What Can I Expect?

Welcome to NBCC’s Student Information Hub! This is where you’ll find important information about program delivery, student services and support, and campus events. We encourage you to visit this page for important student information throughout the academic year.

2024 – 2025 Academic Year

The 2024-2025 academic year will provide students with a vibrant campus experience and flexible learning options, with opportunities for both in-person and virtual learning.

Refer to NBCC’s Academic Calendar for all academic term start dates and other important dates throughout the year.

The Connection

The Connection is your weekly student e-newsletter containing important information on student services and supports, upcoming events, information sessions, and more. Watch for the latest issue in your inbox every Friday!

If you are considering becoming a permanent resident in New Brunswick or elsewhere in Canada, there are many potential immigration classes that may be suitable to international graduates in Canada with the right combination of language skills, education, and experience.

Express Entry

In early 2015, Canada launched an active recruitment model for its immigration process called Express Entry.  Express Entry is not a category of Canadian immigration but a selection system that adjudicates both federal and provincial immigration classes. The system now selects immigrants from the following programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class
2. Federal Skilled Worker Class
3. Federal Skilled Trades Class
4. Certain Provincial Nominee programs

Under the Express Entry system, candidates are ranked against each other in a selection pool, using a points-based system. Only candidates with the highest scores in the pool are issued an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is a program designed to retain eligible workers and students with a specific combination of education, language skills, and in-Canada work experience.  If you have graduated from NBCC and obtained enough postgraduate work experience from within the country, you may want to consider this program. The Canadian Experience Class is now adjudicated by the federal Express Entry selection system.

At the end of your studies, you must have earned a diploma, trade, or an apprenticeship credential that is recognized by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada. You must also have:

1. Finished a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in the 36 months after graduation. The work experience must be categorized in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) under codes O, A, or B.
2. Obtained the relevant work experience on a work permit that is valid, such as the post-graduation work permit.
3. Taken a qualifying language test and achieved the mandatory minimum score.
4. Not let more than one year pass between your last job in Canada and the time of your application.
5. You must also intend to live outside Québec, as that province administers its own immigration programs and has its own experience class.

Please note, only experience gathered with postgraduate authorization (i.e. a valid work permit, not a study permit) can count towards this application. Work Experience, Apprenticeships, and Co-Op Terms That Are Completed during Your Time at NBCC Will Not Count in Support of an Application for the Canadian Experience Class.

Skilled Trades Class

This class of Canadian Immigration recognizes a combination of work experience and licensing in the skilled trades. In order to qualify for this program, students must:

1. declare their intention to live outside Québec
2. meet the mandatory minimum requirements for English or French
3. have completed at least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years before making an application
4. meet all the job requirements for that skilled trade according to the National Occupation Classification, and
5. possess a full-time employment offer which is valid for at least one year, or be in possession of a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade the applicant is applying under. That certificate of qualification must be issued by provincial or territorial body

This permanent residency class also has a list of eligible groups. Please note this information may change from time to time.

Currently eligible groups:

1. Industrial, electrical and construction trades,
2. Maintenance and equipment operation trades,
3. Supervisor and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,
4. Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,
5. Chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers.

Provincial Nominee Programs

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program has recently developed a program that will work in concert with the federal express entry selection system. Students with the right combination of skills, education, and language proficiency are encouraged to read more at the New Brunswick provincial website.

NBCC Orientation: Fall 2024

Are you new to NBCC? Visit our Orientation page for more information on Pre-Orientation sessions, Welcome Week, the first day of classes, and more.

Program Delivery

Most programs at NBCC are delivered via a “blended” format. This means that some of your courses may be delivered in person at your designated campus, while other courses will be taught virtually using NBCC’s Learning Management System, Brightspace, and MS Teams.

Students can expect to be on campus between 60 and 80 percent of the time (three to four days per week). Classes are typically held between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Some exceptions apply.

