Overview
Welcome to the Business + Media Study Abroad program at BCIT – a short-term free mover program for international students on Canada’s west coast!
Situated in beautiful British Columbia, Vancouver is surrounded by countless beaches, mountains, and trails. You will be able to immerse yourself in nature all year round. In this program, you will study in Vancouver for 5 to 9 months. You will be part of a vibrant student community, and live in one of the best cities in the world.
Entrance Requirements
The Study Abroad program has three intakes each year. The entrance requirements are the same for all three terms.
Application processing
This program is open to applications:
- January intake: August 1st* – October 15th*
- April intake: October 1st* – January 15th*
- September intake: October 1st*– June 15th*
* or next business day
Applications are considered for a specific intake.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements.
- Submit the following with your online application:
- Proof of meeting the English requirement
- Official post-secondary transcripts (translated into English)
- Study Abroad Course Selection [PDF]
- Consent for Authorized Agent Representative [PDF] (optional)
- This form is required if your education consultant is submitting an application on your behalf
- Entry options: one of the following:
Option 1: Study Abroad- English: one of the following:
- DAAD Certificate with Level B2 (for students from Germany), or
- IELTS Academic with 6.5 overall, or
- TOEFL with 86 overall, or
- Demonstrate your proficiency by meeting one of the approved options.
If you do not meet the Option 1 English requirement above, you can apply with the following to be placed in Study Abroad with Language Development. See the Courses page for program details.
- English: one of the following:
- IELTS Academic with 5.5 overall, or
- TOEFL with 70 overall, or
- Demonstrate your proficiency by meeting one of the approved options.
- English: one of the following:
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September, January, and April each year
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Every student coming to study in Canada has a unique budget, here an approximate living cost estimation for international students in Vancouver in 2023:
| Average Cost of Living: | $2,000 – $3,500 |
| Off-Campus Rent: | $1,000 – $1,800 |
| On-Campus Housing: |
$950 |
| Average Cost of Entertainment: | $200 |
| Average Cost of Groceries: | $250 – $400 |
| Phone Plan: | $40 – $100 |
| Transportation (Monthly Pass): | $105 – $190 |
Tuition fees
The Business & Media Study Abroad program has a non-refundable $154.00 CAD application fee.
Tuition is $7,095.00 CAD per term. This covers registration for four undergraduate level courses or three graduate level courses as well as built in ancillary fees such: BCIT ID card, student association, building and capital levy. Textbooks and course supplies are not included in tuition.
Please note: Tuition will not be reduced if students register for fewer than four courses and Study Abroad students are not eligible for U-Pass (student transit program).
Medical insurance is mandatory while attending BCIT. If you are studying abroad for one term, a $300.00 CAD fee will be added to your Study Abroad tuition to cover your first three months of Guard.Me medical insurance. If you are studying abroad for two terms, you are eligible for MSP. In this case, a $180.00 CAD fee will be added to your Study Abroad tuition. To opt out, you can email proof of medical insurance for the duration of your studies to isc_info@bcit.ca
Courses
BCIT offers both full-time programs in the daytime as well as Flexible Learning (part-time) courses in the evening or on weekends. Click here for the course catalogue of Winter/Spring term 2024. Please note that course offerings differ from term to term and are subject to changes.
Currently, there are two options for study abroad students:
1. Study Abroad by Design
Build a custom curriculum with up to 4 courses. As approval from Program Heads are required, make sure you meet the prerequisites. Try to keep it less than 15 credits in total from not more than 2 program areas to minimize time conflicts, maximize chances of getting a seat, and to give you more opportunities to interact with the same cohorts. Keep in mind that 1 Canadian credit is equal to approximately 2 ECTS in the European framework.
Sample of Study Abroad Course Selection:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OPMT 1170 | Project Management | 3.0 |
| OPMT 3361 | Business Database Applications | 4.0 |
| BSYS 3205 | Business Intelligence 1 | 4.0 |
| BUSA 4850 | Consulting Skills and Problem Solving | 3.0 |
2. Study Abroad with Language Development
This option is catered for applicants who do not meet our general Entrance Requirements or want to further develop their English language skills for business purpose. It runs for 2 consecutive terms each year from Spring to Fall terms (April to December). You will take 2 intensive language courses plus 2 entry level business courses each term.
Please note: course offerings are subject to change, acceptance into the course is on a case-by-case basis, and Study Abroad students acquire credits, not BCIT credentials. If you need assistance with course selection, please e-mail us at studyhere@bcit.ca.
Class hours
Most courses are offered in the evening; a limited number of courses are offered during the day. Student schedules may have all evening classes or a mix of evening, day and weekend classes. Evening classes are typically scheduled between 5:30pm and 10:00pm.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
In addition to the BCIT Study Abroad Brochure, please also take following details into consideration:
Accommodation
Finding a room in metro Vancouver can be challenging these days. BCIT Student Housing offers limited number of rooms on Burnaby Campus. Application details will be provided upon acceptance into the Business & Media Study Abroad program. Please note that rooms are not guaranteed, therefore, we strongly recommend students to look for off-campus options as well. Refer to BCIT Housing Guide for guidelines and recommendations.
Medical Insurance
Medical insurance is mandatory while attending BCIT. All Study Abroad students are automatically enrolled in the Guard.me coverage unless you opt out. To opt out, please email proof of your medical insurance for the duration of your studies to isc_info@bcit.ca before the start of your program.
Life on Campus
As a BCIT student you will have access to our services on campus. These include free tutoring, recreation services such as a fitness centre and gym, access to counsellors and doctors on campus, and much more! We will provide more information on all of the services in welcome orientation.
Important Dates
Please visit our Important Dates page to see application deadlines, program start dates, orientation dates, and examination periods for each term.
Study Permit / Travel to Canada
A foreign national may study in Canada without a study permit if the duration of their course or program of studies is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada. Therefore, Study Abroad students planning to study at BCIT for only one term are exempt from BCIT’s standard study permit requirement. However, you still need to provide proof of your valid status in Canada. Check out details here.
Program length
One term (12-15 weeks), full-time
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Classes may be offered at one or both campuses:
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
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