Are you looking to study at one of the most highly-ranked colleges in British Columbia, Canada? Located in the beautiful Vancouver Island region, North Island College (NIC) offers a fantastic learning environment and student experience. With three campuses – Comox Valley, Port Alberni, and Campbell River – NIC provides quality education and training for in-demand careers.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about applying to North Island College as an international student.
Overview of North Island College
North Island College was founded in 1975. NIC has developed a reputation for excellence in teaching and student support. It provides over 60 programs – from trades, healthcare, and human services to business, fine arts, and university studies. Some key facts about NIC in Canada.
- Offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and citations.
- Over 6000 full-time students and 6000 continuing education registrants.
- International students from over 30 countries.
- Small class sizes 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Beautiful and safe campuses with excellent facilities and activities.
- Strong focus on work-integrated and experiential learning.
- Partners with top universities for transfer options after graduation.
Why study at North Island College?
Studying at North Island College allows you to get a Canadian credential along with great student support services. You can benefit from amazing experiences both in and outside the classroom. What makes NIC a great choice for international students? Here are some of the key benefits of studying at NIC:
- High-Quality Teaching and Resources: NIC instructors are highly qualified professionals with years of industry experience in their fields. They are dedicated to student success through customized support. The college boasts advanced libraries, labs, studios, and digital resources to supplement classroom learning.
- Co-operative Education and Experiential Learning: NIC offers a Co-operative Education program that allows you to gain work experience and build your resume.
- Support Services for Students: Right from your first interactions to graduation and beyond, NIC provides exceptional student services – from academic advising to counseling, indigenous support, disability services, and career planning.
- Thriving Campus Culture: NIC campuses have lots of green spaces for relaxation, a friendly vibe, and vibrant student communities. You can make new friends, join student clubs, and attend campus events.
- Pathways to Further Education: Earn credits that can transfer to other institutions during your study at NIC through articulation agreements. After completing a 2-year associate’s degree, you can transfer to 3rd year of university studies. NIC also offers dual admission options with partner universities for a seamless transition.
- Affordable Costs and Scholarships: Tuition fees at NIC are lower compared to other popular study destinations. You get high value for money. There are also many scholarships and bursary options to help fund your education. You can work part-time to earn extra.
Popular intakes of North Island College
North Island College has multiple start dates throughout the year for its various programs. Here are some of the popular intakes:
- September: This is the main intake for most diploma, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs at NIC. Popular selections like Business Administration, IT, Fine Arts, Sciences, Health programs, and Engineering Technologies are open for September.
- January: Some programs like Accounting, Web Design, Early Childhood Care, Hospitality, Carpentry, Electrical, and Tourism have a January semester start. Limited seats may be available in September programs also.
- May: The May intake focuses on trades foundation programs like Automotive Service Technician, Heavy Mechanical Trades, Welding, and Professional Cook Training which are in high demand. University transfer courses are also offered.
How many campuses does the North Island College have?
North Island College (NIC) has 5 campuses located across the beautiful Vancouver Island region of British Columbia, Canada:
- Comox Valley campus
- Port Hardy
- Ucluelet Centre
- Campbell River campus
- Port Alberni
Admission requirements to study at North Island College
To become eligible for the NIC, applicants must have to meet some requirements. Here are the admission requirements to study at North Island College.
- Be 18 years of age or older within the calendar year
- Meet the English language requirement or complete the English language program
- Meet other admission requirements for your chosen program
English language requirements to study at NIC
| BC Curriculum | English 12 or BC English First Peoples 12 with a minimum grade of C |
| Academic IELTS | Overall score of 6.0, no band lower than 6.0 |
| TOEFL ibt | 80 overall with no subsection less than 20 |
| CAEL | 60 and writing 60 |
| PTE Academic | 54 overall with no component less than 50PTE online is not currently accepted |
| C1 Advanced | 174 overall with no sub-score less than 169 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 overall with no section score less than 100 |
Documents requirements to apply to NIC
Here are the key documents you’ll need to submit as part of your application to North Island College (NIC) as an international student:
- Copy of passport with signature page
- All academic transcripts and certificates
- Official English proficiency results
- Supplemental documents as required by the specific program
- Original documents if not in English, must be accompanied by certified 3rd party translation
Cost to study at North Island College
Cost to study at North Island College can be divided into some segments such as program deposit, Program cost, living expenses, and other costs. Such as-
Program Deposit
A mandatory and non-refundable deposit is required to secure a seat in NIC. The deposit amount may vary depending on your program and your study permit stream. The deposit is directly applied to the program fees upon the beginning of your studies.
