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International Students

Studying In Canada at Olds College

International students are an important part of the Olds College community. We pride ourselves in providing programs and support systems that help all of our students be successful in their chosen path. Olds College prepares students to contribute provincially, nationally and internationally through careers in agriculture, horticulture, environmental land management, agribusiness, and rural entrepreneurship. 

Olds College is a Designated Learning Institute. We offer programs that are eligible to be considered for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Students are encouraged to refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for further details.

Why Olds College?

Through our applied research and integrated learning, we are proud to be Canada’s Smart Agriculture College, specializing in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental stewardship. We work closely with industry to advance and adapt our programming to ensure our graduates have the skills to succeed.

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Information for Prospective Students

Coming to a new school in a new country is an exciting opportunity, but one that comes with some challenges. As part of our campus services, the Olds College International and volunteers are here to assist you to adjust to your new environment and make your time at Olds College a fulfilling experience.

International Programs All Programs Inquire about Olds College

English Language Proficiency

All students must demonstrate English Language proficiency. The following countries are not required to demonstrate their English Language Proficiency:

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia (Australian English)
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Belize (Belizean Kriol)
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada (Canadian English)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Falkland Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guernsey (Channel Island English)
  • Guyana
  • Ireland (Hiberno-English)
  • Isle of Man (Manx English)
  • Jamaica (Jamaican English)
  • Jersey
  • Montserrat
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand (New Zealand English)
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
  • Singapore
  • South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • United States

All applicants who reside in countries not noted above must provide an English Language Proficiency Assessment, in the Academic stream, with their application or proof of successful completion of an approved English Language Pathways program. 

While some countries may complete education in English, the level of English can vary between regions. As such, the English language assessment is required for all students as outlined in this documentation.

All English Language Proficiency Assessments will be verified online by the Admission Officer. 

English Language Assessments

English Language Assessments must be valid within two years of the application date.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT - Internet based test - overall score of no less than 80 with no academic section below 18
  • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) Online - overall score of no less than 60, with no band below 50
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic Stream) - no band below 5.5, with an overall band score of no less than a 6.0. Please Note: With the closure of many English testing centres in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olds College will accept the IELTS Indicator test results.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) - score of at least 55 with no communicative skill profile below 55 Please Note: With the closure of many English testing centres in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olds College will accept the PTE Academic Online test results

English Language Pathways

Global Village English Centres: Olds College has established a partnership with Global Village English Centres (Canadian offices only) to offer an English Language Pathway for international students. Students who successfully complete the approved Global Village course will be granted equivalency for English Language Arts 30-1 and will be deemed to have met English Language Proficiency requirement.

    • GV6 - must achieve 73% to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1
    • GV7 - must achieve 73% to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 30-1

ILSC Education Group Inc.: Olds College has established a partnership with ILSC Education Group Inc. to offer an English Language Pathway for international students. Students who successfully complete the approved ILSC course will be granted equivalency for English Language Arts 30-1 and will be deemed to have met English Language Proficiency requirement.

    • Advanced 1 - must achieve 70% to be granted 65% in English Language Arts 30-1
    • Advanced 2 - must achieve 75% to be granted 80% in English Language Arts 30-1

*Students who wish to apply to the Animal Health Technology Diploma at Olds College must take Advanced 2*

Centre for English Studies – Olds has partnered with their Toronto and new Vancouver school to offer international students a pathway into our academic programs. Students completing the appropriate general English and English for Academic Purposes programs will be granted English Language Arts 30-1 or 20-1 and English Proficiency.

    • English for Academic Purposes — must achieve 70% to 79% to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 20-1
    • English Academic Purposes — must achieve 80% or higher to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1

Bayswater Education - Olds has partnered with their Calgary, Toronto and new Vancouver school to offer international students a pathway into our academic programs. Students completing the appropriate levels will be granted English Language Arts 30-1 and English Proficiency.

    •   Bayswater Advanced Level C1 of the GE curriculum and Bayswater University Preparation Program at 80% or higher final score

English School of Canada – Olds has partnered with the English School of Canada in Toronto. Students completing their University/College Transfer program and achieving the respective scores will be granted a grade for English Language Arts 30-1 and English proficiency.

    • University/College Transfer Program (UCTP) — must achieve between 70% and 79% in both Integrated Skills and Writing to be granted 70% in English Language Arts 30-1.
    • University/College Transfer Program (UCTP) — must achieve an 80% or higher in both Integrated Skills and Writing to be granted 75% in English Language Arts 30-1.

ILAC (International Language Academy of Canada) – Olds has partnered with ILAC’s Toronto and Vancouver schools to allow students who complete a minimum Pathway Program Level 3.2 with the required score and IELTS practice test score to be granted English Language Arts 30-1 and English Proficiency.

