FAQ

I wanted to invite my family to Canada. What should I do?

You will need to write an invitation letter on your own and provide an official Confirmation of Enrolment. To make a request for the letter, complete the Confirmation of Enrolment Request form [LINK] and email it to ieadmissions@vcc.ca. For instructions and tips on writing the letter, refer to the tutorial to invite your family to Canada [LINK].

I’m going home for vacation during my scheduled break. I need a letter to confirm I’m a student at VCC so I can show it to the officers at the airport when I come back.

You can request a Confirmation of Enrolment Letter [LINK] by submitting the request. You may also want to consider having a printout of your unofficial transcript and course schedule from your myVCC account, in case the immigration officials require to see more information.

Where do I find information about filing an income tax return?

Eligible VCC students receive income tax statements usually in late February from:

• Vancouver Community College – shows the tuition fees paid in the previous year (T2202: Tuition and Enrolment Certificate form available through myVCC)
• Banks – shows the interest that your money or investments earned
• Employers – shows the salary you earned and the income tax that you paid

These slips are necessary if you decide to file an income tax return. An income tax return is a report that residents of Canada submit to the Canadian Government in order to report any income they have earned and taxes they have paid during the year.

You can get further information about Canada’s income tax system by visiting the following links:

• International Students and Canada’s Income Tax
• Getting a Tax Return

Do I need to apply for MSP? Do I have to buy private medical insurance? How does extended health insurance work?

All residents who are living in BC for 6 months or longer are required to apply for the BC Medical Services (MSP) plan. MSP will start on the fourth month of your arrival, so VCC will enrol all new students in a 90-day private temporary medical insurance.

For more information about the mandatory private medical insurance, check the following pages: 

• Private Temporary Medical Insurance [LINK]
• Government of B.C. Medical Insurance – Medical Services Plan (MSP) [LINK]

In addition to primary medical insurance, most students are eligible for the extended health and dental plan. Check the SUVCC website for more information on extended health insurance.

How do I get Upass? What if my Upass doesn’t work?

You need to purchase a Compass card from a Skytrain station. Once you purchase the card, you can link to your Upass by visiting the Upass website. More information can be found on the U-Pass BC page.

Can I take some part-time courses in the Summer when I have a break?

It would be advisable to first speak with your academic program area regarding taking courses during your scheduled break, as this may impact your program progression.

Where can I get a student ID card?

You can obtain your student ID card at the Registrar’s Office.  Be prepared to show a form of picture ID and your student number.

I’m going into year 2 of my program. When will I receive my schedule? How do I know how much my tuition is and what the payment deadline is?

You will receive your schedule approximately one month prior to you beginning Year 2, provided that you are in good academic standing and you have no holds on your account. The exact date you will be registered depends on when the schedule is available. After you have been registered, you will receive an email from the Student Accounts office with information about your tuition fees owing and payment deadlines. You can also view your schedule on your myVCC account.

If you have questions about your tuition and/or payment deadline, please contact the Student Accounts Office directly in person or by email at sao@vcc.ca