Cambrian College

Cambrian College is a public college of applied arts and technology in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It opened in 1967 and is now the largest college in Northern Ontario, with nearly 80 full-time programs.

This profile is for Nepali students considering Cambrian for a diploma, a graduate certificate or a degree. It covers why students choose it, where its campuses are, what it costs, when programs start, work rights, scholarships and a selection of programs open to international students. The full list of popular programs, with intakes and PGWP status, is in our Cambrian programs guide. Entry requirements, documents and the application steps are in our Cambrian College admissions guide.

Why do Nepali students choose Cambrian College?

Because it offers practical, job-focused programs in IT, AI, health, engineering technology and business, with placements built in, in a smaller and quieter city than Toronto.

• One-year graduate certificates. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree from TU or another Nepali university, programs such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (finish in as little as 8 months) and Cybersecurity (1 year) are quick routes to a Canadian credential. Cambrian lists both as PGWP eligible.
• Diplomas straight after +2. Two- and three-year programs such as Practical Nursing, Computer Systems Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technician are open to students coming from NEB +2.
• Work experience inside the program. Computer Systems Technology ends with a seven-week placement, and the Bachelor of Business Administration includes a paid 14-week internship.
• A smaller city to start in. Sudbury is a mid-sized city roughly four hours’ drive north of Toronto. Rent is usually lower than in the Greater Toronto Area, and Cambrian has on-campus residence for up to 677 students.

Where are Cambrian College’s campuses?

Cambrian’s main campus is Barry Downe in Sudbury, with two small regional campuses in Espanola and on Manitoulin Island. The programs on this page are taught at Barry Downe.

You may see Cambrian listed with campuses in Toronto (North York) and Vancouver (New Westminster). Those were Hanson College locations, not Cambrian’s own, and in February 2025 Hanson moved its Cambrian programs from Toronto to Brampton. Because Hanson is a private college teaching Cambrian programs under a licensing agreement, IRCC does not give a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to students who started there after 15 May 2024. If you want a PGWP, choose a program at a Cambrian campus.

How much does Cambrian College cost for international students?

Tuition is CAD 11,000 to 20,000 a year depending on the program, with mandatory health insurance included.

That is roughly NPR 12 to 22 lakh a year. To see what these amounts are worth today, use our CAD to NPR forex converter. Check the exact fee for your program on Cambrian’s international tuition and fees page, because fees are set each academic year. If your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or study permit is refused, Cambrian refunds your tuition minus a CAD 200 administration fee.

Living costs come on top. For your study permit, IRCC asks you to show CAD 23,448 for a year of living expenses plus your first-year tuition. See our proof of funds guide and the cost of studying in Canada page for a monthly budget.

When are Cambrian College’s intakes?

Cambrian starts programs in January, May and September, but each program sets its own intakes for international students, so check your program before you plan.

For example, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and Computer Systems Technology take international students in January and September; Practical Nursing in January, May and September; and Data Analytics and the Bachelor of Business Administration in September only.

Aim to apply 9 to 12 months before your start date so there is time for the offer, the PAL, your study permit and travel. If you track document dates and deadlines in Bikram Sambat, our Nepali date converter turns B.S. dates into A.D. dates. For the full calendar, read our guide to Canada intakes.

Can you work while studying at Cambrian and after you graduate?

Yes. You can work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are on, and many Cambrian programs lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), but not all of them.

Cambrian’s myCareer job board lists on-campus and off-campus part-time jobs alongside co-op and work-study postings. For the PGWP, the rules depend on your credential:

• Bachelor’s degrees, such as Cambrian’s BBA, have no field-of-study requirement.
• Diplomas and graduate certificates must be in an eligible field of study if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024. Cambrian marks each program as eligible or not on its program page and in its PGWP-eligible program list (updated 7 January 2026).
• College graduates also need an English test result of at least CLB 5 in all four skills when they apply for the PGWP.

Our PGWP guide for Nepali students explains each rule.

Which scholarships can Nepali students get at Cambrian?

New international students can get a Cambrian Entrance Scholarship of CAD 1,500, and Cambrian gives out more than CAD 2 million in scholarships and bursaries across all its students.

How the entrance scholarship works:

• Amount: CAD 1,500 if you apply from outside Canada, or CAD 1,000 if you apply from inside Canada.
• Who can get it: new international students starting their first Cambrian program.
• What you have to do: apply through Ontario Colleges (OCAS) and pay your first-semester tuition by the dates Cambrian sets, get your study permit, and stay registered past day 10 of classes.
• When: the last round, for the September 2026 and January 2027 intakes, closed on 31 May 2026. Watch the entrance scholarship page for the next round.

For other awards, see Cambrian’s scholarships and bursaries page. Our Canada scholarships guide lists awards that Nepali students can apply for.

What do you need to get into Cambrian College from Nepal?

You need your NEB +2 or bachelor’s results and an English score: IELTS 6.0 with no band under 5.5 for diplomas, or IELTS 6.5 with no band under 6.0 for graduate certificates and degrees.

PTE Academic minimums are 58 for diplomas and degrees and 61 for graduate certificates. The Social Service Worker diplomas use the graduate certificate level. If your score is just short, Cambrian’s English for Academic Purposes program is a pathway in.

To see where your +2 grades stand, convert your NEB GPA to a percentage with our NEB GPA calculator. Documents, processing time, acceptance and the application steps are in our Cambrian admissions guide.

What can you study at Cambrian College?

Cambrian offers nearly 80 full-time programs: certificates, two-year diplomas, three-year advanced diplomas, one-year graduate certificates and a few bachelor’s degrees.

The programs below are a selection open to international students in IT, AI, health and business, each checked on Cambrian’s program page in September 2026. Follow the link for current fees and seats, or see our Cambrian programs guide for more programs by course area. Two well-known programs are not PGWP eligible: Business: Accounting and Police Foundations. For more on each type of program, see our guides to postgraduate diplomas in Canada, studying AI in Canada and a BBA in Canada.

Program Details

Where do Cambrian students live?

You can live in Cambrian Residence on the Barry Downe campus, which has dorm and townhouse rooms for up to 677 students, or rent off campus in Sudbury.

Residence rooms are furnished, and you can book for an academic term instead of signing a 12-month lease. Contact the Residence Office for current rates. If you rent off campus, start with Cambrian’s off-campus housing page, which lists rental resources and tips on avoiding rental scams.

Official Cambrian College links

• International students at Cambrian
• Apply through Ontario Colleges (OCAS)
• Tuition and fees 2025-26 for international students
• English language requirements
• PGWP-eligible programs
• Campus locations
• Confirm Cambrian’s designated learning institution (DLI) number on IRCC’s DLI list

Frequently asked questions about Cambrian College