Prospective International Student

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, not all full-time programs are available to international applicants.  All of our program information is available on our website at the link below.  Programs without an International tuition/fees link at the top of the program profile page are not available for international application.

https://nbcc.ca/programs-courses 

For a summary of programs available at NBCC, their intakes and availability, please download the current academic year’s View Book from the right menu of the link above.  

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. 

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. 

NBCC does work with qualified agents in many markets. Applying through an agent partner is not required by NBCC, but is an available service to be used at your choice.

Please visit our website at the link below for a list of our agent partners globally.

https://nbcc.ca/international/agents 

You may be able to bring your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children with you to Canada. They may be eligible for a study or work permit, or a visitor visa.

 For more information on these applications please visit the following resources: 

https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/spouses-and-families-of-nbcc-students

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare/minor-children.html

For eligibility on deferral please see Deferring Application.

DOMESTIC APPLICANTS
Domestic and permanent resident applicants are welcome to book an appointment with a member of our Recruitment Team. To book a virtual appointment with a Recruitment Advisor please visit our appointment calendar.

If you would prefer to meet in person or by phone, please contact CollegeWorks@nbcc.ca and we will help you make the arrangements. 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Due to the volume of international applicants, and range in locations/time zones of our international applicants, individual appointments are not available.  International applicants are encouraged to register for a live International Student Q&A, International Student Immigration Information Session or a Travel Restrictions and Entry to Canada session held on a regular basis by our International Education Team.  

To register for an upcoming session or review an archived session, please visit our website.

Yes, you may be eligible to receive credit transfer or credit equivalency based on for learning completed at a recognized post-secondary institution or based on work or life experience. For information about how to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), please visit the NBCC RPL website.

You can work as an international student in Canada if your study permit includes a statement that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus.

You can only start working in Canada after you start your study program. You can’t work before the first day of classes.

If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to work off-campus up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays.

You can work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of these requirements:

• you’re a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI)
• you’re enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program (Quebec only)
• your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma or certificate
• your study permit says, in the user remarks or conditions sections, that you can work off campus (find out what to do if there are no work conditions on your study permit)
• you’ve started studying
• you have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

You must stop working on the day you no longer meet the above eligibility requirements (e.g., if you are no longer a full-time student during an academic session.)  For the most up-to-date information, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work.html

For information regarding working on-campus, you can visit this Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.  

NBCC’s admissions policy doesn't allow the waiver of the application fee.

An applicant may apply to two programs. The application for both programs will be processed. If the applicant is accepted into their preferred program, their application for the second program is automatically cancelled.

If the applicant is admitted into their second choice and confirms by paying the deposit or confirmation fee, they will have a one-time option to return to their preferred choice should a seat become available.

For each program you apply to, you will receive an admission decision (offer of admission or a refusal).

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). 

Yes, all foreign nationals studying at NBCC are required to have a valid study permit. For more information on study permits and immigration requirements, please visit our website at the link below. 

https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration 

We have designated seats available each year in our regular programs for Indigenous applicants. Don’t forget to identify yourself as an Indigenous applicant on your application. These seats are reserved until June 1; after June 1, if there are no Indigenous applicants, the seats are released for admissions by domestic and permanent resident applicants.

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.

https://nbcc.ca/student-services/housing 

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. 

We want our students to be able well positioned for success and be able to participate in all NBCC educational activities. Therefore, all international and Permanent Resident applicants to NBCC must demonstrate adequate academic English proficiency. Visit English Language Requirements for more details.

You do not need to submit evidence of your English Language proficiency when you make your application. If you have already achieved the required grade, please include the details along with your application. If an English language qualification has not been achieved at the time of application it will form part of any conditional offer, and must be met by July 15th for programs starting in September or November 15th for programs starting in January.

