Maximum practice and employment after study: Algonquin College
A quality education in Canada's capital city and admission without taking a language test.
One of the surest ways to immigrate to Canada is to obtain a higher education. Studying at a university allows you to gain valuable knowledge about in-demand professions and valuable experience of life in the country. And upon graduation, graduates receive a work permit in Canada. As a result, graduates have a nationally relevant education and work experience that sets them apart from other residency applicants.
Higher education in Canada has many advantages. It meets world standards, Canadian universities are among the best in the world, and the cost of studying and living in Canada is much lower than, for example, in the U.S. and Great Britain. It's never too late to start higher education in Canada, and it's available to people of all ages. Also, many colleges in Canada are open to applicants without even taking a language test.
Algonquin College
Algonquin College is a large public college located in Canada's capital city of Ottawa, Ontario. It was founded in 1967 — during the formation of Ontario's higher education system. Algonquin College takes its name from the tribe of the indigenous people who lived on the land.
Algonquin College is a state-of-the-art, publicly accredited institution. It was ranked among the top 50 research colleges in Canada in 2022. The primary focus of the college is technology and the arts. The college consists of three campuses. One is located in Ottawa, and the other two are in Perth and Pembroke, located 83 and 119 km from the capital respectively.
Algonquin College has 20,000 students in full-time programs, making it one of the largest colleges in Canada. There are also many international students at the institution. International students make up about 20 percent of the total number of full-time students — Algonquin College has more than 4,000 international students from more than 130 countries.
Programs
As has already been said, the college's specialty is arts and technology. Algonquin College sees its mission as "the foretelling of dreams into reality. And in less poetic terms: to train a professional who, upon graduation, will become a valuable asset in the labor market. That is why the main point of training is the special attention to applied theory and practical experience. The student gets maximum practice and practical knowledge that will allow him to find a job right after graduation and feel most comfortable in the workplace with all the necessary skills.
Algonquin College has a total of more than 300 programs of study. These include undergraduate and graduate programs as well as one— and two-year degree and certificate programs. Major areas of study:
- advanced technology;
- art and design;
- business;
- community and skilled trades;
- construction and working professions;
- creative media and communications;
- culinary, hospitality and tourism;
- environmental and applied sciences;
- health sciences;
- public safety and the legal sciences;
- transportation;
- recreation and wellness.
There are dozens of training programs in each of these fields. All of these programs are geared toward practicum, teamwork, and honing skills. The training uses modern technology and electronic textbooks instead of printed books. College students, by the way, still have access to the online library after graduation.
More than 50 of Algonquin College's programs include a co-op. That is, students complete professional paid internships in the workplace. This is a great option for many reasons. First, the student gains very important professional experience in these programs. Second, the experience is paid for, allowing some of the cost of education to be covered.
Examples of co-op programs:
| Program | Duration of training | Duration of practice |
| Computer programming | 2 years | 14 weeks |
| Business — Agriculture | 2 years | 14 weeks |
| Applied Nuclear Science and Radiation Safety | 2 years | 14 weeks |
| Business Management and Entrepreneurship | 2 years | 14 weeks |
| Business Intelligence Systems Infrastructure | 1 year | 14 weeks |
| Energy Management | 1 year | 14 weeks |
| Project Management | 1 year | 14 weeks |
| Cyber Security Analytics | 1 year | 14 weeks |
| Bachelor of Engineering (Automation and Robotics) | 4 years | 3 semesters |
| Bachelor of Digital Marketing Communication | 4 years | 14 weeks |
Cost of tuition and living
To make it clearer how much money an international student would need for a year of study, we have prepared a table.
| The cost of training and training materials | |
| Tuition (including health insurance, bus pass, access to athletics and recreation centre and fees for access to academic materials) | CAD 16,200 — CAD 22,000 |
| Learning resources and school supplies | CAD 200 — CAD 1,000 |
| Other | |
| Other living expenses (clothing, etc.) | CAD 1 950 |
| Accommodation | |
| Homestay with three meals a day | CAD 12,000 — CAD 16,000 |
| Accommodation on campus with meals | CAD 8,500 — CAD 11,500 |
| Renting a two-bedroom apartment (does not include meals) | CAD 9,600 — CAD 11,200 |
The prices may not seem to be the most modest. But it is important to understand that, first, the cost of tuition at Algonquin College is well in line with the average cost of tuition at a major Canadian college. And second, it is still much more affordable than education in other English-speaking countries.
Also, international students in Canada have the right to work up to 20 hours per week during their studies. And given that Ontario's minimum wage for students is CAD 14.60 CAD per hour, a student working a few hours a day may well cover some of the cost of their education. And the paid internship programs we talked about above are also worth keeping in mind.
Why Algonquin College?
The best way to answer this question is with numbers. As noted, the main goal of Algonquin College is to give students a profession and thereby provide them with a job. And in this endeavor the college succeeds. Approximately 6,000 students graduate each year. 90% of them find a job within 6 months after graduation, and 92% of the employers who hire Algonquin College graduates are happy with the quality of their new employees. 96% of graduates are satisfied with their training and would recommend the college to others.
Algonquin College's geographic location is also a plus: Few colleges offer international students the opportunity to experience living in or near a vibrant world capital at a fairly affordable price. And thanks to the large number of students from different countries, the institution has a multicultural atmosphere.
Admissions Requirements
The admissions process for international students at Algonquin College is not much different from other institutions of higher learning in Canada.
The college has Post-Secondary programs for those who have graduated from high school and Post-Graduate programs for those who already have a college degree. In the first case, you need a high school diploma, and in the second case, you need a diploma from a higher education institution.
It is obligatory to confirm the level of English. Depending on the program, a score of 6.0-6.5 on the IELTS Academic test is required. For more information on admission without a language test or with poor English, see below.
It is worth noting that to get into Algonquin College you do not need to take entrance exams, which for many may be a relief.
How do you get in without English test results?
Because all classes at Algonquin College are taught in English, students must be proficient enough to understand the academic material.
If you have poor English or if taking a language test is very stressful for you, there is an alternative option. You can enroll without proof of language level. In this case, the college issues a conditional letter of admission with which you can apply for a student visa. All you have to do is confirm that you know the language before you can enroll.
While your applications are being processed, we offer an online English course at ILAC, a Canadian language school that partners with Algonquin College. The school has a special program to prepare you for university — University Pathway. When you learn the language to the desired level and receive a certificate from the school, it will be enough for admission without taking IELTS.
Enrollment assistance
We are official partners of Algonquin College, as well as many other colleges and universities in Canada. So if you are interested in higher education in Canada, we are ready to help you find a suitable educational program, prepare all documents for obtaining a student visa, and if necessary, enroll you in an English course. So don't hesitate to contact usto contact us for consultation and start your journey to Canada.