NBCC Course Delivery Options:

• In-Person Learning – In-person course instruction on campus or at an alternate location. In-person learning may use technology such as Brightspace, laptops, digital textbooks, etc.
• Blended Learning – Course instruction alternates between in-person and virtual learning.  Blended learning will use technology such as Brightspace or MS Teams. 
• Hyflex Learning – Course instruction is available in person and virtually at the same time!  This option empowers students to choose how they want to learn on any given day throughout the course.  Hyflex Learning will use technology such as Brightspace and/or MS Teams to enhance both the virtual and classroom-based learning experience.
• Virtual Learning – Course instruction is synchronous (live, scheduled sessions) and delivered virtually.
• Online Learning – Course instruction is asynchronous (unscheduled, self-paced) and delivered fully online. 

Explore Student Services and Support

We are here to support you every step of the way. Check out some of the services you can access as an NBCC learner.

Student Services

• Counselling Services
• Career Services
• Indigenous Student Support
• International Student Support
• Services for Students requiring accommodations (e.g. learning disabilities, physical disabilities, etc)
• Library Services
• Student Financial Support Services
• Tutoring Services

Other Resources

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Off-Campus Housing
• Transitioning Life to College
• IT Services for Students - Visit the Get Started page for a quick overview of how to activate your account and other important information.
• Printing: Visit IT – Services: Printing for more information on print credits, submitting print jobs, and more. 
• NEW! Student Learning Experience Charter (pdf) - NBCC's Student Learning Experience Charter outlines our commitment to students, to deliver a quality learning experience, and in return, sets out expectations for learners to ensure they make the most of their time with the College.
• NEW! Peer Mentor Program - As a Peer/Nitap Mentor, you will offer peer support and guidance to other learners as they transition to college life. As a Mentee, you will be guided by an experienced student for your transition to college life.

Things You Should Know

• Brightspace Calendar: Curious about what’s happening across NBCC? Login to your Brightspace account and click on the "calendar button" located on the homepage. A list of upcoming events, initiatives, deadlines, and important dates is also available on the right-hand side of your Brightspace homepage.
• NBCC Emergency Procedures (pdf): NBCC’s emergency procedures outline the College’s emergency response procedures in the unlikely event that a life-threatening incident occurs at one of our locations. Physical copies of emergency procedures are also posted in academic spaces and common areas across our seven locations.
• Urgent Notification System: In cases where NBCC must quickly notify students of events such as campus closures or emergencies, we use the mass notification system Regroup. When classes commence and you are enrolled in all courses, login to Regroup using your assigned unique alphanumeric username and network login password to verify that your contact information is correct. It is important that we have up-to-date contact information for all active NBCC students.
• Health and Dental Plan & Opt-Out Deadline: NBCC and the NBCC Student Union (NBCCSU) offer MANDATORY health and dental coverage for students (pending eligibility). If you have proof of comparable extended coverage, you must apply to ‘opt out’ of the plan prior to NBCC’s deadline (refer to Academic Calendar for dates). Charges will apply for those who miss the deadline; no exceptions will be considered. Please note: If you are a student who had previously opted out since 2013, and no longer have an alternate comparable Health & Dental Plan, it is your responsibility to reach out to the Student Benefits Office to opt back into the plans by the deadline date.
  
  In addition, this year, the plan includes myWellness, an award-winning student mental health and wellness program. Through myWellness you can access support resources, an anonymous mental health assessment, and a toolbox full of helpful solutions. This plan is mandatory for students in regular programs of 20 weeks or more, unless proof of alternate (equivalent) insurance coverage is provided. 

• Tuition and fees: All tuition and fees are due by the first Friday after classes commence (refer to Academic Calendar for dates). We recommend that you make all payments online; learn more about tuition and fee payment options on our website.
  
  Note: All fees paid beyond the deadline may be subject to late fees.
• Government Student Loans: If you have not received your loan instalment by the third week of classes, contact your loan provider immediately. Please email financials@nbcc.ca if you expect further delays. Once NBCC receives and completes your confirmation of enrolment, the tuition/fees payment is sent directly to NBCC from your loan. Please don’t pay again if you are paying via student loan; it may take approximately 5-10 business days for this loan payment to be applied to your account.
• Student Loan Resources: The government of New Brunswick publishes an information guide (pdf) on how to apply for a student loan within New Brunswick. Contact GNB Student Financial Services (1-800-667-5626) for provincial student aid, and canlearn.ca or call toll-free (1-888-815-4514) for federal student aid.
• NBCCSU Events Calendar: The NBCCSU events calendar is available here. Check out what’s happening this month!