The BC government will begin issuing Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) to post-secondary institutions to allow international applicants to apply for a study permit as required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) starting March 4, 2024. NIC's current applicants joining NIC in May 2024 intake or later will receive an email communication regarding the process of obtaining a PAL. Prospective students can find relevant information on our Applying to NIC page.
Qualifying is simple, applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older within the calendar year in which they are applying to study (if you are younger, please contact study@nic.bc.ca before applying).
- Meet the English language requirement or complete the English language program at one of our affiliated language schools.
- Meet other admission requirements for your chosen program. Full admission requirements are found under each program description.
For further detail you may review our Admission Policy 4-17.
English Language Requirements
NIC courses are taught in English. To be admitted directly into academic programs, you must meet the specific English proficiency requirements as detailed below.
Please note that:
- Official English language proficiency assessment results indicated below must be from the last two years.
- All students from countries with Student Direct Stream (see IRCC website for more information) and applying under Student Direct Stream must meet the minimum English standards as indicated by IRCC.
- General IELTS is not accepted to meet English language requirements.
- Equivalency of other curriculum or assessments are determined by NIC International Admissions.
English Language Requirements for students in Limited Entry Programs
Programs under this category:
- Adventure Guiding Certificate
-
Aircraft Structures Technician (AME-S)
- Coastal Forest Technology Diploma
- Early Childhood Care and Education Certificate/Diploma
-
Furniture Design and Joinery Certificate
- Health Care Assistant Certificate
- Instrumentation and Electrical Automation Diploma
- Human Services Certificate/Diploma
- Social Services Diploma
- Tourism and Hospitality Diploma – Adventure Guiding Option
English Language Requirement under this category:
| Assessment |
Minimum Requirement |
| BC Curriculum |
English 12 or BC English First Peoples 12 with a minimum grade of C (or C+: see program pages) |
| USA Curriculum |
Grade 12 English Studies/Literature/Composition/Creative Writing with minimum of C+ or better from an accredited recognized secondary school. |
| GCSE/IGCSE English courses |
A minimum final grade of C in GCSE/IGCSE Ordinary Level English. English as a Second Language or Additional Language courses are not accepted. |
| Carribbean Examinations Council English courses |
A minimum final grade of C or 3 in CSEC English. |
| West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) |
A minimum C4 in WASSCE English. |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) |
A minimum C+ in KCSE English. |
| Academic IELTS |
overall score of 6.0, no band lower than 6.0 |
| TOEFL ibt |
80 overall with no subsection less than 20 |
| CAEL |
60 and writing 60 |
| PTE Academic |
54 overall with no component less than 50
PTE online is not currently accepted. PTE Academic is not accepted for Health Care Assistant Certificate. |
Cambridge Assessment
of English: C1 Advanced |
174 overall with no sub-score less than 169
PTE Academic is not accepted for Health Care Assistant Certificate.
|
| Duolingo English Test |
110 overall with no section score less than 100. Re-test score within 3 weeks between each testing is NOT accepted.
PTE Academic is not accepted for Health Care Assistant Certificate.
|
English Language Requirements for students in Open Entry Programs
Programs under this category:
- All other programs not mentioned above
English Language Requirement under this category:
| Assessment |
Minimum Requirement |
| BC Curriculum |
BC English 12 or BC English First Peoples 12 with a minimum grade of C (or C+: see program pages) |
| USA Curriculum |
Grade 12 English Studies/Literature/Composition/Creative Writing with minimum of C+ or better from an accredited recognized secondary school. |
| GCSE/IGCSE English courses |
A minimum final grade of C in GCSE/IGCSE Ordinary Level English. English as a Second Language or Additional Language courses are not accepted. |
| Carribbean Examinations Council English courses |
A minimum final grade of C or 3 in CSEC English. |
| West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) |
A minimum C4 in WASSCE English. |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) |
A minimum C+ in KCSE English. |
| Academic IELTS |
overall score of 6.0, no band lower than 5.5 |
| TOEFL ibt |
80 overall with no subsection less than 19 |
| CAEL |
60 and writing 60 |
| PTE Academic |
54 overall with no component less than 46 |
Cambridge Assessment
of English: C1 Advanced |
174 overall with no sub-score less than 165 |
| Duolingo English Test |
105 with no section less than 95. Re-test score within 3 weeks between each testing is NOT accepted |
English Language Equivalency (all programs)
Graduates of recognized degree programs (3 or 4 years in length) from an accredited post-secondary institution where English was the medium of instruction, and English is an official language of the country, are also accepted as meeting the English language requirement.
Those countries include the following:
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- England
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Namibia
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Scotland
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- St. Helena
- St. Kitts (Christopher) & Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent & the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- United States Virgin Islands
- Wales
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Already studying in Canada and want to transfer to NIC?
Applicants in Canada who hold valid study permit are not required to work with an agent, and the same application process applies.
Pathway to NIC for ESL Learners
Applicants who do not meet NIC's English Proficiency Requirements can choose to attend Language Pathway schools across Canada that partner with NIC.
