After successful completion of an eligible post-secondary or graduate program at NBCC, international students may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The length of the permit depends on how long you studied in Canada, ranging from eight (8) months to three (3) years. You can see how the duration of the PGWP is calculated at this IRCC website.
There are other criteria that you must meet to remain eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), including being a full-time student during every term of your program (with the exception of your final semester) and completing no more than 50% of your studies via distance learning (online).
Please visit the following IRCC website often as it is regularly updated with potential changes to policy and procedure.
If you think your eligibility for the PGWP might have been or will be affected by a change in academic delivery due to COVID-19, you should review the updates from IRCC regarding the temporary delivery changes to support international students affected by COVID-19 .
No. In order to be eligible for RPL, you must be in good academic standing; however, you may apply when your academic suspension has been lifted.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Some clinicals, practicums, and advanced level courses may be deemed ineligible for credit transfer/equivalency.
Note: If you have completed PERS1228 (Orientation to Community Service) in a previous NBCC program, you are not required to take the full course again. However, we strongly encourage you to participate in the annual College-wide Service Day, which provides a great opportunity for you to develop important skills for success, such as communication, collaboration and creative problem solving through volunteering or service learning.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
All NBCC campuses have library services with books and periodicals, as well as audio-visual resources. Electronic databases which index and provide full text information from periodicals and reference materials are also located in the library. Internet access is available in libraries and computer labs and in some classrooms. Hours of operation depend on the campus.
High school students in New Brunswick can take certain courses that are recognized as prior learning at NBCC through the credit transfer application process. Click this link for more information about which NB high school courses are eligible for credit at NBCC, as well as some FAQs to help you understand more about the process.
https://nbcc.ca/admissions/recognition-of-prior-learning/high-school-students.
Note: Credit transfers will not be granted for any high school courses that are not listed in the link above because your prior learning must be achieved at a recognized post-secondary or other adult education institution to be considered equivalent to NBCC courses.
Student Success Week is a week-long break from classes that happens three times per year (October, February, and April) at NBCC. During these weeks there are no classes, however, campuses remain open. You can find Student Success Week dates for each term on our NBCC Academic Calendar.
From an immigration perspective, Student Success Week is considered a scheduled break from your studies. If you have the appropriate work authorization statements on your study permit and meet all eligibility requirements to work in Canada, you are able to work full-time on a scheduled break from classes, including Student Success Week. The definition of full-time work for immigration purposes, including information regarding working overtime or for different employers, can be found here.
It is important to note that you must be a full-time student both before and after the break, and have all necessary work authorizations, to work full-time.
Yes. If you wish to appeal, you must include a letter explaining your reasons for appeal and attach supporting documentation that shows new evidence of prior learning that you did not include in your original application. Appeal requests that do not include new evidence of prior learning will be denied. All appeal decisions are final.
Yes. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program allows you to gain credit for NBCC courses by transferring credits you already earned at another post-secondary institution. In order to obtain credit transfer, you must show that the course(s) you previously took matches at least 80% of the required competencies and outcomes of the respective NBCC course and that you earned a minimum grade of 60%. You may submit up to four courses for credit transfer.
You must attach (upload) the following documentation to your RPL application form:
Note: Students submitting previously completed NBCC courses for evaluation are not required to submit an official transcript.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Due to privacy legislation, we can only discuss details about your application directly with you unless you have provided consent. Consent can be provided on the application or by contacting the College Admissions Service (CAS) at 1-888-796-6222 (within North America) or 1-506-759-6419 (outside North America).
NBCC does not have on-campus student housing, and all of our students live within the communities where they are studying.
For more information on housing options, and our campus communities, please visit our website at the link below.
NBCC’s International Education Office is accessible via email at International@nbcc.ca. Please reach out to your Team at your convenience for assistance. Emails are generally returned within 1 to 3 business days.
Use the View Course Profile search feature on the RPL portal to find an NBCC course profile: https://helpdesk.nbcc.ca/CherwellPortal/RPLPortal
Click this link to watch a tutorial on using this feature: https://youtu.be/WtKFgbHL03E
Remember: Course profiles are subject to change. To view the most up-to-date version of the profile, you must use the search feature on the RPL Portal. Do not rely on downloaded copies.
Check the Previously Evaluated Courses list (also called the “Master List”) to see if your previous courses have already been approved for credit toward an NBCC course. Click this link and enter your login details to view the list: https://helpdesk.nbcc.ca/CherwellPortal/RPLPortal
This list is provided for information purposes only and is made available to assist you in identifying possible credit transfers and/or equivalencies you may be eligible to receive. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this data, errors may exist. The list is reviewed periodically and is subject to change.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
If you have achieved prior learning through work or life experience (e.g. , volunteerism, military work, family commitments, workshops, seminars, self-directed study, or on-the-job training), you may be eligible to apply for credit equivalency. Your application must demonstrate how the learning you achieved matches at least 80% of the scope, depth, and level of learning required in the NBCC course.
