Learn about TRU
Established in 1970 and formerly known as Cariboo College, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has campuses in Kamloops and Williams Lake, both located on the traditional territory of the Secwépemc peoples in British Columbia’s southern interior. The Kamloops campus, named after the Secwépemc word meaning “meeting of the waters,” overlooks the Thompson River and the waterways that give the city its name.
As of 2025, TRU hosts 8,035 international students, who make up approximately 28% of the student population. Students come from 118 different countries, and the university recognizes the importance of highlighting international students’ experiences both on and off campus here in Canada. See TRU’s 2024/25 Factbook for more details!
TRU offers more than 140 on-campus programs and over 60 Open Learning programs, serving a student population of more than 30,000. As a dual-sector research university, TRU combines academic education with applied, skills-based learning within a single institution, maintaining a strong career-focused approach. The university is known for distinctive and highly regarded programs such as Nursing, Adventure Studies, and the newly launched TRU Wildfire program.
At the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, Canada introduced an international student cap that limits the number of study permit applications accepted for processing each year by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). As a result, the number of study permit holders is projected to decrease from over one million in January 2024 to approximately 725,000 by September 2025. Learn more at canada.ca. As an extremely diverse campus – both in population and academic disciplines – TRU is experiencing the ripple effects of these federal policy changes. Stay tuned to learn more about what this means for Thompson Rivers University’s faculty, students, and the broader community.