About the university
College of the Rockies is a public college serving the East Kootenay region of south-eastern British Columbia. It opened in 1975 as East Kootenay Community College and took its current name in 1995. Its main campus is in Cranbrook, with smaller campuses in towns such as Fernie, Golden, Invermere and Creston. It added associate degrees in 1993 and its first four-year degree, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices, in 2010.
Indian students look at the college for its small classes, moderate fees (about CAD 16,800 to 17,700 a year in tuition for most programmes in 2026-27) and its published list of PGWP-eligible programmes, which includes computer information systems, practical nursing, kinesiology and the BBA. Associate degrees and the engineering certificate can be used to transfer into BC and Alberta universities. Cranbrook is a small mountain city, so living costs are lower than in Vancouver, but part-time jobs and public transport are more limited.
- Founded
- 8 May 1975, as East Kootenay Community College
- Type
- Public British Columbia college; certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, a post-degree diploma and one bachelor's degree
- Students
- About 2,341 full-time equivalent students (2022/23); about 9,600 a year including continuing education
- Campuses
- Seven, including Cranbrook (main), Creston, Fernie, Golden and Invermere
- Intakes
- September for most programmes; January as well for the BBA, post-degree diploma and associate degrees
- Application fee (international)
- CAD 100, plus a one-time CAD 100 international education fee
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Computer Information Systems Technology (Diploma)
- Fee / year
- C$17,720
- Duration
- 2 years (60 credits)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Postgraduate
Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business
- Fee / year
- C$16,831
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices
- Fee / year
- C$16,831
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credits)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$18,863
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- Standard college minimum is IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6.0); health programmes may set their own higher requirement in the academic calendar, so check before you apply
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$16,831
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
Associate of Science – Biology and Pre-Medicine
- Fee / year
- C$16,831
- Duration
- 2 years (first two years of a bachelor's degree)
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$16,831
- Duration
- 8 months; designed for transfer to engineering degrees at UVic, UNBC or the University of Alberta
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
Associate of Science – Environmental Science
- Fee / year
- C$16,341
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0); PTE 54; TOEFL iBT 4 (new 1–6 scale); Duolingo 110; CAEL 60
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Information Systems Technology (Diploma) | 2 years (60 credits) | C$17,720 | ≈ ₹11.9 lakh |
| Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business | 2 years | C$16,831 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices | 4 years (120 credits) | C$16,831 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| Practical Nursing (Diploma) | 2 years | C$18,863 | ≈ ₹12.6 lakh |
| Kinesiology (Diploma) | 2 years | C$16,831 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| Associate of Science – Biology and Pre-Medicine | 2 years (first two years of a bachelor's degree) | C$16,831 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| Engineering (Certificate) | 8 months; designed for transfer to engineering degrees at UVic, UNBC or the University of Alberta | C$16,831 | ≈ ₹11.3 lakh |
| Associate of Science – Environmental Science | 2 years | C$16,341 | ≈ ₹10.9 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 College of the Rockies with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Class 12 is the usual entry point for diplomas, certificates and associate degrees; each programme's admission requirements are set out in the college's academic calendar, so check the specific subjects and grades there.
- Apply online through EducationPlanner BC. The college emails an offer and a Payment Information Letter; you pay first-year tuition and fees to receive your Letter of Acceptance and Provincial Attestation Letter.
- If your study permit is refused, you must ask for a refund within 30 calendar days of the decision.
Postgraduate
- The Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business is for graduates who already hold a degree, especially in a non-business subject. Full requirements are in the academic calendar.
- Only programmes on the college's PGWP-eligible list lead to a post-graduation work permit; confirm eligibility on the Government of Canada website before you apply.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets; degree transcripts for the post-degree diploma
- Proof of English proficiency (test results no more than two years old at the programme start)
- Payment receipt for first-year fees
- Letter of Acceptance and Provincial Attestation Letter for the study permit
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 | 6.0 overall, no band below 6.0 (standard minimum; some programmes set their own) |
| PTE Academic | 54 overall (Reading 53, Writing 51, Listening 47, Speaking 54) |
| TOEFL iBT | 4 overall on the new 1–6 scale (Reading 3.5, Writing 4.5, Listening 3.5, Speaking 3.5) |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 overall |
| Other routes | CAEL 60 or CELPIP 7.0; or a degree or two-year diploma from an English-language institution in an English-speaking country. No Class 12 English waiver for India is listed |
Accommodation and living costs
The college has two residences next to the Cranbrook campus and the Cranbrook Community Forest. Purcell House has 96 beds in six-bedroom units with shared kitchens and washrooms. The Village gives each student a private bedroom and bathroom. Places fill fast, so apply once you have your student number.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Purcell House, academic year (Sept–April)2026-27: CAD 2,640 per semester | C$5,280per year | ≈ ₹3.5 lakh |
| The Village, academic year (Sept–April)2026-27: CAD 3,000 per semester | C$6,000per year | ≈ ₹4 lakh |
| Housing security depositHeld for the length of your stay | C$300one-off | ≈ ₹20,100 |
| Housing application feeNon-refundable | C$35one-off | ≈ ₹2,345 |
Campus and location
The Cranbrook campus, opened in 1982, is the main site and hosts most programmes open to international students. Adventure tourism is taught at the Golden campus.
- Cranbrook main campus with on-campus residences (Purcell House and the Village).
- Golden campus for the Adventure Tourism Business Operations diploma.
- Fernie campus for Mountain Adventure Skills Training.
- Several programmes can be taken on campus, online or in a blended format.
- A bus pass fee (CAD 100 a year) is part of the international fees.
Careers and graduate outcomes
The college publishes a list of PGWP-eligible programmes, and the kinesiology diploma has a co-op option. The college does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we checked. Work rights depend on IRCC rules; see our Canada guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much does College of the Rockies cost for Indian students?
Most programmes list international tuition of CAD 16,830.90 a year for 2026-27; Computer Information Systems Technology is CAD 17,720.10. First-year extras include a CAD 100 application fee, a CAD 100 international education fee, CAD 270 Guard.me insurance and about CAD 400 in other fees.
Which programmes are PGWP-eligible?
The college's list includes Computer Information Systems Technology, Practical Nursing, Kinesiology, the BBA in Sustainable Business Practices, Environmental Studies and several associate degrees. Confirm eligibility on IRCC's website before you apply.
What IELTS score do I need?
The standard minimum is IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0. PTE 54, Duolingo 110 and TOEFL iBT 4 (new scale) are also accepted. Some programmes, such as health programmes, may ask for more.
Does the college offer scholarships to international students?
The international pages we checked do not list scholarships for international students, so plan to fund your full fees and living costs.
Sources
- College of the Rockies: Programmes for international students (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: Language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: How to apply (international) (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: Tuition and fees (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: Computer Information Systems Technology (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: BBA Sustainable Business Practices (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: College history (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: Purcell House (opens in a new tab)
- College of the Rockies: The Village (opens in a new tab)
Official website: cotr.bc.ca (opens in a new tab)
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