Queen's University at Kingston
A historic lakeside university in Kingston where first-years arrive with a 90.5% average and 94% stay on.
- Students
- 28,561
- International
- 7%
- of students
- Tuition
- CA$35,768
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1841
About Queen's
Queen's was established by royal charter from Queen Victoria in October 1841, and first classes were held in March 1842 with 15 students and two professors. Today it has 28,561 full-time students (fall 2025) on its campus in Kingston, Ontario, and it also runs Bader College at Herstmonceux Castle in England, donated by alumnus Alfred Bader. Its faculties and schools include Arts and Science, Smith School of Business, Smith Engineering, Health Sciences (including Nursing), Education and Law.
Queen's is one of Canada's most sought-after undergraduate destinations: it received more than 59,500 applications to direct-entry programs for fall 2025, and the 5,477 first-years who enrolled arrived with an average of 90.5%. Commerce at Smith School of Business needs a 90+ average to be considered, and Health Sciences and Nursing sit in the low 90s, while Arts and Science start in the low 80s.
The university is known for its strong residential first year and school spirit, and its retention figures back that up: 94.3% of students who entered in 2023 returned for second year, above the U15 research-university average of 91.6%. It suits students who want a traditional, close-knit campus experience in a small city, with serious academics in business, engineering, health and the liberal arts.
Sapientia et Doctrina Stabilitas
“Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times” — university motto
Why students choose Queen's
Smith School of Business Commerce is one of the most competitive direct-entry programs in Canada, requiring a 90+ average plus a supplementary application.
Students can spend a term at Bader College, Queen's campus at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England.
94.3% of the 2023 entering class returned for second year, above the U15 average of 91.6%.
The Major Admission Awards and the Commitment Scholars Award reward leadership, community involvement and financial need, not just grades.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Queen's received more than 59,500 applications to direct-entry undergraduate programs for fall 2025, and 5,477 first-year students enrolled with an entering average of 90.5%. An offer count is not published, so no admit rate is given.
Typical entry requirements
| Ontario Secondary School Diploma (competitive average) | Commerce 90+; Health Sciences, Nursing and Concurrent Education/Kinesiology low 90s; Electrical and Computing Engineering and Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering high 80s; Engineering and Applied Science, Computing, Kinesiology and Life Science mid 80s; Arts and Science low 80s |
|---|---|
| Other Canadian, US and international curricula | Program prerequisites and equivalents are set out in Queen's admission requirements by country and curriculum |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 88 Required if you did not study in an English-speaking country or English is not your first language. IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0. TOEFL iBT 88 with at least 20 in each section for tests before January 2026, or 4.5 overall with no skill below 4.0 on the new scale. Duolingo 120; CAEL 70 with no band below 60; Cambridge 175 with no component below 170. |
Deadlines
- Major Admission Award application Non-binding Next deadline · In ~2 monthsDecember 8, 2026
Submit on SOLUS. Queen's deadlines page strongly recommends applying through OUAC by November 20, 2026 (and elsewhere on the same page advises November 15) so you can access the award application in time.
- Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing application deadline Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
The mandatory Supplementary Application is due February 15, 2027.
- Application deadline, all other first-year programs Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
Deadline to submit all documents, including transcripts and English test scores: March 31, 2027.
Applications open October 1, 2026. February 15, 2027 is also the recommended last date to submit current high school transcripts and the deadline for the Commitment Scholars and Promise Scholars applications. Queen's receives Ontario high school grades from OUAC by April 30, 2027.
How to apply
Canadian applicants, and international applicants also applying to other Ontario universities, apply through OUAC. US and other international students can use the Common App or Queen's International Application. After applying you get a Queen's student number and NetID, and your SOLUS To-Do list shows supplementary applications, auditions and documents.
What admissions looks for
- Grades in prerequisite courses, with preference given to applicants with the strongest overall qualifications.
- For Commerce, Nursing and Health Sciences, the Supplementary Application, which Queen's uses alongside grades once applicants clear a minimum average.
- Auditions or portfolios where required, for example in Music and Music Theatre.
- For major awards: superior academic ability, creative and original thinking, school and community involvement, leadership and financial need.
Tips for applying to Queen's
- 1 Apply on OUAC by mid-November 2026 (Queen's gives both November 15 and November 20 as the recommended date) if you want a Major Admission Award; the award application itself closes December 8, 2026.
- 2 Practise on Kira Talent before recording your Commerce, Health Sciences or Nursing video response, and read the published Supplementary Application rubrics.
