About the university
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is a public polytechnic that has trained students for industry since 1964. Its main campus is in Burnaby, next to Vancouver, and it also runs a downtown Vancouver campus and specialist campuses for marine, aerospace and trades training.
BCIT is known for hands-on, job-focused diplomas and degrees in computing, engineering technology, business and health. Programmes run on a full timetable, close to a working week, and many include co-op terms, internships or a mandatory work component.
Indian students look at BCIT for its two-year diplomas in computer systems, IT and engineering technology, which are well regarded by employers in British Columbia. Entry is competitive and seats are allocated on a first-qualified basis, so apply as soon as applications open. Some BCIT programmes are not eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP); each programme page says whether it is.
Burnaby is part of Metro Vancouver, with SkyTrain links to downtown. Vancouver is one of Canada's most expensive cities for rent, so budget carefully for housing.
- Founded
- 1964
- Type
- Public polytechnic institute in British Columbia; awards certificates, diplomas, bachelor's and master's degrees
- Campuses
- Five: Burnaby (main), Downtown Vancouver, Marine, Aerospace Technology and Annacis Island
- Schools
- Applied & Natural Sciences, Business & Media, Computing & IT, Engineering, Health Sciences, Trades & Apprenticeships
- Intakes
- Mostly September; some computing and engineering diplomas also start in January
- Commitment fee (international)
- CAD 6,000, paid to accept your offer and credited to tuition
- On-campus housing
- More than 800 beds in two residences at Burnaby
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Computer Systems Technology (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$26,000
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (about 3 years with co-op)
- Intakes
- September; January (January 2027 open, September 2026 closed at the time of research)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
Computer Information Technology (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$25,735
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (about 3 years with co-op)
- Intakes
- September; January (January 2027 open at the time of research)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology – Telecommunications and Networks Option (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$25,719
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (4 terms), optional co-op
- Intakes
- September (January 2027 also listed as open)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
Mechanical Engineering Technology – Mechanical Design Option (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$25,719
- Duration
- 2 years full-time
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October to 2 July)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$21,812
- Duration
- 2 years full-time
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October to 2 July)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$21,812
- Duration
- 2 years full-time
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October to 2 July)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
Marketing Management (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$21,812
- Duration
- 2 years full-time, with a practicum or internship in year 2
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October to 2 July)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
- Undergraduate
New Media Design and Web Development (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$29,709
- Duration
- 18 months (78 weeks) full-time, blended, with a 9-week internship
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October to 2 July)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 5.5); PTE 60 (no skill below 60); Duolingo 120; TOEFL iBT 86 (no section below 20) on the pre-2026 scale
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Technology (Diploma) | 2 years full-time (about 3 years with co-op) | C$26,000 | ≈ ₹17.4 lakh |
| Computer Information Technology (Diploma) | 2 years full-time (about 3 years with co-op) | C$25,735 | ≈ ₹17.2 lakh |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology – Telecommunications and Networks Option (Diploma) | 2 years full-time (4 terms), optional co-op | C$25,719 | ≈ ₹17.2 lakh |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology – Mechanical Design Option (Diploma) | 2 years full-time | C$25,719 | ≈ ₹17.2 lakh |
| Accounting (Diploma) | 2 years full-time | C$21,812 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
| Finance (Diploma) | 2 years full-time | C$21,812 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
| Marketing Management (Diploma) | 2 years full-time, with a practicum or internship in year 2 | C$21,812 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
| New Media Design and Web Development (Diploma) | 18 months (78 weeks) full-time, blended, with a 9-week internship | C$29,709 | ≈ ₹19.9 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Current international students
Cost of Living Grant for International Students
Value: CAD 800 (one-time grant)
Eligibility: International students living in Canada and enrolled in at least 9 credits in the Fall term; apply through myBCIT. The Fall 2026 round is closed; check for future rounds.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Class 12 from CBSE, CISCE or a state board, assessed against BCIT's British Columbia course requirements: English Studies 12 at 67% (or an English test) and the maths and science courses each programme lists, for example Pre-Calculus 12 at 67–73% for computing and engineering diplomas.
- Seats are offered on a first-qualified basis and intakes fill early. Applications for September open on 1 October; the international deadline for many programmes is 2 July.
- Newly admitted international students pay a CAD 6,000 commitment fee to confirm their seat; it is credited to tuition and forfeited if you decline or do not register.
- Check the PGWP line on the programme page: some BCIT diplomas (for example Accounting and Finance) do not meet the eligible field of study requirement.
Postgraduate
- Indian graduates often join BCIT diplomas or post-diploma degrees rather than a master's. Advanced entry such as the Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science needs at least 60 credits of post-secondary computing study and a pre-entry assessment.
