Press Release

Monday, September 26, 2016

Université de Moncton takes a strategic approach to counteract a decline in student enrollment

The University de Moncton management has observed a 3.4% decrease of its full-time enrolment for the coming year.

The drop has been attributed to several factors. A decline in the student population in New Brunswick French-language high schools; local conditions in some countries where the university recruits actively; greater competition from Canadian universities and colleges; and the presence of recruitment teams from these colleges and universities in the province’s French-language schools are the main reasons stated by the university’s management.

“We are encouraged by the increase in new registrations from French-language high schools in New Brunswick,” stated Université de Moncton president and vice-chancellor Raymond Théberge. “From 668 in September 2015, they increased to 696 in September, 2016”, he added.

To deal with these challenges, the university will pursue its recruitment and retention efforts through a more strategic and integrated approach to student enrollment. “Strategic management of student enrollment is another way of looking at recruitment. It becomes part of a series of processes aimed at ensuring a positive student experience from recruitment to graduation,” Théberge said.

The first step taken by the university is the creation of a new strategic student enrolment branch. To assist with the implementation of this new approach, the branch will be responsible for recruitment, admissions, scholarships and financial assistance as well as services related to the student experience.

The following is an overview of the university’s enrollment data:
• The number of students enrolled the Université de Moncton went from 4,354 in September 2015 to 4,206 on September 19, 2016, a decrease of 3.4%.
• Seventy percent of the student population originates from New Brunswick, while 21% of students are from abroad.
• The number of international students decreased by 8% compared to last year, from 833 to 768.

Tables available here (in French) provide more details on enrollment data. The statistics were compiled after the deadline for dropping a course without a reference in the student’s record.



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