Vancouver International College

What Vancouver International College does

Vancouver International College (VIC) is a private post-secondary educational institution headquartered at 549 Howe Street, 8th Floor, in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1998 and operating as a division of Global Education Communities Corp. (GEC), VIC delivers career-focused certificate and diploma programs to international students seeking credentials and Canadian work experience. Its portfolio spans four core verticals: Global Business, Customer Service, TESOL (with specialized tracks for Children and Teens & Adults), and Digital Marketing — the latter delivered in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute — plus a Korean Interpreting & Translation certificate. Programs integrate structured co-op work terms ranging from 240 to 636 hours, providing paid Canadian workplace exposure, and tuition per program ranges from CAD $1,500 to $11,400 with dual-diploma offerings reaching $24,050.

VIC does not develop proprietary technology platforms. Its technology stack is composed of third-party tools — ChatGPT-based AI assistants for resume and interview preparation, Respondus LockDown Browser for online exam proctoring, and Microsoft Teams for synchronous distance delivery — layered onto in-house curriculum. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees, with ancillary income from material and registration fees, re-sit and transcript charges, and administration of mandatory guard.me health insurance at CAD $3.00 per day. Distribution combines direct online enrollment with a global network of international education agencies accessed via a dedicated Agency Portal, alongside co-op employer hosts who feed graduates into Vancouver's hospitality, business, and digital marketing labor markets.

VIC holds regulatory designations including BC PTIRU certification and Education Quality Assurance (EQA) recognition, as well as EduCanada branding and TESL Canada program recognition for its TESOL offering. With reported enrollment drawn from 50+ nationalities and a campus capacity of 100–240 students across 7 classrooms, the institution operates at modest scale. Notably, VIC's programs are not designated as eligible for Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit, a material positioning factor in the current Canadian international student regulatory environment. A March 2026 announced consolidation aligns VIC with sister schools SSLC Language College, SELC Language College, and SELC College under unified GEC direction.

Name

Vancouver International College

Legal name

Vancouver International College

Website

https://vancouver.college

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vancouver International College is a private post-secondary institution in downtown Vancouver offering career certificates and diplomas in Global Business, Customer Service, TESOL, and Digital Marketing to international students, with integrated co-op work experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Vocational Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Vocational career training
• ESL teacher certification
• Cooperative education programs
• Digital marketing education
• International student services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: VIC generates primary revenue through tuition fees charged per program. Fees vary by program duration, credential type (certificate, diploma, dual diploma), and whether co-op terms are included. Tuition ranges from $1,500 to $11,400 per program, with additional material and registration fees. All fees are quoted in CAD and apply to registrations from January 1, 2026 onward.
2. Co-op Work Experience Fees: Co-op programs bundle paid work experience terms with classroom instruction. The tuition structure includes the co-op term as part of the total program fee. Work terms range from 240 to 636 hours depending on the program and variant chosen.
3. Medical Insurance: VIC facilitates guard.me health insurance for international students at approximately $3.00 CAD per day. This is a mandatory cost for students without provincial MSP coverage and is administered through the institution.
4. Ancillary Fees: Additional revenue streams include material fees ($190-$850), registration fees ($180-$300), course re-sit fees ($300-$490), transcript copies ($20), certificate reprints ($50), courier services, and schedule change fees ($100).
5. Housing and Homestay Placement: VIC, through its affiliation with GEC Living and its own homestay program, facilitates student accommodation. Revenue is indirect—students pay housing providers directly—but the service supports enrollment conversion and retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vancouver International College is a private career college that sells accredited certificate and diploma programs in Global Business, Customer Service, TESOL, Digital Marketing, and Korean Interpreting & Translation to international students. Programs combine classroom instruction with a mandatory or optional paid co-op work experience term (240-636 hours) coordinated through the institution's Co-op & Career Development Office, and are delivered at its downtown Vancouver Howe Campus with some programs offered online.

