You're considered an international student if you are:
- intending to study on a study permit; and
- not a Canadian citizen; and
- not a permanent resident of Canada.
International application
Step-by-step application guide for international students.
Is this guide for you?
Looking for something else?
See our How to apply page to find a tailored guide that best suits you.
Things to consider
Tuition and fees
Before applying, make sure you understand the full cost of studying abroad. Review tuition rates, additional fees, and payment options carefully. Use the cost estimator to plan your budget.
→ Visit the International tuition and fees page to get started.
Need help with admission requirements?
Still unsure about specific admission requirements after reviewing the Program Availability page?
→ Connect with our Recruitment Specialists at askoc@okanagan.bc.ca.
Do you have enough time to arrive?
Make sure you have enough time to arrive before your program starts. Okanagan College application processing can take a few weeks, plus the typical processing time for study permits.
Step 1 - Before you apply
Check program availability
→ Visit Program availability for International Students to see which programs are open to international students, and check if applications are currently being accepted.
→ Explore PGWP-eligible programs
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets eligible graduates from Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) stay in Canada and gain valuable work experience after completing their program.
Check admission requirements
Make sure you meet the admission requirements. You can find them under the Admission requirements section of your chosen program.
There are also additional English requirements and Country or Region requirements which you can find below.
Give yourself enough time
Make sure you can arrive before your program starts. Okanagan College application processing takes a few weeks, plus the study permit processing time.
Age requirement
You must be 18 years old or turn 18 during your first semester. If you are 17, you may be admitted if:
- you've completed British Columbia Grade 12 (or equivalent) and have a guardian living with you during your studies; or
- you are applying for summer session only.
Authorized agents
→ For agent recommendations in any country, please email at askoc@okanagan.bc.ca
Gather your supporting documents
Make sure your documents are in English or officially translated. Save each group of documents as a single PDF and label them clearly:
Document type What to include High School Transcripts All secondary/high school transcripts in one file English Language Proficiency Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL, CAEL, PTE, or other test results in one file Post-Secondary Records Transcripts, degrees, diplomas, or certificates in one file Passport Copy of your valid passport Important:
You must list and submit transcripts from all institutions you attended. Failing to do so may be seen as an intentional omission and could result in cancellation of your application or withdrawal of your offer.
ESL STUDENTS
Duolingo: Language Assessment for placement in the English Language Program.
- Please submit a copy of your DuoLingo English test results with your ESL application and release your DuoLingo test results to Okanagan College through your DuoLingo account.
Academic IELTS and TOEFL scores are also accepted for placement.
If you obtain a new test score after submitting your application, we can still accept it as long as it is submitted before the start of your studies. Late test results are can be emailed to intedapps@okanagan.bc.ca.
ACADEMIC STUDENTS
International students graduating from British Columbia high schools can use their BC grades to meet English requirements the same as domestic students.
Accepted English alternatives for Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation are found on the link below:
Accepted English alternatives for all other programs found on the link below:
For country-specific English requirement questions, please contact the International Recruitment Team.
General admission requirements
Admission requirements by Country or Region
Step 2- Apply
Apply via Education Planner BC
All international student applications for certificate, diploma, and degree programs are submitted online through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC).
Application fee: non-refundable $100 per program. Must be paid by credit card.
Need help with EPBC?
→ Follow this step-by-step PDF guide on how to apply through EducationPlannerBC to learn how to search for programs and submit your application.
Step 3 - After your application
- Login to your MyOkanagan account to check your application status. Your status will say "Incomplete - Items outstanding" while it is in the processing queue.
- Wait for a Conditional Offer of Acceptance letter (a few weeks) from a complete application. If additional information is required, or OC is experiencing a high volume of applications, it may take longer.
- Stay updated by checking your email inbox, and make sure to register for and attend our information sessions posted here: International Student Orientation
- Review your letter to see how much you owe for your admission deposit, other requirements needed for your final admission and the deadlines for submission.
- Review your personal information (name spelling, birth date, address) to ensure they are correct. If you see an error, please let us know at admissions@okanagan.bc.ca
- Review the international deposit refund and deferral policy along with the fee structures.
- Accept your offer conditionally Setup and login to your myOkanagan account to accept your conditional offer. You need to do this before you can proceed to step 5 of using PayMyTuition to pay your deposit.
- Pay your admission deposit to secure your seat: To see the various payment options we accept visit Please email us with confirmation of your payment once made at admissions@okanagan.bc.ca.
- Receive a Letter of Acceptance, deposit receipt and PAL (if required) within 7-10 business days of completing steps 1-5
Note:
Letter of Acceptance: International student applicants will only receive one Letter of Acceptance per deposit paid.
New Letter of Acceptance Request: International students may request a new Letter of Acceptance if their original Letter of Acceptance was conditional. - Stay updated by checking your email inbox, and make sure to register for and attend our information sessions posted here: International Student Orientation
- Start gathering documents for your study permit application.
- Accommodation options: There are a number of different options available for housing. If you are under 18 years old, you must stay with one of our approved host families until at least your 18th birthday. If you are 18 years of age or over, you may choose from housing options
- Stay updated by checking your email inbox, and make sure to register for and attend our information sessions posted here: International Student Orientation
- Submit your study permit application
- After your study permit application has been submitted, notify International Recruitment Team at askoc@okanagan.bc.ca
- When you receive a decision about your study permit decision, notify International Recruitment Team at askoc@okanagan.bc.ca
- Stay updated by checking your email inbox, and make sure to register for and attend our information sessions posted here: International Student Orientation
- Complete these requirements before travelling to Canada: Pre-Arrival Guide