Are you an international student who dreams of studying in Canada? If so, you might want to consider British Columbia as your destination.
British Columbia is one of the most popular provinces for international students, and for good reasons. Not only does it offer high-quality education, but it also has a diverse and welcoming culture, a stunning natural scenery, and a vibrant economy.
Whether you want to pursue a diploma, a degree, or a certificate, you can find a variety of programs and institutions that suit your interests and goals in British Columbia. However, studying in Canada can be expensive, especially for international students who have to pay higher tuition fees than domestic students. That’s why it is important to do your research and find the best options for your budget.
In this article, we will provide you with a list of the cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students, based on the latest data and information available. These colleges are not only affordable, but they also offer quality education, excellent facilities, and valuable services. Read on to find out more about these colleges and how you can apply to them.
Criteria for selecting the cheapest colleges
Before we present the list of the cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students, let us first explain how we selected them. As you may know, the tuition fees for international students in Canada vary depending on several factors, such as the type of institution, the level of study, the program of study, and the province of study.
According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fees for international students in Canada in 2020-2021 were $32,019 CAD per year for undergraduate programs and $17,744 CAD per year for graduate programs. However, these figures are not the same for all provinces. For instance, the average tuition fees for international students in British Columbia in 2020-2021 were $24,504 CAD per year for undergraduate programs and $11,544 CAD per year for graduate programs, which are lower than the national average.
Therefore, studying in British Columbia can save you some money compared to other provinces. But within British Columbia, there are also differences in the tuition fees among different institutions and programs. Generally speaking, universities tend to charge more than colleges, and professional or specialized programs tend to charge more than general or academic programs. So, how do we define the cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students?
For the purpose of this article, we consider the cheapest colleges to be the ones that charge less than the average tuition fees for international students in British Columbia, which are $24,504 CAD per year for undergraduate programs and $11,544 CAD per year for graduate programs. Of course, these are not the only criteria that you should look at when choosing a college. You should also consider other factors, such as the quality of education, the reputation of the institution, the accreditation of the program, the availability of scholarships, the location of the campus, the facilities and services offered, etc. However, if you are looking for the most affordable options, these are the colleges that you should consider.
List of the cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students
Based on the criteria that we have explained above, we have compiled a list of the 10 cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students, along with their location:
- Emily Clark University of Art + Design located in Vancouver
- Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo located in Nanaimo
- Thompson Rivers University located in Kamloops
- University of Victoria, located in Victoria
- University of Northern British Columbia located in Prince George
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University located in Surrey
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Selkirk College
- The University of British Columbia located in Vancouver
- North Island College located in Courtenay
Cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students – Review
1. Emily Clark University of Art + Design
Emily Clark University of Art + Design (ECU) is a public art and design university in Vancouver, Canada. It was established in 1925 as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, and renamed after Canadian artist and writer Emily Carr in 1978. ECU offers leading art, design, and media degree programs, as well as continuing studies and community engagement.
ECU’s tuition fee for domestic students is $6,500 per year, and $20,000 per year for international students. ECU offers various scholarships, awards, and bursaries to support students’ academic success and financial needs. ECU is ranked as the top university in Canada for art and design, and 24th in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings.
2. Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is a public university serving Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. It was founded in 1969 as Malaspina College, and became a university college in 1988. It received full university status in 2008 and adopted its current name. VIU offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as trades programs and upgrading.
VIU’s tuition fee for domestic students is $5,000 per year, and $18,000 per year for international students. VIU offers a range of scholarships, awards, and bursaries to help students fund their education. VIU is ranked as one of the top 50 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 150 universities under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
3. Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is a public teaching and research university in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It was established in 1970 as Cariboo College, and became a university college in 1995. It gained full university status in 2005 and adopted its current name. TRU offers over 140 on-campus programs and 60 online programs through Open Learning. TRU’s motto is “Where Thought Meets Action”, reflecting its emphasis on applied learning and research.
TRU’s tuition fee for domestic students is $6,000 per year, and $19,000 per year for international students. TRU offers various scholarships, awards, and bursaries to recognize academic achievement and financial need. TRU is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 150 universities under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
4. University of Victoria, Victoria
The 4th on our list of cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students is University of Victoria (UVic). The school is a public research university located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1903 as Victoria College, an affiliated college of McGill University. It became an independent university in 1963 and adopted its current name. UVic offers over 160 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as co-operative education and continuing studies. UVic’s motto is “A Multitude of the Wise is the Health of the World”, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and social impact.
