Thompson Rivers University

TRU’s Kamloops and Williams Lake campuses are located on the traditional territory of the Secwepemc peoples, in British Columbia’s southern interior. In Kamloops (from the Secwepemc word for “meeting of the waters”), the main campus overlooks the junction of the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers, from which the university gets its name.

Today, 14,000 students study on campus in Kamloops, Williams Lake, or at our regional centres in 100 Mile House, Clearwater, Barriere, Ashcroft, and Lillooet. Another 11,000 students attend classes throughout the world by distance or online. Our campuses also welcome the community, with conferences and events such as the Canada Summer Games and the Kamloops Marathon, and opportunities to learn through continuing education and visiting speakers like John Raulston Saul, Peter Mansbridge and Margaret Atwood.

Planning is underway to develop our 250-hectare Kamloops campus into a university village environment, with parks and outdoor meeting spaces, shopping, professional services, market housing, and other features to bring the community to TRU.

Kamloops Campus:

• Located in the Sahali area on the city’s southwest slopes, TRU is walking distance from commercial districts and residential areas, and next door to Kamloops’ largest recreational facility, Tournament Capital Centre. A wide variety of outdoor adventures and cultural events are minutes away, year-round.
• A hub for travel east, north, or south, Kamloops is 1.5 hours from Kelowna, 3.5 hours from Vancouver, and a day’s drive from Calgary, Prince George, Victoria or Seattle.

Williams Lake Campus:

• Located in the heart of the Caribou.

On Campus Housing Units

There are 300 self-contained rooms in housing units within three buildings on campus. Each unit contains a kitchenette, common area and shared washroom and all residents have access to a central building with study and recreation space. Each housing unit is assigned to four males or four females.

Includes:

• Rooms with private outside entrances, some with city views
• A bed, desk, sink, kitchen with microwave, double burner element, and fridge in each room
• A central building with coin-operated laundry, bike storage, mail, big screen TV, BBQ deck, pool tables, free wireless internet, and a study area
• Regular planned social activities
• Fees include utilities (heat, hot water, electricity)
• On-site management and 24 hr/day security
• Easy access to shopping 2 blocks away plus grocery runs once a week
• Also available: Parking, Internet, cable TV and phone hookups

Homestay Program

The homestay program allows students to live with Canadian families, thus being exposed to, and participating in Canadian culture and customs. We consider the best way to enhance English language study is through after school practice with the host family. A host family typically plays an important role in helping the student adjust to Canadian life. As much as possible, the student is included in the family unit.

TRU has a well-established network of experienced host families. TRU staff have personally inspected each home and have interviewed the family to ensure quality homestays. TRU has offered this program for over twelve years.

Homestay is an ideal way to learn about Canadian culture and practice English. We place only one international student with each homestay family. The family provides a private, furnished bedroom and all meals (i.e., three meals each day plus snacks). Students can usually expect to travel about 20-30 minutes between their homestay and the TRU campus.