Please fill out our “request information form” to be contacted for a personal interview with one of our Admissions Officers. Be prepared to discuss your educational background, work experience and future career goals to help determine which program is right for you.

Learning is a life-long process. You’re never too old to learn.

Full-time day programs run from 5 weeks to 48 weeks, 4 or 5 days per week from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

You can switch to another program if you decide that you would like to. However, there is an additional $45 processing fee to transfer to another class.

Winston College has a voluntary mentor program in which students meet on a regular basis with other students, faculty and Winston staff to discuss any and all issues related to the Certificate/Diploma Program in which they are currently enrolled.

Winston College cannot guarantee a postgraduate job placement, however we offer resume building, interviews and job search workshops to all our students to help them prepare for a successful career.

Winston College has a very wide range of diploma and certificate programs. Further information is available on the website.

Applicants whose first language is not English will need to achieve a good level of competence in both written and spoken English. You will also be able to study English throughout the academic year as part of the English Language Support Program.

All new students are given a placement test that contains listening, reading, comprehension and grammar. An oral interview will be required at a later date to determine their level of language proficiency. If you are an ESL student, it helps us place you in the appropriate classes. For our other programs, this test ensures that you have the minimum level of English language skills needed to be successful in these courses.

It is possible to study English at Winston prior to commencing your course. Our ESL certificate programs and courses vary in length, from just a couple of weeks to a year.

All applications must be made through the Admissions Office of Winston College or online.

Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced. We choose to hire instructors who are professional, student-centered and are able to create a positive, friendly atmosphere in the classroom that enhances learning.

Our classes usually have 5 to 12 students on average. We like to keep our class sizes small enough to ensure that students get plenty of individual attention from their teachers.

You do not need a study permit if you are planning to study in a short-term program (6 months or less). However, a study permit is strongly encouraged if you are planning to continue studies in another program after the short program. This will allow you to apply for your new program from within Canada. Otherwise, you will have to apply to a Canadian VISA office abroad.

50% of the fees are paid immediately on enrollment and the remainder on the first day of school. Further information is available at the Admissions Office.

Accommodation cost in Canada ranges from CDN $600 to $800 monthly. Further information is available at the Admissions Office.

It is recommended that in addition to accommodation and fees, you allow a further CDN$800 to $1,000 each month for other living costs, including food, local travel, entertainment, equipment, books and stationery. However, this figure is only meant as a guide as each student will have a different lifestyle.

If you will be in B.C. for more than 6 months you are required to enroll in the Medical Services Plan at premiums of $54 a month for an individual, $96 for two people and $108 for three or more.

Full access to medical services will not be granted immediately: the waiting period for processing will take the balance of the month in which you arrived in the province, plus 2 months to process. For this 3-month period you should purchase private health insurance, which your school should assist you to find.

After living in the province for more than 12 months, you can apply for premium assistance, whereby you will not have to pay full fees. You must contact Medical Services if you plan to be out of the province for more than 2 months.

More information is available on: http://canadavisa.com/documents/student.htm (Working in Canada as an International Student)

Winston College is located in Burnaby, about 5 minutes from Metrotown Mall, the largest shopping centre in British Columbia. The College is also on a major artery of the Skytrain, on which it takes about 15 minutes to get to downtown Vancouver.

Yes, we have a home stay coordinator who helps students find place to stay with nice families.

The average amount of sunshine per day works out to 5.25 hours. Vancouver’s weather is the mildest in Canada, in part due to a strong warm Pacific Ocean current that originates near Japan, and a strong flow of on-shore air that originates near Hawaii. Spring comes early, with flowers generally in full bloom by early March. Late summer and autumn days through October tend to be warm and sunny.

Winter is the rainy season, but the rain usually involves showers or drizzle, not heavy downpours. The steady dependability of the amount of rain is why the Douglas fir trees grow so large on the mountainsides that are readily visible from Vancouver and why the area looks so lush to many visitors.

For more detailed information on Vancouver, please visit Tourism Vancouver.

Yes, we offer an optional Conversation/Activity class. Our Student Services arrange fun off-campus activities involving sports, cultural activities and sightseeing. This is a wonderful opportunity for students who would like to make new friends, learn about Canadian culture and practice their English in an informal setting.

Yes, we provide computer facilities with free Internet access to our students. They are welcome to use them to stay in touch with friends and family as well as for educational purposes.

Yes. The multicultural nature of Vancouver means that foods from all around the world are available.

All international students are invited to join the Orientation Program, which takes place before the start of the academic year. It is designed to help you become a part of the student community by introducing you to staff and returning students who will tell you about Winston College and what it’s like to live in Vancouver, Canada. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other international students and make new friends.