If you are submitting experiential and/or non-formal learning for evaluation, your supporting documentation must adhere to the following guidelines:
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Tuition and fee refunds may be available for students who withdraw early from their program. Neither the application fee, or confirmation deposit paid for an admissions offer are refundable fees. Important dates related to requesting a refund for are available in the academic calendar.
To request a refund, please download the Request for Refund form available in your Student Self-Service.
Note for International Students
Refunds are NOT calculated based on study permit/visa status.
If you have previously attended a post-secondary institution in New Brunswick, check the Council on Articulations and Transfer of New Brunswick (CATNB) credit transfer portal to identify credit transfers that you may be eligible to receive at NBCC. CATNB was developed by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour in collaboration with NB post-secondary institutions.
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the data in the CATNB credit transfer portal, errors may occur and it is your responsibility to verify this information. The listing of credit transfers in this portal in no way guarantees the granting of credit in a specific situation, as other factors may apply.
RPL offers two main ways you can be awarded a credit towards your program: credit transfer or credit equivalency.
Credit transfer is when you receive credit for learning you gained from one or more equivalent courses you previously completed at a recognized post-secondary institution. You may submit up to four previously completed courses for credit toward one NBCC course. Credit transfer is indicated as CR on your NBCC transcript.
Credit equivalency is when you earn credit for learning you gained from work or life experience, non-formal learning, on-the-job training, volunteerism, self-directed study, military service, workshops, etc. Credit equivalency is indicated as EQ on your NBCC transcript.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
If you started your program after July 1, 2021, you may obtain a maximum of 75% of your program’s total credits through RPL. If you started your program before July 1, 2021, you may obtain a maximum of 50% of your program’s total credits through RPL.
IMPORTANT: To maintain full-time status, you must complete at least 60% of your program credits per term in class.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Most NBCC communications will be through email. It is important to ensure you have a valid email address on file and to verify this email account regularly for updates to your status and NBCC events. Please ensure that your email security settings for our NBCC email addresses are set properly to guarantee they are delivered to your inbox.
At NBCC we certainly understand that paying for college can be challenging. For this reason we are proud to offer our students a variety of scholarships, awards, and bursaries to help off-set the costs while they pursue their studies. Each scholarship, award, and bursary have varying application requirements and staggered award delivery. Amounts for each opportunity also vary, and therefore we encourage all of our students and future students to review the information posted at the links below, and apply for as many opportunities as possible. There are no entrance or admissions scholarships available prior to the start of a program at NBCC.
https://nbcc.ca/scholarships-bursaries-awards
Tuition and fee payments including your confirmation deposit can be made following your acceptance to a program at NBCC.
All tuition and fees payments to NBCC are now processed through PayMyTuition. Payment options vary by country of payment origin. Please login to your Student Self-Service and click the PayMyTuition tile to review the options available to you. Payments sent to NBCC with PayMyTuition may take 1 to 3 business days to be processed as described in the FAQs at the link below. We are not able to process payments over the phone or wire transfers for security reasons. Cash deposits at the campus are not recommended.
https://nbcc.ca/tuition-fees/payment-options
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has gathered all of the information about temporary policy changes due to COVID-19 at this link.
If a student completes more than one program from NBCC within 2 years, the length of the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) will combine the total duration of both programs. If a student takes two one-year certificates, they may be eligible for a three year PGWP. Please note that each program of study must meet all PGWP eligibility requirements and be at least 8 months in length. You can further review this information at this link.
To learn more about the PGWP, please refer to these resources:
https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/working-in-canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/eligibility.html
There is currently no fee for RPL services at NBCC.
No. If you have already successfully completed courses at NBCC that have the exact same course codes as in your new program, you do not have to apply for credit transfer. You should speak with your Academic Leadership Team to make sure your previous courses will be applied to your current program.
RPL may help you get your diploma or certificate from NBCC by reducing the number of courses you need to take.
Please note: Getting credit for courses does not shorten the length of your program. Instead, it can lighten your course load each term, giving you more time to focus on study, work or other commitments.
The RPL application process can also help you prepare for job interviews later on by giving you an opportunity to assess your prior learning and experience and prepare documentation demonstrating your knowledge and skills.
To learn more about Recognition of Prior Learning at NBCC, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Credit transfer is when you receive credit for learning you gained from one or more equivalent courses you previously completed at a recognized post-secondary institution. You may submit up to four previously completed courses for credit toward one NBCC course. Credit transfer is indicated as CR on your NBCC transcript.