- Bachelor's degree graduates have no field-of-study requirement for a PGWP; BCIT shows each programme's status on its page.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (and degree transcripts for advanced entry)
- English test score meeting BCIT's Category 2 standard
- Provincial Attestation Letter for the study permit (unless IRCC exempts you)
- Proof of funds for tuition and living costs as required by IRCC
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5 (Category 2, needed for most diplomas) |
| PTE Academic | 60 overall with no skill below 60 |
| TOEFL iBT | 86 overall with no section below 20 (tests before 21 January 2026); 4.5 overall with 3.5 in each skill on the new scale |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 overall with no integrated subscore below 95 |
| CAEL | 70 overall with no component below 60 |
Accommodation and living costs
BCIT has more than 800 beds on its Burnaby campus: Tall Timber, a 12-storey residence with studio and single units, and the Townhouses, where each unit has single bedrooms and shared kitchens. Rates are charged by term. Most students rent off campus in Burnaby or elsewhere in Metro Vancouver, where rents are high.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse bedroom2026-27 rates: Fall 2026 CAD 3,569.72; Winter 2027 CAD 4,298.65 (pending Board approval) | C$3,570–4,299per term | ≈ ₹2.4 lakh – ₹2.9 lakh |
| Connected single roomFall 2026 CAD 4,636; Winter 2027 CAD 5,662 | C$4,636–5,662per term | ≈ ₹3.1 lakh – ₹3.8 lakh |
| StudioFall 2026 CAD 5,551; Winter 2027 CAD 6,779.50 | C$5,551–6,780per term | ≈ ₹3.7 lakh – ₹4.5 lakh |
| Commitment feeCredited to tuition on registration | C$6,000one-off | ≈ ₹4 lakh |
Campus and location
The main Burnaby campus on Willingdon Avenue holds most computing, business, engineering and health programmes. The Downtown Vancouver campus offers some computing and part-time study, and specialist campuses cover marine, aerospace and trades training.
- Two residences on the Burnaby campus with more than 800 beds.
- Downtown Vancouver campus for city-centre study, including some Computer Systems Technology classes.
- Aerospace Technology Campus near Vancouver International Airport.
- Many programmes include co-op, an internship or a mandatory work component before graduation.
- Burnaby has a large South Asian community, with Indian groceries and restaurants nearby in Burnaby and Surrey.
Careers and graduate outcomes
BCIT's diplomas are built around industry needs, and many include co-op or internships. International students must check whether their programme is PGWP-eligible; BCIT lists this on every programme page, and IRCC makes the final decision. See our Canada guide for work rights.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Co-op in Computer Information Technology | Two four-month paid work terms (competitive entry) | BCIT programme page |
| Co-op in ECET Telecommunications and Networks | Paid work terms of 15 to 20 weeks; two needed for the co-op designation | BCIT programme page |
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Canada
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Windsor, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Business & Management, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0), CC0 PublicMcGill University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Montreal, CanadaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Law
Photo: WinterforceMedia WinterE229, Public domain PublicUniversity of Alberta (official website, opens in a new tab)
Edmonton, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Life Sciences
FAQs
How much does a BCIT diploma cost for an Indian student?
BCIT's programme-page estimates for international students range from about CAD 43,600 (business diplomas such as Accounting) to about CAD 52,000 (Computer Systems Technology) for the whole two-year programme, including mandatory fees. Books, a laptop and health insurance are extra.
What IELTS score does BCIT need?
Most diplomas need BCIT's Category 2 standard: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 5.5, or PTE 60, Duolingo 120 or an equivalent TOEFL or CAEL score.
Are all BCIT programmes PGWP-eligible?
No. Programmes such as the Accounting and Finance diplomas do not meet IRCC's eligible field of study requirement. Each programme page shows its PGWP status; check it before you apply.
When should I apply to BCIT?
Applications for September open on 1 October, and BCIT admits on a first-qualified basis, so apply early. Many programmes close to international applicants on 2 July, and some fill sooner.
Does BCIT offer scholarships to international students?
BCIT has few awards for new international students. It runs a CAD 800 Cost of Living Grant for current international students in some terms. Budget for the full cost.
Sources
- BCIT: International fees (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Full-time studies tuition and fees (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Computer Systems Technology diploma (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Computer Information Technology diploma (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Accounting diploma (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: New Media Design and Web Development diploma (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: English language proficiency (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Housing (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Rent and fees (housing) (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: Cost of Living Grant for International Students (opens in a new tab)
- BCIT: About (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.bcit.ca (opens in a new tab)
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