International Student Information

Legal Disclaimer

The content available on this website is intended to provide students with official IRCC guidelines to support their study permit applications. It is not intended to amount to advice (legal or otherwise) on which you should rely. Any legal advice with respect to study or work permit applications as well as the immigration process must be addressed with IRCC directly or with an immigration consultant and/or lawyer registered with The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Your entry to Canada and response to your immigration application are at the sole discretion of the IRCC.

PRC International Student Study

As Pacific Rim College is a government Designated Learning Institution (#019304067532), international students are able and welcome to attend, and we accept many international students each semester from all over the world.
Pacific Rim College is committed to fostering a welcoming, supportive, and safe community of students, healthcare practitioners, teachers, stewards of land, and practitioners of sustainable practices. We are pleased to have a diverse range of faculty and to have welcomed students from more than 50 countries.

Program Study Permit Requirements

IRCC regulations have placed annual limits on the number of study permits issued. International students must include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) with their study permit application issued by the educational institution, and each institution receives a limited number per year. Due to limited availability, PRC must reserve PALs for students enrolled in on-campus only programs longer than six months.

Students enrolled in the Diploma of Acupuncture, the Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine program, the Dual Diplomas of Acupuncture and Phytotherapy, and the Dual Diplomas of Acupuncture and Holistic Nutrition are eligible to receive a PAL. International students seeking to transfer in previously earned credits from outside institutions are currently not eligible to receive a PAL, as PALs are prioritized for students taking programs in their entirety.

Each eligible student may receive one PAL only, and PALs are prioritized for students in higher-level programs. To be eligible to request a PAL, students must have been accepted, paid their enrolment deposit, and have otherwise completed their study permit application. PALs are issued on a first-eligible, first-served basis, so students are encouraged to apply as early as possible for their intended start date. PRC receives yearly PALs every January for the following May, September, and January intakes. Once all PALs for the year have been assigned, applicants who do not receive a PAL will be deferred to the following May intake.

Students enrolled in the Diploma of Phytotherapy, the Diploma of Holistic Nutrition, the Dual Diplomas of Phytotherapy and Holistic Nutrition, and the Natural Health Certificate are not eligible to obtain a PAL but are welcome to study live online. As a study permit is not required for courses shorter than 6 months, international online students are welcome to join us on campus for one semester at any point in their program. For more details regarding studying on-campus for one semester, please visit the IRCC website here.

Students enrolled in the Holistic Doula Certificate, the Community Herbalist Certificate, and the Practical Nutrition Certificate are not eligible to obtain a PAL as a study permit is not required for programs shorter than 6 months. For more details regarding studying on-campus for one semester, please visit the IRCC website here.

Applying for a Study Permit: International Student Study Permit Eligibility

According to IRCC, to be eligible for a study permit, you must meet the following criteria:

·         You must have been accepted by a school, college, university, or other educational institution in Canada.

·         You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada.

·         You must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record and not be a risk to the security of Canada. You may have to provide a police certificate.

·         You must be in good health and willing to supply a completed medical examination by a Canadian Immigrations designated physician.

·         You must satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

You will also require your original Acceptance Letter and International Acceptance Letter Form provided in your acceptance package along with your Provincial Attestation Letter.

You may apply for a study permit online or with a paper application. Please consider estimated processing times when selecting your program start date, and visit the Canadian Immigrations website for more information.

English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements
Prior to acceptance applicants must meet at least one of the following language proficiency requirements:

Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘60%’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or

Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or

Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) – An applicant must earn a score of no less than 16 out of 30 on any of the 4 test sections and a total score of no less than 75 out of 120.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – An applicant must earn an overall score of 5.5 or higher.

Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 40 or higher.

Duolingo English Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 95 or higher.

GCSE Requirements

Online and On-campus International Program Delivery

As per PTIRU regulations, international students with study permits are responsible for ensuring that they do not register in more than 50% of their total program hours in online course delivery. Academic advisors are available and will be in contact each semester with international students individually to assist with academic planning and to monitor compliance. Students may be de-registered in any course deemed non-compliant and additionally may face disciplinary action up to expulsion.

Full-time and Part-time Studies

Course Load

According to PTIRU regulations, to be eligible for full-time status, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 20 hours per week, which can be averaged to 280 hours per semester. Students studying less than 280 hours per semester are considered part-time. Please note that student aid-funded students may have different course load requirements to maintain funding eligibility.

Please note that PRC diploma and the Natural Health Certificate program lengths are based on two 100% full-time semesters per year, with a 100% full-time course load defined as approximately 26 hours of study per week, or 360 hours per semester. However, these programs offer three semesters of study per year and individual course registration, so students may choose their desired course load in each semester and how many semesters they would like to enroll in each year.

International students who choose to enroll in less than two 100% full-time semesters per year will need to compensate in another semester to ensure they complete their program within the number of years indicated on their International Student Acceptance Form. Students will be considered as actively pursuing their studies while studying full or part-time, however, students must have full-time status to work while in Canada. International student course load is reported to the IRCC each semester, and students enrolled in less than 280 hours per semester will be reported as part-time.

Study Permit Extensions and Changing Programs

You may apply to extend your study permit if you need more time to complete your program. You do not need to change or apply for a new study permit if you want to change the program you are enrolled in, but if your existing permit expires before you complete the new program, you will need to apply to extend your study permit. It is recommended that you apply at least 90 days before your current permit expires. You’ll need to provide updated documents, such as your enrollment status, proof of financial support, and other relevant documents.

Spouse and Family Permit Eligibility

Employment While Studying

We do not offer work-study programs through the college, however, international students enrolled at designated institutions in full-time studies are eligible to work part-time off-campus and full-time during scheduled school breaks without a work permit. For more information, please refer to the Studying and Working in Canada as an International Student section of the IRCC website.

International Student Financial Aid

International students are not eligible for Canadian financial aid, and Pacific Rim College is not eligible for international financial aid, as we do not meet the requirements as a private education institution that does not confer degrees. Typically, international students will obtain funding from their country of residence in the form of a bank loan, family assistance, personal savings, or other funding options.

International students are welcome to apply for the Your Best Interest and Pacific Rim College Bursary

Your Best Interest is a pay-it-forward initiative in which the interest fees that students pay as a result of delayed tuition payment are converted into a fund for the Pacific Rim College Bursary. To increase this fund, PRC matches all contributions dollar for dollar, doubling the available amount.

The PRC Bursary is a $500 award that is granted based on financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Any student enrolled in a multi-semester program is eligible to apply by filling out and submitting an Application for Financial Aid. Additional criteria and deadlines can be found on the application.

Post-graduation Work Permit Eligibility

At present, international graduates are not eligible to apply for the Post Graduation Work Permit based on programs completed at Pacific Rim College. However, graduates may be eligible to apply for other kinds of work permits, including employer-specific work permits. If you wish to remain in Canada to work after graduating, please consult the Stay in Canada after graduation section of the IRCC website.

Post-Graduation Practicing Outside of Canada

Practitioner licensing and practicing requirements vary based on the region of governance. Prospective students are advised to research the specific requirements in the desired areas of practice and contact the local authorities as relevant for more details. PRC is happy to provide information about our programs to help you make an informed decision before applying.

Student Housing

We currently do not offer on-campus student housing opportunities. However, we are happy to provide support to assist you in finding convenient housing. To learn more about short and long-term student housing opportunities in Victoria, please visit our Student Housing page.

Social Insurance Number

If you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a temporary resident, you will require a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs. For information regarding applying, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Resources for International Students

For additional resources regarding relocating to Victoria, BC, Canada, please visit our Student Services page.