If you have a driver's license from your country, it is necessary to get an international driver's license before you leave your home country. This international driver's license is valid for one year only, and you will have to renew the license or apply for a New Brunswick driver's license. Depending on your home country, you may be required to do a full test, or simply have to transfer your license due to reciprocal agreements in place with New Brunswick for a class 5 or motorcycle license.

If you buy a car, you will have to exchange your license immediately for a New Brunswick driving license. If you are employed after graduation, you will need to check your status with Service New Brunswick. To get a New Brunswick driver's license, you must take a written exam and driving test. For information, check with your Advisor or call the New Brunswick Department of Transportation. 

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.

There are both a limited number of programs and seats within each program available for international students. You can check the Programs Open for Application list for the next intake at the link below. This list is updated on a regular basis, based on the number of confirmed admissions offers and applications received for each campus-specific program. Programs no longer showing on the list are considered full for the upcoming intake and are no longer accepting applications. Programs considered full, include waitlisted candidates. 

https://nbcc.ca/admissions/seats-available/international 

NBCC is proud to provide all international students with the GuardMe insurance plan. This plan is mandatory for all incoming international students. NBCC strongly recommends all international students maintain this coverage throughout their studies in case emergency medical assistance is required. For more information on this plan, please visit our website at the link below.  

https://nbcc.ca/student-services/health-dental-insurance 

Enrollment in the GuardMe insurance plan will take place on Monday before the first day of classes of a student’s first term. Upon enrollment, students will receive an enrollment notice from GuardMe containing details about their coverage dates and options to opt out. Students will also receive their policy number and be able to download their coverage card after the opt out deadline each term (see below). 

Optional Dependent Coverage: A student can choose to enroll their dependents in this plan by contacting GuardMe after the opt out deadline has passed and they have received their policy number. Should a student need to enroll their dependents prior to that date, they should contact international@nbcc.ca. 

Optional Opt-Out: Opt-out requests will be received for 10 days at the beginning of a student’s first and second term of study in each academic year. Please review the Academic Calendar for deadlines.  

https://nbcc.ca/admissions/academic-calendar 

Opt-out requests must be submitted via the link below during the opt-out period and include proof of valid New Brunswick Medicare coverage.  

https://nbcc.ca/international/GuardmeOptOut 

Fee Adjustments: Students who successfully opt-out of the GuardMe insurance plan will receive a credit to their student account within 45 days of the opt-out deadline.  

All students with an active New Brunswick Medicare card are required to have the Annual Excursion policy as it will cover travel-related expenses that Medicare will not. Therefore, students cannot be excluded from this part of the coverage.

You will need to be prepared to pay electronically at the time of application in order to complete your application. We accept the following payment methods:

• VISA
• MasterCard
• Debit with the following banks: TD, Scotia, BMO, RBC

If you are not set up to pay online you can always apply in person at one of our six campuses or apply by mail with cheque by submitting directly to the College Admissions Service (CAS). 

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.  

There are a number of ways to apply for a study permit depending on your current status and location. It’s important to choose the correct path and submit a complete application, or risk refusal or delays.

For more information please visit:

https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/study-permits

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently requesting that all study permit applications be submitted online.

Applying at NBCC is easy! Visit our How To Apply webpage for important information on our admissions process, then follow the step-by-step process to submit your application.

You must apply before the expiration of your study permit if you would like to continue studying in Canada. NBCC recommends you apply approximately three months before the expiry date on your study permit, to allow for processing time. If you apply for a study permit extension before the expiry date of your current study permit, you are able to continue studying and working under the same conditions until a decision is made on your application. This is called maintained status. 

For more information and resources on study permit extensions, please visit: https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration

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.

[see Important Dates and Timelines for International Students]

Study permits and other immigration documentation is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). NBCC is not responsible for coordinating or issuing study permits and therefore cannot provide timelines associated with study permit/applications. IRCC provides approximate study permit processing times at the link below. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html

For further information, please visit the Government of Canada’s website at the link below for more information.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html 

You should plan to apply for your study permit as soon as you receive your NBCC letter of acceptance.  All students in blended-delivery programs are required to be in New Brunswick and available for on campus programming starting on the first day of their academic term. 

