Quest University

About

Quest University Canada is a unique private liberal arts and sciences institution known for its distinctive "Block Plan," where students take one course at a time for 3.5 weeks before moving to the next. This intensive, interdisciplinary approach fosters deep engagement and critical thinking across a broad range of subjects, rather than specializing in traditional faculties. For international students, Quest offers a highly personalized and supportive environment due to its small size and close-knit community, with dedicated international student services to assist with integration and academic success. The university's innovative curriculum and focus on experiential learning provide a distinctive educational experience, encouraging students to explore diverse fields before culminating in a personalized Keystone project.

Background

Quest University (officially Quest University Canada) was a private, not-for-profit, secular liberal arts and sciences university located in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. The university opened in September 2007 with an inaugural class of 73 and suspended academic operations in April 2023. The university had an enrolment of around 200 students around the time of its closing. The campus was sold to Capilano University for $63.2M who began operating at the campus in Fall 2024. Quest's curriculum was considered unconventional. It used the block plan, adapted and modified from the block plan at Colorado College. Students needed to complete 32 blocks to graduate. Classes were seminar-style and capped at 20 students. There were five divisions (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Mathematics, and Social Sciences) instead of traditional departments. In lieu of declaring a major, students wrote a personalized Question. Studies culminate in a major work called a Keystone project. Upon graduation—usually after four years study—students were awarded a degree of Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. The campus was...

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