- Program deposit for open-entry programs: $10,000
- Program deposit for limited-entry programs: $15,000
- Program deposit under Student Direct Stream (SDS): $15,000
- Course registration deposit: $500 per term
Estimated Program Cost
- Academic course fees (3 credits): $1,586.46
- Estimated course fees can be calculated by multiplying this course fee by the number of courses, such as- 5 academic courses = $1,586.46 x 5 = $7,932.30
- Some courses with fewer or more credits vary in course cost
Estimated living expenses
| Rent and utilities | $1,340 |
| Food | $300 |
| Miscellaneous | $367 |
| Local Transportation (four-month bus pass) | $115 |
Other expenses
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $100 |
| International Student Service Fees | $30.60/credit |
| health coverage for the first 90 days after arrival | $175.50 |
| Extended health and dental coverage (one year) | $275 |
| Lab fees | Variable depending on programs |
| Textbook fees (one year) | $500-2,000 depending on programs |
Scholarships for international students to study at North Island College
There are two types of unique and international scholarships available to study at North Island College. You’ll be awarded these scholarships based on your eligibility. Such as-
| One World International Scholarships | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Premier’s International Scholarships | $8,000 – $12,000 |
Popular courses to study at North Island College
North Island College offers 35+ postgraduate diploma programs for international students. The duration for those programs is 1-2 years. Let’s explore the popular courses to study at North Island College.
| Course Name | Duration (Years) |
| Associate of Arts Degree | 2 |
| Associate of Science Degree | 2 |
| Criminology Diploma | 2 |
| Engineering Foundations Certificate | 1 – 2 |
| Island Pre-Health Science Advanced Diploma | 3 |
| University of Victoria – Guaranteed Admission | 1 – 2 |
| Vancouver Island University – Dual Admission | 1 – 2 |
| Business Administration Certificate | 1 |
| Business Administration Diploma | 2 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting | 4 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration – Management | 4 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration – Marketing | 4 |
| Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma – Global Business Management | 2 |
| Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma – Accounting | 2 |
| Adventure Guiding Certificate | 1 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management Diploma – Adventure Guiding Option | 2 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management Certificate | 1 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management Diploma – Hospitality Management Option | 2 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management Diploma – Tourism Management Option | 2 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management – Post Graduate Certificate | 1 |
| Tourism & Hospitality Management – Post Graduate Diploma | 2 |
| Fine Arts Diploma | 2 |
| Metal Jewellery Design Certificate | 8 months |
| Android Mobile Application Development Certificate | 1 |
| Web Design Fundamentals Certificate | 1 |
| Communication Design Diploma | 2 |
| Web and Mobile Application Development Diploma | 2 |
| Advanced Digital Design and Development Diploma | 3 |
| DIGITAL Design + Development Post-Graduate Certificate | 1 |
| DIGITAL Design + Development Post-Graduate Diploma | 2 |
| Early Childhood Care and Education – Infants and Toddlers Diploma | 2 |
| Human Services – Educational Assistant/Community Support Certificate | 1 |
| Human Services Diploma | 1 |
| Social Service Diploma | 2 |
| Culinary Business Operations Certificate | 1 |
| Culinary Business Operations Diploma | 2 |
| Furniture Design and Joinery Certificate | 1 |
| Coastal Forest Technology Diploma | 2 |
| Instrumentation and Electrical Automation Technician Diploma | 2 |
How to apply to North Island College (NIC)?
Want to apply to North Island College? Alright. You can apply to NIC from the university website directly. But the process may seem difficult to you. So here we have easy access for you to apply to this university. Just tap on the “Apply Now” button and you’ll find a registration form there. By filling out the form with authentic information you will be registered with AIMS Education and soon one of our counsellors will contact you.
Job opportunities at North Island College
With competitive salaries and benefits, great locations, and opportunities for further development, NIC provides a healthy, positive, and dynamic work environment to over 400 people – challenging and rewarding work that makes a real impact in their communities. In addition to instructional and non-instructional faculty options, the College offers a variety of administrative, technical, managerial, and support staff career opportunities in areas such as student services, finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, marketing, and communications.
Final words
NIC is honored to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Coast Salish traditions. It is a comprehensive community college that focuses on student success. They proudly serve more than 9,000 students annually at their five campuses. So, if you want to apply to North Island College, you can always contact AIMS Education for better guidance.
