A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1868Nestled among maple and spruce on the Ontario-Quebec border, Kingsward University has been shaping artists, scholars, and leaders for centuries. With intimate class sizes, a world‑class performing arts core, and a proud liberal arts tradition, Kingsward offers a campus experience as rigorous as it is inspiring.

THE STAGE IS YOURSJoin a vibrant student body of scholars and visionaries and explore the local haunts full of legacy and history! The Yhtill Stage of the Great Amphitheatre is the heartbeat of our campus, hosting open-mic nights, student faires, and performances by our very own Drama Society under the watchful stars above.

EXPLORE THE KINGSWARD CAMPUS

Step onto Kingsward’s compact, walkable campus, carefully planned so that classrooms, performance spaces, residences, and green areas are only a few minutes apart on foot.Stone paths wind between Gothic limestone halls and tall maple and spruce, leading from the historic Herbert-West Assembly Hall down to the open-air Greek amphitheatre at the center of campus. In autumn, the walkways are carpeted in ochre and gold leaves; in winter, lampposts cast a soft glow over fresh snow and copper roofs.To the east, you’ll find the Yhtill Stage complex and adjacent rehearsal studios, forming the heart of Kingsward’s performing arts life. Just beyond are the Broadalbin residence halls with easy access to dining, laundry, and study lounges.The library rises on a gentle hill at the north end of campus, a landmark of arched windows and quiet reading rooms. Since the late 1800s, it has housed some of the most remarkable collections of rare tomes in North America.Whether you’re crossing the quad between classes or taking an evening stroll under the trees, you are sure to find your way into wonder and mystery of Kingsward University.

🙶There's a particular quality to mornings here: fog caught between the limestone, the amphitheatre still damp from last night's rehearsal, the library doors unlocking before most students have finished their first coffee. Kingsward rewards those who arrive early and stay late.My studies in Ancient Greek dramaturgy have taken me from seminars on Aeschylus to late nights reconstructing staging notes for productions that haven't been mounted in centuries. The faculty here challenges you at every step. They expect you to expand your horizons and bring something to the table beyond what's printed in the syllabus.What I value most is access. The rare book collections, the visiting scholars, the sense that you're participating in a tradition older than the university itself. Performance at Kingsward is practiced, dissected, and made new every season on the amphitheatre stage.If you come here expecting to coast on name recognition or tuition, you'll be disappointed. But if you're serious about your craft, about understanding why the Greeks built their theatres the way they did, or what makes a tragedy land three thousand years later, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.🙷-- Percival Ashwin, year one dramaturgy student.

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Kingsward's student body is small by design. With roughly 3,200 students from across Canada and abroad, our campus fosters close collaboration, lively debate, and lifelong friendships. You'll find future playwrights rehearsing alongside philosophy majors, language students swapping notes with art historians, and study groups spilling out of residence lounges onto the quad at all hours.Here, everyone knows your name.

From left to right: Percival Ashwin, ̷̵̶̸̷̵̶̦͔̟̘̦͔̟̋̑̋̋̑̋͝_̸̘͝ Ashwin, ̷͎̠͓̜͓̥̮̟̬̙̽̍̽̃̾̏̈́͋̈́̑͊͝͝-̸̵̢̢̝̼̤̟̬̺̺̯̄̅̄ͅ-̵̥͒-̴̭͋=̶̴̶̸̧̛̠̟̙͑̅̓_ Ashwin. The Ashwin name has become synonymous with quiet, steadfast support for serious study and serious craft.

Kingsward University owes much of its growth and continued excellence to the vision and generosity of its founding benefactors, the Ashwin family.Since the university's earliest days, the Ashwins have been instrumental in shaping Kingsward's academic mission. Their contributions have funded scholarships for exceptional students, expanded the performing arts facilities, and preserved the rare book collections that make our library a destination for scholars worldwide. Their commitment to the arts, humanities, and the preservation of knowledge has left an indelible mark on every generation of Kingsward students.Today, the Ashwin Foundation continues to support emerging talent through annual fellowships, performance grants, and research stipends. Their belief in Kingsward's mission remains as strong as it was over a century ago.We are proud to honour their legacy and grateful for their enduring partnership.

Just a short walk from campus, the town of Upper Grantham offers everything students need between classes and rehearsals.Main Street is lined with faded-brick storefronts: a well-stocked record shop, cozy cafés, a vintage antique store, and, most importantly, two fiercely competitive bagel shops.Every Saturday, the town square hosts a farmers' market where students mingle with locals over fresh produce, maple syrup, and homemade preserves. In early spring, nearby cabanes à sucre (traditional Québec sugar shacks) welcome visitors for maple taffy on snow and hearty Québecois fare.

Since 1923, Kingsward University has maintained a selective exchange partnership with Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts—one of the longest-standing cross-border academic collaborations of its kind.Each year, a small cohort of upper-year students in Classics, Philosophy, and Archival Studies is invited to spend a semester at Miskatonic, with reciprocal placements offered to their students here. Participants gain access to shared library resources, joint seminars, and faculty mentorship across both institutions.The exchange is competitive and by application only. Interested students should speak with their academic advisor or contact the Office of International Programs.

Exchange student program with Miskatonic University brings forward fresh minds and perspectives.

A focus in research methodologies is offered to select students with full access to Hauptman Library's archives.

The Kingsward University Library is the crowning jewel of the campus: six floors of research materials, quiet study carrels, and sunlit reading rooms are housed within one of our oldest stone buildings.Whether you're hunting down a rare primary source, finishing a paper at midnight, or just looking for a window seat and strong coffee, the library has room for you. Librarians are on hand for research support, citation help, and the occasional pep talk before finals.