An “International Student” is a foreign national who is authorized to study in Canada under a Study Permit, as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. A foreign national is a person who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident. For more information about studying in Canada as an international student, please refer to the Government of Canada website.

Residents of the Northwest Territories receive first priority for admission into Aurora College programs.

If you are a foreign national who has been living in the Northwest Territories for more than one year, you may be considered for admission for any Aurora College program at the same time as other NWT residents. However, as a foreign national, you will still be required to pay international tuition fees. Please advise us if you are a foreign national who is currently living in the NWT.

International applications for the 2023-24 academic year are now closed.

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will open on November 1, 2023

Note: Misrepresenting your residency by using an NWT address if you have not lived in the NWT for at least one year may be grounds for disqualifying your application.

  • There is currently no application fee for International Students, however, if you are offered a seat in an Aurora College program, you will be required to make a non-refundable deposit of $500 to hold your seat.
  • Some programs may hold seats for international applications based on previous year trends of enrolment of domestic students. Other programs may only review international applications after all domestic applications have been reviewed. For more information about a specific program, email info@auroracollege.nt.ca 
  • Upon receipt of an international application, we will inform the applicant by email of whether your international application will be considered or not. Some applicants may be waitlisted until a later date if you qualify for the program.
  • New International applicants may be required to provide results of an English Language proficiency test at the time of application.
  • International Student applicants must provide sufficient information for the Admissions officer to assess transcripts and determine Canadian equivalencies.
  • If Canadian equivalencies cannot be determined based on what has been submitted, the application will be rejected. 
  • International Students are strongly encouraged to review the program admission requirements to determine eligibility prior to applying.
  • Transcripts should be submitted in English.
  • It is strongly recommended that applicants have transcripts interpreted by a recognized Canadian transcript assessment service, such as International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).
  • Aurora College reserves the right to refuse incomplete applications and those suspected or deemed to be fraudulent.

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition for International Students (as of July 1, 2020) is $5,400 plus student fees per semester for most degree, diploma and certificate programs. One exception is the first semester of Environment and Natural Resources Technology Diploma, which is $7,200 plus student fees. Click here for more information on how to make payments online.

Residence and Accommodations:

Residents of the Northwest Territories have first priority for student accommodations. There may be limited student housing available to international students in dormitory housing at Aurora Campus (Inuvik) and Thebacha Campus (Fort Smith). If accepted into a program, International Students are responsible to find their own accommodations within the community. For residence inquiries please email info@auroracollege.nt.ca

Important Information:

Aurora College does not maintain an International Students Office, and is unable to provide supports beyond those available for domestic students.

Aurora College does not offer ESL (English as a Second Language) courses for International Students looking to study abroad.

The Cost of Living in the Northwest Territories is higher than in most other regions of Canada. International Students attending Aurora College should ensure they have adequate funds for tuition, accommodations, transportation, and living expenses.

International Students who want to work while attending Aurora College should read the information contained on the following website: CIC Student Permit Information

Aurora College is situated in Canada’s far north. The weather, especially in winter, can be extreme, with temperatures regularly falling below -30C. International Students planning to attend Aurora College should be aware of and prepared to deal with extremely cold temperatures. Special clothing and gear is required that is not necessary in most climates.