British Columbia Institute of Technology, or with its widely known name “BCIT”, is a public post-secondary institute particularly recognized for its advanced technical education. It is one of the most popular institutions not only for undergraduate students but also a top choice for graduates and business professionals in Vancouver, B.C.
As one of the most frequently asked questions, you may be curious about whether the British Colombia Institute of Technology is a College or a University. According to BCIT, it is different than a college or university, it offers practical, flexible, applied education with instructors who have direct, hands-on experience in their field. However, students would consider it as a college, as most programs are certificates and diplomas.
The British Colombia Institute of Technology offers over 300 programs and 1000 part-time courses. Although most programs are diplomas and certificates, BCIT do offer some bachelor’s degrees, and even master’s degrees.
BCIT Burnaby Campus is the main campus located in central metro Vancouver, and it is near the natural grounds of Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake. The campus is split up into 4 quarters (NW, NE, SW, and SE).
BCIT Downtown Campus is home to Business and Digital Media programs, and is located on Seymour St, downtown Vancouver. The campus features the Technology Education and Collaboration (TEC) hub, as well as a large-scale IT learning space.
Other BCIT Campuses:
Being one of the most prestigious polytechnic institutions in Canada, a degree/diploma from BCIT prepares you for the workforce with applied education. Based on the BCIT webpage, 97% of both degree graduates and apprenticeship completers get hired every year. If you are for some hands-on/technical skills and easy to get hired, you may consider studying at BCIT.
Some of the BCIT graduates suggest that because the institution has combined theory and practical projects together, and provided lots of internships and co-op opportunities that get well-prepared for you to join the workforce right after graduating.
Apart from that, because the class sizes at BCIT are relatively small compared to other colleges, students can interact with their professors and instructors more frequently to build networks and gain deeper industry knowledge and experiences in class.
Around 50,000 students are enrolled across all BCIT campuses out of which 5,700 are international students from 120 countries, making it a very multicultural institute to study in Canada.
Based on the number above, The British Columbia Institute of Technology has a large population of international students. Here are some resources for international students that can easily adapt to the new environment in Canada:
As BCIT is well-known for its applied education, programs in trades and technical fields are the top choices for students:
Recent graduates at BCIT mentioned that the school has brought in a lot of practical skills, which almost 80% of course materials can apply directly to the workplace.
Because of that, BCIT has over 90% of graduates who can secure a job in the field that they have studied.
Students who wish to enroll in BCIT’s program will need to pay the application fees (non-refundable). It costs $90.00 for domestic students and $154.00 for international students.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology does not have a pay-per-credit system, rather their tuition is based on a “per term/level” system. For this reason, students would need to study the whole program at different levels with fixed courses and requirements.
For domestic students:
For International students:
*Please note that the tuition for all new students is due 60 days before the start of the classes
The British Colombia Institute of Technology has different class/term schedules for different types of programs, but most students would be prefer to choose a full-time program here.
There are two main terms at BCIT:
Unlike other colleges and universities, the British Colombia Institute of Technology has different start dates depending on which program you choose, and most of the application dates for different programs are ongoing throughout the year. However, most programs at BCIT are competitive, and it always has a very long waitlist to get enroll. Therefore, we suggest you apply for it as early as possible!
For a full-time program, the application deadline will be on October 1 or until the program fills.
Unfortunately, the British Columbia Institute of Technology does not have any University Transfer /Pathway programs for you to transfer to other universities in Canada.
However, if you’d like to transfer to another institution, you can plan your courses carefully to get accepted. We suggest checking with your advisor and reviewing the BC Transfer Guide carefully if you are interested in other universities in Canada.
British Columbia Institute of Technology has on-campus dorms located within its Burnaby main campus. You can secure a long-stay accommodation if you are a full-time student.
For long-stay housing, you can request gender-inclusive, all-male, or all-female suites. You also have the option to book short-stay accommodations if you are a full-time student whose program is 12 weeks or shorter.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology housing units come fully furnished with a kitchen. However, it only provides housing for students who are studying at the main Burnaby Campus, which creates significant problems for students who study at other campus locations.
As indicated on BCIT’s list of off-campus housing providers, GEC Living Off-Campus Residences are one of the trusted providers to BCIT. All GEC Living housing options are fully furnished with utilities included. All GEC apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen, in-suite laundry (washer and drier), heating systems, and free unlimited Wi-Fi.
You can stay at the following GEC Residences that are close to your campus:
For on-campus housing:
For off-campus housing at GEC Living:
Like other colleges and universities in Vancouver, BCIT offers limited student residences, and you may have to looking for other housing options. We have some tips for renting in Vancouver and recommend some top rental platforms for you in order to avoid scams and fraud from landlords. So that you can find your place in a wiser and safer way, and make your apartment hunting journey easier!
If you are looking for other institutions in Vancouver, we have put together a list of universities and colleges in Vancouver that you may be interest in for further educational options.
