Columbia College is an independent, not-for-profit institution in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, offering high school, university transfer and associate degree programs.
Columbia College is an independent, not-for-profit institution located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and a registered charity that reinvests all revenues and resources directly into education. The college enrolls students from more than 60 countries. Its mission is to equip students to become responsible global citizens who can communicate, think critically and make a positive impact in communities around the world.
Columbia College was founded in 1936, beginning with high school completion programs for hundreds of students. In 1965, it expanded to include university transfer courses, and by the 1970s it introduced an English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The college relocated to Burnaby, near Metrotown Centre, in 1985, and returned to downtown Vancouver in 1997, sharing a new facility with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). In April 2013, it moved to a new five-storey building at 438 Terminal Avenue. In 2022, the college celebrated 85 years of education with the launch of a new Institute for Equity and Advancement in Education.
The University Transfer program provides a direct pathway into the second or third year of a bachelor's degree at top Canadian universities. Associate degree programs are offered under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education of British Columbia. Admission routes include high school programs for Grades 10 to 12, associate degree and university transfer programs, and the University Preparatory Program (UPREP) for students who do not meet entrance requirements. Applications are reviewed based on documents, and a Math Placement Test (MPT) is used.
The Main Campus is located at 438 Terminal Avenue, one Skytrain stop from Vancouver's downtown core, the Olympic Village, and False Creek. In September 2017, the college opened the North Campus at 333 Terminal Avenue, across from the Main Campus. Facilities include science labs, a library with computers, printers and technology lending, student lounges, on-site food options, a bookstore, locker rentals and underground parking. Homestay and off-campus housing options are also available.