Post-Secondary Education

Overview

You can pursue post-secondary education at B.C. institutions through a range of delivery options, including:

  • B.C.’s post-secondary institutions – Learn about post-secondary institutions in B.C., including public post-secondary institutions, private and out-of-province public degree-granting institutions, private training institutions, theological institutions and Indigenous-controlled post-secondary institutes. Discover the range of university, college and institute education options B.C. has to offer.
  • Study or work abroad – Experience a different culture, gain skills and develop contacts by studying or working abroad as part of your education program. Many of B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions offer study and work opportunities abroad.
  • Distance education – Find out about distance education programs and courses in B.C.
  • Adult upgrading – Learn about programs that can help you upgrade or complete high school.

Are you starting your post-secondary journey?

  • Changing location.
  • Living on your own.
  • Facing new academic challenges.
  • Juggling school and work demands.
  • Managing your money.

The guide From Surviving to Thriving: Developing Personal and Academic Resilience (PDF) gives you resources, checklists, worksheets, a coping strategies planner, and a choice of four strategies for managing stressful situations.

From Surviving to Thriving can help you prepare for challenges and pressures that may arise. The guide will help you identify your personal strengths and develop strategies to manage stress, address challenges and reduce worry and fear. Know when and where to ask for help, and build a network of people for mutual support.

Find an education program

Use these resources to navigate B.C.’s post-secondary options and choose the institutions or programs you need:

  • EducationPlannerBC – Search for programs at B.C. post-secondary institutions based on your interests, type of credential and other factors.
  • The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills – Find information to help choose a program or institution. Information is also available on how to be an informed student.
  • SkilledTradesBC – Get information on more than 100 apprenticeship programs that can lead you to a career as a trades worker or technician.
  • The Private Training Institutions Branch – Find information on programs offered at over 300 private training institutions.
  • BC Transfer Guide – Find out how to get credit at one institution for a course you took at another institution.
  • Distance education – Stay in your own community and continue your education full or part-time through online or distance education. On EducationPlannerBC, use "distance education" as a search term to discover programs and courses at post-secondary institutions across the province. You can also visit the distance education section of the institutional website of your choice to explore online and distance education options. You might also check out Thompson Rivers University Open Learning, which has a mandate to serve the open learning needs of the province.
  • Adult upgrading – Upgrade or complete high school level courses to give yourself more options, such as for work opportunities or furthering your education. Learn about adult graduation, free assessments or tutoring and other possibilities. Find a post-secondary institution or school near you that offers adult upgrading courses.
  • Co-operative education – Many public post-secondary institutions offer co-operative (“co-op”) education programs, which let you integrate paid, relevant work experience with your program of study.
  • Prospective Students Guide (PDF)​​ – Plan ahead for the next step based on your interests, finances and other factors.

Post-secondary student outcomes

Which education programs lead to good jobs? Which programs produce grads who are ready for employment? Whether you are planning your career or looking for new employees, you’ll want to know the outcomes of B.C.’s post-secondary education programs.

Through a series of province-wide annual surveys, you can find out what former students had to say about their education and learn:

  • If they are working in jobs related to their education.
  • The income they make after they complete a program.
  • Further education they take after leaving a program.
  • If they are satisfied with the education they received.

Most students (92%) who took part in a 2018 BC Student Outcomes survey were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the education they received. Graduates had an unemployment rate between 4.3% and 9.9%, depending on the type of program. 

The BC Student Outcomes Highlights reports these and other results from a series of annual surveys of former B.C. post-secondary students who took baccalaureate programs; associate degree, diploma or certificate programs; and apprenticeship, trades foundation or trades-related vocational training.

The BC Student Outcomes Dashboard provides an interactive summary of survey results from former students who attended a post-secondary institution in B.C. (not all institutions participated in the Dashboard).