Domestic Applications: 
Please allow 7 to 10 days to process an application once ALL documents have been received.

Permanent Resident Applications: 
Please allow 2 to 4 weeks to process an application once ALL documents have been received.

International Applications:
Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to process an application once ALL documents have been received.

Note:  During peak periods delays can be experienced.  Please email admissions@nbcc.ca for an update on your application.

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 

For information on requesting a program change, please see Application Program Change Request.

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

Waitlist position is dynamic and can change daily based on the number of qualified applicants that apply to a program, and factors contingent on the decisions of admitted applicants. Waitlisted applicants find out their waitlist position range by contacting our Admissions Team at admissions@nbcc.ca, or by calling 1-888-796-6222 toll free. 

NBCC is proud to offer all our students a competitive health and dental insurance plan through Gallivan. International students are also enrolled automatically for the GuardMe insurance plan to support their arrival to Canada. For more information on coverage, and to access limited services for each plan please visit the plan’s website accessible via the link below.

https://nbcc.ca/student-services/health-dental-insurance 

Within either plan’s online services, you can locate a health practitioner, clinic, hospital and/or pharmacy in your campus community. 

Visit our How To Apply webpage for relevant information on all steps in the application process.

Visit our How To Apply webpage for relevant information on all steps in the application process.

There are limited options available to students whose applications for a study permit have been refused. You may either re-apply or contest the negative decision in court. If you decide to contest the decision it will require a Canadian lawyer if you are not in Canada. In either case you should consult with IRCC or a Canadian immigration lawyer.

If you choose to re-apply, you must be able to satisfy the officer about the concerns listed on your refusal. You can review NBCC’s helpful document on study permit refusals here: https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/resources-guides.

If you lose your study permit you will need to apply for a replacement document. If this happens to you, you may continue studying in Canada, but you should not leave the country, until a copy of a valid study permit has been sent to you.

You can learn more at this link. Please note: you will be required to submit a police report to declare your lost document.

Waitlists are not transferred from one year to another. You will retain your current application position until such time you receive an offer of acceptance to NBCC for the current intake. If an offer is not received, the application will be cancelled by NBCC Admissions. Applicants who remain interested in studying at NBCC are welcome to reapply for an available program in a future intake.

If you have not applied for an extension before your study permit expires, you must stop studying (and working) immediately. You will need to apply for a study permit restoration within 90 days of the expiry date. Failure to do so has very serious consequences and you may be removed from Canada. Learn more about restoration at this site. If you are in this situation, please contact NBCC’s International Immigration Advisor.

If you have applied to extend your study permit prior to the expiry date, you have maintained status. Learn more about maintained status here.

For more information please visit: https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/study-permits. 

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.

NBCC has a limited number of seats in all of our programs, and we typically receive more applications than we have seats. If you receive a letter from NBCC Admissions indicating you are on a waitlist, it means:

• You have met the admission requirements for the program.
• Program seats are currently full, OR NBCC has issued offers for seats which have not yet been accepted.
• Applicants have 15 days to accept an offer of admission, if the applicant misses this deadline the offer is withdrawn, and a new offer can be issued to the next applicant on the waitlist.

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).

A temporary resident visa (TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) is a document that allows you to enter Canada. Whether an international student requires a TRV or an eTA depends on the country of citizenship. You can find out if you need a TRV or an eTA here: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp. You will require this document in addition to a study permit. 

A study permit allows you to remain studying in Canada at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). This is referred to as a status document. All international students in a program of study in Canada of more than 6 months will require a study permit.

For more information please visit:

https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/study-permits

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

The New Brunswick Community College is not included in a ranking system but is regulated by the Province of New Brunswick under post-secondary education legislation. 

New Brunswick has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Temperatures may range from above 30 degrees Celsius in the summer to minus 12 degrees Celsius in the winter. Weather has various conditions in New Brunswick, from rain and cool conditions to warm and dry conditions and is known to change frequently.

