What are Vocational Courses in Canada?

Vocational courses are designed to help you advance your physical and practical understanding of a specific field. In terms of educational level, these programmes fall somewhere between undergraduate and secondary schooling. In comparison to undergraduate degrees, these courses are less expensive and have a shorter duration. The demand for vocational courses in Canada among international students has increased dramatically in recent years.

Why Pursue Vocational Courses in Canada?

Numerous universities across the world offer vocational courses. Nonetheless, international students find Canada to be a desirable place to pursue vocational training. There are several reasons why this is the case:

• Vocational courses are less expensive compared to other countries abroad.
• Numerous Canadian institutions offer many vocational courses as part of their curricula. International students can also take these courses via distance learning and online.
• At a Canadian university, students can pursue their trade courses and work on campus. If an international student stays in Canada for more than six months, they can additionally opt to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week.
• Through vocational courses, students receive significant exposure and gain practical experience that they would otherwise need to obtain through traditional degree programmes.

VOCATIONAL COURSES VS DEGREE COURSES

The following comparison explores the key differences between degree and vocational courses to help you make an informed decision:

Top Colleges for Vocational Courses in Canada

• Picture
  University Name
  Course
  University Details
   

• 

  Centennial College
  Academic
  Arts and Science Preparation
  Advanced Manufacturing and Systems Automation
  Advertising
  Marketing and Public Relations
  Arts
  Animation and Design
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 17,000
  Duration: 3 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 84%
  Acceptance rate: 68%
  Get Details

• 

  Mohawk College
  Business
  Communication Arts
  Community Services
  Health
  Preparatory Studies
  Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships
  Technology
  Online learning programs
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 14,000
  Duration: 3 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 96%
  Acceptance rate: 85%
  Get Details

• 

  University of the Fraser Valley
  Advertising: Media Management
  Baker Apprenticeship
  Business Administration(Co-op)
  Construction Boilermaker Apprenticeship
  Developmental Services Worker – Apprenticeship
  Electrician – Construction and Maintenance Apprenticeship
  Human Resources Management(MA)
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 16,000
  Duration:1-2 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 83%
  Acceptance rate: 68%
  Get Details

• 

  Nova Scotia Community College
  Academic Upgrading and Skills Development
  Building and Manufacturing, Business, Engineering Technologies, Environment, Sustainability and Natural Resources, Health and Wellness,
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 11,500
  Duration: 3 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 96%
  Acceptance rate: 80%
  Get Details

• 

  Durham College
  Arts and design
  Business
  Education
  Health and Community Services
  Information Technology
  Languages
  Legal and Emergency Services
  Trades and Technology.
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 13,000
  Duration: 6semesters
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 84%
  Acceptance rate: 41%
  Get Details

• 

  George Brown College
  Business
  Computer Technology
  Media and performing arts
  Health and wellness
  Hospitality and tourism management
  Social and community service
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 12,000
  Duration: 1-2 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 85%
  Acceptance rate: 55%
  Get Details

• 

  Algonquin Careers Academy
  Healthcare programs
  Business programs
  Legal programs
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 12,000
  Duration: 1-3 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 83%
  Acceptance rate: 60%
  Get Details

• 

  CTS Canadian Career College
  Health Sciences
  Law and Justice
  Technology
  Business
  Trades
  Speciality courses
  Brewing Technician
  On-campus/Online
  Full-time and Part-time
  Tuition fees: CAD 11,500
  Duration: 2-3 years
  Intakes: Sep and Jan
  Placement: 77%
  Acceptance rate: 75%
  Get Details

TYPES OF VOCATIONAL TRAININGS

There are many ways through which one can achieve vocational training. These are:

• Standalone Courses
• Diploma
• Advanced Diploma
• Co- Op
• Trade courses
• Certificate Courses
• Apprenticeships

LIST OF POPULAR VOCATIONAL COURSES IN CANADA

Why Should I Consider Attending Vocational School Rather Than a University?

Vocational programmes help you get ready for a fast entry into the workforce because they are career-focused and typically intense. You’ll be well on your way to the career of your dreams because you can graduate in two years. Moreover, professional certification may benefit from or necessitate formal vocational training.

Additionally, training programmes typically cost less than universities, especially when considering the increased fees and additional course and degree requirements that may be imposed on international students. You might be put on a waitlist for future enrollment, though, as admittance to a programme is competitive and there might only be a limited number of spaces available.

Eligibility

To apply to a Canadian university for a vocational programme, students must meet the following requirements:

• The student must be a minimum of 16 years of age
• The student should have finished their Secondary Education/ Senior Secondary education/ High School/ Secondary School Diploma- College Level or University level or equivalent
• The results of at least one English proficiency exam must be submitted by the students. The scores accepted for different tests are:
• IELTS-overall band of 6.0
• TOEFL-overall 83
• PTE-min score of 60
• CAEL– min score of 60
• CELPIP– overall band of 7.0

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Here is a list of documents required to apply for vocational courses in Canada:

• A valid student visa 
• A photocopy of Passport
• Academic transcripts
• English Language Proficiency Tests
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation
• Medical Insurance
• Other Required Documents

Application Process

The guidelines listed below can be used to apply for a vocational course at a Canadian university:

• Do some research on the course you wish to take
• Look up Canadian universities that provide these
• Go to the official university website
• Complete the application online using the site
• Upload the necessary files
• Fill out the application and pay the required amount

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VOCATIONAL COURSES IN CANADA

Besides government scholarships, a lot of colleges also provide scholarship facilities to students. Here are the details about a few:

• Quebec Scholarship for Vocational Training-The Quebec Scholarship offers a Merit Scholarship and a Tuition Exemption Scholarship for all international students of around CAD 14,000- CAD $ 26,000.
• Tallon Family Scholarship-Centennial College offers a scholarship amount of around CAD $1,000 per year to all international students studying enrolled in vocational courses.
• The English For Academic Purposes International Student Diploma-The scholarship amount of around CAD $500 is provided by Humber College for all international students pursuing vocational courses in the field of Humanities.
• IB Entrance Scholarships-Around CAD $1,000- CAD $3,000 is awarded to international students pursuing vocational courses in Trent University based on Academic Excellence
• Queen’s Empowerment Scholarship-An average scholarship of CAD $1,000 offered by Centennial College to all International Female Students registered for vocational courses.
• OC Penticton Campus- International Students Award-Okanagan College offers an average scholarship of CAD $1,000 twice every year for all international students who are academically brilliant or who are in need of financial assistance.

Also checkout the Top 10 Scholarships for International Students

JOB PROSPECTS

Let us take a look at the job prospects and employment trends after vocational courses across different industries in Canada:

Scope after Vocational Training in Canada

• Take up a job– With minimal time in training compared to degree courses, you can take up a job after the vocational training. Job opportunities at the senior secondary level or above are higher than the secondary level training.
• Start your own business– You can also look forward to starting your own venture after secondary or senior secondary-level vocational training. Ensure all the legal requirements as it may vary depending on your age.
• Continue with your training- You may also look forward to enhancing your skills by taking up advanced training programs or internships that complement your vocational training and help you get a high-paying job in the future. 
• Go for higher studies– If you wish to continue a traditional education system after your vocational training, you can easily apply for admissions to high schools. Compared to a degree program, vocational courses are narrowly focused, take less time to complete and train you for a specific skill.

CONCLUSION

If you want to add a new skill to your resume, vocational classes can be a good fit for you. Additionally, the expertise may complement the subject matter of your prior degrees. Employers will find you more appealing as a result of this. Because the courses are brief and inexpensive, it will be simpler for you to pick up knowledge and skills at a fair pace.

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