CBU now hosts a total of 8,517 full-time students as of October, marking an increase of over 3,100 students compared to the previous year.
CBU now hosts a total of 8,517 full-time students as of October, marking an increase of over 3,100 students compared to the previous year.
Cape Breton University is experiencing a substantial enrollment boom, primarily fueled by international students. Preliminary data for the 2023-24 academic year, recently published on the website of the Association of Atlantic Universities, revealed that CBU now hosts a total of 8,517 full-time students as of October.
This figure marks an increase of over 3,100 students compared to the previous year, as reported by CTV News.
The expansion eclipses the enrollment gains observed at other universities in Nova Scotia. For instance, the nearby St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish experienced a modest growth of only 22 students, with the count rising from 5,789 to 5,811 during the same period.
Cape Breton University, located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, has now secured its position as the province’s second-largest educational institution, just behind Dalhousie University, which boasts 18,836 full-time students.
The university has strategically focused its recruitment efforts on attracting students from abroad in recent years. Out of the institution’s total student body, encompassing 9,100 full-time and part-time students, approximately 76 percent hail from overseas.
The AAU reported that Cape Breton University’s enrollment has skyrocketed by nearly 54 percent compared to the previous year. This achievement stands in stark contrast to the overall average increase of 6.6 percent observed across Nova Scotia’s ten universities.
“All Atlantic universities continue to work hard at attracting students locally, from across the country and around the world to their campuses and communities,” Rob Summerby-Murray, president of Saint Mary’s University and Chair of the AAU, said in a statement.
The official said making campuses international is important for diverse regions, future economic growth, and social progress. Due to global tensions, universities should ensure students feel safe and part of welcoming communities.
