Columbia College

Columbia College is one of the oldest colleges in Canada. As an international private college, Columbia acts as a temporary hub for international students pursuing an education in Canada. The school offers associate degrees in the arts or sciences with 12 concentrations, including communications and environmental studies. Upon completion, students can enter the third year of a bachelor’s degree program at major Canadian universities. Students can also earn university credits that transfer smoothly to any university in Canada. 

The school’s campus has two buildings near downtown Vancouver and features science labs, a library and student lounges. While Columbia does not offer residence, it has a partnership with GEC Living, an off-campus student housing complex, to offer students below-market housing in Vancouver. 

Because 95 per cent of its population consists of international students, the college is tailored to provide pathways to higher education and prepare students for life in Canada. Since 2016, the school has offered bursaries to refugees and, in 2018, it expanded the program to offer refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan the opportunity to complete their high school education or pursue an associate degree at Columbia at no cost to them.

Quick facts

School size:
Mid-size

Tuition:
Associate degree $35,000 (for international students)

Residence offerings:
No

Popular programs

Associate Degree in Science—Computer Science
Associate Degree in Science—General
Associate Degree in Arts—General Arts
Associate Degree in Arts—Computer Science 
Associate Degree in Arts—Business

Cool options

Environmental Studies: This interdisciplinary program examines global environmental issues and the complex interactions between communities and the environments they’re based in. 
Psychology: Students learn the history and theories of psychology, explore social, cognitive and biological psychology, and research methods and data analysis, to prepare for a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
Computer Science: Students learn the foundations of computer systems and software engineering, and how to program with modern technology in mind.