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Why do some people go to colleges like Ontario Colleges or Nova Scotia Community College instead of going to big universities?
Is it related to the costs or tution fees? or is it more difficult to go to universities which are for smart
students only with higher grades?
I'm just wondering why in an egalitarian society like Canada some people choose not to study in big universities and to study in small colleges instead. If it was the USA, I would understand it because of the costs of higher education there.
For example, there are the so-called "advanced diploma" in Canadian colleges (for things like biotechnology, for example or Geographical Sciences) which is a 3 years program that looks similar to university programs. The only apparent difference is that the university program is 4 years. So what are the pros and cons of each one? and why some people go for the advanced diploma, while they can add one year only to get a degree (they have almost similar courses if I'm not mistaken)?
Are the universities too selective in their admission process and that's why many Canadians apply for colleges, or maybe because college graduates are more employable?
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Another question regarding the costs of higher education in Canada:
Is it possible that the tuition fees for international students in a Canadian university (4-years degree program) are cheaper than the tuition fees in a community college (3-years diploma)?
For example, the fees for Biotechnology diploma in St. Lawrence College is $13,050:
College is more for practical studying, while university is theoretical. In college you might (in general, mind you) learn something like ambulance services or a trade. In university you would study medicine in a more research-oriented way, or take engineering, respectively.
Cost is slightly less in colleges in most cases. I don't think that is the appeal, though. It's more for people who are trying to jump in to something quickly and have hands on experience. Usually diplomas are 2-3 years as opposed to 4+ years for a university degrees. There are degrees that you can make 3 years, but that's dying.
Probably most feel that university is generally for 'traditional' career studies (medicine, sciences, humanities), but I have heard that our local hospital prefers hiring the college graduates because they already have hands-on experience, while uni graduates are less apt to know how to physcially handle the situation. That would be one example. Maybe social work is another, and trades.
Community colleges offer courses that are directly related to future employment.
One example.......My 18 year old Grandson has just started a 2 year program that will teach him everything that he will need to know, to be a explosives technician, and a construction safety manager.
That course, if he graduates, will result in his being fully employed in a number of types of work. Mining, road construction, building demolition, and the like. The starting rate of pay for a qualified blaster is about $33 an hour, and up. He will be able to just about "write his own ticket " in any part of Canada.
Ever see somebody walking slowly around, with a hand held scanner, looking for underground pipes, or electrical lines, or gas lines ? Guess what that job pays per hour ? The course is four months long, and it is a growing type of employment in Canada.
Given the huge amount of commercial flying that goes on in Canada..........being a aircraft technician, of any type, is a good job. If you are willing to work in isolated locations, you can make serious money.
None of these employment activities are taught in a University.......
Yeah, except most parts of the world just call them universities. There's no reason to make the USA the point of reference when it belongs to a group of outliers.
Thank you for all your valuable answers. But is it possible that the tuition fees for international students in a Canadian university (4-years degree program) are cheaper than the tuition fees in a community college (3-years diploma)?
For example, the fees for Biotechnology diploma in St. Lawrence College is $13,050:
You're looking at it the wrong way. The college is cheaper. If the tuition you posted is for one year then 3 years at college will cost you $39,150 while 4 years at University will cost you $44,008. So you're saving almost $5000.
You're looking at it the wrong way. The college is cheaper. If the tuition you posted is for one year then 3 years at college will cost you $39,150 while 4 years at University will cost you $44,008. So you're saving almost $5000.
And the smarter people consider things like that in the longer term. They are more readily employed and more of their first employed years earned income goes back goes into their pockets instead of onto student loans.
Thank you for all your valuable answers. But is it possible that the tuition fees for international students in a Canadian university (4-years degree program) are cheaper than the tuition fees in a community college (3-years diploma)?
For example, the fees for Biotechnology diploma in St. Lawrence College is $13,050:
They charge whatever customers (students) are willing to pay. Just the same as any other business. If there's a high demand for a course or program at a college, the tuition is high. St. Lawrence College has a carpentry program that charges international students $15/k tuition, but you can't take that at any university, it just doesn't exist at universities. A bachelor of science program is offered at many universities (almost all?) so there's less demand to take it, and that's one reason why the universities don't charge as much tuition.
Universities charge less tuition because in Canada they receive government funding. The tuition fees are "capped", meaning that the universities have limits on how high they can raise tuition fees for a particular year. The justification for this is to keep university education more affordable and within reach of taxpayers, in theory. Tuition fees aren't totally connected to the market.
Colleges offer specialized programs where students learn applied, practical skills. Undergraduate university courses are general, emphasize theory, and lead towards a career in research if a student moves onto honours work or graduate-level studies.
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