North Island College
North Island College
This community college is usually referred to as NIC. It was established in the 70s as an educational establishment that provides distance learning options. Today, North Island School offers academic programs both in online and offline modes. More than six thousand students currently obtain education here, studying in 120 programs with more than 900 courses. North Island College has four campuses in the province of British Columbia in Port Hardy, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Courtenay, and other cities. The largest, in every sense, campus is located in the city of Courtenay: here the greatest number of students and employees are involved in the academic life of the college. By having established successful partnerships with a number of universities in the province, including the University of Vitoria and the University of British Columbia, North Island College made it possible for students to transfer their credits to the second or third year of the universities.
Programs
Most of the programs provided by North Island school are one-year and two-year and lead to certificates and diplomas. Moreover, students can opt for one of the pathway programs that lead to a university degree. North Island College also offers applied degrees and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
International students are offered the opportunity to take the following two programs in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences: Associate of Arts Degree, and Criminology Diploma. Both last for two years.
During the program that leads to the Associate of Arts degree, students earn sixty credits overall and can transfer to one of the British Columbia universities after its completion. Here, students will have a chance to study anthropology, history, criminology, and even one of the modern languages, such as Chinese, Spanish, or French.
In the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, international students can study in programs that lead to an Associate of Science Degree. And also the certificate programs in Computer Information Systems and Engineering Foundations.
It will take a year to obtain a certificate in Computer Information Systems at North Island school. This program can be taken only at the Campbell River campus of the college. Students learn the fundamentals of computer hardware and software during their studies. Besides theoretical knowledge, students take part in projects and work in laboratories where they practice their skills in programming and network administration. Most of the graduates of this program decide to take the next step in their education and go on to further education at British Columbia universities.
For example, they may start studying at the University of British Columbia, which offers a program in Computer Science that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. During this four-year-long program, students learn Machine Learning and Data Mining, Advanced Algorithms, Calculus on different levels, and computer software design, among a number of other subjects. This program is offered both at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses of the University of British Columbia. During their studies, students can take a co-op term. It means that they can work officially and start practicing their sills in the real-world environment. After graduation, international students can work as data scientists, software engineers, and machine learning developers, and to pursue these career paths, first completing studies at North Island College becomes a great foundation of knowledge. In the field of Business, students at North Island College can take the program of Business Administration that leads to a diploma or a certificate. Moreover, North Island College offers students the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and choose among three concentrations: Accounting, General Management, and Marketing. Programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree last for four years.
Besides undergraduate studies, students can obtain a post-degree diploma in Business Administration at North Island College. Here, they may also choose among Global Business Management and Pre-Professional Accountant specializations.
North Island College offers students to take the program in Android Mobile Application Development and obtain a certificate within one year. This one can be taken only at the Comox Valley campus. During the program, students acquire a solid foundation of knowledge in mobile app and game development for the Android platform. They also study the basics of general web development, such as HTML and CSS, Digital Graphics, Javascript, Algorithms, and Databases.
In the field of Digital Design and Development, North Island College students can undertake one of the diploma programs as well. For example, it can be Communication Design, Web and Mobile App Development, and Advanced Digital Design and Development programs.
North Island College provides education in the fields of Health and Human Services too. For example, students can obtain a diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education, specializing in infants and toddlers. It will take them two years to finish the program, which is comprised of the following courses: Health Safety and Nutrition in Childcare Settings, Supervising Early Childhood Centres, Effective Interpersonal Communications, and a number of others.
There is also a Human Services diploma that can be achieved after two years of studying at the Comox Valley campus of North Island College. Before being enrolled in the program, a student has to provide confirmation that they have served as volunteers for at least twenty hours before and strive to help people and the community on a professional level. During their studies, students take courses like Family Relationships, Conflict Management, Law, and Social Service, and they get hands-on experience at mental health facilities.
There is a special program offered at North Island College that guarantees admission to the University of Victoria. Students first take the courses in English, Math, Science, and Humanities at North Island College, and then if their GPA is 2.0 or higher, they are eligible to choose one of the University of Victoria programs. The number of credits that must be completed at North Island College for the transfer is twenty-four, which is eight courses.
North Island College requires international students to pay CAD 7000 for a term of a five-course and fifteen-credit full-time academic program. The tuition fee for two terms will be around CAD 14,000, which is tantamount to thirty credits overall. Other fees may include dental and health insurance—around CAD 170; and fees for international service, which is around CAD 102 for a month.
It’s estimated that during their studies at North Island College, international students spend around CAD 1,400 for living expenses, including food, transportation, and others.
If an international student shows high academic achievements, North Island College can award them with a scholarship and help to partially finance their studies.
Accommodation
International students should carefully think about possible accommodation options when coming for studies at North Island College. They can choose to rent a flat in the city of Courtenay, which is also known as the Comox Valley. An average one-bedroom in this city will cost a student around CAD 1,400, while a two-bedroom will be somewhere around CAD 1800 per month. Keep in mind that the final price will depend on the type of furnishings, location of a flat within a city, and a number of other factors.
Recently, North Island College announced its plans to build a hall of residence near the Comox Valley campus. Soon, the building will have places for 217 students and sixty suites for students with families.
But today, international students of North Island College can rent a flat alone or with friends, or participate in a homestay program. It means that a student will pay for living with a Canadian family, and they will provide them with a private bedroom, access to all the home utilities, and three meals a day. This program is beneficial for these international students who are new to Canada, as they will have to communicate with the family members in the English language only, developing their skills and getting used to the local culture. Moreover, all the families are matched with international students according to their hobbies and lifestyles so that they will get along well together faster. If a student or host family member encounters some irreconcilable problems, they can always contact a support worker of a homestay provider who will offer a student to live with another family. Usually, a homestay costs around CAD 1000.
Future Prospects
After finishing studies at North Island College, international students can further their education and go for a degree or diploma at another educational establishment in Canada. They may as well apply for a post-graduation work permit and work in Canada for up to three years, but check if you meet all the requirements for getting a work permit. For example, one of them is completing a full-time academic program.
After the expiration of the working visa, former international students of North Island College can go for permanent residency and then, even Canadian citizenship.
Thus, finishing studies at North Island College can provide an international student with a huge number of opportunities either in Canada or in any other country in the world.
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