Douglas College

• Location: Vancouver, Canada,
• Year of foundation: 1970,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Douglas College Vancouver is one of the largest public colleges in British Columbia, with approximately 25,000 students enrolled annually, including 4,000+ international students from 90+ countries. Studying process stipulates university-level academic education with obtaining practical professional skills.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What are the most popular majors among students currently?

Business remains popular, but engineering and IT are quickly gaining ground. STEM fields are seen as advantageous not only for education in Canada but also for gaining professional experience, especially with the post-study work opportunities they offer. The pandemic has also sparked increased interest in biological and chemical sciences.

Douglas College Vancouver divides its academic activities into 6 main faculties, each covering a wide range of educational programs: from short-term certificates to diplomas, degrees, and bachelor's programs.

• Applied Community Studies — related to social work, childcare and family services, youth justice, and other social and community disciplines.
• Commerce and Business Administration — the study of business, accounting, marketing, management, international business, finance, and related areas of management and commerce.
• Health Sciences — fields related to healthcare services, health management, mental health, patient care, and nursing.
• Humanities and Social Sciences — humanities and social sciences, including anthropology, political science, psychology, sociology, history, and other interdisciplinary options.
• Language, Literature and Performing Arts — languages, literature, creative writing, communications, theater and musical arts, modern languages and culture studies.
• Science and Technology — natural sciences and technology, including biology, chemistry, computing, sports and environmental sciences, engineering and veterinary technologies, mathematics.

Douglas College Vancouver offers more undergraduate and post-graduate programs than any other college in this province.

Douglas College Vancouver is located in the Metro Vancouver region, does not have traditional campus residences for most students — students usually look for housing in the city or near academic buildings. Staff help by providing recommendations and resources.

Subject list: Accounting, administration, administrative assistant, analysis, anthropology, Art, astronomy, Behavior Analysis, biology, business, Business and management, Caring for people, Criminal justice, criminology, data analytics, Early Childhood Education, economics, engineering, Engineering Foundations , Environmental science, Environmental studies, finance, Financial services, forensic science, Gender studies, General English, General Studies, geography, geology, Health and food, history, Hospitality Management, Hotel business, Information Technology, International Business, juvenile justice, law, Legal Studies (PgDip), letter, Liberal Arts BA, linguistics, marketing, Mathematical Sciences, maths, Medicine, music, Nursing, Office Administration, Oriental studies, philosophy, physics, Physics Education, planning, Political science, Psychology, Sales Programs, Science, Social and Political Science (University Certificate), Social work, sociology, sports science, Stomatology, Study of the environment, taxation, Teaching, theatre studies, Veterinary science

Douglas College Vancouver makes student life rich socially and culturally. An important role in this is played by the Douglas Students’ Union, a student organization run by students themselves: it organizes events, supports clubs and groups, provides services including health and dental plans, locker rentals and food assistance, and protects the interests of students on the campuses at New Westminster and Coquitlam.

Students can join clubs and collectives ranging from academic and sports to cultural and historical; if there is no suitable community, you can create your own through DSU. Examples of associations: Women's Collective, Pride Collective, Accessibility Collective and Indigenous Students’ Collective — they all hold meetings, events and implement thematic projects.

The college's team regularly engages in eight sports, including men's and women's basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and softball, and is considered one of the strongest among British Columbia colleges. In addition to competitive formats, students can visit fitness centers, practice yoga, Pilates, cardio and other activities, and participate in games within the college.

• Many programs at Douglas College Vancouver are based on hands-on learning: laboratory classes, internships, field research, and applied projects provide students with real-world experience during their studies, which helps them adapt more quickly to the demands of the modern labor market.
• The college has small studying groups — an average of about 35 students per course: this provides more opportunities for communication with teachers and individual support. 94% of bachelor graduates find a job within six months of graduation.
• The academic system is flexible, and many courses can be transferred to leading universities in Canada (for example, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia), meaning you can start college and continue your undergraduate studies at the university.
• Some programs qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, allowing international students to gain Canadian professional experience and begin a career in the country.