    •       Pathway Program Level 3.2 (with final coursework score of 75% and IELTS practice test score of 94/120)
Working During Studies

International students may be eligible to work on and or off campus during their studies and academic break. Students should refer to their study permit for conditions regarding their ability to work while studying.

Some Olds College programs require an internship or practicum, a co-op work permit will be required. Students should apply for their co-op work permit at the same time as they apply for their study permit. If your program requires you to have a co-op work permit, your Admission Officer will provide you with the appropriate documentation to apply for one. Learn more about the requirements. 

If you are planning to work or required to do an internship or practicum, students are required to have a Social Insurance Number. Please inquire at Olds College International for more information.

Working After Graduation

After you graduate from your program of studies, you may be able to work temporarily in Canada. Please refer to the Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada website for more details.

View Olds College Job Opportunities

Services for International Students

Coming to a new school in a new country is an exciting opportunity, but one that comes with some challenges. As part of our campus services, the Olds College International and volunteers are here to assist you to adjust to your new environment and make your time at Olds College a fulfilling experience.

Services for international students include:

  • Buddy program for new international students

  • Orientation to Olds College and Canada

  • International Student Newsletters

  • Immigration advising

  • Cultural events

  • Adapting to the Canadian educational environment

International Entrance Awards

Olds College is offering prospective international students the opportunity to apply for an entrance award valued from $500 - $2000!

International Entrance Awards

  

Ready to Apply?

Once you have decided Olds College is for you, it is important to understand the steps of the application process. We strongly recommend applying a minimum of 4-6 months in advance of the program start date - this allows for application (3-6 weeks) and Study Permit processing. It is important to pay close attention to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for Study Permit Processing times.

  1. Submit an application through Apply Alberta online and pay the non-refundable application fee of $160 (CAD)

  2. Submit all supporting documentation to international@oldscollege.ca for a preliminary admission assessment - please include your Alberta Student Number (ASN) created at time of application. Original transcripts will be required before a final admission decision and documentation will be issued.

    • Please be aware that not submitting all supporting documentation in a timely manner will significantly delay Olds College processing times

    • Please refer to the International Document Requirements for information on how to submit your original documents.

  3. International applicants must meet the specific admission requirements for their desired program.

  4. Allow 3-6 weeks for application processing of a complete application. Your Admissions Officer will be in contact with you via e-mail. Incomplete applications will take longer to process.

  5. Upon receipt of admission documentation, apply and obtain your temporary visa and study permit. Contact the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country for details. Visit www.cic.gc.ca 

  6. Reserve your seat in the program by paying the $1,500 (CAD) tuition deposit through Flywire by the deadline indicated in your Admission Letter.

  7. Send proof of application for your Temporary Visa/ Electronic Travel Authorization & Study Permit to your Admission Officer by the deadline indicated in your Admission Letter.

Supporting Documentation

  • Submit High School and Post-Secondary Transcripts

  • Submit English Language Proficiency 

  • If your documents are not in the English language, you must provide a certified English literal translation (word-for-word) with the documents at the time of submission. (Olds College recommends students use Scholaro Transcript Translation)

Please note: Certified official documents issued by the high school, college or university sent in a sealed envelope bearing the institution’s seal, stamp or signature are required.

International Documentation Assessment

Before you can receive an offer of admission, your original transcripts/diplomas/examination certificate must be submitted to Olds College for evaluation. All applicants to Olds College are assessed based on the completion of education at senior secondary/high school level. Applicants who have completed education in another country must have graduated with appropriate high school documents and credentials. 

*Transcript assessment will be completed by the Olds College Admission Office* 

  • Once you have applied, a preliminary admission assessment will be completed and for the purposes of this assessment  international documents can be scanned and sent by e-mail to international@oldscollege.ca. Documents should be combined into one single PDF document. If scanned copies are difficult to read because of poor copy quality, they will not be accepted.

  • Once a preliminary admission assessment has been completed, the Admission Officer will request that official transcripts be sent to Olds College by the issuing institution or organization, in a sealed envelope.

  • If your documents are not in the English language, you must provide a certified English literal translation (word-for-word) with the documents at the time of submission. 

  • Applicants may be required to submit verification documentation to support their application (e.g. WAEC scratch card/e-pin, Admit Card, etc.)

  • Once official documents have been received, and presuming that there is still space in the desired program, an Offer of Admission will be made.

