College of the Rockies

The College of the Rockies (COTR) is a small college that offers certificates, diplomas and other qualifications to students from all around the world who wish to pursue their education in a beautiful part of Canada. Around 2,100 students enroll each year, of which 200 are international students from over 30 countries.

Located in the heart of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, the college offers a wide range of programs and courses to help students achieve their academic and career goals, with several that offer the potential for a work permit upon graduation, or the chance to transfer to a university degree.

At the College of the Rockies, students can choose from areas such as business, health sciences, trades, tourism, and more. The college offers hands-on learning experiences, small class sizes, and supportive faculty staff who are dedicated to helping students succeed.

Students at the college have access to a range of support services to help them excel in their studies. There are also dedicated services for international students, so that they can adjust to life in Canda with ease. These services include assistance with visas and immigration, academic advising, tutoring, and cultural integration activities.

Living in the Rocky Mountains offers students the chance to explore outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and camping, making for a well-rounded and enriching experience outside of the classroom. Equipment can even be hired from the college.

The College of the Rockies is a safe and welcoming institution where students will not only earn a qualification and develop core skills needed for future employment, but also enjoy social events that help to broaden horizons and forge friendships.

The College of the Rockies acts on its strong and unwavering commitment to providing contemporary, quality education through its provision of state-of-the-art facilities across all campus locations.

Students will learn in modern environments, with access to all the tools and equipment they need to excel within their subject, develop their skills to professional standards. When they transfer either into work or a higher education degree at a partner university, they are ready to face all challenges that come their way. Where relevant, students will enjoy plenty of hands-on learning in practical scenarios, using the resources they would find in a professional environment.

This is reinforced by a talented and passionate faculty team, and the college's commitment to developing study programs in partnership with industries. Students learn from a team who genuinely care about the success of their students, while courses are all designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the workforce across a range of fields.

The college offers a wide range of study programs across several departments and interest areas. Included in these are many programs suited to international students, including post-graduate work permit programs that can allow students to remain in Canada to work for a set period upon completion of their studies.

The different departments of the college, along with some of the PGWP programs available, are:

• Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities – including criminal and social justice, fine arts, and social work
• Business – with the option to study business management, accounting, general management, and marketing
• Child, Youth and Family Studies – with courses in early childhood education for infants and toddlers
• Health – including study programs for Dental assistants, kinesiology, and practical nursing
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) – including Associate of Science programs, engineering, computer systems technology and others

Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation Management – including regular and adventure versions of tourism management, along with mountain adventure skills training.

Each study program at the College of the Rockies has its own admission requirements. Most will require both English and Math qualifications, although this is not always essential depending on the specific program. Students will need to provide evidence of a secondary school graduation or equivalent, and basic computer skills are also expected of all students.

Minimum grade levels will vary by course – some that are deemed to be more complex will require students to have a higher pass grade and may require specific modules/subjects, especially within math.

All international students who are applying for the college from a country where English is not the primary language will be asked to provide evidence of English proficiency. This can either be through the completion of an English study program, or an English language test from IELTS, Pearson PTE, TOEFL, CAEL-CE. Students can check the minimum required scores for each on the college's website.

The cost of study at the College of the Rockies will vary depending on students' chosen course, so it's advisable to anyone considering applying that they familiarize themselves with the financial requirements for their course at the earliest opportunity.

Fees will involve tuition, but also a range of additional fees – some of which are mandatory, such as the application fee, whereas others are estimated costs to help students plan for the cost of living while at the college. All mandatory fees must be paid by international students as part of their application, otherwise they cannot confirm their place.

There are a range of bursaries and scholarships available to students, including entrance scholarships for those yet to begin their studies. Specific financial aid options are available for international students.

These International Student Excellence Scholarships are for CAD 2,000 and are awarded to students enrolled at the college who are planning to continue study. Only a maximum of five awards are granted, so competition can be intensive.

The college is equipped with a wide range of facilities to give students the best experience possible during their studies and their downtime.

Academic facilities are all of a high standard. Students will learn in comfortable, modern classrooms, labs and workshops equipped with all the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Student housing is available with both on-campus and off-campus options. These tend to fill up quickly and so students are advised to apply for housing as soon as their have their place at the college confirmed. Campus housing includes WiFi at no additional cost.

There are also leisure facilities that students can use at the college, including a gym and weight room that is free to use for students. The gym area can be hired for various sports, with equipment provided.

Students can also hire outdoor equipment to explore the surrounding area, including cross-country skis and snowshoes. Hire is available for as little as one day or for longer periods. This is great for students who want to take advantage of the beautiful region around the college.

The College of the Rockies always aspires to offer students the best experiences possible, and it continues to grow and improve the facilities and services that it offers in order to meet that goal.

The college is never standing still – there are always events taking place to help students expand their network and explore new opportunities, such as the annual East Kootenay Career and Job Fair, which gives students the chance to meet employers from both the local region and further afield.

Students can also benefit from new ways of learning within their course. The college was recently selected to create up to 400 work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences that give students the chance to work on real-world projects and problems within their academic studies, putting their knowledge and skills to use on authentic scenarios.

And the college is expanding physically too. The college is always looking to improve and expand the facilities on offer.