A new campaign designed to encourage students to choose Northern British Columbia’s post-secondary institutions has been launched.
British Columbia (BC) Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark, announced the Study North BC campaign on September 22.

The campaign is a collaborative project organized by the Northern Post-Secondary Council, which is geared to raise awareness of the diverse and high-quality programs available in Northern BC to prospective post-secondary students including international students.

“Northern British Columbia is an amazing destination for students to study, work and play. The region is one of the most incredible parts of our province. Welcoming communities, and opportunities from post-graduate research to degrees through to trades, will empower our students to thrive and succeed,” said Minister Mark at the launch event, where she was joined by presidents of the University of Northern BC (UNBC), the College of New Caledonia (CNC), Northern Lights College, and Northwest Community College.

The Study North BC campaign aims to highlight the world-class quality of education and student-friendly environment. The campaign also highlights BC’s comprehensive transfer system, which gives students the freedom and flexibility to transfer to a different academic institution in the province without losing any course credits along the way. BC continues to be one of Canada’s most popular study destinations for international students. Almost one third of all international students living in the Canada are in BC. In 2016, there were nearly 48,000 new study permit applicants to the province, indicating a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

The campaign urges students to consider Northern BC institutions because they offer a unique Canadian experience, access to diverse study programs, student-focused learning, and affordable cost of living.

The employment opportunities in Northern BC is another feature emphasised in the campaign. With more than 80 per cent of recent graduates reporting full-time employment soon after graduation, the region boasts the highest full-time employment rates in the province. This may be attributed to the availability of technical and trades training courses offered through co-op opportunities in many Northern BC’s institutions.

Leila Abubakar, an international student and graduate of CNC and UNBC, recalls her experience of moving from Kenya:

“When I first came to Prince George from Kenya, I was initially taken back by the stark difference between Nairobi and Prince George, but I quickly came to love this community. The community at the College of New Caledonia and University of Northern British Columbia made me feel welcome, and now that I have completed my education, I call Northern BC home.”

Settling in Northern BC after graduation

Students who choose to stay in Northern BC after graduation may work with a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). To settle in Northern BC as a permanent resident after graduation, there are a number of programs available to international graduates through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), as well as other potential pathways through the federal economic immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system.

Learn more about studying in British Columbia.

International students and post-graduate workers in Canada can join the CanadaVisa Study Hub to access a range of tools and resources to assist in studying, working, and settling in Canada permanently. Members also get access to the CanadaVisa Scholarship Contest, for a chance to win $500.

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