In the cool weather of the spring and fall, you should have light clothing that will keep you dry and warm. From June to September, most areas of New Brunswick are warm with slightly cooler evenings, which may require some knit clothing, like a sweater. In summer you will wear lightweight clothing as the temperature increases. Winters in Canada are very cold and can be challenging. To keep warm and safe in the winter you need to have proper winter clothing whenever you are outside. Proper winter clothing includes boots with lining and treads to prevent slipping on ice, windproof or heavy coats, hats, gloves, and more layering of clothing underneath. Expect temperatures below freezing in the winter season in Canada.

Public Transportation

NBCC is proud to offer our programming within six campuses in New Brunswick, Canada.  All of our campuses offer a variety of experiences, and range of amenities and services.  For more information on the communities and their public services, please visit our website at the link below to review more information on each location.  

https://nbcc.ca/campuses 

Regional bus transport is available from depots in multiple communities in the province of New Brunswick, which can provide travel throughout the Atlantic region and Canada. Maritime Bus may offer discounted student rates for most tickets.  Please review the campus guide for more information on this service. 

Airports in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has three main airports. These airports offer regional flights which require a connection for international flights typically in Halifax, Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver. The airport codes for New Brunswick are as follows:

• Fredericton – YFC
• Moncton – YQM
• Saint John – YSJ

If your application to study in Canada is refused, IRCC will send you a letter explaining why. IRCC may refuse your application if you do not:

• show proof that you have enough money to support yourself while studying in Canada,
• pass your medical exam, if you need to get one,
• convince the visa officer that your main purpose in Canada is to study, or
• convince the visa officer that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your study period

For this reason, it is important to take your application seriously and include information to support your desires to come to Canada as a genuine student.

For more information, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html.

If your study permit application has been refused, you can re-apply if you are able to address the reasons for refusal. You can review NBCC’s helpful document on study permit refusals here: https://nbcc.ca/international/visas-permits-and-immigration/lists/international-students/resources-guides

If you are no longer interested in pursuing your studies at NBCC for your waitlisted program, please send your request to cancel your application in writing to admissions@nbcc.ca.

NBCC will identify a timeframe relevant to the upcoming start term for international waitlist management, and will issue offers of admission to international waitlisted applicants based on:

• The study permit processing timelines determined by Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• A reasonable timeframe to ensure newcomers to Canada have sufficient time to make all necessary arrangements for life in Canada prior to the first day of classes.

It is critical that NBCC has the latest information regarding your study permit. Ensure we have up-to-date details regarding your study permit status by filling out this survey.

Waitlisted applicants should be prepared to do the following should a seat become available:

• Activate your IT account and Access Student Self Service
• Confirm your acceptance by accepting the offer of admission within 15 days.
• Pay the mandatory, non-refundable, $1,500.00 confirmation fee.
• Meet English Language Proficiency requirements if applicable.
• Make arrangements for living in New Brunswick Housing Listing (nbcc.ca)

For a complete list of Next Steps please visit our webpage.

DOMESTIC APPLICANTS

There is no deadline to apply. 

Applications for domestic and permanent residents are opened all year round.  On the application, a campus-specific program selection for a specific intake is selected.  If an application is not admitted to the selected intake and is waitlisted, the application will automatically be rolled over to the next academic year for the same intake.  

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

There is no deadline to apply. 

There are both a limited number of programs and seats within each program available for international students.  You can check the Programs Open for Application list for the next intake at the link below.  This list is updated on a regular basis, based on the number of confirmed admissions offers and applications received for each campus-specific program.  Programs no longer showing on the list are considered full for the upcoming intake and are no longer accepting applications.  

https://nbcc.ca/admissions/seats-available/international  

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has gathered all of the information about temporary policy changes due to COVID-19 at this link. 

All submitted documents become the property of NBCC and will not be returned.