A comprehensive university in the B.C. Interior known for its flexible pathways, trades and technology programs, and strong outdoor and community connections.
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is a public university in Kamloops, British Columbia. It combines traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees with trades training, diplomas, certificates and open learning, so students can move between credentials as their goals change.
Classes are comparatively small, and students often work closely with faculty. The university has a strong focus on Indigenous education, sustainability and applied learning, and it draws students from across Canada and around the world.
TRU also runs a large distance-education operation, TRU Open Learning, which serves learners throughout Canada and beyond. Its location gives students easy access to hiking, skiing, mountain biking and lakes.
Tuition in CA$, 2026-2027
Students who live in British Columbia apply for student aid through StudentAid BC; students from other provinces apply through their own province’s program. A provincial application also covers the federal Canada Student Grants and Loans.
TRU offers entrance awards, in-course scholarships and need-based bursaries funded by the university and its donors.
Tuition for 2026-27 from the school’s own published fees, for a typical first-year arts program, rounded. Ancillary fees, books and housing are extra. Confirm the current figure on Thompson Rivers University’s fee page.
Scholarship names and amounts are estimates and change every year; confirm them with Thompson Rivers University.
Applications to Thompson Rivers University go through EducationPlannerBC, British Columbia’s application service.
Applicants typically need high school graduation with required courses such as English and an acceptable average, with further prerequisites for programs like nursing or science. Competitive programs may require extra documents or a separate selection process.
Apply online through EducationPlannerBC, British Columbia's application service, by creating an account and submitting your application and transcripts.
The admission average and deadline are estimates; confirm them with Thompson Rivers University and EducationPlannerBC.
Kamloops is a mid-sized city in the dry, sunny Thompson-Okanagan region of the B.C. Interior, about a four-hour drive from Vancouver. The main campus sits on a hillside above the city and overlooks the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers.
TRU has a friendly, close-knit campus with a mix of local, out-of-province and international students. Clubs, events and the student union keep the campus active throughout the year.
TRU WolfPack teams compete in U Sports and in Canada West.
Figures are estimates for exploration — verify current costs, deadlines, and requirements on the school’s official website.