  • Delays in receiving official documents may result in the applicant being placed on a waiting list if the program reaches capacity before official documentation is received. It is important that international applicants send official documents to Olds College when an application is submitted.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Once you are admitted into an Olds College program, you can request that an assessment be done on any of your previous post-secondary education to see if you might be eligible for transfer credit towards your new program. In order to complete a transfer credit assessment, you will be required to submit:

  • A notarized colour copy of your post-secondary transcripts, where a signature and/or official stamp is visible
  • Copies of all relevant course outlines or description for the courses you want assessed for transfer credit

PLEASE NOTE: All transcripts, course outlines and other supporting documentation must be in English. If your documentation is in another language, you must provide a certified English literal translation (word-for-word) along with a notarized colour copy of the original documents.

Tuition Deposit & Payments

Tuition Deposit 

All admitted International students are required to pay a $1,500 CAD tuition deposit to secure their seat in the program. Your admission documentation will provide your tuition deposit deadline date. Olds College has partnered with Flywire to provide international students with a safe and convenient way to pay their Tuition Deposit and Tuition & Fees. Please visit oldscollege.flywire.com to make your payments.

Your tuition & fees will be due:

  • Fall Term - the Monday of the week before your classes start
  • Winter, Spring and Summer Term: the first Friday after your classes start

You can pay your tuition & fees prior to arriving in Canada, but you do not have to. As long as the tuition & fees for the term have been paid on time, you will not incur any penalties.

Olds College Flywire Portal

Tuition Deposit / Fees Refund Policy

Fully refundable: 

  • If you cancel admission up to 4 months prior to the program start date, then your deposit is fully refundable.

Partial refund:

  •  If you provide proof that your Visa application is denied, then you are eligible for a refund minus an administrative fee** (based on the program specific tuition deposit).
  • If you cancel your admission one month prior to the start date of the program and have not received your study permit / study visa notification, then you are eligible for a refund minus an administrative fee** (based on the program specific tuition deposit).

**The Administrative Fee is $300 (i.e.: after submitting a $1,500 tuition deposit, a student will receive a $1,200 tuition deposit refund)

Non-refundable:

  • If you cancel admission within 4 months prior to the program start date and have a valid study permit / study visa, then your tuition deposit is non-refundable.

Tuition & Fees Refund Policy for Enrolled Students

Fully refundable: 

  • If you withdraw from a course (or your program) prior to the “Drop Date” for that course, you will be refunded any tuition & fees paid for that course.

Non-refundable:

  • If you withdraw from a course (or your program) after to the “Drop Date” for that course, you will NOT be refunded any tuition & fees paid for that course.
Scholarships and Bursaries

Students seeking additional scholarship or bursary opportunities are encouraged to apply for Olds College student awards, and to apply for external awards. View the EduCanada Study in Canada ScholarshipsCheck your eligibility for external awards at:

Government Funding/Student Loans

As a student who is considering studying in Canada, you are expected to have enough money to support yourself during your studies. You must ensure you have enough money to pay for:

  • tuition
  • living expenses
  • transportation to and from Canada

If you are planning to attend Olds College on a study permit, you should be aware that you are not eligible to apply for Canadian government funding. If you require a loan to attend school, you should consider getting a loan through your home country.

Some countries will offer government student loans to students who attend Olds College. If your home country does not fund students through their government loans program, you may wish to speak to your bank or other financial institutions to secure funding.

How to Make an International Payment:

International Payment Instructions:

  1. Go to oldscollege.flywire.com 
  2. Select your country of origin and preferred payment method. 
  3. Enter your payment details and receive instructions on how to complete our payment.
  4. Track the progress of your payment anytime online. Receive email and text alerts each step of the way including when your payment reached Olds College. 

Flywire Customer Support Information:

No matter your time zone, you will have a dedicated multilingual customer support team available to you via live chat, email and phone to answer any of your questions.

Immigration

Study Permits / Temporary Visa

All International students in a program longer than six months (including Open Studies) must submit a copy of their Letter of Introduction and their visa or eTA one month before their program starts. Once the student enters Canada, they will be provided their study (and co-op work, if required) permit and a copy must be provided to Olds College. Students that do not provide copies of this documentation within the time-frame specified may be removed from the program. Any student denied their temporary visa / study permit by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada are required to submit a copy of their official denial letter in order to receive a partial refund of their $1,500 CAD tuition deposit. International students must maintain valid immigration documents to live and study in Canada. It is solely the student’s responsibility, and not that of Olds College staff to:

  • Ensure your immigration and legal documents are current and maintained, this includes paying attention to processing times for study permit renewals.

  • Ensure that any documentation submitted for immigration purposes meets requirements and is accurate and complete.

