Indigenous enrolment up 12.5% at Brandon U

Brandon University has seen a 12.5% increase in enrolment of Indigenous students from the previous year. This brings the total count of Indigenous students to 570, surpassing the previous peak of 529 in 2025-26. The growth is attributed to the university's efforts to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities across Manitoba, including the appointment of a new Indigenous recruitment and transition officer.

The officer works with First Nations communities, education counsellors, and students to support them through the transition to university life. The growth in Indigenous enrolment follows a trend where Indigenous students have become one of the fastest-growing demographics at the university. Most Indigenous students come from Brandon, Winnipeg, The Pas, Dauphin, and Thompson.

Domestic, non-Indigenous enrolment has also seen modest gains, while international student numbers have fallen. The increase in Indigenous enrolment is partly due to improvements in the province's K-12 education system, which helps more Indigenous students graduate and pursue post-secondary education. Applications from Indigenous students increased by 29% in 2023, the highest in half a decade, and by 4.4% in 2024-25.

A surge in 2025-26 saw a 14% increase in total Indigenous enrolment to 529 students, with a 24% jump in first-time Indigenous student registrations. The university projects a 7% growth in Indigenous domestic student enrolment for the 2026-27 academic year. BU's international student numbers have decreased by 14.3% as of Sept. 1, with 57 first-time international students compared to 45 at the same time last year. The university's head count was up 3.9% compared to Sept. 1, 2025.