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Complete BC Study Guide
The international student’s guide to British Columbia
Everything you need, organized by stage — with links to the official sources so you can check every rule yourself.
Reviewed October 2026Available in 12 languages
Choose Your Path
Start with your study level
K–12 (elementary and high school)
Students aged 5–18 at BC public or private schools. Many BC school districts run international programs. A parent must come with the child or arrange a custodian in Canada. K–12 students do not need a PAL.
The most common path. BC has internationally ranked universities such as UBC and SFU, polytechnics like BCIT, and colleges such as Langara, Douglas and Camosun that offer transfer pathways into university.
Well-known institutions
UBC (Vancouver & Okanagan)
SFU (Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver)
BCIT (Burnaby)
Langara, Douglas, Camosun
Timeline
Apply 8–12 months before a September start
Request your PAL as soon as you are accepted
Apply for your study permit early — check current processing times
After graduating from an eligible program at a designated learning institution (DLI), you may qualify for an open work permit of up to 3 years. Canadian work experience can also help if you later apply for permanent residence.
Current PGWP requirements
Apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program
Language test: CLB 7 for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD graduates; CLB 5 for college programs
Most non-degree college programs must be in an eligible field of study linked to labour shortages
Your program must be at least 8 months long and studied full-time
If your child is a minor, a parent can come with them as a visitor, or you can arrange a custodian in Canada. Here are honest answers to the questions parents ask most: Is it safe? What will it really cost? What if my child gets sick?
Common concerns
MSP covers doctor and hospital care after the wait period
Vancouver and Victoria regularly rank among the world’s most livable cities
Large, welcoming international student communities
Custodians and homestay hosts check in regularly
Budget guide (per year)
Total: about $35,000–$95,000 depending on level and city
K–12 tuition: about $15,000–$20,000
University tuition: about $25,000–$65,000
Start the funds paperwork 3+ months early
1
Stage one
Admission & visa
Required for most
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
Since January 22, 2024, most study permit applicants must include a PAL. Your BC school issues it after accepting you, using BC’s yearly allocation — so request it right away. In 2026 you do not need one if you are a master’s or PhD student at a public institution, a K–12 student, or extending your permit at the same school and level.
Most BC colleges and universities accept IELTS Academic (often 6.0–6.5 overall), TOEFL iBT (often 80–90), PTE Academic or the Duolingo English Test. Requirements differ by school and program, so check your school’s admissions page.
IELTS AcademicTOEFL iBTPTE AcademicDuolingo
Often required
Document translation
Documents not in English or French — transcripts, birth certificates, bank letters — need a certified translation, a translator’s declaration, and a copy of the original. Avoid machine translation: incomplete documents can lead to a refusal.
Use a translator certified in Canada (in BC, through STIBC) or an accredited service in your home country. Budget roughly $50–$200 per document.
2
Stage two
Financial preparation
IRCC proof of funds (from September 1, 2026)
You must show you can pay for your first year. For one student outside Quebec, that means:
$23,448
Living costs for one year
+ Tuition
Your first year of tuition
+ Travel
Your flights to and from Canada
Bringing family? Add $6,318 per person. Applications received before September 1, 2026 used $22,895.
A GIC is a popular way to show your living-cost funds. You deposit the money with a Canadian bank before you arrive; the bank releases part of it when you land and the rest in installments. Since the Student Direct Stream ended in November 2024, a GIC is optional — but it is still a clear, trusted way to prove funds.
International students generally can’t get Canadian government student loans such as StudentAid BC. Many BC schools offer entrance scholarships for international students, and some home countries have their own loans or bursaries.
Worth checking
Your school’s international entrance awards
Graduate funding from your department or supervisor
Scholarships from your home country
Scholarships listed on EduCanada
Other options
MPOWER Financing (no co-signer loans)
Prodigy Finance (graduate students)
Education loans from banks in your home country
On-campus jobs once you arrive
3
Stage three
Pre-departure
Booking your flight
Vancouver International (YVR) is BC’s main airport; Victoria (YYJ), Kelowna (YLW) and Prince George (YXS) are alternatives. Arrive 1–2 weeks before classes so you have time to set up your phone, bank account and housing.
Keep your passport, IRCC letter of introduction, acceptance letter and proof of funds in your carry-on bag. The border officer issues your actual study permit when you land — check it for mistakes before you leave the counter.
Health insurance and MSP
BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) starts after a wait: the rest of the month you arrive plus two full months. Many schools enrol students in private insurance such as guard.me for this gap — check before buying your own. Apply for MSP as soon as you arrive. Once covered, international students pay a $75 monthly health fee.
Don’t sign a long lease before you arrive, and never send a deposit for a place you haven’t seen or verified. Book a student residence, hostel or short-term rental for your first 2–3 weeks while you look.
Homestay
$1,100–1,500/mo
Meals included
Shared room
$800–1,400/mo
Split utilities
Campus residence
$1,000–1,800/mo
Apply early — spaces fill fast
Typical 2026 ranges. Metro Vancouver is the most expensive; Kelowna and Prince George are usually lower.
You’ll need a Canadian number quickly for banking and school registration. You can buy a SIM or eSIM at the airport or online, then compare monthly plans — prices change often, so check current offers.
Freedom
Strong-value plans
Koodo
Telus network
Public Mobile
Low-cost prepaid
Fido
Rogers network
Our pick: Freedom Mobile
Good-value monthly plans with no long-term contract — a popular choice with students in BC.
Canada’s big banks (RBC, TD, CIBC, BMO and Scotiabank) offer newcomer or student accounts, often with no monthly fee for a period. Bring your passport, study permit and proof of enrolment. If you have a GIC, the bank releases your first payment once it verifies your identity.
Get a student credit card early, even with a low limit, and pay it in full each month. A Canadian credit history helps with renting later.
No-fee option:Tangerine offers a chequing account with no monthly fee. Use Orange Key 75515959S1 when you sign up to qualify for a welcome bonus.Open a Tangerine account
BC Services Card
After you enrol in MSP, visit an ICBC driver licensing office to get your BC Services Card. It shows you are covered by MSP and can be used to log in to many BC government services online.
If your study permit allows off-campus work, you can work up to 24 hours a week during classes and full-time during scheduled breaks. On-campus work has no weekly limit. Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) through Service Canada before you start any job.
Moving countries means buying a lot at once — bedding, kitchen basics, a phone. These services can help stretch your budget. (Some links are affiliate links.)
Cash back shopping
Rakuten Canada
Before buying bedding or kitchen supplies at stores like Walmart, Amazon or IKEA, activate Rakuten. It gives cash back at hundreds of Canadian retailers, and new members can usually earn a welcome bonus.
Once you’re working part-time, Wealthsimple makes it easy to build an emergency fund or start investing small amounts. There are no account minimums, and you can set up automatic deposits.
Your kitchen isn’t set up and you’re tired from travelling. Uber Eats delivers in every major BC city, including food from home.
Promo code:eats-sblw1
For parents
Wise — sending money to Canada
Banks often add a markup to the exchange rate plus wire fees, which can add up over a year of tuition and allowances.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fee before you send, which is often cheaper than a bank wire. Check that it supports your home country and currency.