About the university
Portage College is a publicly funded community college in north-east Alberta, with campuses in Lac La Biche, Cold Lake and St. Paul. For international students it lists about 16 programmes, including Computer Programming and Information Technology, Business Administration, Practical Nurse, Environmental Technologist, Community Social Work, Addictions Counselling, Kinesiology and University Studies.
International tuition is CA$7,803 per term on the programme pages we opened, about CA$15,600 a year before fees and insurance. Portage says students must study on campus and meet attendance rules to be eligible for a PGWP; see our Canada guide for the rules.
- Type
- Publicly funded community college in north-east Alberta (DLI O111010246767)
- Campuses
- Lac La Biche, Cold Lake and St. Paul
- Intakes
- Late August for most programmes; Fall 2028 deadline 30 May 2027, Winter 2028 deadline 30 September 2027
- Application fee
- CA$160, non-refundable
- Tuition deposit
- CA$1,300, non-refundable
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Computer Programming and Information Technology Diploma
- Fee / year
- C$15,606
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- August (international deadline 15 May)
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6); TOEFL iBT 79; PTE Academic 54; Duolingo 105; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
Business Administration Diploma (Management)
- Fee / year
- C$15,606
- Duration
- 2 years (certificate after Year 1)
- Intakes
- August
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6); TOEFL iBT 79; PTE Academic 54; Duolingo 105; CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$17,758
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- August
- English
- IELTS Academic: Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0; TOEFL iBT: Listening 23, Reading 21, Writing 25, Speaking 22; or CELBAN
- Undergraduate
Environmental Technologist Diploma
- Fee / year
- C$15,606
- Duration
- 2 years
- Intakes
- August
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (no band below 6); TOEFL iBT 79; PTE Academic 54; Duolingo 105; CAEL 60
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Programming and Information Technology Diploma | 2 years | C$15,606 | ≈ ₹10.5 lakh |
| Business Administration Diploma (Management) | 2 years (certificate after Year 1) | C$15,606 | ≈ ₹10.5 lakh |
| Practical Nurse Diploma | 2 years | C$17,758 | ≈ ₹11.9 lakh |
| Environmental Technologist Diploma | 2 years | C$15,606 | ≈ ₹10.5 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 Portage College with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Programme requirements are set as Alberta Grade 12 courses, for example English Language Arts 30-2 at 60% and Math 30-2 at 60% for computing; Portage assesses Class 12 results as equivalents.
- Practical Nurse needs English Language Arts 30-1 at 60% (or 30-2 at 70%), Math 20-2 and Biology 30 at 60%, plus health records.
Postgraduate
- Portage does not offer postgraduate programmes for international students.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Official Class 10 and Class 12 transcripts (and any college or university transcripts)
- English test result sent directly by the test centre
- Health and immunisation records for health programmes
- CA$160 application fee; CA$1,300 tuition deposit
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 | 6.0 with no band below 6. |
| TOEFL iBT | 79. |
| PTE Academic | 54. |
| Duolingo English Test | 105. |
| Waiver | Three years of full-time English-medium study in a country on Portage's exempt list; check whether India is included. Practical Nurse has higher scores. |
Accommodation and living costs
Residence is at the Lac La Biche campus, with residence halls and townhouses. The page does not name the year of these rates, and the linked form is for 2025-26.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Residence hall, single roomCA$400 security deposit | C$569per month | ≈ ₹38,123 |
| Residence hall, shared doubleCA$400 security deposit | C$408per month | ≈ ₹27,336 |
| Townhouse shared by four studentsCA$400 security deposit | C$569per month | ≈ ₹38,123 |
Campus and location
Portage is a small college spread over three towns in north-east Alberta.
- Lac La Biche is the main campus and the only one with residence.
- Some programmes are delivered across campuses through Multi-Access Learning.
- International students must study on campus for the whole programme.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Portage does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we opened. For work rights, 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 Portage College cost for international students?
International tuition is CA$7,803 per term, about CA$15,600 a year, or about CA$17,160 with mandatory fees and insurance. Practical Nurse costs more.
What IELTS score does Portage College need?
IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6. TOEFL iBT 79, PTE 54 and Duolingo 105 are also accepted. Practical Nurse needs higher band scores.
When is the deadline?
For Fall 2028 the deadline is 30 May 2027. The computing diploma's page lists 15 May 2027 for an August 2027 start.
Sources
- Portage College: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Portage College: programmes and fees for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Portage College: international student admission process (opens in a new tab)
- Portage College: English language proficiency (opens in a new tab)
- Portage College: student accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Portage College: Practical Nurse Diploma (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.portagecollege.ca (opens in a new tab)
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