You may feel homesick from time-to-time, as all students do, but in reality you will have so much to do (studying, new friends to meet and new places to explore) that you will not have the time to feel lonely or bored.

However, if you feel lonely, are missing your home or are anxious or insecure about your new surroundings and life, dedicated counselling and advisory staff are here to help you.

A number of people! There is a wide support-network of staff who are able to help you with any problem or concern you may have – no matter how big or small. Your course instructor will be able to guide you to the correct person to contact. You can also contact the College’s International Student Advisor who will support and assist you with any issues you have.

In the short term that may be true. Co-op will provide you with experience related to your field of study, which you no doubt selected because it will improve your future employment options. Provincial Government surveys continually demonstrate that co-op grads find employment in their field of study faster and at a higher starting salary than students who graduate without participating in co-op. The salary difference you may receive now to participate in co-op is minor compared to the gains you will make from having related experience when you graduate.

To participate in co-operative education you need to be in one of the qualified diploma programs with a co-op option. If you are in a certificate program, we accept applications into the diploma program after the end of your first term. To qualify you need to have an overall program GPA of 60% and no grade below C (courses taken outside of the program are not considered in calculating your GPA).

No, it is not the courses alone that provide the foundation for co-op, but the partnership that is formed through co-op between an employer and a particular program at Winston. Co-op employers want to be assured that the students they hire have taken particular courses, and to know that they are participating in an accredited co-op option. You must be in one of the diploma programs offering the co-op option to participate in co-op.

No. It is unfortunate that the program you took did not offer the co-op option. We are glad that you recognize the importance of co-op. To participate in co-op, however, you need to be enrolled in one of the diploma programs offering co-op at Winston College and have enough program courses left to complete to allow you to fit your studies into the co-op model.

To participate in co-op you must: Be enrolled full time in a diploma program with the co-op option. Have a GPA of at least 60% with no grade below C. Pass a selection interview.

No. Because your co-op option is associated with the diploma program you are in, we consider only the grades for that program in calculating your eligibility to participate in co-op.

If you elected not to take a program course in the term it is offered or if you withdrew, your participation in co-op may be impacted. Contact Student Services to discuss your situation.

Yes. During your qualification co-op term, you must maintain a minimum 60% GPA with no grade below C to continue.

Yes. Co-operative education is optional for those who qualify. Students who fulfill co-op requirements will graduate with a co-op designation on their program diploma; others will graduate with a regular program diploma.

A work term consists of full time, paid employment related to your field of study. You must return to school after your work term to complete your full evaluation.

Co-op placements are secured through a competitive employment process. The co-op office cannot and does not control whom employers select for employment. Fluctuations in the labour market, competition from co-op programs in other colleges and universities, and your background all impact placement rates and make a guarantee impossible. However, a placement search will begin as soon as you are enrolled into the program. To improve your chances, you should take every opportunity to volunteer and to develop your employability skills – any experience will help to make you more appealing to an employer. If a placement cannot be found, a refund for the co-op term will be reimbursed.

Yes. The best way to control the process is to work with your instructor and Student Services to find your own placement. However, for the program, our instructormust first evaluate the position and placement as well as interview your potential supervisor to ensure that it would be suitable for the program. If conditions aremet, the supervisor will then be instructed on how to evaluate your performance.

No. The co-op option at Winston allows for only one placement.

Yes. The diploma program and length of the specific co-op will affect the amount of credits you will receive.

You will receive a grade worth the amount of credits that your co-op has been designated. Only the one credit letter grade will be calculated in your GPA.

Yes, employers see your transcript when requested. Please note in the student contract it states that if you are a co-op student, there is a release clause permitting Winston College to provide employers with a copy of your transcript. In most cases, if you have taken courses outside of your program, the co-op office will highlight your GPA for only the courses applicable to your program.

Contact your instructor and student services as soon as possible so that we can evaluate and resolve any issue that you may have.

Yes. You will need to pay tuition for a total of the credits for your co-op term. Your tuition constitutes small portion of the budget required to offer co-op, but does contribute to costs of offering you first class pre-employment training and support while you are on the job.

Co-op fees are based on the number of credits offered by the college for successful completion of the co-op.

See the Financial Aid office for information about your student loan status on co-op. Many students continue to take out partial loans, if necessary, during co-op. Forms are available at Student Services to defer loan repayment.

Thank the employer for the offer and contact your Instructor to discuss the opportunity. Students who stay with their employer for an extended term need to update their application profile on this site and need to register for the appropriate co-op courses (contact your Instructor for details).