Diploma and Certificate programs at colleges focus on hands-on learning.  This means you will: 

• Learn from books AND through doing.

• Explore academic and practical applications of course materials.

• Develop skills and knowledge to prepare you for a job or industry (e.g. dental hygiene, pilot, supply chain management).

• Independently review course material and manage academic challenge with some support from your instructor.

• Learn in relatively small class sizes ranging from 30-100 people. 

Each Diploma or Certificate program will differ in their specifics for type of learning required, how long the program is, and what it costs.  Here are the main facts:

• Each program is between 1-3 years long.

• A vast majority of programs have a “co-op” or work experience opportunity.  This provides students the opportunity to engage in work experience connected to learning.

• There is often flexibility if you want to work on your studies part-time or full-time. 

• Average tuition cost per year is $3,000, but tuition costs depends greatly on the program. 

Many students who complete a Degree program at a University or College decide to complete a Diploma or Certificate program as well.  These are some of the main reasons: 

• They are pursuing a career path(s) that require a diploma and/or specific hands-on training which their Degree program did not offer.

• They are interested in gaining additional skills to help them be more competitive when applying for jobs. 

• They are eligible to earn a “diploma”, "advanced diploma" or "certificate" once they have finished their studies.