What Students Say
Likes
- Smaller classroom size which meant that professors are able to pay more attention to each student
- Better know in a small institution
- Access to a high number of opportunities
Dislikes
- None - the university has nothing to dislike. From professors, facilities, faculties and other students. Every part of the university provides high end learning experience not only in class but also in the industry
Course Curriculum
8
- Classrooms are mainly theoretical for my degree and science degrees; it would be a mix of both theory and practical. My courses always had a positive aspect from my perspective because they were more hands-on.
- Classes run throughout the day. For degrees without labs there could be about 2-3 classes per day and more classes in degrees that use a mixed method of learning.
Admission Experience
- I applied for 3 universities and got accepted into all of them. Since I was accepted into all of them, the rest of the questions are not applicable. Sometimes high-ranking universities have a low acceptance rate due to the type of students they desire to offer a spot. Brandon university does have a low acceptance rate but it is a very welcoming university to all types students regardless of their origin
- Smaller size, better relations in the community. The application process is the norm, with applying through the website and each country having its own eligibility criteria based on the type of education received in each country. Overall, no challenges. And some people think the extreme weather conditions would be a challenge but with time everyone gets used to it.
- Winter intake and it took about two months, as my high school transcript had to be delivered by the official institution. This delayed the process; however, the university was extremely understanding and patient. The university emails the offer letter to the student and the student has to reply via email that they accept the offer. Another alternative would be to register for courses, which gives the university an informal confirmation of acceptance.
Faculty
8
- 1:25 would be the nominal ratio. This results in a better quality education, as the professor ensures every student is at par with what is being taught. The teaching approach is good enough to provide knowledge for the industry.
- There is a designated co-op programme which helps students get a footprint in the industry and the programme has been extremely successful, with almost 90% of students securing jobs.
Campus Life
8
- As most of the university year is during winter, there are mostly indoor activities such as trivia nights, study nights, special meal days and a couple of other activities.
- These activities help keep students away from depression, as winters are known to cause depression within students as they are mostly indoors with extremely low interactions outside of their homes.
Part Time Jobs
- For on-campus opportunities since it is a small university, very few students get a job; however, most students are able to find off-campus jobs at retail stores, gas bars, restaurants and various other businesses. Pay range for labour jobs is slightly higher than the minimum wage of the province. The maximum hours allowed is 24 hours as per IRCC. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get jobs; however, references help to easily get a job.
- At any location they are able to find a job. Most students are looking for money to help fund their education and expenses. Therefore, they do not limit themselves to what type of jobs they do. Most students work labour jobs until they get a job in their career, which is usually high paying and better able to advance in their personal and professional lives.
Placement
8
- I would not have a definite answer for what percentage of students get jobs within 6 months. However, as I stated in the previous questions, students would work labour jobs until they get jobs in their criteria and salary ranges are industry specific but on average it can range anywhere between CAD 40,000 and CAD 100,000 per year. Students mostly find jobs through references and applying online too.
- Some organisations hold networking events which connect students and employees to employers, creating a space for finding better employment opportunities.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I did not have to look for accommodation, as I had family living in the city. It seems to be fairly common that everyone is able to secure accommodation, as there are various international students who are open to roommates to reduce cost of living.
- It is a hard find without any connections but with social media and the internet, there are many sources to secure a spot.
Exams
- I did not have to give any exams as part of the admission process. The documents required are personal information and payment. Since I was applying for a bachelor's degree, there was no interview as part of the process. Mostly specialized degrees require an interview and have a more rigorous process as part of the admission requirement. This is an overall picture of how it looks.
Fees
- The fees are credit-based, with almost all courses having 3 credit hours and advanced courses having 6 credit hours. An average of CAD 18,000 for a semester, which is about 15 credit hours (full course load).
- For local students it would be significantly lower, with about CAD 5,000 per semester for a full course load. The monthly costs would amount to $750-$1000 for a student.
Scholarship
- Scholarships are merit-based. There are some fixed amounts available to students studying specific courses or in specific facilities. Scholarships range anywhere from CAD 500 to CAD CAD25,000 per semester, which would, on the high end, typically cover all expenses for a student in that semester, as the amount is “paid” to the student but needs to ensure that it is used towards education.
