When was VanWest College established?
VanWest College has been providing English as Second Language (ESL) training to international students since 1988. VanWest Kelowna opened to international students in 2005.

How do I know that VanWest College is a serious language school?
VanWest College is a member of The Canadian Association of Private Language Schools (CAPLS), and a member of The Canadian Education Centers Network (CEC). All VanWest College teachers are fully qualified with university degrees, TESL certification and experience in the ESL industry. Teachers and classes are regularly evaluated to ensure our high standards are maintained.

What are the main advantages of VanWest College?
The school is conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, close to parks, public transportation, cultural attractions and sports facilities. We have a brand new facility fully equipped with 16 classrooms, the latest in computer technology and free Internet to students. Our curriculum combines integrated skills with skill/interest-based classes as well as professional certification courses and internship. Our Academic Preparation Program is linked to a Canadian University. We offer a full range of services from medical insurance and native language counselors to activities including our free daily Conversation Club.

How many students do you have in your school?
From October to May our student population ranges from 90 to 120 students. From June to September we have from 180 to over 200 students in attendance.

How old are your students?
They must be 17 years or over for our regular English programs (exceptions on a case by case basis). The average age of our students is approx. 24 years old. We also offer a Youth Program for students between 9 and 16 years old in July and August.

What is the percentage of students for each country?
We may have over 17 different countries represented at any given time. Here is the average percentage for our top 6 countries. We accept no more than 30% of any one nationality and those percentages vary at different times of the year.

How many levels do you offer?
We have 6 distinct levels from Level 1 to Level 6.

How many students per class?
We have an average of 10-12 students with a maximum of 15 per class.

What is the minimum length of study?
Students should study for a minimum of 4 weeks. Occasionally, we accept students for a shorter duration based on seats available. We usually cannot accept students for less than 4 weeks from June to September; please contact our Registrar for seat availability for these months.

How long does it take to learn English?
It depends on the initial level but most full-time students require an average of two 4- week sessions to complete each level. Students complete a test at the end of each 4-week session to determine if they are ready to move up to the next level.

When can I start?
We have one official start date every 4 weeks and weekly intakes available every Monday except the final week of the session (please see our calendar).

Can my student start on a different start date?
We occasionally accept students who cannot arrive for the official start date based on seats available. Please contact us to check availability before sending the application.

What are your most popular programs?
Most of our students take General English (27 hours per week). Our Test & Certificate Programs are also very popular with students (TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge FCE/CAE/BEC). Trial Lessons are also available for all programs and courses.

Can students change programs after they start?
Students can change within the first week of beginning classes (dependent on individual cases and seat availability). Students who wish to change classes must request these changes through our Registrar.

How and when do students select their elective classes?
Students choose their afternoon elective classes on their first day, and selection is based on their placement test and recommendations from our Academic Advisor. Students are advised to choose a class based on their areas of language need or their field of interest for the application of English.

Do you have a schedule of activities?
Yes, the schedule of activities for the current month is posted on our website. The schedule is also posted in the school for students.

How much does it cost to participate in activities?
Some activities are free, others are low-cost ($10-30), others may be $40 to $70 CAD (for such activities as NHL hockey games). Due to transportation and accommodation costs, weekend trip prices range from approximately $60 (one-day trip to Whistler) to approximately $150 CAD (weekend trip to Victoria). Ski and snowboard packages range from $200 to $300 CAD for weekend trips, including lessons.

Where can my students live while studying at VanWest College?
VanWest College has a full-time Homestay Coordinator on staff who is dedicated to visiting families and placing and assisting students. Staying with a Canadian family provides additional opportunities for students to practice English while learning about Canadian culture.

How do you choose the host families?
VanWest has been offering Homestay placements for over 15 years. We have a large database of families who have been selected and are visited by our Homestay Coordinator. Families are constantly evaluated through satisfaction questionnaires completed by students and through inspections by our staff.

What are the services provided?
Homestay students have a private furnished bedroom and three meals daily including a packed lunch. Families are generally located within 15-35 minutes of the school by bus and there is a limit of two VanWest international students of different nationalities per family.

Can students change families if they do not like their host family?
Students should meet with our Homestay Coordinator immediately if they have concerns about their host family. The Homestay Coordinator will decide if a change is necessary based on the problems encountered. The first week is a trial week and students can move once to a new host family without penalty, if approved by the Homestay Coordinator. Students who want to change Homestay after the one week trial period will have to provide 4 weeks notice or pay the equivalent.

Can students leave the host family and move to an apartment if they want?
Yes students can move out of their host family when they want providing that they give 4 weeks notice or pay the equivalent.

Do students need medical insurance while in Vancouver?
Medical costs in Canada are very high, so it is necessary that all students have adequate medical coverage. On the first day, students are required to show proof of valid medical insurance or they must buy medical insurance at VanWest College (coverage of up to $1,000,000 CAD) for approximately $60 CAD per month. This insurance can be bought before they arrive. Please contact VanWest Administration for details.