At a glance
BCIT is a public polytechnic focused on hands-on, career-ready programs: two-year diplomas, certificates and Bachelor of Technology degrees in areas like computing, business, engineering technologies, health sciences and trades. Its main campus is in Burnaby, with other campuses including downtown Vancouver.
What it costs
BCIT’s published estimates for 2027/28 show full-time diploma programs costing roughly:
| Sample program | Tuition and ancillary fees per year |
|---|---|
| Business diploma | about $51,700 |
| Computing & IT diploma | about $53,900 |
| Engineering diploma | about $51,400 |
These don’t include the U-Pass, student association fees, books or supplies. BCIT also publishes planned increases to the international fee — estimated at up to 7% a year through 2029/30 — so budget for higher costs in later years. Use BCIT’s tuition estimator for the current year.
The $6,000 commitment fee
When you accept an offer for a full-time program, BCIT asks for a $6,000 commitment fee. It’s applied to your tuition when you register, but you lose it if you decline the offer or don’t register in your start term.
PAL and study permits
Diploma and certificate students need a Provincial Attestation Letter. BCIT is a public institution, so its master’s-level students would fall under the 2026 graduate exemption, but most BCIT international students are in diploma or bachelor’s programs.
Check PGWP eligibility before you enrol
Because most BCIT diplomas are non-degree programs, two PGWP rules matter:
- you’ll need CLB 5 language results (not CLB 7)
- if you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024, the program’s field of study must be on IRCC’s eligible list
Many technical programs line up with shortage occupations, but confirm the exact program with BCIT and IRCC’s list before you pay deposits.