We’re excited to welcome you to VCC! Take a moment to review what’s required after receiving your offer so you can move forward with confidence. Use the step-by-step guide to understand how to prepare for your next steps.
If program seats are available, qualified applicants will receive a Letter of Offer. To accept the offer, students must pay the tuition deposits before the payment deadlines, which are usually within three weeks of the offer issued date. Applicants will then be issued a Letter of Acceptance if the tuition deposit is paid before the payment deadline indicated on the Letter of Offer.
Review the Letter of Offer Carefully
Ensure your name on the Letter of Offer matches your passport. The name entry process below is consistent with the instructions from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). If there is any error on your Letter of Offer, inform VCC immediately by replying to your offer email. Once the Letter of Acceptance is issued, no name changes will be permitted.
If you only have one first/given name: According to the guidelines from the BC Ministry of Education, if a student only has one given name, the name will be identified in the school system as the last name.
If you have more than one first/given name: According to the guidelines from the BC Ministry of Education, the first given name will be identified in the school system as the first name, and the second given name will be identified as the last name.
Accept the Offer by Paying the Tuition Deposit
How much you need to pay to accept your offer varies by program. Check the international tuition deposit page for reference, and also refer to the tuition deposit amount and payment deadline indicated on the Letter of Offer. If the tuition deposit is not received by the deadline, the application will be withdrawn. If you cannot pay the fees on time and would like to request an extension to make the full payment, please reply to ieadmissions@vcc.ca with your request before the offer expires.
Once a Letter of Offer is issued, no changes to the program or intake will be permitted. If you wish to be considered for a different intake or program after receiving the offer, please re-apply.
Waitlisted applicants will not be required to pay tuition deposits unless an offer is available.
Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
The Letter of Acceptance will be issued within a few days after your tuition deposit payments are received in your VCC student account, which can take days or weeks depending on your payment method. You should receiving your Letter of Acceptance (LOA), review it to make sure there is no error.
Request an updated LOA
An updated Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the same program and for the same term may be issued upon request only if:
You have met all the conditions listed on your Conditional Letter of Acceptance (CLOA) by the deadlines.
Your name has changed. Supporting documents (such as marriage certificates) must be submitted to complete the request.
VCC will include the PAL with the LOA if you need one for your study permit application. You must apply for a Study Permit with your PAL. VCC typically only issue one PAL for each applicant, so we strongly encourage you to review the study permit requirements carefully before applying for a study permit.
Requesting a new PAL
If your study permit application is refused by IRCC, you can either withdraw or re-apply. If you feel you have a strong case and wish to re-apply for a study permit, you must get a new PAL before you reapply. Email ieadmissions@vcc.ca to request a new PAL within 3 weeks of receiving a study permit rejection, and include the following in your request email:
a copy of your refusal letter
a short summary with a maximum of 500 words of how you will update your study permit application to be successful. Please ensure you address each refusal point in your refusal letter.
Submit Proof of Study Permit Approval
Apply for a Study Permit with the Letter of Acceptance. Students must provide proof of their study permit approval by the deadline indicated on the Letter of Acceptance. If students do not submit proof of Study Permit or Student Visa Approval to the VCC International Education office by the deadline, the program seat may not be guaranteed, and students may be deferred to the next available start date.
To prove your Study Permit approval, you can submit:
a copy of your valid study permit with Vancouver Community College as the Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
a copy of your IRCC study permit approval port of entry (POE) letter of introduction (you must have applied for a study permit by using VCC’s LOA)
Satisfy Conditions
If students receive conditional admission, they must satisfy the conditions in order to receive full acceptance. The conditions and the deadlines are indicated on the Letter of Acceptance.
Scanned and photocopied documents are only accepted for initial evaluation purposes. Students must bring all original hard copy educational documents used for admission with them to Canada. VCC reserves the right to request students' educational documents at any time for review.
Official and original documents may include transcripts, graduation certificates or diplomas, and other educational documents submitted during the application process.
Step-by-Step Guide
Congratulations on your admission to Vancouver Community College (VCC)! We're excited to welcome you to VCC’s diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community. Your journey starts here, and we’re proud to be part of it.
After you've received an offer:
This step-by-step guide walks you through everything from accepting your offer to preparing for your first day at VCC.
