An overview on post-secondary education in British Columbia

Whether you are a high school or an university graduate who wants to further his or her education, or a professional immigrant who want to have their degrees evaluated; British Columbia has a wide range of schools and services aimed at helping each individual depending on their particular necessities.
 
British Columbia has 25 publicly funded post-secondary institutions (11 universities, 11 colleges and three institutes) that offer over 1900 programs and a variety of degrees, certificates and diplomas.
 
E-learning is also available for students (and educators) of public post secondary schools in BC through BCcampus.ca, which also delivers services including course finder, online library and student networking.
 
 Alternatives to the government funded post secondary schools are a large number of private educational institutions that are regulated by the Private Career Training Agency (PCTIA). The mission of the PCTIA is to provide consumer protection to enrolled students and to ensure the accredited institutions meet quality standards.
 
Money matters.
 
The government of BC also offers financial assistance by offering student grants, loans, bursaries and special programs for those who are eligible. Alternately, there are many scholarships and awards that are offered by the post-secondary schools as well as by private organizations or persons.
 
To see if you are eligible for government financial assistance visit StudentAidBC.
 
Also visit BCAwards to search for available awards and scholarships across BC for Grade 12 students.
 
If you are not eligible for a student loan, yet still need financial help to complete or further your education, most banks and credit unions offer special lines of credit for this purpose. Consider talking to a financial advisor at your local bank and inquire about these services to see if they are suitable for you.
 
Credential evaluations
 
The International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES) of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is a founding member of Alliance Evaluation Services of Canada which ensures fair evaluation services for everyone.
 
The evaluation methodology determines if credentials and education from other provinces or countries are comparable with British Columbian and Canadian standards, allowing individuals to have the recognition and credits for studies they have completed elsewhere.
 
ICES reports are widely accepted by most educational organizations, private and public sector employers, professional bodies, police and armed forces and other institutions.
 
If the organization your report is for is not on the list, contact them directly and ask about their own evaluation requirements.