International tuition is higher by a fixed proportion (a “differential”) for all courses and programs—both full- and part-time—because it recovers the full costs of instruction, both direct and indirect. While base tuition is subject to the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Tuition Limit Policy, this international differential is not. As costs of instruction continue to rise, BCIT has had to carefully review the differential rates that are expected to cover those costs. An increase to the differential rates assessed for full-time technology and trades and technical studies programs has been approved for the 2023-2024 academic year. Consultation about these changes took place during the Fall and Winter terms with the BCIT Student Association.
Effective Fall 2023 – as of August 1, 2023 – the international differential rates for academic terms in these full-time programs will see a market rate increase. In Work-Integrated Learning terms, a differential will be added. Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is the integration of academic study in the workplace or a simulated work environment. At BCIT, this can include opportunities such as Co-Operative Education, Practicum, and Clinical terms or courses. Feedback from program areas and teams supporting WIL opportunities at BCIT has highlighted the level of support required by international students while seeking and completing job placements. To recover the costs associated with this support, a differential rate will be added to full-time WIL terms.
As well as these changes to international differentials, base tuition and mandatory fees for all programs will see a 2% increase for the 2023-24 academic year; for more information on impacts to base tuition and mandatory fees, please visit Changes to Tuition & Fees for 2023-24.
For an overview of the differential changes, please see the Returning International Students and New International Students sections below; the full adjusted fee schedules for the 2023-24 academic year, including tuition and mandatory fees, are available on the International Students Tuition & Fees page.
Returning international students
Fixed rate increase to academic terms
In an effort to reduce the impact to returning international students who will be continuing their studies in 2023-2024 to complete a full-time program that began prior to August 1, 2023, increases to international differential rates will be phased in.
If you are a current BCIT student enrolled in a full-time program that started before August 1, 2023, and will be continuing in your program in the Fall 2023 term, the international differential portion of your program tuition in academic terms will be increased by 5% for the 2023-24 academic year. Full tuition and differential rates, the rates currently being assessed to new international students, will apply to all new and returning students enrolled in any term within the 2024-2025 academic year (terms starting on or after August 1, 2024).
Differential added to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) terms
Technology programs
An international differential of approximately $120.00 will be added to each Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) term in full-time technology programs. This WIL differential will be assessed to new and returning students for any WIL term starting on or after August 1, 2023, even if the program’s academic terms began before August 1, 2023.
Trades & Technical Studies programs
Returning trades and technical studies students who started their current program of study before August 1, 2023 will not be assessed a differential for WIL terms in the 2023-24 academic year. Full tuition and differential rates, as outlined for new students below, will apply to all new and returning students enrolled in any WIL term within the 2024-2025 academic year (WIL terms starting on or after August 1, 2024).
See the full adjusted fee schedules including tuition and mandatory fees for the 2023-24 academic year on the International Students Tuition & Fees page.
New international students
Market rate increase to academic terms
If you are a new student or are beginning a new full-time BCIT program on or after August 1, 2023, the international differential portion of your program tuition will be subject to a market rate increase for the 2023-24 academic year. The rate of increase will vary by program; see the adjusted rates on the International Students Tuition & Fees page.
Differential added to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) terms
Technology programs
A differential of approximately $120.00 will be added to each WIL term in full-time technology programs. This differential will be assessed to new and returning students for WIL terms starting on or after August 1, 2023.
Trades & Technical Studies programs
If you are a new student or are beginning a new trades and technical studies program on or after August 1, 2023, a differential of approximately $730.00-$780.00 will be added to each of your program’s WIL term. This differential will be assessed only to new students. If you entered your current program of study before August 1, 2023, you will not be assessed a differential for WIL terms in the 2023-24 academic year.
See the full adjusted fee schedules including tuition and mandatory fees for the 2023-24 academic year on the International Students Tuition & Fees page.