UPEI enrolment stabilizes; full-time, graduate, and international numbers increase

The Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) released its 2012-2013 preliminary survey of enrolments for its 16 member universities-including the University of Prince Edward Island-last week. UPEI's overall enrolment numbers show a slight decrease by 0.9%, due to a decline in part-time student registrations, but show increases of 1.1% in full-time, 15.1% in full-time graduate, and 3.7% in full-time international student registrations.

The UPEI Registrar's Office reported 4,555 full-time and part-time students at the Island's only university, compared to 4,596 last year. There are 299 graduate students and 556 international students from 62 countries registered at UPEI for 2012-13.

'UPEI's enrolment numbers continue to be strong as we've maintained our enrolments to last year's level, after a number of record years,' said UPEI Registrar Kathleen Kielly. 'We are so pleased to see an increase in graduate and international student numbers. It's wonderful that our recruitment efforts in these areas are reaping rewards.'

Among full-time, first-year students, registrations from other provinces increased 26 per cent, and international registrations increased 19%. The overall number of registrations for full-time, first-year students was up by 1.0%.

'International students and students from across Canada are an increasingly important component of UPEI's student body, adding to the diversity of the entire Island community,' Kielly added. 'As reflected in our off-Island first-year registrations, our recruitment team has been able to deliver the message that UPEI offers a quality education, highly competitive tuition, and an intimate, and unique educational experience. Undergraduate students can become involved in high-level research and access exchange, internship, and co-op opportunities at home and around the world.'