British Columbia Institute of Technology

For over 50 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been a leader among Canadian post-secondary institutions. Offering an applied, hands-on education that models the evolving work environment, BCIT is one of British Columbia’s largest post-secondary institutes. BCIT educates more than 47,000 full-time and part-time students in over 300 programs each year across five campuses and 10 satellite locations.

BCIT’s credentials range from certificates and diplomas to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in areas such as applied and natural sciences, business and media, computing and IT, engineering, health sciences, and trades and apprenticeships. The Institute’s programs are developed in consultation with leading employers and industry associations, ensuring its graduates are more than ready to succeed in their careers and contribute to a productive economy from day one.

BCIT was the first institution in BC to offer advanced technical education in areas such as engineering, business, and health, and is the largest and longest-serving provider of trades training and apprenticeship programs in Western Canada.

Fast Facts

• Approximately 18,000 full-time students and 28,000 part-time students enroll every year.
• Compared to a provincial average of 80%, 93% of degree graduates are working in their field of study.
• Within two years of graduation, the average annual salary of a BCIT degree graduate is $14,000 higher than the provincial average.
• BCIT offers over 300 programs across broad educational sectors including business, computing, health sciences, engineering, and trades.
• BCIT was the first institution in BC to offer advanced technical education in areas such as engineering, business, and health.

Credentials

• Diplomas
• Advanced Diplomas
• Certificates
• Apprenticeships
• Graduate Certificates
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Master's Degrees

Applied Research at BCIT

BCIT has been working with industry clients for more than 25 years, helping companies and organizations develop new technologies, products and services. Research projects conducted at BCIT typically involve:

• Design and development of prototype devices, systems and applications
• Analysis, testing and evaluation of new technologies
• Commercialization and licensing of new technologies and products

BCIT has 54,000 sq. ft. of space available for applied research, drawing on full-time research staff and faculty from more than 200 technical programs to assemble teams with multi-disciplinary skills and expertise. Clients range from the independent entrepreneur with a unique prototype idea to established companies and organizations developing new products and services.

BCIT is home to a number of specialized research centres, including:

• Centre for Applied Research and Innovation
• Centre for Architectural Ecology
• Centre for Cyber Security
• Centre for Energy Systems Applications
• Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology that Enables
• Centre of Excellence in Analytics
• Building Science Centre of Excellence
• SITE Centre of Excellence

Study programs include:

• Computer Systems
• Master of Science in Ecological Restoration
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Radiography
• Broadcast and Online Journalism

BCIT has a mandate to partner with industry, government, business, and other post-secondary institutes. These partnerships have beneficial social, economic, and environmental impact both locally and nationally. For example, we’ve partnered with the Squamish Nation Education Department to jointly deliver an innovative First Nations Ecological Restoration training program to introduce Squamish Nation students to the theory and practice of ecological restoration. We’ve worked with Northern Lights College to strengthen their Instrumentation Mechanic program, assessing their equipment needs, providing course materials, allowing their instructors to shadow BCIT Instrumentation Mechanic instructors, and delivering apprenticeship training in Fort St. John, BC. And we are partnering with the provincial and federal governments to form a coordinated approach to apprenticeship training in 10 trades, ensuring apprentices have their certification recognized across the country, no matter where they took their training.