According to the Canadian education system, colleges in Canada are divided into two categories which are Private colleges and Public colleges. In this article, general and detailed discussion are mainly focused on public category.

Table of Contents

What is Public College?

Public colleges in Canada is an education institution where the program are funded by the Government. There are many different disciplines of courses on offer at public colleges though they are known to have bigger class sizes. However, the cost of attending public college as international students in Canada is higher compared to the private college.

How Does Public College in Canada Work?

By contrast, public colleges (or community colleges) are primarily funded by a national or state government and the public. However, students might keep in mind that since it is a Government-funded program, The tuition fees gap within domestic and international students are significant.

International students who come to Canada to study in Public college are not generally funded by the Government of Canada resulting in higher tuition fees.

In most cases, domestic students are regarded as a Permanent Residence and/or Citizen of Canada and their tuition fees are funded by the government which makes it cheaper compared to international students.

Courses offered by public colleges are generally bigger in number in terms of pupils and also have broad varieties of courses offered.

Things to Consider When Choosing Public College in Canada

Choosing a public college to pursue your study may need considerations especially in terms of its benefits that is highly related with the future, career prospect and also student’s end-goal.

Also, an academic degree is considered as one of the most important decisions of a student’s life. This is also because determining a place of study can impact job prospects and professional growth.

Advantages

There are some key advantages of why studying in public colleges in Canada is not wrong. Turns out, being part of a public college students in Canada may give you higher pride and undeniable challenge for success. Public college in Canada is known of its prestige as well as the reputation.

The advantages of studying in public college in Canada are:

Known for its heritage and offers extra benefits in terms of Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) opportunities.
Large student populations with diversity.
Generally known for the reputation.
A large list of academic programs.
Many student activities (extracurricular activities are commonly available).
Opportunities for active athletic program.
Rich of student resources services such as tutoring, fitness or gym center, counseling services and many more.
Good networking opportunities.
More job opportunities.

Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Note: Work obtained through the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program may help support your application to become a permanent resident of Canada. Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. is specialized and ready to help regarding this matter:

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Disadvantages

Aside of advantages that we have known, there are also several disadvantages of going to public college in Canada. This comes out as part of our consideration and consequences we need to know. The disadvantages of studying in public college in Canada are:

For International Students, tuition fees are generally more expensive and limited amount of scholarships available.
Competitive learning environment that may not be suitable for some students.
Management that includes interaction, services and process to be slower compare to private colleges.
Higher English requirements for entrance registration.

Competitive Learning Environment

Some students shared their experience of studying in Public colleges which regards to the competitiveness. However, such natural behavior generally limited to scores and achievements comparison among students. It is understandable that, in some way, it may not be suitable for some students.

Higher English Requirements for Entrance Registration

To be accepted in most public colleges in Canada, applicants need to meet the higher English requirements compared to private colleges. Thus, applicants need to work hard more prior registering to the college of their dreams. Usually, for Public schools in Canada, IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 or equivalent will be the minimum requirements for the proof of English proficiency.

Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. offers specific program to solve this matter. We often recommend our customers to take an English as Second Language Program (ESL) which can be a pathway for students to successfully enter the college of their dreams in Canada.

How to Apply?

In general, applying to come to Canada for study requires several steps that must be complied. Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. provides you with the step-by-step procedure below based on the majority of the cases or applications we have accomplished so far. Please follow the step below:

Create an account on the school’s website
Pick your program of choice, and upload the required documents provided by the school’s requests
Pay the application fee of the school application
Submit your application
Pay your tuition fee and get the receipt or invoice
Receive the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) which is required for the study visa application
Apply for your VISA/Study Permit.
After your visa has been approved, scan and upload it to the school’s platform or send it to their representatives (Follow their instructions).

Some Public Colleges in Canada

Canada has many public colleges with good reputation and its education level is recognized worldwide. Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. know several public colleges in Canada such as:

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is one of the largest public colleges in Canada, especially in the province of British Columbia. It was established in 1964 and mainly offer practical careers education from certificates and diploma to bachelor’s and master’s degree. BCIT is well known for its education at natural sciences, business and media, computing and IT, engineering, health sciences and trades. Most surprisingly, BCIT has a 96% graduate’s employment rate.

Douglas College

Douglas college, founded in 1970, is the largest degree-granting college in British Columbia. There are around 25,000 students per year studying in Douglas College. Douglas College is also recognized by the British Columbia Education Quality Assurance program, a provincial seal that is recognized globally as a symbol of quality education and consumer protection.

Langara College

Langara College, founded in 1965 is one of BC’s leading undergraduate institutions providing University Studies, Career Studies, and Continuing Studies programs and courses to more than 23,000 students annually. Langara College has been the top choices among international students all over the world considering to study in Vancouver, BC and known for its heritage. Canada Shaws has a cooperation with Langara College.

Common Field of Study for Public Colleges in Canada

In Canada, there are some common field of studies offered by Public Colleges where either most international or domestic students are going to. Those fields are:

Accounting/Finance Economics
Engineering
Literature
Math’s/Physics
Computer, etc.

Required Documents for Application

Applying for Public colleges in Canada may require some general documents. Each of the public schools have their own specific requested documents. It is strongly suggested to review the required documents on your school’s website. Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. only provide this list for Reference Only:

A Passport
Highest Academic Notarized Transcripts and Graduation Diploma / Degree
English proficiency documents (IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC/CELPIP/CLB/etc.)
Personal Statement
Resume or CV

Kindly note that: The documents mentioned above are only for reference ONLY. Specific required documents (Such as: Letter of Intent, Portfolio, etc.) may be needed and should refer to your own school.

Conclusion

Public colleges are known for their heritage. This is the primary reason for national and international students taking up courses at these institutions. Public colleges offer advantages that may not be available at private institutions. State schools are not for everyone, but for some, they are a great fit!

Choosing a college to undertake an academic degree is considered one of the most important decisions of a student’s life. This is because determining a place of study can impact job prospects and professional growth.

Canada Shaws Consulting Inc. happy to help you to be part of it. Take your chance of getting a free consultation with us by registering below:

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