Columbia College is one of the oldest colleges in British Columbia and in all of Canada. As an international private college, Columbia acts as a temporary hub for international students pursuing an education in Canada. The school offers associate degrees in the arts or sciences, with 12 different concentrations including communications, environmental studies and mathematics. Upon completion, students can enter the third year of a bachelor’s degree program at major Canadian universities. Students can also earn university credits that transfer smoothly to any university in Canada.

The school’s campus has two buildings near downtown Vancouver and features science labs, a library and student lounges. Students have easy access to SkyTrain, a rapid-transit system that travels throughout the city.

Because 95 per cent of its population consists of international students, the college is tailored to provide pathways to higher education and prepare students for life in Canada. Columbia is incorporated as a non-profit society in B.C. and registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. Since 2016, the school has offered bursaries to refugees, and in 2018 it expanded the program. Now, students who are refugees can complete their high school education or pursue an associate degree at Columbia at no cost to them, including refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan.

Cool Options
• Environmental Studies: This interdisciplinary program examines global environmental issues and the complex interactions between communities and the environments they’re based in.
• Psychology: Students explore social, cognitive and biological psychology, preparing for a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
• Computer Science: Students learn the foundations of computer systems and software engineering, and how to program with modern technology in mind