The Province of BC, Canada offers international students every chance to experience and benefit from a world-class education.  High standards, exceptional student achievement, and the commitment to investing in quality education make BC a natural choice. Explore the variety of options you have for studying in BC.

BC’s Post-Secondary Education System

BC’s post-secondary education system is known around the world for the incredible choice and flexibility it offers students. Our outstanding and seamless transfer system allows students to move from one institution to another without losing credits. BC’s major research universities rank among the best in the world and our regionally based teaching universities rank each year among the best in Canada. BC’s colleges and institutes use a model emulated broadly in terms of diversity and quality of offerings. Studying in BC’s post-secondary system allows students to choose from the following types of institutions and programs:

Universities offer four-year undergraduate degrees and are located throughout the province, in both large cities and smaller regional centres. By choosing a smaller teaching university, students can in most cases transfer to a larger research university to complete their degree.  Research universities also offer you a range of graduate degree programs at both the Masters and PhD levels.

Community colleges and Institutes offer programs that prepare adult learners for further post-secondary studies and provide courses and programs in trades, vocational, career technical, and academic studies leading to certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and applied degrees.  Many community college programs also allow students to transfer into university programs to complete an undergraduate degree.

Education Planner: Explore Your Post-Secondary Options in BC
www.educationplanner.ca

BC: Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
www.gov.bc.ca/aved

LearnLive BC
www.learnlivebc.ca

BC’s Private Career Colleges

BC also offers international students a wide range of privately-operated career colleges. These colleges and institutions generally offer shorter-term, career-focused certificate programs in specific areas of study. In BC, career colleges and training institutions register with the province through the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) and may seek voluntary accreditation through the same body.

Private Career Training Institutions Agency of BC (PCTIA)
www.pctia.bc.ca

BC’s English Language Programs

English as a Second Language (ESL) training is critical for many international students, and BC is the preferred destination for international students choosing Canada for ESL study. BC offers an exhaustive range of ESL programs throughout the province, from short one-week programs to extended academic and business English programs. In many cases English training may be combined with academic study through a single institution or through two institutions by way of a pathway program. Students may choose to complete their English language study through one of BC’s public post-secondary institutions (university or college) or through one of the many recognized private language schools throughout the province.

Languages Canada
www.languagescanada.ca

Find Out More

Inspired to study in British Columbia? Here are some websites to help you get started on your path towards a Canadian education in the Province of BC.

BC Education Quality Assurance
www.bceqa.ca

Canada's Pacific Gateway
www.canadaspacificgateway.com

Government of BC
www.gov.bc.ca

Tourism BC
www.hellobc.com