Kwantlen Polytechnic University's entire health studies program will be moving from Surrey to Langley, bringing hundreds of new students to the local campus.

Lack of space in Surrey has meant that 70 regular faculty members, 50 contract faculty, and more than 600 students will now be gathered at Langley.

The plan has been in the works for several years.

In 2007, all the trades courses from Langley moved to the newest Kwantlen campus, in Cloverdale.

That left a significant vacant space that turned out to be perfect for the combined health services.

The trades area needed a significant renovation to accommodate the new programs. The $7 million project involved adding another storey to part of the building, said Kwantlen spokesperson Cara Johnson.

The changes will be complete in time for all the health programs to start in Langley this September.

Until this year, just three of the 10 community and health studies programs were in Langley.

Now all 10 programs will be gathered under one roof. To bring the programs together, the university has undergone a major renovation and construction project.

Courses and degrees in the health faculty vary from five months for some certificates, to full, four-year bachelor programs.

The health programs are: . Bachelor of psychiatric nursing (BPN), degree completion for registered psychiatric nurses

. Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), degree completion for registered nurses (RNs)

. BSN - post baccalaureate (BSN-PB)

. Critical care (CC) nursing certificate

. Graduate nurse re-entry (GNUR) citation

. Graduate nurse, internationally educated re-entry (GNIE) certificate

. Health care assistant (HCAP) certificate

. Health unit coordinator (HAUC) certificate

. Internationally educated nurses assessment centre/professional studies

. Special education teacher assistant (SETA) certificate The HCAP, HAUC, and SETA were all offered at Langley before the move.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com