In this article, you will find a list of top government colleges in Canada that offer the best two-year associate degree (Diploma) programs to students. Colleges serve as a preparatory ground for four-year degrees at universities but however, some colleges grant degrees through collaboration with universities.
According to CanadaVisa, an Associate Degree in Canada which is usually 2 years or 4 semesters is a 60-credit, foundational undergraduate program in a classical area of study. Unlike certificates and diplomas, Associate Degrees comprise a breadth of general academic subjects as well as a specialization in an area of interest.
Common examples include the Associate of Arts (Business) and Associate of Arts (Science). The Associate Degree allows students to begin their studies at one college or university and transfer into third-year coursework at a university, pending recognition by the receiving institution.
Canada has some of the best public colleges that offer top-notch education to local and international students. Some of these colleges award degrees through a joint program with universities while some offer associate degrees or Diplomas with which a student can pursue a degree course in a university.
You need to know that in Canada, diplomas can be upgraded or transferred into a bachelor’s degree and you can obtain a diploma either from a college or university.
Both diploma and associate degrees take a minimum of two years in Canada, though sometimes a diploma can take up to to 6 full-time semesters.
From the list of government colleges in Canada, some of the schools are designated learning institutions while others are not. In addition, the top government colleges in Canada offer post-graduation work permits.
Can international students go to government universities in Canada?
Yes. International students can study in public colleges or universities in Canada provided the school is a designated learning institution. Designated learning institutions are schools that have been approved by the government of Canada to admit international students.
However, not all government colleges or universities in Canada are designated. So, it is very important that international students find out if their choice of institution is designated before making any applications.
How many public colleges are in Canada?
There are about 183 approved public colleges and institutes in Canada. This also includes colleges granting applied and bachelor’s degrees.
List of Top Government Colleges in Canada
Here are the best government colleges in Canada that offer degrees, diplomas, certificates, and apprenticeship programs to students.
The top government or public colleges in Canada include;
- Algonquin College
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Centennial College
- Vancouver Community College
- Humber College
- Seneca College
- New Brunswick Community College
- Sheridan College
- Durham College
- George Brown College
- St. Lawrence College
- Mohawk College
- Cambrian College
- Niagara College Canada
- Georgian College
All the colleges listed here are public colleges and they receive funding from the Canadian government.
1. Algonquin College
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public English-language college in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that was established in 1967 and is recognized as one of the top government colleges in Canada.
It offers bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The college provides students with 155 Ontario college programs, 18 apprenticeship programs, 16 co-op programs, 6 collaborative degree programs, and 6 bachelor’s degree programs.
Algonquin College grants these degrees through a partnership with Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and Shopify. Courses offered at Algonquin College include Commerce, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Information Technology, Nursing, Building Science, Interior Design, and Public Safety.
2. British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology is one of the well known government colleges in Canada; a public-funded polytechnic in British Columbia, Canada that was established in 1964.
BCIT has an enrolment of 50,000 students out of which 5,700 are international students.
British Columbia Institute of Technology provides students certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in various full-time and part-time courses.
The fields of study where these programs are offered include Applied & Natural Sciences, Engineering, Business and Media, Computing & IT, Health Sciences, and Trades & Apprenticeships.
3. Centennial College
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology is one of the popular government colleges in Canada; a public college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that was established in 1966. The college has five campuses including Morningside, Progress, Ashtonbee, Story Arts Center, and Downsview.
Centennial College provides students with more than 260 programs including bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates, post-graduate certificates, and apprenticeship programs across various disciplines.
Through its partnership with the University of Toronto Scarborough, Centennial College grants degrees to its students in the following fields of study; paramedicine, journalism, new media studies, environmental science & technology, and applied microbiology.
4. Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College is a publicly funded community college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that was founded in 1965.
As one of the best government colleges in Canada, VCC is designated and offers international students post-graduation work permits.
The college offers both full-time and part-time studies. These studies are made up of 78 certificate programs, 28 diploma programs, and 3 bachelor’s degree programs across different fields of study.
The fields of study are Academic Upgrading, Design, Hospitality, Music and Dance, University Transfer, Business, Health Sciences, Languages and Writing, Transportation Trades, Baking & Culinary Arts, Hair, Esthetics and Makeup, Instructor Training, Technology, Apprenticeship Training, English as a Second Language, Human and Family Services, Students with Disabilities, and Youth Training in Trades.
5. Humber College
The Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (Humber College) is a public college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1967.
Regarded as one of the best government colleges in Canada, the college is made up of three campuses such as the Humber North campus, the Lakeshore campus, and the Humber Orangeville campus.
At Humber College, students are administered bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates, post-graduate certificates, and apprenticeship programs across different fields of study. In addition, the college offers Bridge Training programs for globally trained professionals in the fields of information technology and engineering.
6. Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public post-secondary institution in Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1967.
The college offers full-time and part-time programs leading to diplomas, certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate certificates. Additionally, it provides career search assistance to graduating students.
On the other hand, the college possesses over 70 transfer agreements with both local and international colleges and universities in Australia, England, South Africa, and the United States.
Through the transfer agreement, students have the opportunity to apply for a college education to obtain credit for a university degree.
7. New Brunswick Community College
New Brunswick Community College is a public college in New Brunswick, Canada that was established in 1974.
As one of the top government colleges in Canada, NBCC offers students full-time, part-time, online, and professional development programs to both local and international students.
In addition, the college administers a part-time program and apprenticeship training for commercial workers.
8. Sheridan College
Sheridan College is a public post-secondary institution in Ontario, Canada that was established in 1967. It has three campuses such as Oakville, Brampton, and Mississauga.
The college offers over 130 programs leading to degrees, certificates, diplomas, and post-graduate diplomas in animation & illustration, creative writing & publishing, music theatre, film & design, business, applied computing, engineering technology, community studies, and liberal studies.
9. Durham College
Durham College is a public college of Applied Arts and Technology in Durham, Ontario, Canada, that was established in 1967.
The college has campuses in Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, and Whitby, Ontario.
Durham College offers full-time and online programs leading to certificates and diplomas in business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health, and engineering technology.
10. George Brown College
George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public post-secondary institution that was founded in 1967. It has three campuses including Casa Loma Campus, St. James Campus, and Waterfront Campus.
George Brown College offers different part-time and full-time programs leading to certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in different fields of study.
The courses offered at George Brown include Early childhood leadership, Art and Design, Business Management, Community Services, Construction and Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences, Hospitality, and Culinary Arts, Nursing, Finance, and Preparatory Studies.
Through its partnership with Ryerson University, the college offers eight-degree programs in Interpretation – American Sign Language – English, Applied Arts (Early Childhood Leadership), Early Childhood Education, Nursing, Commerce (Financial Services), Commerce (Culinary Management), Applied Business (Hospitality Operations), and Technology (Construction Management).
11. St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College is a public college of Applied Arts and Technology that was established in 1967. It has three campuses in Eastern Ontario, namely; Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston.
St. Lawrence College provides students with part-time and full-time programs leading to certificates, diplomas, and advanced diplomas.
Through its collaboration with Laurentian University, the college offers Baccalaureate Degree programs in Nursing and Business Administration.
12. Mohawk College
Mohawk College is a public college of applied arts and technology in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1966.
The college has three main campuses including the Fennell Campus, the Stoney Creek Campus, and the Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences at McMaster University.
Mohawk College offers over 130 full-time programs, apprenticeship programs, and over 1,000 continuing education courses leading to diplomas, advanced diplomas, and graduate certificates. The college also offers degree programs jointly with McMaster University.
13. Cambrian College
Cambrian College is a public college in Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1967. The college has campuses in Sudbury, Espanola, and Little Current.
Cambrian College offers degrees, certificates, and diplomas in over 80 programs. The certificate programs offered at the institute include Business Analytics, Community & Health Services Navigation, Human Resource Management, International Business Management, Mobile Application Development, Organization Management, and Public Relations.
The institute as one of the best government colleges in Canada offers full-time and part-time learning to students.
14. Niagara College Canada
Niagara College is a public College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1967. It comprises three campuses including the Welland Campus, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, and the Taif Campus, Saudi Arabia.
The institute offers more than 100 post-secondary diplomas, baccalaureate degrees, and advanced level programs to its students.
Under these programs, the following fields of study are administered; food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, English as a second language, applied health and community safety, horticulture, and esthetics.
Furthermore, the college offers a University Transfer program that allows its diploma graduates to pursue a degree through its partnership with:
- Brock University, Canada
- Niagara University, U.S.A
- Sanda University, China
- University of Santo Tomas, Chile
15. Georgian College
Georgian College is a public post-secondary institution of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, Canada that was founded in 1967. It has seven campuses such as Barrie, Orillia, Owen Sound, Midland, Muskoka, South Georgian Bay, and Orangeville.
The college offers academic upgrading, apprenticeship training, certificate, diploma, a graduate certificate in the automotive business, business and management, community safety, computer studies, design and visual arts, engineering technology & environmental studies, health, wellness and sciences, hospitality, tourism and recreation, human services, Indigenous studies, liberal arts, marine studies, and skilled trades.
Through its partnership with Lakehead University, Georgian College offers students combined degree-diploma programs. Online programs are also available at the college. This makes Georgian College one of the best government colleges in Canada.
Conclusion
Publicly funded or government colleges in Canada offer high-quality full-time and part-time studies to students in different fields of study. The courses that they offer lead to the award of associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, advanced diplomas, and graduate certificates.
They also offer apprenticeship training and four-year degree programs through a partnership with universities. There is also an option of an online study for students that wish to study from anywhere at their own pace.
Public colleges in Canada that are contained in this article will prepare you for the workforce as well as meet all your meets as regards a two-year program.
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Let me clear up a few things:
First off, they’re not ‘government colleges’, they are publicly funded. This means that the government does provide some of the college’s funding, but they are not run by the government.
Canada does not offer associate degrees – this is an American term. Sounds like you’re referring to two-year diploma programs. Many of these programs have transfer agreements with degree programs that will allow you to receive credit for your diploma-level learning.
Colleges in Canada do not need to partner with a university in order to offer degrees (though lots offer collaborative programs where you study with both). Many of Canada’s public colleges offer dozens of excellent degree programs and have done so for over 20 years.
These schools are public schools and are funded close to 50% by the government. Also, do note that Canada offers associate degrees.
What about canadore college
Canadore college is also a public college.