Product overview

Vancouver International College offers a portfolio of professional career programs designed for international students seeking to study and work in Canada. The core offerings include the Global Business Program, Customer Service Program, TESOL certification programs (including specialized tracks for Children and Teens & Adults), and the Digital Marketing Program (offered in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute). All programs are designed with an integrated Co-op Education component that combines classroom instruction with paid practical work experience. Additional offerings include an Interpreting & Translation program in Korean. The institution operates from its downtown Vancouver Howe Campus and provides comprehensive student support services including housing assistance, health insurance coordination, and academic advising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Business Program Career program equipping international students with skills in international business, finance, marketing, HR, legal administration, and leadership for global business careers. Offered with a co-op work experience term of up to 636 hours in Canadian workplaces. Available as Certificate (8 months) or Diploma (12 months) variants.
• Customer Service Professional Program Hospitality-focused program developing communication, problem-solving, and service management skills for customer-facing roles in hospitality, retail, tourism, and call centers. Offered with co-op work terms ranging from 240 to 560 hours. Available as 6-month Certificate, 8-month Certificate, or 14-month Diploma.
• TESOL Certificate Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certification program training educators for ESL/EFL careers worldwide. 4-week in-class core program, with an 8-week TESOL with Practicum variant available. Recognized by TESL Canada for national ESL teaching standards.
• TESOL for Children Specialized TESOL program focusing on pedagogical methods for teaching English to young learners, including lesson planning and classroom management strategies for children.
• TESOL for Teens & Adults Advanced TESOL program covering instructional strategies for teenage and adult learners, including Cambridge TKT preparation modules.
• Digital Marketing Professional Program Professional certification program delivered in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute, covering SEO, social media marketing, content strategy, and web copywriting. Includes a 26-week co-op term (520 hours). Note: No intake for this program until 2026. Awarded as Diploma after 12 months.
• Interpreting & Translation (Korean) Certificate 8-week certificate program in Korean interpreting and translation skills, including IT Korean terminology. Designed for bilingual students seeking professional language service credentials.
• Co-op Education Program Paid work experience component integrated with VIC's academic programs, providing practical application of classroom learning in Canadian business settings. Work terms range from 240 to 636 hours and are coordinated by the Co-op & Career Development Office. Also offered as standalone co-op opportunities through the 'Hire a VIC Student' program for Vancouver employers.
• Dual Diploma Programs (CS-C + GB-C, GB-C + DM-C, CS-C + DM-C) Combined diploma packages pairing two VIC programs (e.g., Customer Service + Global Business, Global Business + Digital Marketing, Customer Service + Digital Marketing) over 100-108 weeks. Include both classroom instruction and co-op terms. Tuition ranges from CAD 22,900 to CAD 24,050.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 in 10 students report they rapidly improved their career readiness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Digital Marketing Institute (DMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIC's Digital Marketing Professional (DMP) program is delivered in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute, offering a cutting-edge curriculum with global endorsement covering marketing fundamentals, social media strategies, and web copywriting. DMI provides the certification framework and internationally recognized curriculum, while VIC delivers the program in Vancouver with co-op components.
• Queen TESOL CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Istanbul, the Queen TESOL Centre was founded by English instructors and focuses on training ESL teachers using the latest tools and methodologies. They offer programs including TESOL, TESOL for Children, TESOL for Test Preparation, and Practical Teaching Skills. This is described as a global partnership between VIC and the Queen TESOL Centre for TESOL program collaboration.
• BC TEALminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBC TEAL (Teaching English as an Additional Language) provides a central meeting place and online community for EAL professionals throughout BC. VIC Career Campus supports its instructors with access to BC TEAL resources for professional development.
• TESL CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTESL Canada's teacher training program recognition process ensures teachers meet national professional standards. VIC's TESOL program is TESL Canada-recognized, benefiting the entire field of ESL teaching and ensuring VIC graduates meet national professional standards.
• guard.me International InsurancecoreOthersguard.me is VIC's designated health insurance provider for international students. Coverage includes emergency medical care (100%), dental ($4,000 accidental, $600 emergency), mental health support, and free mobileDOCTOR service. Insurance is mandatory for all international students. guard.me provides a Healthcare Access Card for direct billing at participating clinics and pharmacies.
• GEC Living (Global Education Communities Corp.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEC Living provides student residence accommodations in Vancouver (GEC Pearson, GEC Burnaby Heights, GEC Kingsway, GEC Viva, GEC King Edward, GEC Marine Gateway). VIC and GEC are both divisions of Global Education Communities Corp., and GEC residences offer safe, affordable housing within 35–50 minutes of the campus for VIC students. Residences include 24-hour security, common areas, laundry, and kitchen facilities.
• Global Education Communities Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIC is a division of Global Education Communities Corp. (GEC), which encompasses VIC, SSLC Language College, SELC College, and SELC Language College. March 2026 marks a transition under unified direction, creating expanded facilities, combined expertise, and shared programs. VIC's sister school SSLC Language College also shares the Howe Campus location.
• SSLC Language CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIC is the sister school of SSLC Language College. SSLC is described as sharing the same Howe Campus location and academic community. Both institutions collaborate on student services and share facilities.
• Canadian Banks (RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, BMO)minorOthersVIC provides guidance to international students on opening bank accounts with major Canadian banks conveniently located near the VIC campus: RBC Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank, CIBC, and BMO Bank of Montreal. This is an indirect partnership through referral information on the student life page.
• WorkSafeBCminorOthersWorkSafeBC provides workplace injury coverage for co-op students. VIC's co-op FAQ states that hosts are expected to have appropriate WorkSafeBC coverage and onboarding for students during their co-op placements.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ILSC Education Group: One of the largest private language and career training providers in Canada, with deep Vancouver presence and a similar international student focus across language, business, and TESOL programs.
• Tamwood International: Vancouver-based private career college offering co-op and study-and-work programs targeting international students, with overlapping business and customer service offerings.
• Greystone College: Vancouver private career college offering TESOL, business, and customer service programs with co-op work experience for international students.
• VanWest College: Vancouver-based private career college offering ESL and career-focused programs with co-op components, serving the same international student segment.
• Canadian College: Vancouver private career college offering career-focused diploma and certificate programs with co-op options, targeting international students.
• ILAC - International Language Academy of Canada: Major Canadian private language and pathway provider with Vancouver and Toronto campuses, offering career pathway programs and a similar international student base.
• Cornerstone International Community College of Canada: Vancouver-based private career college offering co-op programs in business, IT, and hospitality for international students, with a comparable Vancouver delivery model.

Regional players

• Global Village English Centres: Canada-focused language school chain with a Vancouver campus serving international students, overlapping in English-language and TESOL training.

Broad incumbents

• EC English Language Centres: Global private language school chain with a Vancouver location, offering ESL and pathway programs to international students through a much larger institutional footprint.
• SSLC Language College: Sister school of VIC under Global Education Communities Corp., sharing the Howe Campus and consolidating operations under unified direction in March 2026.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/StudySSLC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/studysslc
• Facebookfacebook.com/studyviccc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouverinternationalcollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/vancouverinternationalcollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver International College