International - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information has been prepared to answer some common questions asked by international applicants regarding their application to Cambrian College. This is not an exhaustive list. Additional information may be obtained through this website or by contacting Cambrian's International office.

Which programs are open to international applicants?

International applicants may apply to all Cambrian full-time programs. However, enrolment limits in some programs-such as most Health, Trades and some Technology programs-may mean an increase in competition for these programs. In such cases, priority will be given to Canadian applicants. More on this...

Is a Cambrian diploma recognized?

Yes. Cambrian College is a fully accredited and publicly funded community college functioning under the direction of the provincial Ministry of Education and Training. For this reason, its full-time post-secondary programs have been approved and are fully recognized by the Ministry. Graduates of customized programs may be issued a certificate instead of a diploma, depending on their particular program of study and situations. More on this...

When do classes start?

Most of our programs start in late August, but some start in January with special schedules. Please contact us for additional information.

What is OCAS?

OCAS stands for Ontario College Application Service. This is the agency through which all Canadian students must apply to colleges in Ontario. International students have the option of applying through ontariocolleges.ca or directly through the colleges.

Further information and instructions are available from ontariocolleges.ca directly. Visit their website at www.ontariocolleges.ca. More on this...

Do I have to apply through OCAS?

No, as an international student, you can apply directly to the College. You'll need a Cambrian College application for this.

Is there an application fee?

There is no application fee if you apply directly through Cambrian. There is one, however, if you apply through OCAS. Please see their material for more information.

Do I pay the OCAS fee to Cambrian?

The OCAS application fee is payable directly to OCAS; please do not send this money to Cambrian. The fee must be paid by cheque or money order made payable to OCAS. If you have applied through OCAS, you will need to send them the fee with your application. Your application will not be processed until they receive this fee. Further information on this will be available at the time of registration. More on this...

Do I have to pay my fees in full?

You have to pay your first year tuition prior to applying for a Canadian Study Permit. You will not be permitted to register and, in many cases, not be issued a Study Permit without a receipt for payment of the first year tuition.

What is an "offer of admission"?

Once we have assessed your application and determined your eligibility, we will send you an offer of admission. To indicate that you accept the offer, you will be asked to send us a confirmation fee of CA$500, payable to Cambrian College in Canadian funds, by certified cheque or by electronic transfer. More on this...

What is an "official letter of admission"?

Once we have received your confirmation fee payment in full, we will send you an official letter of admission to use as part of your application for a Study Permit to study in Canada.

What is a Student Permit?

All non-Canadian potential students must apply for a Study Permit to study in Canada. You cannot study in Canada without this visa. This is issued by the Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission office closest to your place of residence. Applications and further information are available from any Canadian Embassy office or from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca. More on this...

I was issued a Canadian Student Permit ...now what?

Congratulations! You are now ready to make your travel plans. You should plan to arrive one to two weeks prior to the start of class so that you can settle in and get to know Sudbury before you concentrate on your studies. Remember to get a connecting flight to the Sudbury airport. From there, we will be pleased to assist you in getting settled. Don't forget to let us know your arrival details so that we can prepare for it!. More on this...

Can I pay my fees in U.S. funds?

Our preference is Canadian funds, of course. But, if your bank is unable to draw on Canadian funds, please have them convert the payment amount for you according to the exchange rates at the time of payment. It is your responsibility to ensure that the converted amount covers the full amount owing in Canadian funds despite the difference in exchange rates which we will encounter by the time we receive and deposit your cheque. Please note that if the amount is improperly converted, this may cause delays in your admission process until the full payment has been made. More on this...

What is the College policy regarding the confirmation fee?

The confirmation fee can be partially refunded only if you are refused a Study Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. A copy of the refusal letter will be required to process your refund request. No reimbursement will be processed without this letter. The full fee is refundable only if Cambrian cancels or suspends your program of study.

Also, the confirmation fee can only be applied to the academic year to which you are applying and cannot be transferred to the next academic year. If you are unable to attend one year and wish to attend the next, a new offer of admission will be sent to you and you will be required to submit a new confirmation fee. More on this...

What is a "mature student"?

"Mature student" is a term used in the Canadian educational system to indicate a student who has been out of school for more than a year and who is over the age of 19. The College must approve your eligibility to apply as a mature student. More on this...

Can I get a degree at Cambrian?

Cambrian has diploma-granting status. This means that upon graduation from Cambrian, you would be issued a diploma or certificate. We have, however, signed a number of articulation agreements with universities which may enable you to obtain both a diploma and a degree (depending on program).

Can I get financial assistance to study at Cambrian?

Regretfully, international students are generally not eligible for the same assistance granted to our Canadian students. While Cambrian does have an impressive scholarship program, you would only be eligible to compete for these once you have been admitted and registered at Cambrian. In order to get your Student Visa, you must prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your studies. More on this...

Can I work part-time while studying?

Students are eligible to work part-time off campus (some restrictions apply).

How safe is the Cambrian campus?

Cambrian offers 24-hour, on-campus security services at its Barrydowne campus (where the Barrydowne Residence is located). The campus is monitored by state-of-the-art video cameras. In Residence, individual bedroom doors are equipped with key-lock systems as are the front doors to each unit and the main building. A campus watch program is also available at the Barrydowne campus for students who wish to be accompanied to their Residence units from elsewhere on the campus on scheduled evenings. The surrounding areas are also considered very safe locations as is the City of Greater Sudbury in general. More on this...

Further Information

Should you require further assistance, please contact the College's International department or visit our website.

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