SPP Colleges in Canada: Eligiblity, Application, Rankings & Fees

Top SPP colleges in Canada accept international students from certain countries into various diploma and postgraduate diploma programs. The Student Partnership Program (SPP) was launched by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) to promote and increase the count of international students in Canadian universities. 

SPP makes the process of admission and visa applications easier for international students to Canadian community colleges. It is a boon for all international applicants willing to pursue studies in Canada who will no longer have to worry about meeting all requirements mentioned in the study permit application checklist. The study visa is provided very easily with minimal documentation. Currently, the SPP (Student Partners Program) has been replaced by the SDD (Student Direct Stream) program.

Top Colleges under SPP Program in Canada

Canada is home to several top-ranking universities in the world that fall under the SPP category. Mainly Canadian community colleges provide diploma and postgraduate diploma programs to international students under SPP. Listed below are some of the many SPP colleges in Canada:

College/ University Name	Location
Algonquin College	Ottawa, Ontario
Bow Valley College	Calgary, Alberta
Canadore College	North Bay, Ontario
Durham College	Oshawa, Ontario
Fleming College	Peterborough, Ontario
George Brown College	Toronto, Ontario
Lakeland College	Vermilion, Alberta
NorQuest College	Edmonton, Alberta
Okanagan College	Kelowna, British Columbia
Selkirk College	Castlegar, British Columbia

Algonquin College

Algonquin College is a publicly funded college ranked #78 in Canada by the ranking web of universities. Indian students can apply through Student Direct Stream (SDS) and get their study permit within 20 days. Other additional documents needed to apply for SDS are:

• Proof of payment of first-year tuition fee
• GIC worth $10,000 CAD
• Medical examination report
• Certificate of police verification

Read More: Algonquin College

Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College is a public university functioning as a community-based university within Alberta's Post-Secondary Learning Act. It is ranked #6384 among the universities in the world by Webometrics Rankings. Indian students can apply for the study permit both through SDS and regular streams. Other additional documents needed to apply for Bow Valley College are:

• Academic high school transcripts
• Official translations
• Proof of English language proficiency

Read More: Bow Valley College

Canadore College

Canadore College is a public institution ranked #9921 in the world by Webometrics rankings. International students from India, China can apply for the Canadian study permit through Student Direct Stream (SDS). The basic specifications required for SDS are as follows:

• Copy of acceptance letter
• Proof of paid tuition fee for the first-year
• Proof of Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) worth $10,000
• Medical examination
• Qualifying English language test score: 6.0 or more in each skill (IELTS)

Read More: Canadore College

Durham College

Durham College is a public applied arts and technology institute ranked among Canada’s top 50 Research Colleges by Research Infosource Inc. in 2016. Indian students can apply for study permits through SDS. Some of the required specifications for SDS are:

• Copy of acceptance letter
• Proof of first-year paid tuition fee
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for $7,500 USD.
• Medical exam
• Qualifying English language test score: IELTS score of 6.0 or more in each skill

Read More: Durham College

Fleming College

Fleming College is a public academic institute popularly named after the great Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming. It is ranked 112th in Canada by Webometrics rankings. Students applying through SDS for faster study permit processing are required to have an IELTS score of 6.0 for admission. Other admission requirements for international students for admission to Fleming College are:

• Official academic transcripts
• English language proficiency test scores
• Proof of finances
• Work experience (if applicable for a particular course).

Read More: Fleming College

George Brown College

George Brown College is one of the top research colleges in Canada ranked in the 4654th position in the World Ranking List. International students from India fulfilling certain requirements can apply for admission through SDS. Some of the documents needed for admission through SDS at George Brown College include:

• Copy of acceptance letter
• Medical exam
• Qualifying English language test scores
• Proof of first-year paid tuition fee
• Proof of Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for $7,500 USD.

Read More: George Brown College

Lakeland College

Lakeland College is a board governed publicly-financed college ranked #2338 in the World University Rankings by UniRank. Some of the admission requirements for international applicants at Lakeland College are:

• English language proficiency test scores
• Official academic transcripts
• Proof of Educational history and marks card
• Financial support documentation
• Copy of passport

Read More: Lakeland College

NorQuest College

NorQuest College is a publicly funded institution providing post-secondary education and ranked in the World Top 150 Universities under the age of 50. Listed below are the admission requirements for international students at NorQuest College:

• Official academic transcripts
• English language proficiency test scores
• Bank Statements / Certificate of Finance
• Copy of Passport
• Health Insurance

Read More: NorQuest College

Okanagan College

Okanagan College is a post-secondary public institution and also the second-largest trade training institution in British Columbia. It is ranked #5754 in the world rankings by Webometrics. Find below some of the admission requirements for international students at Okanagan College:

• Official academic transcripts
• Passport copy
• English language proficiency test scores
• Medical test

Read More: Okanagan College

Selkirk College

Selkirk College is the oldest regional community college and has established itself as an innovative and opportunistic center. Some of the admission requirements to be fulfilled while applying for Selkirk College are:

• Official academic transcripts
• English language proficiency test scores
• Statement of purpose

Read More: Selkirk College

Why should you Study at the SPP Colleges in Canada?

Many students apply to top universities in Canada every year, with a significant percentage of students coming from India. Therefore, the Student Partners Program was established to assist international students who wish to study in Canada. 