You did it! First things first – to accept your offer, pay your tuition deposit before the deadline indicated in your offer of admission email to save your seat.
Here are additional details you should read before accepting this offer:
Payment Method: Pay your deposit only through Flywire. Other payments are rejected and will be returned, deducting administrative fees, at the payers’ expenses.
Payment Deadline: Pay your deposit before the deadline stated in your offer of admission email. If you need more time, email us before the deadline to request an extension, if available.
Acceptance: After your deposit is received before the deadline, we will issue your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and, if applicable, Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
We can’t wait to welcome you to VCC and support you as you begin your journey with us!
All international students attending Vancouver Community College for a period longer than six months must have a valid Canadian Study Permit from Immigration, Refugees andCitizenship Canada (IRCC). Getting a permit can take several months due to long processing times, so be sure to begin the process as soon as you can.
Meet Any Conditions of Admission: If you are conditionally admitted, submit proof once you have met all conditions by the deadline in your LOA (Box #25) or request to defer your admission before the deadline. If you cannot meet the deadlines and wish to withdraw instead, the non-refundable fees apply. Check the non-refundable fees and refund policy for details. Once you receive your unconditional Letter of Acceptance (LOA), you can use your LOA and the previously issued PAL to submit your study permit application.
Request a New PAL: If your study permit application is refused, you cannot use the same PAL and mustget a new PAL to re-apply for a study permit. Contact VCC within 3 weeks of the refusal letter issuance date if you wish to request a new PAL. Our office will review your case to determine eligibility for a second PAL; approval is not guaranteed and depends on meeting VCC’s PAL re-issuance criteria.
Admission Deferrals: Deferred admission is subject to the availability of the program and may be granted for a maximum of one year. For more information, review our deferral eligibility requirements and deadlines.
After Accepting Your Offer: Tuition depositsare non-transferable. Contact us by email at ieadmissions@vcc.ca if you are planning to change programs.
Prepare Your Original Educational Documents: Bring all original admission documents with you to Canada — VCC may request them anytime.
Disclaimer: VCC provides immigration advising services to support students; however, the College is not responsible for students' immigration status, their compliance with immigration laws and regulations, or the outcomes of applications submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Students are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their applications, maintaining a valid status, and complying with all applicable regulations around their status as international students.
After course registration, if you have outstanding fees to pay, you will get a notification from the Student Accounts Office regarding the amount and payment deadline. For additional fees such as equipment, materials, textbooks, and supplies, your program will provide you with more details on the first day of classes. See Fees and Fee Payments and the VCC Bookstore for more information.
If you received a VCC International Regional Entrance Award, the amount will be applied to your account at the beginning of your second term and can be applied toward future term tuition and fees. VCC International Regional Entrance Awards are non-refundable, and non-transferable between programs. The award may not be granted in the case of a deferral of admission.
Important reminders about tuition and fees
Tuition and other mandatory student fees are approximate and subject to an annual increase of up to 5%.
Other fees and charges may apply.
All fees may change without notice. Students will be required to pay increased rates if the fees change at any time during the period of enrolment in the program. For more information, see Tuition and Fees.
Failure to pay any fees owing by the deadline will result in being dropped from your courses.
Prepare for Arrival
Once your seat is confirmed, prepare to arrive at least one to two weeks before classes begin. Review our new student resources, arrival, housing, and medical insurance information. You will also receive information about the mandatory orientation mandatory orientation. Update your email or mailing address on your myVCC account to stay connected with us.
Guard.me Temporary Medical Insurance Plan for New International Students
By accepting your offer, you agreed to be enrolled in the guard.me More Enhanced Health Insurance Plan. This is a mandatory plan unless you are already covered by the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). All first-semester international students are charged $148.50 for temporary and private basic medical insurance 'Guard Me for the initial 90-day mandatory BC Medical Services Plan wait period. Please visit our webpage for more details on medical insurance, including effective dates and opting out of the Guard Me option if you already have MSP.
Class Registration
VCC will start registering you into classes a few weeks before classes begin and let you know when you can check your schedule online.
We can’t wait to welcome you to VCC and see you start your journey in Vancouver!
More questions about applying to VCC? Join an International Information Session to learn more about programs, admission requirements, student services, and more. Connect with us by email, phone, or by meeting with an advisor.