Douglas College Vancouver has 2 main campuses: New Westminster and Coquitlam, and there are several learning centers in the surrounding area. Both large campuses are conveniently located right next to the SkyTrain stations.

The college offers students various educational and public facilities: from standard classrooms for 20-60 people and large classrooms for 50-115 people to lecture halls with modern multimedia equipment and a presentation system.

The campuses are equipped with fitness centers, and New Westminster has its own complex with cardio and other fitness equipment, free weights, and kettlebells (free access for students and staff). On the Coquitlam campus, students can train in the gyms of the nearby Pinetree Community Centre by receiving a special access card.

Additional expenses include:

• Accommodation,
• Educational materials,
• Personal expenses,
• Transportation,
• Insurance.

• Submit an application through the Canadian online system: create an account, select a program and semester, fill in the details, and upload documents.
• Pay a non-refundable registration fee when submitting the application.
• Receive an Offer of Admission letter. After reviewing the application, the college sends an official offer of admission.
• Pay the deposit.
• Apply for a Study Permit through Canadian immigration services and, if necessary, for a Temporary Resident Visa.

Douglas College Vancouver programs meet the requirements for the Post‑Graduation Work Permit, allowing graduates to obtain a work permit in Canada after their studies and gain real professional experience. Eligibility for the PGWP depends on the specific program and its duration, so it is important for international applicants to check the code of their program before submitting an application.

The college actively supports students' career development both during their studies and after graduation through the Career Centre: students can receive job search consultations, assistance with resume and portfolio preparation, interview skills training, access to a job database, and participate in networking events with employers. After graduation, early-career professionals retain access to all Career Centre services, including consultations, workshops, and career events.

Graduates can continue their education at universities — many programs allow direct credit transfer, for example, to the third year of a bachelor's degree at a university. This university transfer option is often a cost-effective choice, as it allows students to save on the first two years of tuition and then transfer to their chosen university.

Applicants who meet the criteria have a chance to enter Douglas College Vancouver.:

• At least 17 years old on the first day of the semester,
• First-level programs (diploma, associate degree, Bachelor's degree) require graduation from high school or its equivalent with a minimum GPA of about 60%,
• A bachelor's degree with a similar GPA is required for higher-level programs.,
• The minimum grade in mathematics or an equivalent subject is C (~60%), a requirement relevant for most first—level programs.,
• The English language level must be confirmed by one of the tests.:
• TOEFL iBT — minimum 83, Duolingo English Test — ≥110,
• CAEL — ≥60 plus essays,
• Cambridge CAE/CPE,
• PTE Academic and other recognized tests, language paths are possible through the ELLA program or confirmation of early learning in English.

Douglas College Vancouver allocates about $CAD 100,000 annually for scholarships and grants for international students.

Examples of scholarships for new students are:

• Douglas International Education Regional Entrance Award — automatic participation upon application.

The amounts usually range from $CAD 1000 to $CAD 2000. The scholarship is available to students from any country who have applied before the official deadline.

• Dr. Guangwei Ouyang International Education Entrance

Scholarship is a fixed scholarship that requires a separate application and additional documents. The selection takes into account academic achievements, social activity in college, and personal success.

Scholarships for continuing education are:

• International Education Returning Student Scholarship — requires a minimum of 21 credits, a high GPA (e.g. GPA ≥3.75) and registration for a minimum of 9 credits. The scholarship is awarded automatically if the conditions are met.
• Dean's Global Citizenship Award — for demonstrating global thinking and active participation in college life. To receive it, you need to submit an application, provide recommendations and show your contribution to the local and global communities.

Sports Scholarships:

• Athletic Scholarship — support for international student‑athletes, covering the difference between international and local tuition fees (up to $CAD 7,000 per academic year). The number of fellows is limited.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision