Since 1965, Bow Valley College has been a student-centred community college helping learners achieve their academic and career goals. It offers an affordable education with a graduate employment rate of 88 per cent.
Bow Valley College is a higher education institution located in Calgary, Canada. The city is an ethnically diverse urban community just a short distance from the country’s famous Rocky Mountains.
Calgary has been rated as one of the most liveable cities in the world (Economist Intelligence Unit) and has one of the lowest costs of living among cities in North America. Life on Bow Valley campus is vibrant and full of great facilities and services. Cutting-edge academic equipment supports learning, and the college regularly organizes events to assist international students in settling into student life.
Students from all over the globe choose from a wide range of first-rate programs to access quality education in addition to work experience that prepares them to be job-ready in one or two years. Following graduation, students can choose to enter the workforce or earn a degree through the university transfer scheme.
The study options available cover a wide variety of career choices which are developed with in-demand industries like health, business and technology in mind.
Non-native English speakers are able to enhance their language skills within Calgary’s foremost English language learning program. It offers over 90 programs to select from, in which many offer invaluable work experience. Program content is developed in collaboration with industry partners, allowing students to graduate with the skills employers need.
Every academic year, over 2,350 international students learn to succeed at Bow Valley College, where they are well supported by a dedicated international support service team. The college also offers scholarships specifically to assist eligible international students.
Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub at Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College partnered with the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to build the Calgary Entertainment Arts Production Hub (CEAPH) for the next generation of creative minds. The CEAPH will be a world-class facility right in downtown Calgary and a creative arts ecosystem that aims to grow careers and companies in the creative industries. These cutting-edge esports venue will be located in the south campus and is capable of hosting licensed live events for up to 300 spectators.
At the Hub, students will have access to training, reskilling, and upskilling programs including 3D animation and visual effects, game development, post-production, augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, esports, podcasting and more.
Wonder Woman Statue at Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA)
DC super-heroine goddess Wonder Woman came to Bow Valley College and is here to stay.
A larger-than-life statue of the beloved superhero is now on display on the third floor of the college’s downtown South Campus, watching over the Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA) studio.
CAD$16,868 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
CAD$22,123 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
CAD$19,448 Vocational Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
CAD$20,940 Living costs
CAD$13,440 To live on campus
Bow Valley College’s International Education Department offers an impressive range of financial awards specifically for supporting international students. They include entrance awards for new students, in addition to learner pathway awards for students transferring to a different program, as well as in-course awards which relate to specific courses. Values are typically:
CEA Diploma programs Scholarship – CAD 3,250 to CAD 19,500
The college’s scholarships are designed to reward high-achieving students across a range of different subject areas and activities, including but not limited to academic excellence, leadership, community involvement, volunteering and peer support.
Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements which applicants should consult before making their application.
Bow Valley College is committed to ensuring that all applicants have equal opportunity to apply for courses at the college, and that it selects the students who are most suited to the course during admissions.
As a result, there are a number of entry requirements in place. Course content at the college is primarily delivered in Canadian English, so non-native speakers are required to demonstrate a minimum standard of English language for admission.
For the majority of course programs, students will need to demonstrate a minimum score across one of the following language tests, or equivalent:
Students can also complete Academic English 2 at the college, in which a grade B- or higher is required to progress.
International students are encouraged to consult the specific entry requirements relating to the programs they are interested in.
Bow Valley College supports more than 600 faculty and staff members, who collectively speak over 50 different languages. Professors deliver high-quality instruction across small classes where teaching is interactive, personalised and engaging. Renowned academics and industry experts regularly visit the college to give guest lectures.
Teaching is informed by global industry and sector trends. Courses include work experience so that students are able to graduate with the required skills for professional success. To support this, career mentoring programs are regularly offered across the college.
University transfers
Students looking to gain credits towards a degree and transfer to a four-year institution can access an education at Bow Valley which suitably prepares them for a further two years of learning.
Students will benefit from starting their studies with lower fees before transferring to another college or university. It’s a great way to gain experience before completing a degree program. Bow Valley College regularly cultivates productive transfer agreements in association with prestigious and sought-after institutions in Canada.
Students at Bow Valley benefit from being able to complete an affordable academic upgrading course, or towards a diploma or certificate. Bow Valley College offers courses across a variety of disciplines separated into specialized schools and programs. This includes:
Chiu School of Business
Chiu School of Business offers multiple opportunities, through social entrepreneurship, to help students build their entrepreneurial skills and get ready to launch a successful business.
School of Community Studies
Here students will be able to learn how to effectively support and nurture young people and children via the delivery of community-focused support programmes.
School of Creative Technologies
In this school, modern and challenging course content is designed to develop skills needed for success across emerging careers in the technology sectors.
Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA)
Students who dream about seeing the characters, creatures, and worlds of their imagination on the screen, big or small, will be right at home at Bow Valley College Centre for Entertainment Arts.
School of Health and Wellness
In this school, students will develop knowledge and skills around protecting human health and positively impacting people’s lives via hands-on learning and real-world practice.
School of Global Access
Here, non-native English speakers can develop their abilities by completing intensive language courses.
Bow Valley College is proud to maintain campuses which are widely equipped with excellent facilities that support quality learning. They include bespoke computer labs and large conference halls, in addition to specialist studios and libraries. Academic and professional tools are maintained to industry-standards, preparing students for real-world success. Students can explore the Bow Valley College campuses from the comfort of their home using the college’s interactive map. They can take a self-guided tour of the downtown Calgary campus, as well as the college’s key services and facilities, with a 360-degree view.
The college’s campuses also include many services that offer students an easy and enjoyable experience such as:
The college invests heavily in a rich calendar of events and activities across the academic year, in addition to a wide array of extra-curricular opportunities that include volunteering, community engagement and work experiences.