College in Vancouver

Last Updated: December 8th, 2021

In this new video series, you will learn about life in a Vancouver college, the culture, and the quality of living. We hope to show you a better picture of what to look forward to in your new life in Vancouver!

At Alexander College, we strive to provide the best for our students, both academically and in daily living. We find that the best way to help students understand what to expect from Alexander College and the Vancouver lifestyle is through the power of videos!

Life is filled with big decisions and deciding on a post-secondary institution is an important step! This is especially true when not only do these big decisions involve choosing a program and school, but also moving to a new country.

We will also cover details about the variety of programs that we offer here at Alexander College, such as the University Transfer, Associate Degree and English for Academic Purposes programs.

Lastly, we will share more information on our Alexander College Student life and community to give you a better look into student life after enrollment.

Here is our guide to life in Vancouver and the various programs available at Alexander College :

Providing Students The Opportunities to Connect

Our Student Life team runs a variety of events! This is to enable opportunities for cross-cultural learning amongst students, staff, and faculty, such as our annual AC Amazing Race!

The AC Amazing Race is one of our most popular events that brings together our students, staff, and faculty! Drawing inspiration from the TV game show, The Amazing Race® you will run to reach various pit stops around Vancouver. At each pit stop, you will complete challenges in order to proceed through the race. It’s a great event that will help you learn about the landmarks around Vancouver, get a good workout in, and meet other students!

You may be wondering,

What is a day in the life of a student at Alexander College? Is it all about academics? What happens outside school?

As a student at AC, you will be guided to fully experience all that Vancouver has to offer. Through the various events held both on and off campus, students are given the opportunity to explore Vancouver.

You will be able to join events, such as heading to Whistler (our popular ski resort), hiking at Grouse Mountain with our AC Outdoors Club, cheering on the Vancouver Canucks (our National Hockey League team), and more!

You will also have the chance to take the lead in sharing what your college experience is like! We love it when our student vloggers share life through their own camera lens in our Student Day in The Life YouTube series. Take a look at when our student, Rajesh, went to his first Vancouver Whitecaps soccer game!

Protecting the Environment and Reducing our Carbon Footprint

Vancouver is a city filled with people who care about our impact on the environment. We will help you gain the knowledge, as well as provide opportunities for you to engage in protecting our world.

Through the signing of the Green Pledge, we made a commitment to do what we can for the environment. This includes beach clean ups run by students at local beaches around Vancouver, and through our AC Green Committee.

Food in Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver being a multicultural city also means we are never short of variety and access to food from around the world!

Imagine taking a tour of Vancouver local eateries! Virtually, you can join our students as they share their love of food! Through this series, experience food, and the cultural significance of the dishes, through the eyes of our students and staff.

Not only is Vancouver home to stunning landscapes and nature, it also has urban areas. We have the best of both worlds!

You will find a variety of local cafes which are great for studying, all conveniently located close to both Alexander College campuses!

Learn more about Vancouver in our International Student Guide

The University Transfer Program in Canada

“I was in the University Transfer Program, and then I transferred to UBC and majored in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour” – Kaitlyn Wang, AC Alumni

One of the most popular programs at Alexander College is our University Transfer Program!

We offer a wide range of first and second-year university courses to help you transfer within the BC Transfer system. Plus, our small class sizes mean that you will get more individualized attention in the classroom.

Why the University Transfer Program in Canada?

If you don’t meet the admission requirements from universities right off the bat, or if you would benefit from beginning your post-secondary studies in a smaller environment, the University Transfer Program is a great option for you right after completing high school.

Through the University Transfer Program, you will have the opportunity to make progress toward getting into a Bachelor’s degree program at a university. This is also an alternative for you if you have not yet decided on a career path. If you need an in-depth look, see our page on the University Transfer Program, which include Frequently Asked Questions, Sample Study Transfer Plans, and more!

You will also find more information about which universities you could transfer to, plus more on how to use the BC Transfer Guide.

How do you choose the right courses for you?

“I’m in my third year in Marketing at UBC and previously, I studied at Alexander College and had a lot of good experiences” – Sung Ae Kwon, AC Alumni

As a student of AC, you will have access to help with choosing the right courses that will allow you to successfully transfer to the university of choice! In addition, many of our courses are also available through online learning. You can get advice through our Academic Advising Services which are available to all students.

Our Academic Advisors help students to understand university and faculty admission requirements, such as what courses are transferable through the University Transfer Program. In addition, our Academic Advisors can assist you in creating a study plan that will put you on the right path toward fulfilling Bachelor’s degree program requirements.

Associate Degree Program in Canada

At Alexander College, we offer the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degree programs!

The Associate Degree program is a foundational degree consisting of 60 credits in total. It is typically completed over a two-year period. Program requirements include a minimum of 36 credits, including 18 credits at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas.

The Path after Completing the Associate Degree Program in Canada

What happens after you complete the Associate Degree program?

Upon completion of the Associate Degree program, you may choose to enter the workforce or to continue your undergraduate studies. You can also use your Associate Degree to transfer to the third year of a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university.

If you are an international student graduating from an Associate Degree program at Alexander College, you may also be eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Many of our students also become employed as Student Workers on campus and participate in a variety of volunteer opportunities at AC.

Are you wondering about opportunities for Scholarships at Alexander College?

Find all the term scholarships available, as well as information about the external scholarships you can apply to!

Learn more about our Associate Degrees.

English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) in Canada

“When I first came to Vancouver, I barely spoke a word of English, but now I think I’ve improved a lot!”- Caroline Jiang, AC Alumni

Within the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program, you will develop core English language skills within a post-secondary context. Within this program, you will also be able to approach college and university studies with the required English language competencies after completion.

