BCIT

BCIT

The British Columbia Institute of Technology, or simply BCIT, was established in 1964 in the province of British Columbia as a vocational school. If only a few hundred students were enrolled in the first few years, by 2017, the number of annual enrolments had risen to 18,755 full-time students.

Overall, it comprises six campuses, with the main campus near the area of Metro Vancouver in the city of Burnaby. The other four, including the Aerospace Technology Campus and the Marine Campus, are located in the cities of Richmond and North Vancouver. 

The BCIT claims that one of the features that differentiates this post-secondary education institution from the rest is that all the classes are oriented toward students’ gaining as much practical experience as possible by working at the fully-equipped radio and TV studios of the BCIT; robotics labs; marine engine room simulators; and even an interactive fire simulation theater.

Programs at the BCIT

The academic life at the BCIT is organized into six schools: the School of Business and Media; the School of Computing and Academic Studies; the School of Construction and the Environment; the School of Energy; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Transportation. On the whole, the BCIT students can take over three hundred programs in the six study areas: Applied and Natural Sciences; Computing and IT; Business and Media; Engineering; Health Sciences; and Trades and Apprenticeships. 

For example, in the field of Computing and IT the BCIT offers the following diploma programs: 3D Modeling, Art, and Animation; Graphic Communications Technology Management; Computer Information Systems Administration; Business Information Technology Management with specializations in Artificial Intelligence Management or Enterprise Systems Management and others. International students can also go for the Bachelor of Technology, studying Forensic Investigation, specializing in Crime and Intelligence; Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity; or Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity. 

The program leading to the Bachelor of Technology in Forensic Investigation with a concentration in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity is available in part-time and full-time modes. During this BCIT program, students learn how to use computers and electronic devices in the process of crime and various criminal activity investigations. Moreover, they will acquire the skills for analysis and gathering digital evidence and ensure that software of all kinds is equipped with the highest level of security. Within the BCIT full-time program, students study such disciplines as Digital Forensics; Cybersecurity; Critical Reading and Writing; Mobile Forensics; Cryptography; Network Exploits and Vulnerabilities; and others. 

In the field of Business and Media at the BCIT international students can earn a diploma by studying one of the following programs: Accounting; Finance; Financial Planning; General Insurance and Risk Management; Broadcast and Online Journalism; Radio Arts and Entertainment and a number of others. 

For example, the Radio Arts and Entertainment program can be taken full-time. It will take two years and around CAD 41,900 for the whole study period. The BCIT claims that 90% of all the graduates find employment in a related field within three months after finishing their studies. During the program students have two practicums, and as a part of them, they have a chance to gain hands-on experience in the Evolution Podcast Network, YouTube, and Indie Rock radio station. Students study the following subjects in the course of the program: Sound Design; Journalism on several levels; Business Communications; Media Performance; Script Performance; Video Editing; Broadcast Law; Marketing: Sales and Public Relations; and other disciplines that aim to effectively prepare the BCIT for the future work and give them a comprehensive understanding of the field of radio arts. 

One of the most popular programs at the BCIT is Business Administration, and it’s possible to choose from a number of academic credentials to gain the field: a diploma, a graduate certificate, an associate certificate, a certificate, and a Bachelor's degree. 

The last program leading to the Bachelor of Business Administration lasts for four years and can be taken either part-time or full-time at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. The BCIT provides students with the opportunity to choose one of the specializations and even take part in exchange programs and study abroad for a term. 

The BCIT offers students the opportunity to achieve a diploma in the field of Applied and Natural Sciences by taking one of the following programs: Biomedical Engineering Technology; Chemical and Environmental Technology; Food Technology; Forest and Natural Areas Management; Geomatics Engineering Technology; Industrial Network Cybersecurity; Marine Engineering; Nautical Sciences; International students of BCIT may also obtain a Bachelor's degree in the programs of Technology Management; Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering; Biotechnology; and Geographic Information Systems. 

The program in Biotechnology is becoming more and more popular, not only at BCIT but at other educational establishments of higher education. It aims to prepare future biotechnology specialists who can conduct research in the fields of medicine and law. For example, graduates of the Biotechnology program at the BCIT can work in pharmaceutical development, provide health care support services, and advise on intellectual property law. 

The world of Health Sciences is also represented through a broad range of programs at the BCIT. Some of them lead to certificates: Applied Data Analytics and Advanced Safety Management. Some lead to diplomas as an academic credential: Biomedical Engineering Technology; Cardiology Technology; Diagnostic Medical Sonography; and Food Technology, among many others. 

The Cardiology Technology diploma program can be taken in part-time mode only. Students learn how to leverage all the tools and technologies needed for cardiac procedures and diagnosis. The program includes a period of hands-on experience at the hospitals and clinics of Canada. The practicum lasts for twenty-six weeks, and, usually, students can choose the clinic they would like to have training in, but sometimes they can be relocated to another part of Canada. What’s peculiar about the program is that it’s delivered completely online during three terms, each lasting for twelve weeks. Lab classes and practicum periods are still held in clinics. 

At the BCIT, international students are offered the opportunity to achieve a Bachelor of Environmental Public Health studying it in the full-time mode. It takes two years for students to become health inspectors, environmental public health specialists, or to occupy any position connected with safeguarding public health. As opposed to the previous program, this one is delivered in offline mode only. The classes are kept small so that every student can get maximum attention from instructors. Among the courses international students learn are the following: Environmental Assessment; Toxicology for Environmental Health; Hydrogeology and Water Sources; Food Hygiene; Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality and others. After completing this program at BCIT, international graduates can pursue a Master of Public Health degree at the University of British Columbia or Simon Fraser University, both of which are BCIT partner universities.

Accommodation at the BCIT

The British Columbia Institute of Technology, or BCIT, features its own building for students’ residence in the city of Burnaby. Here, local and international students share one space, enriching each other’s lives and raising awareness about the cultures of different countries. At the same time, the shared accommodations at BCIT allow students to develop their collaboration and communication skills and become more flexible and compassionate towards each other, as they will have to find the right communication strategies and common ground when living together. The cost of living in student housing of BCIT is around CAD 3,050 per fall term and CAD 3,700 per winter term. 

Of course, international students can rent an apartment while studying at BCIT in the city of Burnaby. The average rent price of one-bedroom in this city is around CAD 2000. Many international students choose to share a flat with friends or classmates.

Surely, they can take part in a homestay program while studying at BCIT. The program presupposes sharing housing with a homestay family, who, in turn, allocates a private room for an international student and gives them access to all the house facilities. On average, the cost of a homestay program in the city of Burnaby is somewhere around CAD 1,000, but the final cost depends on a homestay provider and a particular family. 

Future Prospects 

Graduation from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, BCIT, brings international students a myriad of opportunities. On the one hand, they can stay in Canada for three more years by getting a post-graduation working visa. To be eligible for the visa, international students have to complete a full-time program at the BCIT or other post-secondary institutions in the country and meet a list of other requirements. Once the post-graduation work permit expires, former international graduates can apply for permanent resident status and continue living in Canada for years to come. On the other hand, the rest of the world is open for the BCIT graduates as well: they can travel to any country and successfully work or study there, and with such a solid foundation of knowledge gained at the BCIT, it won’t be difficult. 

 

In case, if you need help with Custodianship and Homestay in order to study in BCIT or other schools in Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.