Address: 3700 Willingdon Avenue, V5G 3H2 Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Trades and Apprenticeships, Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences
A public polytechnic institute providing applied, career-focused education with multiple campuses in Metro Vancouver. Known for its hands-on training and industry connections.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology, BCIT, was founded in 1964 by the provincial government to provide technical and vocational education that fitted the needs of the economy of the province. Its main campus is in Burnaby, on Willingdon Avenue, east of Vancouver, and other campuses serve downtown Vancouver, Richmond, where aerospace is taught, and North Vancouver, where the marine programmes are located. It educates tens of thousands of students each year, including many part-time and apprenticeship students, and about 2,500 staff work there.
BCIT is a polytechnic and its identity is practical. Teaching relies on laboratories, workshops and simulators that reproduce real working situations, and instructors are often professionals from industry. Programmes cover trades and apprenticeships, engineering technology, computing, business, health sciences, media, construction, energy, transportation, aerospace and the environment. Several bachelor degrees and master’s degrees exist, but diplomas and certificates remain the core of the offer.
Applied research is part of the mission. The Technology Centre and other research units work with companies on topics such as smart microgrids, building science, biotechnology, robotics, clean energy and food. The school maintains close relations with employers and with unions, and many programmes have an advisory committee made of industry members. This focus gives graduates a record of finding work in their field after their studies.
Admission depends on the programme. Some have a competitive selection, based on grades in specific subjects, and some are open to anyone who meets the requirements. Tuition differs for Canadian residents and international students, and the latter pay much higher fees. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English, and student awards and loans exist for eligible people.
Vancouver has high housing costs, and many BCIT students live with family or share apartments. Buses connect the Burnaby campus with the SkyTrain stations, and the campus has a large sports centre and a library. The mild climate and the nearby mountains make the region attractive for outdoor activities.
Extensive partnerships with industry across BC for program development, applied research, and job placements for graduates. Strong focus on job-readiness.
Research:
Applied research focused on solving industry problems in areas like sustainable energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and health innovation.
Famous Alumnis:
Jillian Harris, Scott McGillivray (attended, may not have graduated)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2500
Current students***:
48000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
190000
Pros
Excellent job placement rates, hands-on practical training, strong industry connections and reputation with employers.
Cons
Focus is on applied skills rather than theoretical/academic research, demanding programs, less traditional university experience.
Best For
Students seeking hands-on, industry-aligned technical and trades education with strong job prospects in British Columbia.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers a comparable education in civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics: it is also a public institution and does not run the master's programmes found here.
Both schools build their programmes around civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics, and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is the one to compare first within the country, since it is slightly smaller, at about 35,000 students against roughly 48,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Think of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology when civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics is the priority: it is slightly smaller, at about 40,000 students against roughly 48,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology is the closest domestic counterpart for civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics; it is also a public institution and also offers graduate certificate programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Beyond national borders, Technological University Dublin stands out as a comparable school for civil engineering, software engineering and engineering; it is also a public institution and also offers doctoral programmes.
In Argentina, National Technological University teaches much the same core subjects, civil engineering, electrical and electronics and software engineering, and it covers industrial design and telecommunications as well, and is larger, enrolling about 90,000 students against roughly 48,000 here.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway is the nearest foreign match on marine science, civil engineering and electrical and electronics; it covers mechanical engineering and AI and machine learning as well, and has almost the same size, at about 43,550 students.
The closest overseas parallel on civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, located in Norway; it is smaller, enrolling about 17,000 students against roughly 48,000 here, and is also a public institution.
In Ireland, Munster Technological University teaches much the same core subjects, marine science, civil engineering and software engineering, and it covers agriculture and chemistry as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 18,000 students against roughly 48,000 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is BCIT?
The main campus is on Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby, British Columbia, east of Vancouver.
When was it founded?
In 1964, by the provincial government.
What other campuses does it have?
Downtown Vancouver, Richmond for aerospace, and North Vancouver for marine programmes.
How large is it?
It educates tens of thousands of students each year, including many part-time and apprenticeship students, and about 2,500 staff work there.
What kind of institution is it?
A polytechnic with a practical focus, using laboratories, workshops and simulators.
What does it teach?
Trades and apprenticeships, engineering technology, computing, business, health sciences, media, construction, energy and aerospace.
Does it award degrees?
Yes, some bachelor and master's degrees, but diplomas and certificates remain the core of the offer.
Does it do research?
Yes, applied research with companies on topics such as smart microgrids, building science, robotics and clean energy.
How do you apply?
Admission depends on the programme. Some are competitive and some are open to anyone who meets the requirements.
What does it cost?
Tuition differs for Canadian residents and international students. Check the current tariff.
Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Quality Management, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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