British Columbia - The perfect destination for studying abroad in Canada

1.1. Geographical location

British Columbia (abbreviated as BC) is a province located in the westernmost part of Canada. This is an extremely busy and bustling province. Geographically, the province is bordered by the state of Alberta to the east, the Yukon Territory to the north, the U.S. states to the south, a short border with the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

British Columbia (abbreviated as BC) is a province located in the westernmost part of Canada. This is an extremely busy and bustling province. Geographically, the province is bordered by the state of Alberta to the east, the Yukon Territory to the north, the U.S. states to the south, a short border with the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

1.2. Climate and landscape

British Columbia is a diverse land and there is a contrast between having a small area. When it comes to this state, you will often be impressed by the coastal scenery characterized by high mountains, snow-capped bays on the top, creating an extremely majestic scenery. Contrast with the high mountains with forests and plains.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about British Columbia is Canada's mildest weather. In the Top 10 warmest cities in Canada, there are 4 cities in the province of British Columbia, namely Victoria, Vancouver, Abbotsford and Kelowna. Thanks to the separation of the terrain, the climate in British Columbia is very diverse. The climate is relatively mild because the Gulf Stream brings warm water from the Equator, which is cool in summer with the average temperature here usually at 20ºC, quite cold in winter.

1.3. Unique culture

For those who choose to study abroad in British Columbia, spending time exploring more about the culture is an activity you should not miss. The culture here is a blend of historical elements and influences from both Europe and Asia. The culture is shaped by British Columbia immigrant communities, especially in the western area and around the city of Vancouver.

2.1. World-leading education

British Columbia's primary to graduate schools are among the best in the world. Students will be exempt from tuition fees until the end of high school and the costs from the post-high school level onwards are quite reasonable.

British Columbia is the province with the most prestigious universities in Canada. It is home to four research-intensive universities in British Columbia, including the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and the University of Northern British Columbia, which have nurtured talented people with seven Nobel Prizes and three alumni who are prime ministers of Canada.

2.2. Job opportunities after graduation

In addition to full-time classroom programs, Canadian universities have Co-op (Co-operative Education) internship programs – allowing students to combine theory in the classroom with practical work experience at affiliated businesses during their studies. The experience gained from the internship will help you "polish" your CV and improve your chances of finding a job after graduation.

In addition, British Columbia is the state with the 4th largest and most dynamic economy in Canada, after Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec (according to Statistics Canada 2014). British Columbia creates a huge job market in the service industry, accounting for 72% in Western Canada. After graduation, students can search for job opportunities and are supported by university and government employment support programs and services.

See more: Co-op programs in Canada: paid internship opportunities

2.3. Immigration opportunities for international students

After working full-time for at least 1 year, international students will be able to apply for permanent residence in British Columbia, Canada under the employment category. When planning to study abroad in British Columbia, you can choose majors that offer attractive salaries and high immigration opportunities such as:

• Data Analytics

• Programmer

• Computer Science

• Financial Expert - Accountant

• Healthcare

• Early Childhood Education

• Supply Chain Management

• Restaurant - Hotel

Currently, the province of British Columbia launches the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (abbreviated as BC PNP). The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration program administered by the immigration division of the Government of British Columbia. This program allows the province to select and nominate foreign workers, international students, and entrepreneurs to help meet the province's labor market needs, support government priorities, and develop the economy in the future.

4.1. Douglas College

Douglas College was founded in 1970 and is one of the largest public colleges in British Columbia. The university has about 25,000 domestic and international students studying in diverse fields such as Arts, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Literature, Languages, etc.

There are many reasons why international students choose Douglas College, one of which lies in the high job opportunities after graduation, with a rate of about 94% of students. Students who study at Douglas College can participate in a transfer program to Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, and top schools in Canada.

4.2. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of British Columbia. The university was founded in 1908 as a college affiliated with McGill University, and seven years later, in 1915, the university became autonomous and changed its name to its current name. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, UBC reached the 3rd position in the "Top Canadian Universities" and ranked #34 among universities globally.

The University of British Columbia offers a wide range of academic programs for students at different levels: Bachelor's, Graduate, English programs, Co-op exchange programs, Distance Education programs. Disciplines also span many fields such as Social Sciences such as Sociology, Languages, Architecture, Economics, Education, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Arts such as Music, Cinema, etc.

4.3. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Founded by the British Columbia government in 1981, Kwantlen, now Kwantlen Polytechnic University, has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia. KPU offers bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, degrees, certificates spanning fields such as Commerce - Technology, Arts, Health, Science, Business, etc.

Scholarships from Kwantlen Polytechnic University:

4.4. University Canada West

The University of Canada West is a private university established in 2004, under the management of the higher education department of the province of British Columbia. The university offers a highly applied curriculum that combines theory and practice to give students the best experience. University Canada West offers English, Bachelor's, MBA, Pre-MBA programs spanning fields such as Communication, Business,

4.5. British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia Institute of Technology (also known as BCIT), is a public educational institution located in Vancouver, Canada. BCIT offers programs and courses to nearly 50,000 students through six schools. The college's faculties collaborate with industry, offering a wide range of professional programs and vocational certificates in the fields of Business, Health, Engineering, Energy, and Construction.

5.1. City of Vancouver

As a city that is quite familiar to international students, Vancouver is the busiest and busiest port city in Canada. This is also the economic locomotive of the entire province of British Columbia, with a population of about 600,000 people. Vancouver, Canada's climate is famously mild with 4 distinct seasons of the year. However, whether it is spring, summer, autumn, or winter, the weather here is still very cool and pleasant. It is also the sunniest city in Canada.

Vancouver is unique in the cultural intersection between regions, each with its own characteristics and culture. You can spend some time exploring the old town of Gastown, Little Italy, or Granville.

See more: Useful information when studying in Canada in Vancouver

5.2. City of Victoria

If Vancouver is the heart of British Columbia, Victoria is the brain of the province. Located in the southern part of Vancouver Island with a population of about 300,000 people, it is home to many of the country's authorities as well as countless beautiful scenery.

Although not as busy and busy as Vancouver, Victoria is also considered a place with a warm climate. The education system in this city is also strongly developed and highly appreciated. The city is home to the famous University of Victoria, which attracts many students, scholars, and researchers.

The path to study in Canada for international students is somewhat simpler and much more convenient than in other countries. You just need to ensure that you have good academic ability, a good foreign language, a clear career orientation, and the ability to integrate into a good environment to be able to look for opportunities to stay and work and study after graduation.

If you want to learn more about the conditions of each policy or update the latest information about study abroad trends, IDP is always ready to advise you on studying in Canada for free, all information suitable for your learning ability, foreign language proficiency as well as your financial situation.

You can also participate in the sessions Free Study Abroad Seminar in Canada organized by IDP, the consultants will help you choose a school, choose the right major and course, search for scholarships to study in Canada with a value of up to 100%.

Please contact the nearest IDP office for detailed advice on studying in Canada!

See more:

Study in Canada Colleges

How much money does it cost to study in Canada?

TOP 15 Canadian Universities by QS Ranking and THE Rankings

Study in Canada in Ontario