The SPP program introduces international students to the Canadian community colleges and eases the process of admissions. Following are some of the reasons why you should consider studying at the SPP colleges in Canada:

• SPP Colleges in Canada includes some of Canada's most prestigious colleges that offer excellent education.
• The admission and visa process is streamlined for international students applying to Canadian universities.
• The students do not have to face the hassle of arranging all the visa documentation and fulfilling all guidelines.
• The Canadian visa application is processed faster based on the documents submitted.
• The process of selecting international students into various Canadian universities is based on merit. The selection process is not biased at any level.
• There is a higher chance of selection which in turn leads to an increase in the number of visas allocated to Indian and Chinese students for studies in Canada.
• Quality education is provided in Canadian universities and there are also better work opportunities for international students in Canada.

International students can also apply to Canadian colleges through non-SPP. Here, the students will have to produce more documentation that will lead to an increase in the processing time of the application. Application through non-SPP will also require more detailed proof of funds. A GIC is however not required in this case. Proof of financial support should be proved with savings in the bank, other investments, and education loans.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission to SPP Colleges in Canada

SPP is a student-friendly initiative by the visa agencies of India as well as Canada for easier admission of international students to community colleges in Canada. Find below some of the admission requirements for international students to get into SPP colleges in Canada:

• The applicants should have completed grade 12 in the last two years or should have an undergraduate degree in the last five years
• He/ she should not have more than 8 backlogs during recent qualifying examinations
• The students should have applied for a course relevant to their study area and should be capable of adding value to the same
• An overall IELTS score of 6.0 not older than 2 years is required for admission
• Students should also fulfill the institute-specific requirement of a minimum of 50% marks in their recently completed degree or diploma or equivalent
• Proof of payment of tuition fees of one semester/ one year
• International applicants should also submit the proof of purchase of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from Scotia Bank of $10,000 to cover living expenses for the first year of stay in Canada
• He/ she should not have been denied a Canadian study visa earlier

Application Process for SPP Colleges in Canada

All international students meeting the eligibility criteria for studying in Canada can apply for admission through the SPP program. The application process is very simple under SPP through the usage of an improved and revised application checklist. International applicants should submit all necessary documents to facilitate the timely processing of applications. Find below the process and the documents to be submitted during the SPP application process:

• The application should be submitted at least three to four months before the start of the course. Students should keep in mind the deadlines and apply accordingly
• The applicants should then choose the right course and college by researching their subject and field of interest
• All documents required for the application such as Statement of Purpose, Letter of Recommendations, etc should be arranged accordingly
• Additional documents such as portfolio, the resume can be attached based on the course-specific requirements
• Finally, the international students should apply online with all the supporting documents listed below.

Documents Required for SPP Colleges in Canada

Applying for Canadian universities through SPP requires limited documentation as compared to the regular visa application process. Students fulfilling all eligibility requirements can apply for admission under the SPP program. Listed below are some of the mandatory documents to be submitted along with the SPP application form:

• Letter of acceptance from the respective SPP college in Canada
• IELTS score of an overall band of 6.0 for undergraduate courses and an overall band of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 for postgraduate programs
• Class 12 mark sheet with at least 50% marks for admission to undergraduate programs
• Undergraduate degree or 3-4 years of advanced diploma with minimum 50% or above for admission to graduate programs
• Valid work experience
• Proof of payment of tuition fees for one semester/ one year
• GIC worth $10,000 for living expenses
• Application fee of $150
• Passport and photographs
• Official academic transcripts
• Proof of medical examination from designated panel physicians
• Leaving certificate
• Family information form

Work Permit with SPP Visa

International students who graduate from either an SPP college or a non-SPP college in Canada are eligible for a work permit. Students who wish to obtain a work permit must fulfil specific requirements and provide several documents. 

Students under the SPP program are usually issued a work visa for the duration of their respective courses. An 8-month study course will only qualify for an 8-month work permit. However, if your course lasts longer than two years, you will receive a work permit for three years. The following requirements must be met to obtain a post-study work permit:

• Post-study work permits must be applied for within 90 days following graduation.
• Your studies should be completed in a full-time program in Canada.
• The duration of your course must be at least eight months.
• Prior to receiving a work permit, candidates must hold a study permit.

Cheap SPP Colleges in Canada

Some of the most affordable SPP colleges in Canada offering low tuition rates are listed below.

Algonquin College	Bow Valley College	Camosun College
College of New Caledonia	Columbia College	Conestoga College
Douglas College	Durham College	George Brown College
Humber College	Kwantlen Polytechnic University	Medicine Hat College
Niagara College	North Island College	Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Northern College	Okanagan College	Selkirk College
St. Lawrence College	University of The Fraser Valley	Vancouver Community College

List of Non-SPP Colleges in Canada

There are multiple Non SPP colleges in Canada offering undergraduate, graduate, certificate, diploma, and doctoral programs in various disciplines. Listed below are some of the Non SPP colleges and universities in Canada:

Acsenda School Of Management	Brock University	Cambrian College
Cape Breton University	Fairleigh Dickinson University	King’s University College
Lakehead University	Mcmaster University	Memorial University Of Newfoundland
Royal Roads University	Thompson Rivers University	University Canada West
University Of Northern British Columbia	University Of Windsor	York University