After receiving your Letter of Acceptance, it is time to get ready to come to Canada and start your studies. Below is very important information for you as you prepare. Please take the time to read carefully, and email us for any questions.
Log into your my NIC account. All future communication from North Island College will be through your myNIC email address. You can find your log-in information in your Letter of Offer. Please check your email regularly. If you have problems with log in, please contact tech support.
You may be requested to submit the original copy of your transcripts and/or diplomas at the time of arrival.
A study permit is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which allows you to study in Canada temporarily.
You must have a study permit if your courses or programs of studies is longer than 6 months.
If you are unsure whether you need a study permit, please contact us at study@nic.bc.ca
For more information on study permit requirements to study in Canada, visit IRCC’s website.
It can take a few months to receive a study permit, and it is important that you apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your Letter of Acceptance and Provincial Attestation Letter from NIC.
If your program of study includes a Co-op/Internship requirement, ensure you tick the appropriate box on your study permit application to request a work permit. Waiting until you are in Canada to apply for a work permit will result in long wait times. For more information, speak to your agent or visit IRCC’s website.
If your contact information changes after you have submitted an application, be sure to update it through IRCC’s webform and through myNIC.
Once you have received a decision regarding your visa and study permit, please email istudentvisas@nic.bc.ca by attaching the decision document in its entirety. You will not be registered in courses and we cannot guarantee there will be space available in courses if you choose not to provide your study permit, as required.
Citizens of certain countries are required to have Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). If you are from a TRV-exempt country, you may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before you can travel to Canada.
If your study permit does not specifically include post-secondary study, you need to apply for a new study permit. You will apply to change your study permit as soon as you have your acceptance letter. This is a 'Change in Condition' of your study permit. The form and process are located on the Canadian Immigration website.
Once you mail your documents, it may take up to two months to receive your study permit. You must have your new study permit BEFORE you go home for the summer.
If you have a valid study permit and you are starting your study at NIC, you can use the existing study permit to study at NIC. However, you must inform IRCC of the change of institution on your myCIC account.
Depending on the expiry of your study permit, you may need to apply to extend your study permit. If you completed your previous program in Canada before coming to NIC, you must extend your study permit within 90 days after receiving confirmation of program completion, even if your study permit has not expired.
The deposit payment may not cover the full program fees. For information on program fees, please visit Financial Information page. Once your deposit has been allocated and remaining tuition and fees due are to be paid at 4pm the first day of classes for the relevant semester. Please see NIC Key Dates for payment due dates.
Your deposit is non-refundable. Please carefully read Refund Policy NIC Policy #4-18 in its entirety and contact the Office of Global Engagement (study@nic.bc.ca) if you have any questions.
- Study Permit Denied:
A refund request may be processed when a student submits to North Island College a copy of the letter from Canada Immigration denying their study permit. A $200 processing fee and any applicable charges (e.g. courier fees, wire transfer fees) will be deducted from the refund. The letter from Canada Immigration must be submitted within 3 (three) months of the date on the letter.
PLEASE NOTE: North Island College assumes study permit applications include authentic documentation. No refund is available if a study permit is denied because documentation lacked authenticity or is labelled as fraudulent.
- Exceptional Circumstances:
Applicants/students may be considered for a refund in exceptional circumstances only. Requests for a proportional refund may be approved at the discretion of the Executive Director, Office of Global Engagement upon receipt of a written request outlining the specific circumstances with documentation. The approval or rejection of a request for a refund will be determined based on the rationale provided in the submission.
All request and supporting documentation for refunds should be sent to irefunds@nic.bc.ca. Some refunds may take 6-8 weeks to process.
Please note the deposit is not transferrable to other institutions or another individual.
After study permit information is provided to us, our International Student Advisor will contact you to register you in your courses based on course availability and the prerequisites you have on file, as evaluated by our international admissions. Depending on your prerequisites you may have additional courses you will be registered in.
Due to the current situation, North Island College will be offering all courses using a digital delivery model. Students will require access to a computer with internet to successfully engage in the coursework. Please note: Cell phones are not suitable given the level of required online interaction with the class and instructor. Information on these delivery modes can be found here .
Whether your courses are online or in-class, we want you to be successful. To be successful learners in our new digital world, students will require access to a computer with internet.
NIC has created 3 technology checklists to assist students prepare for learning. Please see our Learn Anywhere site for a full list of technology requirements.
Additional post-admission requirements
Some programs may require you to submit additional documents prior to the start of the program. This information will be communicated to you in your Letter of Acceptance.
Additional supplies
Some programs may require you to purchase program-specific supplies, which will incur additional cost. For more information, please visit Financial Information page as well as the program page.
Students who wish to change to another program in subsequent term of study must meet all admission requirements. In addition, programs may be offered at a different North Island College campus location which will require students to relocate to another community. Program change fees are subject to a $100 fee.
