Number of international students expected to double at NBCC Moncton

The number of international students at NBCC Moncton is expected to more than double this September, and the college's director of international education says that's good news for the entire province.

The college had about 100 international students during the 2017-2018 academic year and has already received confirmation from an additional 100 students who will start their studies this fall at the Moncton campus.

That number is expected to grow even more once more students who've been accepted receive their permits to come to Canada to study.

• Enrolment drops 14% in New Brunswick universities in 10 years 
• International students enriching province's schools 
• International students in N.B. feeling vulnerable to tax scam

Double the number of international students means double the tuition for NBCC. Ryan Sullivan, NBCC's director of international education, said that extra money is put back into the student programs as well as the cost of faculty and infrastructure.

While there's a cost to recruiting international students, Sullivan said the effort benefits every NBCC student. 

"We have used our resources to enhance all of our services for students. Not just international but our Canadian students benefit from having international students in their classes."

Sullivan noted the benefit of additional international students goes beyond the college's bottom line. 

A recent study completed for the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training shows that the average amount an international college student spends in the community is just over $30,000 per year. 

According to the same study, visitors of international students at colleges throughout the region are spending over $3 million a year in tourism.

Easy decision to make

Prototype Habimana of Rwanda researched different colleges across Canada and said the decision to come to Moncton was easy. He said it's a good place to study — and to find a part-time job. 

"There's a lot of place to chill out, to have fun, it's a good place to study and I have a good place to work right now," he said.

He's halfway through the Civil Engineering Techonology course at NBCC Moncton.

NBCC actively recruits international students for all six of its campuses in New Brunswick. It promotes its programs at international education fairs and uses digital marketing to attract international students.

The Moncton campus has the largest number of international students. Sullivan said that number is growing, partly through word of mouth.

 "When you're coming from somewhere on the other side of the world and you're looking at … a small unknown province like New Brunswick, hearing from friends, family, relatives who are already here, that builds confidence in the decision to go somewhere they may not have otherwise heard about."

An international classroom

Those students are coming from all over the world, including Vietnam, Philippines, India, Jamaica, Ukraine and Brazil, using seats in programs that would have gone unfilled by New Brunswick students.

New Brunswick students are still the priority when it comes to being accepted for programs. However, if there is more demand than seats, NBCC will hire an extra instructor or even add another class to accommodate the increased number of Canadian and international students.  

Habimana says the tuition rates at NBCC Moncton also helped him make the decision to study here.

International students pay $9100.00 a year for tuition. Habimana says that's at least $6000.00 less than other programs that he was considering in Canada.

His father helps out with his tuition and he works a part-time job during the school year and full-time during the summer break to cover his living expenses.