Mental Health

Gordon Williams

More than 430,000 students were enrolled at public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia as of November 2006.¹ At the same time there were an estimated 66,000 students attending private post secondary institutions.

British Columbia’s public post-secondary institutions include six universities, three university colleges, 12 colleges and four institutes. Combined, BC’s public institutions operate 38 campuses across BC. In addition, more than 500 private post-secondary institutions are currently registered with the Private Post Secondary Institutions Agency of B.C. ²

• Universities offer an array of undergraduate degree programs and a range of programs at the graduate level. Some also offer diplomas and certificates in a variety of professional fields, as well as continuing education programs. Universities also undertake the pursuit of original research in a range of program disciplines.

• University Colleges offer undergraduate and master’s degrees, often in specialized subject areas, as well as courses and programs in trades (i.e. automotive service technician, welding), vocational (i.e. office procedures, computer training) and career technical (i.e. applied business technology, architectural drafting technician) studies leading to certificates and diplomas. They also provide developmental programs that prepare adult learners for post-secondary studies.

• Colleges offer developmental programs that prepare adult learners for post-secondary studies and provide courses and programs in trades, vocational, career technical and academic studies leading to certificates, diplomas, associate degrees and applied degrees.

• Institutes are organized according to career, vocational and technical specialties, covering a variety of occupations. They may offer credentials from certificates to degrees. Institutes include: BC Institute of Technology (Metro Vancouver); Emily Carr Institute (Vancouver); Justice Institute of BC (Metro Vancouver, Victoria); and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, which has an aboriginal focus (Merritt, Metro Vancouver).

• Private post-secondary institutions in BC offer two main types of education leading to credentials: degree programs, regulated by the Degree Authorization Act; and career training programs, leading to diplomas and certificates, regulated by the Private Career Training Institutions Act. More than 500 institutions are currently registered with the province’s Private Career Training Institutions Agency. To see a list of registered and accredited private institutions visit www.pctia.bc.ca.

For a map of all of BC’s Public institutions with link to each institutions website visit http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/institutions/map.htm