  • Understand and be compliant with immigration requirements as they pertain to you. This information is subject to change, therefore, please refer to the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca

*Olds College can not advise you, or act on your behalf, on immigration matters. 
*Information pertaining to immigration laws, regulations and rules can be found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Website

Coming to Canada

Prior to your Arrival

Living in Olds - Learn about the town of Olds, its location, transportation options, amenities, and services.

Town of Olds

Arrange accommodation - It is the student's responsibility to secure appropriate accommodation. Students have two options for accommodation. Please review the options and application requirements, as applicable:

On Campus Housing

Arrival and Orientation

International students are encouraged to arrive in Olds at least a week prior to the first day of class. This will allow you to adjust to the new location and familiarize yourself with the community and the campus.

Travel from the Airport: It is the student’s responsibility to arrange travel from the airport. Olds College offers limited shuttle services, which we encourage students to sign up for. Shuttle services are only available for our September and January intakes.

New Student Orientation

Living in Canada

Living in Canada

Open a Canadian bank account (if applicable)

Weather in Olds

Olds experiences a wide range of weather, it is advisable to prepare accordingly with appropriate clothing.

  • Spring (March, April, May): Temperatures can be cooler at the start of spring and start to warm up by May. Typically days are clear and sunny, with periods of rain.

  • Summer (June, July and August): Temperatures can reach as high as 35℃, however, typically in the high teens to mid 20℃. June is normally the month that we receive the most precipitation. The area is also known to produce large storms (thunder, lightning, hail, strong winds) during the summer months.

  • Fall (September, October, November): Temperatures are variable over these months; September will see warmer days reaching 20℃ and November daily temperatures falling around 0℃ to 5℃. Overnight lows in October and November can fall to -20℃. 

  • Winter (December, January, February): Temperatures during these months can vary drastically throughout the day. You can expect highs of +10℃ and lows of -35°C. There will typically be snow on the ground.

Clothing

A variety of seasonal clothing is required. Light layered clothing is great for Spring to Fall and warm inner clothing and heavy outerwear are necessary for the winter months. It is recommended that you obtain winter boots, mittens, and toques for the winter months. At Olds College you will see people wearing all sorts of clothing, some programs do have a dress code to adhere to (refer to program pages). It is very important to pay attention to any safety equipment/clothing required. 

The town of Olds has a variety of shopping locations to purchase clothing. Uptown Olds is a short walk from the College and offers a number of independent boutiques. The main shopping location is within driving distance of campus and offers clothing options ranging from everyday wear to work wear and safety clothing.

Transportation

There is limited public transportation from Calgary or Edmonton to Olds. Within the town limits, residents can utilize taxi services, walk, or bike ride.

International Student Health Care

All international students studying at Olds College need to have adequate medical insurance to cover any medical issues or accidents while they are here. A visit to a doctor may cost $40-$60 or more and hospitalization can cost more than $1000 per day. A student who does not have medical insurance will have to pay the entire medical bill for services received.

Students' Association of Olds College - Health & Dental Plan

International students are encouraged to check their fee schedule to verify their health and dental plan coverage. More details can be found on the Fee Schedule and MyStudentPlan webpages.

GuardMe Health Insurance

All International students who are registered in programs that are one year or less will be registered in GuardMe Insurance unless they can provide the following:

  • proof of Alberta Health Insurance or;
  • a study permit or Letter of Introduction valid for more than 12 months and 
  • not eligible for AHCIP and do have other private health insurance

GuardMe Insurance covers doctor’s visits, prescriptions and more and is charged on a semester-basis. Services not covered are dental care, eyeglasses or anything pertaining to pre-existing condition. Students with existing medical conditions should:

  • bring a copy (in English) of their medical history,
  • bring an adequate supply of any prescription currently being taken, and
  • bring an extra pair of glasses and/or supply of contact lenses
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan

If you are a student from outside Canada, you may be eligible for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) coverage. You will need to apply for AHCIP coverage. Students under 18 years of age must be added to the AHCIP account of a custodian.

  • Students who have a 12 month study permit (valid for an Alberta educational institute) and who will reside in Alberta for 12 months or more are eligible for AHCIP coverage.
  • Students with study permits valid for more than 3 months but less than 12 months, may be eligible for AHCIP coverage if their application is accompanied by a letter from the student confirming their intent to reside in Alberta for at least 12 months. 
  • If the application is received within 3 months of entry into Alberta, coverage is effective on the date of either entry into Alberta or the date signed on the study permit, whichever is later.

To enrol in AHCIP, you may mail your application to the address listed on the application form or you may appear in person with your passport and Study Permit to any authorized office. More information / forms

Need more information?

Our Admissions office can help navigate you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have about your program of study.

☎ 403.556.4681
☎ 1.800.661.6537

✉ international@oldscollege.ca