Written by Dhiraj Kandel

About North Island College

North Island College

On Vancouver Island, the mountains and the Pacific aren’t scenery in the background – they’re part of the campus. North Island College (NIC) was founded in 1975 as a public college, and today it teaches out of campuses in Courtenay (Comox Valley), Campbell River and Port Alberni, with programming also reaching Port Hardy. Its main campus and administration sit in the Comox Valley, on the traditional territory of the K’xC3xB3moks First Nation.

As a public, government-designated learning institution (nic.bc.ca), NIC keeps its classes small and its tuition well below what students pay in Vancouver or Toronto, while still offering co-op work terms, guaranteed transfer pathways into University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University degrees, and hands-on trades and health-care training employers actually hire for.

For Nepali students who want a practical, career-focused Canadian credential on a quieter coastline rather than a downtown campus, NIC is genuinely worth comparing against the bigger-city colleges.

North Island College Campuses

NIC operates four campuses on Vancouver Island, all reachable from the same admissions and student-support office:

CAMPUS	CITY	PROVINCE
Comox Valley campus (main)	Courtenay	British Columbia
Campbell River campus	Campbell River	British Columbia
Port Alberni campus	Port Alberni	British Columbia
Port Hardy campus	Port Hardy	British Columbia

Programs Offered By North Island College

NIC’s program list spans Business Administration, Health and Human Services, Digital Design and Development, Trades Apprenticeship and Foundation programs, Indigenous Studies, and University Arts and Sciences transfer pathways – certificates and diplomas through to bachelor’s degrees in business and nursing.

Campus Life

Students at the Comox Valley campus can live in tul’al’txw student housing, NIC’s on-campus residence with 217 beds across single, shared and family units. Other supports on campus include:

On-campus and family student housing (tul’al’txw)
Licensed on-campus childcare through the Beaufort Children’s Centre
Campus store, food services and study spaces
North Island Students’ Union events and services

Library

NIC students use the NIC Library, run through the college’s Library and Learning Commons, which gives access to research databases, e-books, study rooms and one-on-one research help across all four campuses.

Careers & Part-Time Jobs At North Island College

NIC runs its co-op and internship programs through Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), an accredited member of CEWIL Canada. Business Administration students can take optional co-op terms, and once enrolled, students get access to CareerCentral, NIC’s own job board for on- and off-campus work, resume help and employer events.

International students on a valid study permit can generally work part-time off campus while classes are in session, on top of any co-op or internship placement built into their program – always confirm current hour limits with NIC’s international student advisors before relying on them.

Why Nepali Students Choose North Island College

Smaller class sizes than most big-city Canadian colleges
Guaranteed transfer pathways into UVic and VIU degrees
Co-op and practicum options built into several programs
Comox Valley and Campbell River campuses close to nature, at a lower cost of living than Vancouver or Toronto

Upcoming Intakes For North Island College

NIC admits students mainly through September (Fall) and January (Winter) intakes, with some programs also opening for May. Limited-entry programs such as Health Care Assistant and Practical Nursing close well ahead of the term – check the official dates and deadlines page for the program you want before you plan your application timeline.

Top Courses

Top Degrees

Diploma
Certificate
Post Graduate
Associate Degree
Bachelors
Post Degree Certificate
Advanced Diploma

Eligibility Criteria

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Minimum 60% in Grade 10 & 12 (or equivalent).	Overall IELTS 6.0, with no band below 5.5 (reading, writing, listening, speaking).	SOP, LOR, transcripts, resume, official score reports, WES (where required).

DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Minimum 60% in Grade 10 & 12; minimum 55% in prior diploma or bachelor’s coursework, where applicable.	Overall IELTS 6.0-6.5, with no band below 5.5-6.0 depending on the program.	SOP, LOR, transcripts, resume, official score reports, WES (where required).

POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Relevant bachelor’s degree with minimum 60% or equivalent GPA.	Overall IELTS 6.0, with no band below 5.5.	SOP, LOR, transcripts, resume, official score reports, WES (where required).

Exact GPA and test-score minimums vary by program – confirm the specific requirements on the official admission requirements page before applying.

