15 Best Public Universities in British Columbia for International Students

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British Columbia, is one of the states in Canada you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, you can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it. In addition, studying in British Columbia can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture.

There are 20 universities you can find in British Columbia, and 15 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes British Columbia a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in British Columbia, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada
2 Simon Fraser University Burnaby, Canada
3 University of Victoria Victoria, Canada, Canada
4 University of Northern British Columbia Prince George, Canada
5 British Columbia Institute of Technology Burnaby, Canada
6 Thompson Rivers University Kamloops, Canada
7 Vancouver Island University Nanaimo, Canada
8 University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford, Canada
9 Kwantlen Polytechnic University Surrey, Canada
10 Royal Roads University Victoria, Canada, Canada
11 Emily Carr University of Art and Design Vancouver, Canada
12 Capilano University North Vancouver, Canada
13 North Island College Vancouver, Canada
14 College of New Caledonia Prince George, Canada
15 College of the Rockies Cranbrook, Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in British Columbia?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in British Columbia can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in British Columbia charge up to 58,700 CAD for bachelor’s and 67,600 CAD for master’s studies.


I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in British Columbia. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.