Alexander College
Alexander College
This private post-secondary educational institution, with an annual enrolment of three thousand people, offers a large number of academic programs on the undergraduate level. It’s officially accredited by the Ministry of Advanced Education and other governmental bodies of the province of British Columbia, which serves as an assurance of the high quality of education at this institution. It was established in 2006 with two campuses in the cities of Burnaby and Vancouver, and their initial purpose was to help undergraduate students get into the universities and be enrolled in the degree programs. Actually, it’s claimed that the Alexander College is one of the first educational institutions to offer university transfer programs and programs in the English language for Academic Purposes. As for the academic year at the Alexander College, it is divided into four terms, as are most of the other post-secondary educational institutions in Canada.
Programs at the Alexander College
International students must have a strong command of the English language in order to successfully complete the academic program leading to an Associate's degree. That’s why all international students who don’t have English as their first language need to provide a certificate, that ensures their knowledge of English equal to the IELTS band score of 6. Sometimes students don’t have the opportunity to take an official examination. English as an Additional Language program at the Alexander College serves exactly this purpose. It aims to improve students' language skills by starting with beginner courses and progressing to advanced courses. Overall, students who lack English skills can undertake all five levels of English and be enrolled in the main academic program. If students already have the intermediate level, they can go straight to the English for Academic Purposes and brush up on the vocabulary and grammar needed for the educational process specifically. International students can complete the English language program at the Alexander College and then go to the university to pursue their academic studies.
Students can also stay at the Alexander College as well. Once a foreign student’s language level is high enough, they can go for one of the Associate degree programs provided by this institution. Here, an Associate of Science degree are offered in the programs of Mathematics and Computer Science. An Associate of Arts can be achieved through studying Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, International Relations, International Business, Business and Psychology, and Business.
For example, the program of Business and Psychology at the Alexander College lasts for two years, during which students earn sixty credits that can be transferred to the universities of the province of British Columbia. It aims to teach students multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge in the social sciences and humanities so that they can gain a better understanding of what career or research path they want to pursue in the future. Moreover, they are taught the foundations of macro and microeconomics, banking, accounting, and finance, along with developmental, behavioral, and abnormal psychology. After their graduation, students can choose to go on to the second or third year of the university if their GPA is high enough, or find a job by getting a post-graduation work permit.
The program towards an Associate of Arts degree with the specialisation in Psychology also lasts for two year. Generally, graduation from the program entails the same outcomes as the previous one. Here, though, students don’t learn about economics or business but concentrate solely on the psychological disciplines. Overall, they complete eighteen credits in psychology. For example, they learn various areas of psychology, data analysis, and cognitive psychology, along with many other disciplines. Afterwards, they can go to Simon Fraser University and achieve a Bachelor of Arts with the major in Psychology. International students at the Simon Fraser University need to pay around CAD 1,060 per course.
There is a special program of University Transfer that is tailored for every students by the Alexander College according to their needs and the choice of the university. In a nutshell, the courses and credits taken at the Alexander College will be transferred to a university, where a student will continue their education for the next two or three years. A student can choose to earn credits equivalent to the first year or two years of a university. With the help of academic advisors of the Alexander College, students take exactly the courses they need to achieve a Bachelor’s degree. For example, one of the popular programs is a Bachelor’s of Arts in Computer Science degree at the University of British Columbia. They need to compete twenty-four credits at the the Alexander College and achieve the rest in the University of British Columbia. The same program can be done towards a Bachelor of Science. Moreover, there are programs for transfer to the following programs at the Simon Fraser University: Psychology, Criminology, Data Science, Kinesiology, Computing Science, Interactive Arts and Technology, Engineering Science, and others.
As for the cost of tuition at the Alexander College, international students need to pay CAD 3,000 per level on the English as an Additional Language program. English for Academic Purposes will cost an international students from CAD 2,500 to CAD 3,750. The University Preparation program at the Alexander College costs CAD 3,480. And a credit towards an Associate degree at the Alexander College costs CAD 610 each. The application fee costs an additional CAD 200, which is non-refundable. Some international students can be offered a discount, if they’re academically meritorious, excel at their studies, or need financial help.
Accommodation in Alexander College
The Vancouver campus of the Alexander College is located right in the centre of the city near the biggest of shopping and entertaining destinations, just as well as the second campus that was established in the downtown of Burnaby. International students can rent an apartment in these cities, during their studies at the Alexander College. It costs about CAD 1,700 to rent a one-bedroom in Burnaby. It’s a big city with a population of over 260 thousand people, located near Vancouver. A lot of students live here, as the Simon Fraser University, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, and other universities’ campuses are located in the city of Burnaby. With so many students residing in the city, a lot of arts and culture festivals are held in Burnaby. So, besides studying at the Alexander College, international students can visit an open-air Burnaby Village Museum that reveals Canadian history and take part in the festivals held in Deer Lake Park and the city’s art gallery.
As for Vancouver, it’s a famously expensive city not only inside the country but even in comparison with New York in the USA. For example, an average unfurnished one-bedroom will cost an international student here around CAD 2,800 and even more if it’s close to the downtown. The city, still, often hosts festivals and cultural activities where students can broaden their knowledge about the world and Canada. The city is home to the University of British Columbia and other famous educational establishments such as Capilano University, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and others.
Unfortunately, there is no on-campus housing at Alexander College. For this reason, and because the rent prices in Burnaby and Vancouver are high, it’s recommended to take part in a homestay program. The first years in a new country are especially difficult for international students; that’s why living with a host family can help students with adaptation processes and make their studies at the Alexander College much easier. A host family helps students develop their English language skills and get to know the peculiarities of the Canadian culture. Most of the time, international students and host families are carefully matched so that problems won’t occur in communication and co-existing together. But sometimes, even minor misunderstandings can grow into conflicts, and in this case, students can ask to move to another family. Most of the time, students and host family members communicate with each other openly, act respectfully toward each other, and stay friends long after the student’s graduation. Every international student is provided with a private bedroom and meals and can use all the house facilities together with host family members. Homestay agencies usually charge somewhere around CAD 1000 per month.
Future Prospects after study in Alexander College
Graduation from the Alexander College often entails the continuation of education at other educational establishments in Canada and achieving degrees. Once an international student becomes eligible to work in Canada by getting a post-graduation work permit, they can work in the country for up to three years. For example, one of the requirements for the permit is completing a full-time program in Canada. After gaining some work experience, they can apply for permanent residence and citizenship and continue living in Canada.
The Canadian government values skilled foreign workers and facilitates their immigration by all possible means, including the working visa mentioned above. But an international student is not limited by the borders of Canada and can travel anywhere else, seeking employment and other educational opportunities.
In case, if you need help with Custodianship and Homestay in order to study in Alexander College or other schools in Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