- 3 Check your SOLUS To-Do list often: each applicant's list of required items and due dates is different.
- 4 Treat the published competitive averages as floors, not targets: Queen's notes they vary each year and can be higher.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CAD
Domestic and international students are automatically considered for grade-based admission scholarships. A single Major Admission Award application (due December 8, 2026) covers Queen's largest entrance awards, and the Commitment Scholars Award recognises leadership in racial justice, social justice or diversity initiatives. The Financial Aid and Awards Profile considers students for admission bursaries, Major Access Awards and the Promise Scholar program. More than $5.25 million was distributed through major undergraduate awards and bursaries in 2025-26.
- More than $5.25 million
- Major undergraduate awards and bursaries (2025-26)
- Minimum 3.5 GPA and 80% course load
- Renewable award condition
Academics
Academic calendar: Fall and winter terms (September to April)
Commerce (Smith School of Business)
Competitive average of 90+ plus a video and written Supplementary Application; February 1 deadline.
Bachelor of Health Sciences
Low-90s competitive average and a Supplementary Application for the on-campus program.
Engineering and Applied Science (Smith Engineering)
Common first year with a mid-80s competitive average; direct streams in Electrical and Computing and in Mechatronics and Robotics need high 80s.
Nursing (BNSc)
Four-year program with a low-90s competitive average and Supplementary Application.
Concurrent Education
Earn a teaching degree alongside an Arts, Science, Kinesiology or Music degree from first year.
Research
- Queen's physicist Arthur B. McDonald shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for showing that neutrinos change identities, proving they have mass.
- Queen's is an affiliate university of the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, Canada's astroparticle physics network, whose partner institutes include SNOLAB and TRIUMF.
- Bader College at Herstmonceux Castle in England extends teaching and research abroad.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts and Science
- Smith School of Business
- Smith Engineering
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Law
- School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
- Bader College (Herstmonceux Castle, UK)
Queen's reports that undergraduate and graduate completion rates are above U15 averages but does not state a single graduation rate in its enrolment summary.
Student life
Queen's has a strong campus culture built around first-year residence: 18 residence buildings house over 4,000 students from 90+ countries. Students join more than 300 clubs, play intramurals or cheer on the Queen's Gaels in Ontario University Athletics, and sing the "Oil Thigh", the university's song since 1891. Traditions and school spirit are a big part of the appeal, and Kingston's student neighbourhoods keep the community tight-knit beyond first year.
- More than 300 student clubs.
- Queen's Gaels varsity teams compete in Ontario University Athletics (U Sports).
- The "Oil Thigh" song, created in 1891, is sung at games and events.
- 18 residence buildings with over 4,000 students from 90+ countries.
Housing. Queen's has 18 residence buildings housing over 4,000 students from more than 90 countries.
Location
Kingston is a historic city at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, roughly midway between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Queen's campus sits near downtown and the waterfront, and its limestone buildings, like Grant Hall, match the city's heritage character. It is a student-heavy small city, so life revolves around campus, the lake and the downtown core.
Nearest airport: Kingston Norman Rogers Airport (YGK); Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Ottawa (YOW) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- DJ David Johnston28th Governor General of Canada
- KW Kathleen Wynne25th Premier of Ontario
- ST Shirley TilghmanMolecular biologist and former President of Princeton University
- TC Thomas CromwellFormer Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
- KM Kimbal MuskEntrepreneur, co-founder of Zip2
- FC F. C. KohliFounder of Tata Consultancy Services
- GN Gordon NixonFormer President and CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need to get into Queen's?
Queen's publishes competitive averages from last year: 90+ for Commerce, low 90s for Health Sciences and Nursing, mid 80s for Engineering, Computing and Kinesiology, and low 80s for Arts and Science. These are minimums for consideration and can rise.
When is the Queen's application deadline for fall 2027?
February 1, 2027 for Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing, and March 1, 2027 for all other first-year programs. Documents are due by March 31, 2027.
Does Queen's Commerce require a supplementary application?
Yes. Commerce, on-campus Health Sciences and four-year Nursing require a Supplementary Application with one written and one video response through Kira Talent, due February 15, 2027.
How much is Queen's tuition for international students?
For 2026-27, international tuition is about $44,810 CAD for Arts and Science, $59,284 for Engineering and $60,839 for Commerce years 1-2, plus ancillary fees and $948 health insurance.
Can international students apply to Queen's with the Common App?
Yes. Students from the US or outside Canada can apply through the Common App, or through Queen's International Application if they are not applying to other Ontario universities.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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