VCC International Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the program admissions requirements on the website to verify what is required for admission. Apply to VCC for your application to be assessed to confirm admissibility.

VCC only accepts IELTS Academic module.

VCC Institution code for TOEFL is 0658.

Students may complete the Food Safe Level 1 Course/Exam at VCC Continuing Studies or other Food Safe course providers.

K-12 New Course Name Changes

 Effective Date: September 1, 2019

Check Grade 12 equivalency for courses taken in other Canadian provinces.

As availability changes constantly, programs may become unavailable by the time applications are reviewed and processed. Applications are accepted when the availability status shows "Apply Now", and qualified students may receive an offer, or a waitlist notification if seats are full or reserved.

Students applying early within the application periods have a higher chance of getting an offer, however, offers are not guaranteed.

Application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Applications are not accepted if the availability status shows “Closed”. Prepare to apply to a future intake when the application periods open.

As a public institution, provincial government funding regulates VCC's programming, seat space and equipment allocation. Certain programs are given domestic student priority. If a VCC program is not listed on the International Program Listing page, it is not offered to international students.

Qualified applicants may receive a Letter of Offer if program seats are available.

If program seats are full or reserved, qualified applicants may receive a waitlist notification.

Students usually receive a notification within the application processing timeframe regarding their application status.

If students do not meet the English requirements, studying at ILAC or ILSC is the only option to get conditional admission in most VCC programs. Alternatively, apply after obtaining sufficient External English Tests scores.

Conditional admission for many VCC programs may be available for B.C. Grade 12 students based on transcript evaluation. To confirm admissibility, submit a complete application with interim transcripts and report cards for evaluation.

Students pay the tuition deposit to confirm their program seats, and will pay the remainder of the tuition and other fees to continue their programs. Tuition deposit amounts vary by program.

Tuition and other fees are payable on a continuous basis based on the courses in your program and when those courses are scheduled. Information about future term payment amounts and due dates will be sent to students before they continue to the next term.

Fee information such as program tuition and other fees are published on the website. International students should expect to prepare sufficient funds for the entire program before accepting offers.

Failure to pay tuition fees by the deadline may result in late fees or removal from your programs/courses. Letters and transcripts may not be issued if students have fees owing.

As the provincial government funds domestic students’ education, the cost of tuition for domestic students is subsidized and therefore lower than that of international students.

Refer to the policy and procedures of VCC Policy 310 Tuition and Fees, for more information about eligibility for domestic fees.

Many VCC programs are designed to be accelerated programs, which means that a study program can be completed in less time than the normal length of the program.  This should not impact the length of your PGWP as long as you maintain full-time academic status throughout your program. Check the Length of a Post-Graduation Work Permit for eligible VCC programs.

An international student is someone who is not a Permanent Resident or a Canadian Citizen.

Breaks vary depending on programs, and some of VCC’s programs are continuous without a break. The exact dates of program breaks will be provided with class schedules before the start of each program. For other college closure dates, refer to the Important Dates page.

VCC offers two Bachelor's Degree programs for international students: Bachelor of Hospitality Management and Bachelor of Applied Music.

These two-year Bachelor's degree programs at VCC are Year 3 and 4 of a bachelor’s degree, and require applicants to graduate from VCC’s Diplomas (Hospitality Management Diploma and Music Diploma) or officially articulated programs and institutions.

The number of credits varies by program. Refer to the "Courses" section on individual program pages for details.

Many VCC programs have practicum, and some programs offer practical training on campus. Check VCC Programs with Practicum Experience (Co-op Work Permit Required) to find out if practicum is included in your program. Practicum is usually not paid. Information about how to find employers will be provided by individual programs.

SkilledTradesBC, recognizes the education and training hours of some of VCC’s trades programs. More details about how to register for a SkilledTradesBC test will be provided by individual programs when students are enrolled in the programs.