Credit Program Information for International Students

Table of Contents

• Application for Admission
• Admission Requirements
• English Language Proficiency Requirements
• Additional Admission Requirements
• Tuition and Financial Aid
• Fee Payment Schedules
• Health Care
• Available Courses & Programs

Application for Admission

Grande Prairie Regional College welcomes applications for admission from students from other countries for fall semester beginning in September.  Students applying later than April 1 may find they are unable to obtain a student visa in time to begin classes in September.  International student visa applicants applying for admission to winter semester beginning in January may be considered for admission if they are currently studying in another institution in Canada or the U.S.A.

PLEASE NOTE: Grande Prairie Regional College does not offer graduate level programs.

Apply to Attend GPRC >>

Admission Requirements

International student visa applicants are considered for admission to programs at Grande Prairie Regional College on the basis of

• Completed application form
• Full payment of non-refundable application fee
• Receipt of official transcripts of secondary grades and any post-secondary transcripts
• Notarized translations of all documents presented for admission that are not in English.
• Appropriate admission requirements for the program
• English Language Proficiency
• Proof of basic health care benefits

Prospective international (student visa) applicants from outside Canada who are accepted by the College will receive a Letter of Admission.  Students must submit the Letter of Admission to the appropriate Canadian consulate or immigration officials in their home country in order to secure an official Student Visa.  All arrangements relating to immigration status and entry into Canada are the responsibility of the student.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

The language of instruction and communication at Grande Prairie Regional College is English.  Regardless of your country of origin or citizenship status, if your native language is not English, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language before you will be considered for admission to any credit course or credit program.  This may be demonstrated in one of the following forms:

• successful completion of the equivalent of two years of full-time study in an English language secondary institution in Canada.         The program must include English 30-1, English 30-2, or their equivalent, with a minimum grade of 50 percent.
• successful completion of a full year or more of course work, including an introductory course in English, at an accredited post-secondary institution where English is the language of instruction.
• presentation of a computer-based test score of 213, a paper-based test score of 550 or an internet-based test score of 83 with no        less than 20 in each part on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  Results are valid for two years only.
• successful completion of the Advanced level of English as a Second Language (ESL) taken at GPRC.  Results are valid for two years only.  ESL programs from other recognized, accredited post-secondary institutions will be considered on an individual basis.

If you do not meet the specific requirements outlined above, contact the Assistant Registrar, Admissions, Office of the Registrar.  Your written request for admission should be accompanied by supporting documentation.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to demonstrating English Language Proficiency, you must also present appropriate admission requirements for your chosen program. If you are accepted, a letter of admission will be mailed to you.

Meeting English Language Proficiency for admission to GPRC is no guarantee that the student also meets English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements of other post-secondary institutions.  Students are responsible to ensure that they meet the requirements for admission and ELP of the post-secondary institutions to which they may be applying.

The admission requirements for each college program are listed in the Programs and Courses section of this website.

Students who have attended school outside Canada must submit the following documents to Grande Prairie Regional College, either with the application form or as soon as the documents are available.

1. Clear and legible international educational credentials or certificates and final examination results beginning with the final year of secondary school. Certified official documents are required.
2. Certified English translations for all documents not written in English. Translations must be complete, literal, word-for-word, and in the same format as the original document.
3. Official transcripts of any studies completed in Canada.
4. You may be required to have your documents evaluated by IQAS (International Qualifications Assessment Service) http://www.learning.gov.ab.ca/iqas/iqas.asp

The student will be responsible for any assessment fee.

Prospective students who do not meet any of the criteria for admission are encouraged to contact our International Education Centre, which offers a number of ESL programs.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition fees for International Students are assessed at twice the domestic student rates. Visit the International Student Fees page for more detailed information about Tuition & applicable fees.

NOTE: Financial aid and bursaries are available to Canadian students only. English as a Second Language students (international or Canadian) may apply for scholarships if they are continuing on to credit studies at Grande Prairie Regional College.

Fee Payment Schedules

International students are required to have registration fees paid in full at the time of registration.

Health Care

All students require health insurance while studying at Grande Prairie Regional College.  International students must have basic health care coverage from Alberta Health Care, health care from another province or health insurance from a private provider. Students are responsible for obtaining their own personal health care coverage.  Students moving permanently to Alberta from another country or students with a Student Authorization may contact Alberta Health Care at http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/ for health care coverage and services, or check with the International Education Centre on campus.

Full time students in credit programs at the Grande Prairie campus are automatically enrolled in and are required to pay for the Student Health and Dental Plan, which provides extended health and dental care coverage.