Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) courses that don't require pricey textbooks are more popular than ever -- saving students $3 million last year alone.
KPU student Akshleen Kaur says courses designated 'zero textbook cost' reduce students' financial stress
"Having access to full, high-quality textbooks online saved me a substantial amount of money and reduced financial stress," says Akshleen Kaur, a KPU science student. "From my experience and conversations with classmates, many students feel ZTC courses make learning more accessible and allow them to focus more on understanding the material rather than worrying about textbook costs."
KPU launched Canada's first ZTC -- or Zero Textbook Cost -- initiative in 2018. Today, students can choose from hundreds of course sections and pursue eight complete credential programs without spending a dollar on textbooks. In the 2024-25 academic year alone, KPU offered 446 ZTC courses and a total of 1,066 ZTC course sections.
And last year, KPU furthered its commitment to making education more accessible by introducing the Low Textbook Cost (LTC) designation for courses where instructional materials cost $40 or less. LTC recognizes that some courses cannot achieve zero textbook costs due to required materials, but still lets students know about more affordable options.
"As a former international peer mentor, I saw firsthand how impactful it was to let students know they could save money by choosing ZTC courses," says Kaur, an Open Education student assistant. "My friends and I also actively try to plan future semesters around courses with low or no textbook costs, and for many students, especially international students, this difference makes a real impact."
Instead of commercial textbooks, which cost an average of $113, ZTC courses use library materials, open educational resources (OER) and other content that can be accessed for free online.
"The organic chemistry OERs I used functioned as complete textbooks and supported my learning just as effectively as printed versions. While printed textbooks can sometimes be helpful, they are expensive and heavy, and most students I know primarily study using digital resources anyway. OER platforms like Pressbooks also allow for interactive and flexible learning tools, which can enhance engagement compared to traditional textbooks," says Kaur.
Faculty continue to grow the ZTC program by adapting OERs, curating library materials and developing custom content tailored to their students' needs.
In 2025 alone, KPU faculty published 10 OERs -- teaching and learning materials that are free to use by anyone. One of those resources is a new digital book, Research Methods in Criminology, edited by KPU criminology faculty instructors Dr. Shereen Hassan and Dr. Carroll Boydell, along with Dr. Rochelle Stevenson and Dr. Wendelin Hume from Thompson Rivers University.
"It is beneficial to students because it is free and accessible, can be read on mobile devices and it includes audiovisual clips as well as interactive exercises to help students retain information as they navigate a content area that is likely brand new to them," says Hassan.
"The examples and audiovisual links are relevant and effective in really getting students to grasp sometimes abstract concepts. The readership has increased exponentially as compared to previous terms where a traditional text was assigned."
Hassan also notes no other criminology methods resource weaves Indigenous ways of knowing and being throughout each chapter.
"It was important for us to create a free and accessible OER that makes research methods relatable to our students, while also simultaneously incorporating Indigenous knowledge. A culturally sensitive and trauma informed approach to research is particularly important in the discipline of criminologists, so incorporating information on how to do this well using various different research methods was a key goal of the authors," says Hassan. "We felt it was an important contribution to the field and part of our department's commitment to truth and reconciliation."
KPU offers ZTC courses across faculties. From introductory to advanced levels, students can find ZTC options in their programs. In the 2024-25 academic year, ZTC options were available in 16 of KPU's 20 most-enrolled courses.
Students can find and register for ZTC and LTC courses by selecting relevant course attributes during registration.
