Okanagan College, a public post-secondary institution located in the city of Kelowna, British Columbia of Canada is the largest college which is outside the lower mainland. Established in 1969 as the British Columbia vocational school, Okanagan College has now grown to be one of British Columbia's largest training institutions for trade. More than 20,500 students are enrolled in the 120+ plus diverse programs at Okanagan College ranging from bachelors, diplomas, trades, vocational training, corporate training and adult basic education.
The college is dedicated towards bracing the international student population by organizing a series of events and offering a range of services, which also includes a special orientation week to make international students familiar to the college and an international education week where students can celebrate and let others know about their cultural heritage, making Okanagan College a perfect place for students willing to study in Canada.
|
Table of Contents |
Highlights
| Type of University | Public |
| Establishment Year | 1963 |
| Location | Kelowna, British Columbia |
| Application Portal | Online |
| Number Of Campuses | 4 |
| Total Number of Student Enrollment per year | 20500+ |
| Application Fees | 100 CAD |
Okanagan College Campus
The Okanagan College has four campuses which are situated in the southern interior of British Columbia. The four-campus are:
- Penticton Campus- The Penticton Campus is known for its proximity to Okanagan and Skaha lake which allows students to engage in outdoor activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. The campus also has amenities like the library and Aboriginal center, gymnasium, and the Jim Pattison Center for Excellence.
- Kelowna-The largest campus of the Okanagan College, the Kelowna campus is situated near Pandosy village. The educational amenities include a center for learning, Kelowna Trades Training complex. The campus also has a health sciences center.
- Vernon-The Vernon Campus is known for the bunker- a letterpress print shop for those students who are attracted to the writing and publishing programs, Kalmalka Indigenous garden, and the Vernon Trades Training center.
- Salmon Arm- There are programs offered at the campus in science, arts, and business administration that allow students to Transfer to B.C Universities in the third year. The campus has a student success center to assist students and distinctive on-the-call dog therapy.
Okanagan College Courses
- The Okanagan College offers 120+ programs. These programs range from bachelors, diplomas, trades, vocational training, corporate training every year.
- The areas of study include arts, science, business administration, food wine, and tourism, Health and Social Development, Trades, and apprenticeship.
- Several English certificate courses and Diplomas are also available for the students to choose from.
- There are also several distinct Adult Special Education programs which provide skills certificates to the enrolling candidates.
Okanagan College Student Housing
The Okanagan College provides on-campus accommodation for the students but campus accommodations are also available. The college also has a distinctive homestay program. The important thing for students to consider is that they plan their accommodation 3-4 before their arrival so that they are assured of the availability.
On-Campus Student Housing
- The Okanagan College offers students on-campus accommodation facilities at the Kelowna Campus.
- Situated in the Okanagan Valley, these are furnished, non-smoking accommodations which are located only minutes away from classrooms, libraries. The transportation includes a Public bus Service.
- There are 22 Pods available for accommodation at 2220 CAD which includes facilities like high-speed internet, computer desk, chair, bed, and dresser.
- The students are also provided with facilities like a common kitchen, study lounge and also weight training rooms.
- 32 Private studio suites are also available for students who wish to have more privacy. The suites also include air conditioning and are available for 2700 CAD.
Off-Campus Student Housing
Several accommodations are available on the various campuses of the college and these are listed on the college website. However, the college is not responsible for any verification or accuracy of the information provided.
Homestay
- A distinctive facility provided by the Okanagan College is the homestay facilities which will provide the students a good cultural exchange and opportunity to understand the place and locals better
- The students can find the application on the official website of the college.
- At a rent of 800 CAD per month, this facility will ensure students feel homely while giving the privacy that the student needs with a private bedroom equipped with a dresser, chair and lamp, and bed.
In case you decide to stay in a private accommodation, find out for yourself the best cities in Canada for international students.
Okanagan College Application Process
- Once the students have selected the program that they wish to pursue they can make the online application on the official website of Okanagan College.
- The students are required to have the following documents before making the application, all the documents must be in English :
- Documents of English language proficiency like IELTS or alternatively TOEFL or any other equivalent English language test score.