Important Details About North Island College For Nepalese Students

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligible	Yes, for eligible programs
Part-time work while studying	Yes, on a valid study permit
Co-op / internship	Yes, in select programs (Business Administration and others)
Financial awards	Yes, bursaries and scholarships available
Credit transfer	Yes, to UVic, VIU and other BC institutions

Contact Information Of North Island College For International Students

Phone Number	1-800-715-0914
Email	study@nic.bc.ca
Website	www.nic.bc.ca
Address: 2300 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada – V9N 8N6 (Comox Valley campus)

International Entrance Exams – Scores Required For Admission

Program Level	IELTS	PTE	TOEFL	Duolingo
Diploma / Certificate	6.0, no band below 5.5	54	80	110
Bachelor’s Degree	6.0, no band below 5.5	54	80	110
Post-Graduate Diploma	6.0, no band below 5.5	54	80	110

Some limited-entry programs, like Nursing and Health Care Assistant, ask for higher scores – check the English language requirements page for your program.

Admission Requirements For North Island College

Documents Required

Completed application form and application fee
Academic transcripts and certificates (Grade 10, 12, and any post-secondary study)
Official English test score report (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo)
Valid passport
Statement of purpose and resume
Proof of funds for tuition and living costs

Document needs vary a little by program and by study permit stage. For a full personalised checklist, see Goreto’s resources for abroad study page or NIC’s own how to apply guide.

Deadline For Admissions

NIC processes applications on a rolling, first-come-first-served basis, so applying 9-12 months ahead of your intended intake gives you the best shot at a seat, especially in limited-entry programs like Health Care Assistant, Practical Nursing and Early Childhood Care and Education. Confirm the current cut-off for your specific program on NIC’s dates and deadlines page before you apply.

Program Details

Health Care Assistant

North Island College

Duration:

2 years

Part time jobs:

yes

PGWP eligibility:

yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Prepares students to provide personal care and support to older adults and people with disabilities across care settings; offered at Campbell River, Comox Valley and Port Alberni.

Early Childhood Care & Education

Diploma Early Childhood Care And Education In Infants And Toddlers

North Island College

Duration:

2 years

Part time jobs:

yes

PGWP eligibility:

yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Advanced diploma building on ECE fundamentals with a focus on infant and toddler development, for students who already hold an ECE certificate or diploma.

DIGITAL Design & Development

Web and Mobile Application Development Diploma

North Island College

Duration:

2 years

Part time jobs:

yes

PGWP eligibility:

yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Diploma covering front- and back-end web and mobile development; program status can change, confirm current availability on the official NIC page.

Trades and Technical

Aircraft Structures Technician (AME-S)

North Island College

Duration:

1 years

Part time jobs:

yes

PGWP eligibility:

yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Aviation maintenance training preparing students for aircraft structural repair and certification work; check the NIC program finder for current intake status.

Trades and Technical

Furniture Design and Joinery Certificate

North Island College

Duration:

9 months

Part time jobs:

yes

PGWP eligibility:

yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Hands-on trade certificate in furniture-making and joinery techniques; program status can change, confirm current availability on the official NIC page.

Mechanical Engineering

Industrial Automation Technician

North Island College

Duration:

2 year(s)

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Diploma in instrumentation and electrical automation, training students to install and maintain industrial control systems; based at the Campbell River campus.

Management, Administration and Organisation

Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

North Island College

Duration:

4 year(s)

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Four-year degree combining core business courses with an accounting specialization, with an optional co-op work term.

Management, Administration and Organisation

Business Administration in General Management Co Op

North Island College

Duration:

2 year(s)

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Two-year diploma in general management with an optional co-op work term, a common transfer pathway into NIC's BBA degrees.

Management, Administration and Organisation

Business Administration in Pre Professional Accountant

North Island College

Duration:

1 year

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Post-graduate diploma for degree-holders who want to build accounting-specific skills for the Canadian workplace.

Accommodation For Nepalese Students Studying At North Island College

On-Campus Accommodation

NIC’s Comox Valley campus opened tul’al’txw student housing, a purpose-built residence with 217 beds across single-occupant, shared and dedicated family units, all furnished and including utilities, high-speed Wi-Fi and secured storage. It runs year-round, including winter break, so students don’t need to move out between terms.

Off-Campus Accommodation

Students at the Campbell River and Port Alberni campuses, or anyone who wants off-campus housing near Comox Valley, can get local rental listings and support through NIC’s International Supports office, which also helps new students plan their first few weeks in Canada.