Capilano University

About Capilano University

Capilano University began in 1968 as a college serving the North Shore and Howe Sound area. It opened its permanent North Vancouver campus in 1973 and received university designation from the Province of British Columbia in 2008. The institution remains publicly recognized as a university and is accepting students for the 2026–2027 academic year. The university reports four locations. The main campus is in North Vancouver; CapU Lonsdale is an extension in the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood; kálax-ay, the Sunshine Coast campus, is in Sechelt; and CapU Squamish opened in fall 2024. Applicants should not assume every program is offered at every site and should confirm the designated campus on the relevant program page. CapU reports approximately 12,700 learners annually, including about 9,000 in for-credit programs, nearly 1,200 in non-credit study and 2,500 international students. These categories are useful for understanding the institution’s mixed academic and continuing-education role, but they should not be read as a single full-time undergraduate population. The university acknowledges that its locations stand on the unceded territories of the Tsleil-Waututh, shíshálh, Squamish and Musqueam Nations. Its history and current footprint make it particularly relevant for students seeking a teaching-oriented institution connected to communities north of Vancouver, although the multi-campus structure requires careful attention to program location, commuting and housing arrangements.

Admission is program-specific. For most undergraduate programs, CapU’s general baseline is completion of British Columbia Grade 12 or an equivalent credential and a minimum 2.0, or 60%, admission average calculated using an approved Grade 12 English course and two academic Grade 12 courses. Some programs impose additional subjects, higher grades, portfolios, auditions, supplemental documents or selective processes, so meeting the general threshold does not guarantee entry to every program. International applicants must present the equivalent of British Columbia secondary-school graduation and meet the requirements of their chosen program. Documents not issued in English require both the original-language record and a translation completed by a recognized translator. International applications are submitted through EducationPlannerBC; the university currently states a non-refundable C$135 application fee covering applications to two programs. For 2026–2027, applicants who must demonstrate English proficiency can use several routes. The official calendar lists Academic IELTS at 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0, CAEL 70, PTE Academic 56 and Duolingo English Test 125 with no subscore below 115. TOEFL reporting changes for spring 2027 onward because of the test’s revised scoring, so applicants should consult the current calendar rather than relying on a stored minimum. Deadlines vary by program. Most applications open about eleven months before the term, but closing dates and available intakes must be checked on the individual program page. Early application is sensible for programs with limited capacity, international processing needs or separate portfolio and audition steps.

Capilano University organizes its studies across five broad faculties: Arts and Sciences; Business and Professional Studies; Education, Health and Human Development; Fine and Applied Arts; and Global and Community Studies. The official 2026–2027 calendar lists bachelor’s programs in fields including psychology, interdisciplinary studies, writing and literature, business administration, communication, visual communication design, early childhood care and education, environment and society, kinesiology, legal studies, motion picture arts, music therapy, jazz studies, science and tourism management. The credential mix is wider than bachelor’s education. The same calendar lists associate degrees, certificates, diplomas, post-baccalaureate certificates and post-baccalaureate diplomas. Students comparing options should distinguish these awards by length, academic level and intended outcome rather than treating them as interchangeable. The current credential list does not show an active master’s or doctoral program. Applied learning is a significant part of the academic model, but availability depends on the program. CapU identifies work experience, professional practica or clinical placements, internships, co-operative education, field placements, entrepreneurship, applied community or industry projects, and service learning among its work-integrated learning formats. Some professional and creative programs may also require specialized facilities, portfolio development or other practical work. Because requirements vary, the individual program profile and the 2026–2027 calendar should be the final references for course sequences, admission conditions, campus, credential and experiential components. Applicants interested in changing programs or stacking credentials should verify transfer and progression rules directly rather than assuming that all diploma or associate-level coursework applies automatically to a bachelor’s degree.

Key Highlights

• Founded as Capilano College in 1968 and redesignated Capilano University in 2008
• Public university recognized by the Province of British Columbia
• Locations in North Vancouver, Lower Lonsdale, Squamish and Sechelt
• Approximately 9,000 students in for-credit programs within a broader annual learner population

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across CapU’s locations, so the experience will depend partly on where a student’s program is based. At the North Vancouver campus, the Student Life team runs transition and community activities such as New Student Orientation, Welcome Wednesdays, a street party and a new-student mixer. Its Student Life Hub is staffed by student leaders who help peers locate services and identify ways to become involved. The university’s support network includes academic advising, accessibility services, career support, resources for Indigenous and new students, and services available both on campus and virtually. Student Life also provides well-being education and programming related to consent, healthy relationships and bystander intervention. These services provide several entry points for students who need academic, personal or community support, though availability and delivery format should be checked by campus. University-operated housing is available in North Vancouver and Squamish. Published 2026–2027 residence prices include mandatory meal plans, and the room configuration differs by location. Housing requires a separate application and payment, so admission to an academic program should not be treated as a housing guarantee. Prospective residents should compare residence dates with the academic calendar and budget for the application and confirmation payments as well as the term charge.

Location & Surroundings

Capilano University’s main campus is at 2055 Purcell Way in North Vancouver. The university describes it as approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, although actual journey times will depend on traffic and the student’s starting point. This location places students on Vancouver’s North Shore rather than in the city’s downtown core. The university also operates CapU Lonsdale in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood, kálax-ay on the Sunshine Coast in Sechelt, and a campus in Squamish. Squamish is the newest location, having opened in fall 2024. These sites serve different programs and communities; applicants should confirm where required classes take place before choosing accommodation or planning a commute. The multi-location structure creates distinct practical choices. North Vancouver students can remain near the metropolitan services of the Vancouver area, while Squamish and Sechelt provide smaller-community settings farther from the main campus. Students should evaluate transportation, residence availability and the frequency of any required travel between sites. The official location pages, rather than the record’s city field alone, are the appropriate planning reference.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Capilano University publishes standard tuition of C$152.62 per credit for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and C$724.24 per credit for international students. These figures are base rates, not complete annual prices. Specialized programs and courses may carry different tuition, surcharges or consumable fees, while books, supplies and other mandatory charges can add to the total. Applicants should use the university’s 2026–2027 estimator with their exact program and status rather than multiplying a generic full-time course load without checking program-specific costs. Housing is another substantial expense. At North Vancouver for fall 2026 or spring 2027, the published per-term total is C$6,250 for a shared double room or C$7,150 for a single room, including the mandatory meal plan. Squamish’s published single-suite total is C$6,566.80 per term, also including its required meal plan. Rates may change. A C$50 non-refundable housing application fee and C$500 confirmation payment also apply. Career preparation is supported through the Career Development Centre, which offers advising, coaching, workshops and events. It connects students with job, volunteer and experiential-learning opportunities and works with employers and academic units. Academic programs may additionally include co-op, internships, practica, clinical or field placements, but these opportunities are program-dependent. No verified graduate salary, placement-rate or employer-outcome statistics were found in the selected current sources, so students should evaluate career fit through the curriculum, required practical components and professional recognition relevant to their intended field.