Founded in 1995, Royal Roads University is a public institution of research-centric higher education in Colwood city of British Columbia, Canada. The institution operates on the grounds of the former institution named Royal Roads Military College that functioned until 1995 when it was granted the university status and professional degree-granting powers. It is affiliated to reputed organizations, namely the International Association of Universities and the Canadian Bureau for International Education. The university is also associated with Universities Canada and the Canadian Virtual University.
The university has a 565-acre main campus that comprises a large number of walking, hiking and biking trails amidst lush greenery. It is also home to the historic Hatley Castle, which has been featured in several television shows and movies like X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, Arrow, Smallville, Deadpool and The Professor. The castle also houses a small Canadian museum in its lower level, which is known as Royal Roads University Museum. The university library holds a wide collection of digital and printed resources required for learning, teaching and research, including 48,000 books, 55,000 e-books, and over 100 online databases.
Opened in 2011, the four-storey Learning and Innovation Centre has 33 breakout rooms, seven classrooms, five computer labs equipped with modern technology and several social spaces. Another important building on the campus is the Sherman Jen Building which houses a social centre, conference centre, academic facilities and dormitories. The International Study Centre housed in this building has 11 classrooms, laboratories, teaching spaces, offices and multiple social spaces as well as coffee and snack kiosk. Other facilities featured on the campus include a gymnasium, weight room, fitness studio, swimming pool, computer lab, canteen, boathouse and a dock, garage, squash courts and outdoor tennis courts.
The university offers various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes as well as a range of certificate and diploma courses on-campus, online or a blend of both. The university provides education in areas of business, communication, education, culture, technology, humanitarian studies, tourism, hospitality, environment and sustainability, executive education, interdisciplinary and leadership studies. Royal Roads University is a vibrant community representing diversity with around 5,300 students from over 60 nations of the world. The student body includes more than 550 international students. The average class size of 25 and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1 allows for one-on-one attention. Royal Roads University has a vast alumni network, comprising highly-successful and renowned graduates. Some notable names in the alumni list are Grad Wasan Jema (Arab Women of Excellence Award Winner), Goffinet Miller (Provincial Capital Commission's CEO), Gordon Exel (President of Cummins Westport Inc.), Greg Moore (Mayor of Port Coquitlam), Jim Kyte (Former NHL Player) and Chris Austin Hadfield (Canadian Astronaut and Engineer).