Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a public polytechnic university with five campuses in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a public institution established by the government of British Columbia in 1981. It has five campuses in the Metro Vancouver region. The university's mailing address is 12666 72 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W 2M8. KPU has over 1,400 faculty and staff members and more than 60,000 registered alumni around the world.
KPU was formed in 1981 after separating from Douglas College. In 1995 the institution became a degree-granting university college, and in 2008 it became a polytechnic university. The name Kwantlen was gifted to the university by the Kwantlen First Nation.
KPU focuses on hands-on skills, in addition to traditional academics. It offers bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations in more than 140 programs across seven faculties. Classes have a maximum of 35 students. KPU is the first public post-secondary school to offer studies in traditional Chinese medicine-acupuncture, and its Bachelor of Horticulture Science in Urban Ecosystems is the only undergraduate degree in North America dedicated to the study of urban ecosystems.
KPU campuses are located in Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Cloverdale, and Civic Plaza, and almost 20,000 students annually attend courses there. Facilities include the KPU Library, Langley, Richmond, Surrey and Tech Campus libraries, study rooms, learning centres, fitness centres, a campus store, food services and cafeteria, and an intercampus shuttle. Computers and Wi-Fi are also available.
KPU offers Trades Admission for Foundation or Apprenticeship programs.