UVic’s tuition fee for domestic students is $6,500 per year, and $21,000 per year for international students. UVic offers a variety of scholarships, awards, and bursaries to support students’ academic and personal goals. UVic is ranked as one of the top 15 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 200 universities in the world by QS World University Rankings.
5. University of Northern British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is a public university located in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. It was established in 1990 as a response to the demand for a university in northern BC. It received its first students in 1994 and its first graduates in 1996. UNBC offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional and continuing studies. UNBC’s motto is “En Cha Huná”, which means “Respecting All Forms of Life” in the Dakelh (Carrier) language.
UNBC’s tuition fee for domestic students is $5,500 per year, and $18,500 per year for international students. UNBC offers various scholarships, awards, and bursaries to assist students with their education. UNBC is ranked as one of the top 25 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 100 universities under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
6. Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is a public degree-granting undergraduate polytechnic university in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1981 as Kwantlen College, and became a university college in 1995. It received full university status in 2008 and adopted its current name. KPU offers over 140 programs across five campuses, including arts, science, health, human services, business, trades, technology, fine arts, and tourism.
KPU’s tuition fee for domestic students is $5,500 per year, and $19,500 per year for international students. KPU offers a range of scholarships, awards, and bursaries to help students fund their education. KPU is ranked as one of the top 50 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 150 universities under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
7. University of the Fraser Valley
The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a public university in British Columbia, Canada, that offers career-focused education in various fields. It was established in 1974 as Fraser Valley College, and became a university college in 1988. In 2008, it gained full university status. UFV has campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope, and serves over 15,000 students annually. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as continuing education and vocational training.
The school is accredited by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training of British Columbia, and is a member of Universities Canada and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. UFV is ranked among the top 100 universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and among the top 150 universities under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
8. Selkirk College
Selkirk College is a public community college located in British Columbia, Canada. It was established in 1966 as the first regional college in the country. It offers more than 80 programs in various fields of study, such as arts and sciences, business, health, hospitality, trades, music, and adult basic education. Its main campus is in Castlegar, where it has a library, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a bookstore, and student residences.
The tuition fee for domestic students at Selkirk College ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 per year, depending on the program and the number of courses taken. The tuition fee for international students ranges from $7,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on the program and the level of study.
Some of its partners are the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute, the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology, the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and the University of Northern British Columbia. Selkirk College is ranked among the top 50 research colleges in Canada by Research Infosource Inc.
9. The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna. Established in 1908, it is the oldest university in British Columbia. With an annual research budget of $759 million, UBC funds over 8,000 projects a year. UBC offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional and continuing education. UBC’s motto is “Tuum Est”, which means “It is Yours”, reflecting its commitment to academic freedom and student empowerment.
UBC’s tuition fee for domestic students is $6,000 per year, and $39,000 per year for international students. UBC offers various scholarships, awards, and bursaries to support students’ academic and financial needs. UBC is ranked as one of the top 20 public universities in the world by QS World University Rankings, and one of the top 40 universities in the world by Times Higher Education.
10. North Island College
The No.10 cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students is North Island College. NIC is a comprehensive community college located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada that focuses on student success. It was founded in 1975 as a distance education institution, and has grown to serve more than 9,000 students annually at its four campuses, a learning centre and through online and in-community learning. NIC offers over 80 programs, including university transfer, trades, health, human services, business, tourism, fine arts, and adult basic education. NIC’s motto is “Find Your North”, reflecting its emphasis on personal initiative and exploration.
NIC’s tuition fee for domestic students is $3,000 per year, and $14,000 per year for international students. NIC offers a range of scholarships, awards, and bursaries to help students fund their education. NIC is ranked as one of the top 50 colleges in Canada by Maclean’s magazine, and one of the top 150 colleges under 50 years old by Times Higher Education.
Conclusion
International students who want to study in Canada can find affordable and quality education in British Columbia. We have listed at least 10 cheapest colleges in British Columbia for international students and these colleges all offer low tuition fees, diverse programs, and supportive services.