- Post-secondary documents
- Secondary and high school documents
- Copy of passport
- A non-refundable application fee of 100 CAD is payable at the time of submission of the application.
- The students must ensure that all the documents are available or the application will be automatically canceled.
Okanagan College Cost of Attendance
While studying at Okanagan College, students have to incur the following expenses averagely:
| Type of Expenditure | Cost per Semester (in CAD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 8664 |
| Student Fees | 300 |
| Medical | 250 |
| Books and Material | 1200 |
| Transportation | 180 |
| Accommodation | 2220 |
| Food | 1600 |
Check the detailed cost of living for international students in Canada Here.
Okanagan College Scholarships
The Okanagan College provides several scholarships as well as Financial awards. The students applying for the awards need to submit the documents of their academic achievements to the Financial Aids and Awards Department.
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility For Scholarship | Amount Covered By Scholarship (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Okanagan College President’s Entrance Scholarship Okanagan College Community Spirit Awards Okanagan College Board Of Governor Entrance Programs | Students pursuing full-time programs like degree, diploma,certificates in trade, health, or continuing studies | Up to 5000 Up to 1000 Up to 1000 |
| Penticton Campus Arts Entrance Scholarship | For full-time art program students at Penticton Campus | Up to 1000 |
| Penticton Campus Science Entrance Scholarship | For full-time Science Program students at Penticton Campus | Up to 1000 |
| McGillivray Entrance Award for business | For Business Administration Degree or Diploma Program students at Kelowna Campus | Up to 5000 |
There are also certain external awards like the Lieutenants Governor's medal for which international students are also eligible as well as Irvin K Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society. Only British Columbia students are eligible for the latter.
Looking for some more scholarships? Check other scholarships for international students in Canada.
Okanagan College Alumni
The Okanagan College Alumni Association, founded in 1988 enables in connecting the Alumni. Being part of the Okanagan College Alumni Network provides several benefits which include:
- Okanagan College Alumni are offered a 10% discount on Continuing Studies and Corporate Training Courses.
- The Okanagan College Alumni get access to the libraries of the college at various campuses with a free library card.
- There is also a benefits program, Perkopolis, which provides the alumni with discounts for hotels, products, events, and certain other services.
- At a very low rate, you can become a part of the group insurance program which will provide insurance coverage.
- The Okanagan College Alumni can also avail 40% off at the Sparkling Hill Resort as well as a 10% discount on Health and Wellness Packages.
- Some notable Alumni of the Okanagan College are :
- Ryan Holmes-Founder and CEO of Hootsuite
- Sareena Nickoli- Founder of Soul Studio
- Jeanette Armstrong- author, artist, educator, activist
Okanagan College Placement
Okanagan College assists students with their employment. Career fairs, resume building sessions are conducted to ensure that the students are job ready once they graduate. The Okanagan College also has a Co-op program wherein students can get work experience in their respective fields.
- Okanagan College has a Student, Graduate, and Co-op Employment center which provides alumni, students, and employers a platform to connect.
- You can connect with a coordinator who can help you through your journey in finding employment according to your eligibility and interest.
- The wages for the jobs, which are located mainly in British Columbia and Alberta, range anywhere between 15-20 CAD per hour. These wages depend on the industry, position, and eligibility.
- Several other jobs are also listed on the official website of the College. However, the students should verify the information before applying.
Find out which are the most high-paying jobs for international students in Canada.
FAQs
Ques. Is Okanagan College Public or Private?
Ans. Okanagan College, a public post-secondary institution located in the city of Kelowna, British Columbia.
Ques. What is Okanagan College famous for?
Ans. Okanagan College has one of the largest Trades Training Institutions of the British Columbia region.
Ques. How do I apply to Okanagan College?
Ans. You can apply to the various programs offered by the Okanagan College on the official site. The Application fee is 100 CAD. You can apply at
Ques. When can I apply to Okanagan College?
Ans. The Okanagan College accepts applications for academic programs of the fall term on the first business day in October, each year.