Credit equivalency is when you earn credit for learning you gained from work or life experience, non-formal learning, on-the-job training, volunteerism, self-directed study, military service, workshops, etc. Credit equivalency is indicated as EQ on your NBCC transcript.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
If your study permit application is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction. The letter of introduction – also called “the port of entry introduction letter” – is not your study permit but is your confirmation that you have been approved for a study permit. When you enter Canada you will need to present this to the border services officer to get a study permit printed.
An official transcript is an original document detailing a student’s academic record that is generated by a recognized educational institution, includes an official signature, and is stamped with an embossed seal.
You may upload a scanned copy of your official transcript with your RPL application OR if you do not have a copy of your official transcript, you should attach an unofficial version for review. However, in order for your result to be finalized and credit added to your NBCC transcript, you must submit an official transcript to the RPL Office no later than 14 calendar days following submission of your RPL application.
If you need to request an official transcript from your previous post-secondary institution, please ask them to email it to the RPL Office at RPL@nbcc.ca.
If your previous post-secondary institution will not email your official transcript to us directly, ask them to mail it to your home address. You can then scan the document and send it to RPL@nbcc.ca. Please include your full name, NBCC student ID, and the Service Request number of your RPL application in the subject line of your email.
Please note that we do not require official transcripts from NBCC. If you are submitting an NBCC course for credit transfer, you may simply upload your unofficial transcript with your application.
You can find your DLI number on your letter of acceptance and on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada list of designated learning institutions. The Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, St. Andrews, and Woodstock campuses all use New Brunswick Community College’s DLI of O19391556439. Note that the first digit of the number is the letter “O” and not a zero (0).
Pre-approval of credit is an option for NBCC students who have failed or otherwise not completed a course that is required for graduation. You may submit an application to the RPL Office to obtain permission to take an equivalent course at another post-secondary institution in order to make up the credit at NBCC. Pre-approvals are only available for external courses that you have not yet taken.
To determine whether pre-approval is the right option for you, you should discuss your situation with a Co-ordinating Instructor or another student advisor. You can review the Previously Evaluated Courses List with your advisor to check if any external courses have been approved for credit toward the NBCC course you need to make up.
We strongly recommend that you wait to receive your result before enrolling in an external course.
To learn more about the pre-approval process, please see the pre-approval application guide.
Students in blended delivery programs should plan to arrive in their campus community within 1 to 4 weeks in advance of their program intake, as blended programs do require all students to be on campus from the beginning of the term.
The first day of classes for each academic term is available in the Academic Calendar on our website at the link below. Accepted students who have not presented to class on campus before the end of the first week of classes will be subject to withdrawal of their admissions offer. Extensions to the in-class deadline will not be provided.
https://nbcc.ca/admissions/academic-calendar
International Students:
All incoming students can complete an NBCC Arrival Travel and Self-isolation Plan via the link below for further assistance. This plan is not required by NBCC prior to your arrival in Canada.
https://nbcc.ca/international/covid-19-international-student-information
The RPL Office will only consider applications for courses being offered in the term indicated on the website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl. Click this link to see application dates and deadlines for the full academic year.
We recommend that you keep an eye on the website and apply as soon as you can once we begin accepting applications for the term in which your course is scheduled to start. Applications are usually processed within 3-4 weeks of submission.
**Please do not wait until the last minute to submit your application. Internet outages, computer problems and other issues can occur suddenly, so be sure to give yourself enough time to deal with any complications that could interrupt the online submission process.
For more information about the Recognition of Prior Learning process, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has gathered all of the information about temporary policy changes due to COVID-19 at this link.
RPL is available to students who are active in a full-time program, and in good financial and academic standing with the college.
Students are not eligible to apply if they are enrolled in part-time or Continuing Education programs, with the exception of those intending to complete the Educational Assistant or Early Childhood Education certificates through Continuing Education. Please note you must be registered in at least one course to access the application form.
To learn more about Recognition of Prior Learning at NBCC, please visit our website: www.nbcc.ca/rpl
Possibly. Students are no longer considered to be full-time if more than 40% of credits per term are obtained through the Recognition of Prior Learning process. For example, if you are taking courses that add up to 10 credits altogether in a term, you may obtain up to 4 of those credits through RPL and still maintain your full-time status.
Before you apply for a credit transfer or credit equivalency, you should calculate whether being granted the credit through RPL will result in a status change from full-time to part-time, which could impact your eligibility for student loans, sponsorships, study permits, or the post-graduation work permit.
Campuses
Contact Us
Request for InformationConnect With Us
NBCC campuses are located on Mi’kmaq, Wolastoq and Peskotomuhkati homelands. Since 1726 this land has been subject to treaties that are still in effect today. We are grateful to learn together on this land and do so guided by the original spirit of those treaties - peace, respect and friendship.
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved.