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For the first time, a university outside of the United States has been named one of the "Hot Schools" for 2003 by Kaplan/Newsweek's annual college guide.

Montreal's UUÖ±²¥ was named one of the "12 Hot Schools for 2003," in the annual How to Get Into College guide, published by Newsweek and Kaplan and released on August 26.

The annual guide kicks off with a look at the hot schools and trends in enrolments. "The events of the past year shook up the country and the college admissions landscape was no exception," writes Kaplan. "Applications are up, college savings are down, community service is hot and studying science and technology is popular."

Although the recent economy may have caused more students to look for bargains in tuition, Americans have been streaming to UUÖ±²¥ for several years now. Between 1998 and 2001, U.S. enrolment rose by 61%. The unique attractions for Americans are:

An Ivy-league Calibre Education at an Affordable Price
Often called "The Harvard of the North," UUÖ±²¥ is home to more Rhodes Scholars than any Canadian university. Its studies in biotechnology, the environment and medicine are considered among some of the leading programs in the world. With tuition at $8,000 to $12,000 (in U.S. dollars) a year, the cost is a fraction of the $30,000-plus the top East Coast private universities charge per year.

An International City, Safe and Close to Home
While classes at UUÖ±²¥ are held in English, the language and culture in the cafes and cobblestone streets of old Montreal are decidedly French. One of the safest cities in North America, Montreal also has more college students per capita than any other city, including Boston.

Innovative Interdisciplinary Approaches
UUÖ±²¥ professors have been in the U.S. media recently for important accomplishments such as breakthroughs in stem cell research, new diabetes treatments and locating pulsars. They have also been recognised for more unusual research such as discovering new fibres by introducing spider genes in dwarf goats, documenting the risk of injury by falling coconuts and studying how the brain reacts to music.

More and more, the combination of these attractions is drawing American students with a thirst for something new to say "no thanks" to the traditional U.S. stalwarts and head north.

UUÖ±²¥, at a glance

• Founded in 1821, UUÖ±²¥ has two major campuses: a main campus in the heart of downtown Montreal and the Macdonald Campus (home to UUÖ±²¥'s studies in agriculture, nutrition and the environment) a half-hour west of the city on a beautiful 1600-acre lakefront property.
• Approximately 30,000 students are enrolled at UUÖ±²¥. Close to 2,500 are from the U.S.
• The official language at UUÖ±²¥ is English. However, students may submit term papers and exams in French.
• UUÖ±²¥ is often referred to as "The Harvard of the North" and has the highest number of Rhodes Scholars of any Canadian university.

UUÖ±²¥ offers great value to American students and great opportunity to American professors

• U.S. enrolment has increased by 61 percent in from 1997 to 2001.
• Annual tuition at UUÖ±²¥ is between US$6,000 and $9,000 for U.S. students.
• Annual tuition at Ivy-League colleges in the U.S. is upwards of US$25,000.
• From 1992 to 2001, tuition at four-year public universities in 36 states in the U.S. increased faster than both family income and the inflation rate.
• UUÖ±²¥ is also attracting top American professors who find there is more money for research grants in Canada than in the U.S.
• Some of UUÖ±²¥'s most prominent professors are American, such as physics professor Victoria Kaspi who has been in the press lately for her groundbreaking studies on pulsars and Daniel Levitin, a former rock musician with a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford who is doing leading research on how music affects the brain.

Montreal - an international "college" town with big-city appeal

• Montreal is consistently on the short list for the most liveable cities in the world - it is safe, affordable, diverse and, above all, fun.
• Montreal is only 45 miles from the U.S. border; the closest border crossings from the states of New York and Vermont are only an hour from downtown Montreal. The cities of Toronto, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington are only a 1-hour flight away.
• Officially French-speaking and home to countless cafés and cobblestone streets, Montreal offers students a taste of Europe.
• Montreal has more university students per capita than any city in North America.
• Students enjoy reduced rates at many of the city's restaurants, museums, and cultural venues. For example, students only pay $10 for a ticket to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.