BCIT's main campus on Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby is a spread of workshops, labs and teaching blocks rather than lawns and old buildings. It's a public polytechnic, founded in 1964, and most programmes are intensive diplomas or certificates built with industry. Computing, engineering technology, business, health sciences and trades are the core. There's also a downtown Vancouver campus and an aerospace campus by the airport in Richmond.
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Official website: bcit.ca
1964
Public polytechnic in British Columbia
Burnaby
Downtown Vancouver, Aerospace, Marine
CA$22,000 – CA$32,000
International students, diplomas and certificates
CA$18,000 – CA$24,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on bcit.ca before you apply.
Computer Systems Technology Diploma
DiplomaDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
Civil Engineering Diploma
DiplomaDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
Financial Management Diploma
DiplomaDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certificate
CertificateDuration
12-18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
24-48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 86
Intensive diplomas with long teaching weeks.
An aerospace campus next to Vancouver International Airport.
Programmes shaped by employer advisory committees.
Graduates are widely hired by BC's tech, construction and engineering firms.
Eligible graduates can apply for a post-graduation work permit; check field-of-study rules.
BC's provincial nominee programme supports some graduates who stay.
Undergrad
Varies by programme
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Selected programmes
Postgrad
No PG intake
The Burnaby campus is between Brentwood and Metrotown, with buses from nearby SkyTrain stations. There's student housing on site, though places are limited.
Metro Vancouver rents are high. Many students share basement suites in Burnaby or New Westminster, and the mountains and the sea are close for weekends.
Letter of acceptance from the institution
British Columbia provincial attestation letter
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
BCIT opens applications many months ahead, and several programmes fill early. Some have fixed deadlines and admission tests, so check your programme's page and apply as soon as the intake opens.
Most programmes start in September, and some in January or at other dates.
A Canadian study permit. Start with the letter of acceptance from British Columbia Institute of Technology and, where required, the provincial attestation letter, then apply to IRCC online. Allow a few months, as processing times vary by country.
Computer systems technology, civil engineering, financial management and aircraft maintenance are popular. Entry depends on specific subjects, often maths and English, with IELTS 6.5 overall. International places are limited in some programmes.
BCIT has few scholarships for new international students. Some awards open up after the first term, based on grades.