The English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) consists of 5 levels focusing on language learning in the context of academic subjects such as:

• Science
• Economics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Literature
• Philosophy

Academic Support Available to AC Students

In addition to this program and the many subject areas offered at Alexander College, you will find support through various means when completing your courses.

Among them are the extensive resources available at the Alexander College library and the Writing and Learning Centre. We’ will go through these in more detail below!

Learn more about our EAP Program.

AC Student Affairs Division

The Student Affairs Division at Alexander College is made up of several divisions and strives to holistically enable and empower our students. Your success is our priority!

The variety of services available is towards supporting you in your personal and professional development.

Let’s get into the different sections of the Student Affairs division:

The Various Divisions of Alexander College Student Affairs:

Writing and Learning Centre

As a student at AC, you have access to the AC Writing and Learning Centre services!

At the WLC, you will get free one-to-one tutoring for all your courses, grow and develop your academic skills and know-how, and learn how to apply them across all disciplines.

Among the skills that your WLC tutor can teach you include Microsoft Office skills, presentation tips, tips for academic writing, academic integrity and more.

Library

Here, you will have access to a constantly growing and dynamic list of print publications. You’ll also be a click away from accessing millions of subscription online articles, e-books, films and many other electronic resources! Our libraries at both campuses are the ideal place to help you pursue your many interests and to get started on projects and assignments for your courses.

Plus, you will also have access to a variety of video games to help you de-stress and have fun, such as FIFA – one of our student’s favourites!

Through the AC Library page, you will find a series of videos that can further help you in understanding the variety of services offered and how to access them.

Office of Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs at Alexander College provides advocacy for students in the form of policies and appeals. During your time as a student, life happens and we’re here to help!

Through the Office of Student Affairs, you can contact us for help in regards to looking for accommodations, needs during bereavement, if you require attention for academic appeals, course deferrals, and more!

Student Services

Whether you’re an incoming, current, or graduating student at Alexander College, the Student Services department can help you identify academic concerns, access academic and emotional support services, and offer opportunities to help prepare you for experiences beyond Alexander College.

Student Life

“Thanks to AC, I was able to complete my degree in a good amount of time” – Augustpreet Randhawa, AC Alumni

We are proud to support student leadership and hear the voices of the student body at AC!

The Alexander College Student Association (ACSA) supports numerous clubs every term, such as the AC Explorers Basketball Club, Bhangra Club and Coffee Club!

You will have the opportunity to be a part of ACSA and be provided with a review for university applications. Our alumni and current students can share their experiences and how their involvement in ACSA has helped them in university!

You will also play a role in supporting the various academic events like our convocation ceremonies and new student orientation.

Health and Wellness

As a student, you receive up to 10 free, on-site, Health and Wellness Counseling sessions each academic year. We aim to provide you with a safe, supportive, and confidential space to discuss issues that may be causing you distress and personal struggle.

Mental health is an important topic for us as we believe in removing the negativity surrounding mental health issues. So don’t worry, we’re always ready to lend an ear!

If you’re a student living away from home, we regularly provide tips to manage and overcome homesickness and adjusting to a new environment.

You will be supported through all of these services readily available to you! Be sure to stay informed and learn more about our Student Affairs Division!

Admissions and Registration

Our Registrar and Enrolment Services teams support students by providing student services related to admissions, course registration, academic advising, and more.

If you are a prospective student looking to apply to AC, our dedicated team of Enrolment Advisors and the Office of Registrar are here to guide you through every step of the application process.

The application process is completed online via our student portal known as myAC.

MyAC is the primary institutional portal for our students. Using this system you will be able to apply for admission, check your application status, book a placement test, register for courses, view your grades, view your billing and payment information, order your transcripts, and more.

Before you apply, be sure to check the admission requirements needed for both domestic and international students.

After reading about our admission and documentation requirements, you may find that you are missing some documents for your English and math competency. Not a problem! We provide free English and Math assessments via placement testing services.

Looking for information about tuition and fees? You can find tuition and fees information, and find out if you may qualify for financial aid, on our website.

Check out our step by step guide on all the things you should know before and after you arrive to Vancouver in order to thrive as a student in the city!

We also have introduced translated mini sites for Chinese and Spanish in order to provide core information in your native language!

After you arrive at Alexander College, you will want to register for courses and our Registrar and Enrolment Services teams will help you to understand which courses you should select.

Our Academic Advisors will teach you about all things course related. For example, they can tell you how your courses will be applied to your program of study and what grades you should aim to achieve. In addition, they can help you to prepare your plan of study to meet you program goals, whether that goal is to complete an Associate Degree program, or to transfer to university in the future.

Have questions about your student record or documents? The Office of the Registrar is here to support students. They provide access to records such as official transcripts, or by issuing official letters, such as letters confirming your enrolment status.

Are you transferring from another post-secondary institution? Have you completed post-secondary coursework (or a degree) in another country?

If you have, our team of transfer credit officers can help to assess the courses that you completed elsewhere. You may awarded some transfer credit at AC for those courses.  These credits can be used to meet your program requirements and earn your credential from AC faster.

When it comes time to apply for graduation, our Academic Advisors and Office of the Registrar staff will double check that you have met all of the program requirements, help you to apply for graduation, and issue your new credential!

Staying Connected as a Student

In this day and age, social media connects the world.

You can stay connected to the college, your friends and Vancouver through a variety of social media means! Find us on our channels:

• – Facebook
• – Instagram
• – YouTube
• – Twitter

Apply Online or Request More Information

We hope that this article is able to provide you with all the information you need about Alexander College, and introduce you to our vibrant city of Vancouver!

If you are looking to get started on becoming a student right away, you can apply online now!

Apply Online to Alexander College

If you have additional questions, please contact our enrolment team by filling out the form below.