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North Island College

Courtenay, Canada · Public · Est. Founding year not stated on the pages we opened

Updated 28 Oct 2026

Talk to our counsellorCall usOfficial website (opens in a new tab)

Established

Founding year not stated on the pages we opened

Type

Public

Location

Courtenay, Canada

Ranking

Not ranked

Photo: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0

About the university

North Island College (NIC) is a public community college on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Its main campus is in the Comox Valley (Courtenay), with others in Campbell River, Port Alberni and Port Hardy. It serves more than 9,000 students and offers certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, two BBA degrees and a post-graduate diploma in accounting.

Indian students mostly look at NIC's business programmes, including the Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma – Accounting (CA$28,465 tuition for two years) and the Business Administration Diploma, which leads into Year 3 of the BBA. Credit courses cost CA$527.06 a credit in 2026/27, which is low for Canada. The Comox Valley is a small coastal community, so check part-time work and housing early.

Type
Public community college and designated learning institution in British Columbia
Students
More than 9,000 across its locations
Campuses
Comox Valley (Courtenay), Campbell River, Port Alberni and Port Hardy
Programmes for international students
19 listed, from certificates to BBA degrees
Intakes
September and January; some programmes May
Student housing
217 beds at the Comox Valley campus

Rankings

    Popular courses with Indian students

    View all 8 courses with filters

    Fees for international students

    Course fees
    CourseDurationFee / year (CAD)Approx. in rupees
    Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma – Accounting2 yearsC$14,233≈ ₹9.5 lakh
    Business Administration Diploma (Management or Accounting)2 yearsC$17,395≈ ₹11.7 lakh
    Bachelor of Business Administration – Management4 years (diploma graduates can enter Year 3)C$17,395≈ ₹11.7 lakh
    Criminology Diploma2 yearsC$15,815≈ ₹10.6 lakh
    Instrumentation and Electrical Automation Technician Diploma2 yearsC$16,615≈ ₹11.1 lakh
    Culinary Business Operations Diploma2 yearsC$16,153≈ ₹10.8 lakh
    Health Care Assistant and Community Mental Health Worker – Special Cohort2 yearsC$15,025≈ ₹10.1 lakh
    Social Service Diploma2 yearsC$18,450≈ ₹12.4 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 North Island College with similar universities in Canada.

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    Scholarships

    • UG and PG

      International Entrance Award

      Value: CA$1,000

      Eligibility: International applicants with an offer who meet all requirements, confirm their seat, pay deposits and stay in good standing in the first semester; until funds run out

      Official page (opens in a new tab)
    • UG and PG

      English Proficiency Award

      Value: CA$1,000 or CA$1,500

      Eligibility: IELTS 7.0 / PTE 65 / Duolingo 120 for CA$1,000; IELTS 7.5 / PTE 76 for CA$1,500; results must be sent with the application

      Official page (opens in a new tab)

    Admission requirements

    Undergraduate

    • International applicants must be 18 or older in the calendar year they apply.
    • Each programme page lists its own academic requirements; apply through EducationPlannerBC.
    • Many programmes fill before the deadline, so confirm seats with NIC before you apply.

    Postgraduate

    • The Post Graduate Diploma – Accounting is aimed at graduates; NIC's page did not list the exact degree requirement when we checked, so confirm it with the International team.
    • A 3–4 year English-medium university degree exempts you from the English test.

    Documents

    • Valid passport
    • Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
    • Degree certificate and transcripts (post-graduate diploma)
    • English test result from the last two years (Academic IELTS only; PTE Online not accepted)
    • Criminal record check, immunisation form, first aid/CPR and FoodSafe (Health Care Assistant)

    Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.

    Talk to our counsellorCall us

    English language requirements

    English requirements
    Test or routeTypical requirement
    IELTS Academic6.0 overall with no band below 5.5 (open-entry programmes) or 6.0 (limited-entry diplomas).
    PTE Academic54 overall, with no component below 46 (open entry) or 50 (limited entry). PTE Online is not accepted.
    Duolingo105 overall (open entry) or 110 overall (limited entry).
    TOEFL iBT and CAELTOEFL iBT 4.5 overall on the new 1–6 scale (no subsection below 4); CAEL 60 with 60 in writing.
    Degree waiverExempt if you hold a 3–4 year degree from an accredited institution taught in English.

    Accommodation and living costs

    NIC's tul'al'txw student housing at the Comox Valley campus has 217 furnished beds, open all year, with utilities and Wi-Fi included. Rates are not on the housing page; NIC's cost page estimates on-campus rent for a quad unit.

    Accommodation and living costs
    ItemIn CADApprox. in rupees
    On-campus quad unit (rent)NIC living-cost estimateC$980per month≈ ₹65,660
    Renting in the community (rent and utilities)NIC living-cost estimateC$1,535per month≈ ₹1 lakh
    FoodNIC living-cost estimateC$354per month≈ ₹23,718

    Campus and location

    NIC has four named campuses across North Vancouver Island, serving a region of 80,000 square kilometres.

    • Comox Valley campus: business, university arts and sciences, health and human services, and student housing.
    • Campbell River campus: trades and technical programmes, including culinary and instrumentation.
    • Port Alberni and Port Hardy (Mixalakwila) campuses serve smaller communities.
    • Licensed childcare on the Comox Valley campus.

    Careers and graduate outcomes

    NIC lists which of its international programmes it believes are eligible for a post-graduation work permit, based on IRCC's field-of-study list; some business programmes are marked as not eligible, so check before applying. For work rights, see our Canada guide.

    Graduate outcomes
    WhatFigureSource

    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

    Compare all universities in Canada

    FAQs

    How much does North Island College cost?

    Credit courses cost CA$527.06 a credit in 2026/27. NIC estimates CA$16,448 tuition plus CA$1,700 mandatory fees for a typical year. Programme pages show full-programme tuition, such as CA$28,465 for the accounting post-graduate diploma.

    What IELTS score do I need?

    Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5 for open-entry programmes, or 6.0 for limited-entry diplomas. A 3–4 year English-medium degree is exempt.

    When are the intakes and deadlines?

    Main intakes are September (apply by 1 May) and January (apply by 31 August). Many programmes fill early.

    Is every NIC programme PGWP eligible?

    No. NIC's programme list marks some, including several business programmes, as not eligible. Check the list and our Canada guide before you apply.

    Sources

    1. North Island College: programmes for international students (opens in a new tab)
    2. North Island College: international tuition and costs (opens in a new tab)
    3. North Island College: 2026-2027 International Tuition and Fee Bylaw (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
    4. North Island College: English requirements (opens in a new tab)
    5. North Island College: international admission requirements (opens in a new tab)
    6. North Island College: dates and deadlines (opens in a new tab)
    7. North Island College: financial awards (opens in a new tab)
    8. North Island College: Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma – Accounting (opens in a new tab)
    9. North Island College: student housing (opens in a new tab)
    10. North Island College: campuses (opens in a new tab)

    Official website: www.nic.bc.ca (opens in a new tab)

    Check the latest details

    We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026. Fees, entry requirements and scholarships change every year, so confirm them on the university's website before you apply. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

    Talk to our counsellor

    Ask about courses, fees, scholarships and your eligibility for North Island College.

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