptance, over 80 per cent of respondents agreed on being treated fairly in the following categories: ability, age, background (cultural, ethnic, or racial), English proficiency, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. 

According to KPU, subgroups of students were less likely to agree, including those living with a disability, over the age of 40, those either practicing a traditional religion or being non-religious, gender minority students, and LGBTQIA2S+ students. Indigenous, Chinese, Korean, Black, and Caribbean students were also less likely to agree when it comes to their cultural, ethnic, or racial background.

In aspects of educational experience, 73 per cent of students agree culturally diverse viewpoints are being explored in their courses. However, Indigenous students and students belonging to a visible minority group were less likely to agree. 

Sixty-seven per cent of students agreed to feeling connected to their area of study, and 61 per cent felt part of the KPU community. 

However, separating international students and domestic students shows a notable difference. 

Among international students, 80 per cent feel connected to their area of study, and 79 per cent feel connected to the KPU community. Among domestic students, 57 per cent feel connected to their area of study, and 48 per cent feel connected to KPU. 

To read more on KPU’s enrollment statistics for the 2021 to 2022 school year, head to www.kpu.ca/opa/kpu-facts.