Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit

On October 8, 2025, the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit [PTIRU] cancelled the designation certificates of Pacific Link College. As a result of the cancellation decision, Pacific Link College is prohibited from offering or providing career training programs. A “career training program” is a career-related program for which tuition is equal to or greater than $4,000 and the instructional time is equal to or greater than 40 hours. 

PTIRU is working to support students impacted by the cancellation. If you were enrolled at the time of the cancellation, you may be eligible to file a claim against the Student Tuition Protection Fund [the Fund].  You can claim up to the amount of tuition paid. Tuition does not include application fees or fees charged for textbooks or other course materials. 

The Claim Form is available on the right side of the General Complaints and Tuition Refund Claims page and must be submitted within one year of the cancellation. The Claim Form must be completed, in full, for a claim to be processed.

The Trustee of the Student Tuition Protection Fund has requested students filing claims also provide responses to five supplementary questions. The questions will be sent to students in an email. In some cases, PTIRU may request video interviews to confirm the information submitted, or to ask additional questions.

Student Information Session 

PTIRU is arranging an information session for students affected by the closure. To make sure you get an invitation, please send your contact information to PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a comparable program that I can transfer into?

The registrar has not appointed comparable programs. Doing so would compel impacted students to attend certain programs at specific institutions in order to be eligible to make a claim on the Fund. PTIRU is meeting with several institutions who have offered support and will post additional information in the coming days. 

Students that intend to transfer to another institution to complete their program can expect that institution to conduct a prior learning assessment and to request evidence that they meet admission requirements before being accepted. PTIRU has required Pacific Link College to provide records for all impacted students and will assist students by providing relevant information as it becomes available. 

For information about programs at other PTIRU-certified private training institutions, go to the Private Training Institution Directory | Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit. For information about public and other post-secondary institutions in BC, go to Find an Institution - Province of British Columbia. 

I am an international student on a study permit. How does the cancellation affect my study permit?

The cancellation of an institution’s designation means the school is no longer eligible to host international students as it is no longer considered a designated learning institution (DLI).

If you are currently studying at this institution and need to change DLIs, please consult IRCC’s official guidance on Changing your school or program for details on how this may affect your individual study permit. Because this institution has lost its designation, you may be allowed to begin studying at your new DLI while your study permit extension application is under review, as outlined in IRCC’s guidance.

For further information about whether you require a new Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or other documentation, please see IRCC’s page on the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) PALs are a limited resource and issued at the discretion of institutions, you will need to contact institutions directly to confirm availability to support your transition to a new program and DLI.   

If you have questions specific to your study permit status or future application, please contact IRCC directly. 

I receive student financial assistance for my program. How does the cancellation affect my financial assistance? 

In the event of an institution cancellation, every effort will be made by the relevant government agencies to limit the disruption to your studies.  

StudentAid BC funding will only be affected if your studies are disrupted for a period of 21 days or more.  This means that no more than three weeks may pass between the last date of attendance at the original post-secondary institution and the start date at a new institution.

However, you will be required to notify StudentAid BC if you transfer to a new institution, as well as if your studies are disrupted for 21 days or more.

For any SABC inquiries email: StudentAidBC@gov.bc.ca or phone: 1-888-561-1818.

Students receiving financial assistance from another jurisdiction should contact the government department responsible for financial assistance. If you are a student from Alberta receiving financial assistance from Alberta Student Aid, go to: Home | Alberta Student Aid.  If you are a student from Saskatchewan receiving financial assistance from Saskatchewan Student Aid, go to: Saskatchewan Student Aid | Saskatchewan Education and Learning | Government of Saskatchewan. If you are a student from Ontario receiving financial assistance from the Ontario Student Assistance Program, go to: OSAP: Ontario Student Assistance Program | ontario.ca.

What are my options with regards to my StudentAid BC funding?

Should you enrol at a different institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, and you are attending your program full-time, you may complete an Appendix 5 – Transfer of School form to avoid having an overaward assessed or having to reapply for StudentAid BC funding.  If you are attending your program Part-time, please reach out to StudentAid BC at Studentaidbc@gov.bc.ca. 

If you do not enrol at a new institution within 21 days of your last date of classes with your original institution, a withdrawal will be processed on your student loan record.

How do I notify StudentAid BC if I enrol at a different institution?

In the case that you enrol at a different institution and commence studies at the new institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, and you are a full-time student you are required to submit an Appendix 5 – Transfer of School form.  PTIRU will complete Section 2 of the form, the new institution you have enrolled at will complete Section 3 of the form, and you are responsible to complete Section 1 of the form.

If you are a part-time student, reach out to StudentAid BC directly by phone or email.

What happens to my StudentAid BC funding if I do not enrol at a different institution within 21 days of my last day in attendance at my original institution?

If you do not enrol at a new institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, a withdrawal will be processed on your student loan records. As your StudentAid BC funding was calculated based on the completion of your anticipated study period, a withdrawal may result in an overaward being assessed on the StudentAid BC funding you have received.  An overaward can affect your future StudentAid BC funding.  Please see https://studentaidbc.ca/apply/overaward for more information about what to do in the event of an overaward.

If you decide to return to full time studies within 6 months of your withdrawal date, you may submit an overaward appeal. This will initiate a review of your circumstances for consideration in having the overaward set aside until your loan is scheduled for repayment.  Overaward appeals must be submitted within 90 days from the date of your overaward notification letter.

Who decides whether I will receive a tuition refund?

Claims for a tuition refund are adjudicated by the Trustee of the Student Tuition Protection Fund. 

When will I find out if I am going to receive a tuition refund?

To be adjudicated, a student must file a claim and may be required to provide supporting documentation. PTIRU staff provide the information that the Trustee requires for the adjudication, as outlined in the Claim Form and the Additional Information Form.  The Trustee will then make a decision which will be communicated to the claimant and the institution.  Given the steps involved and the number of anticipated claims, it may take several months for adjudication decisions to be made for all students. However, the sooner you submit your claim and other required information, the sooner you can expect an adjudication decision. 

Additional information

For more information, contact PTIRU at PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca.

On January 21, 2025, the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit cancelled the designation certificate of Sterling College. As a result of the cancellation decision, Sterling College is prohibited from offering or providing career training programs. A “career training program” is a career-related program for which tuition is equal to or greater than $4,000 and the instructional time is equal to or greater than 40 hours. 

Students affected by the cancellation should review the information on the Sterling College Cancellation page.

Amendments to the Private Training Regulation and Fees and Student Tuition Protection Fund Regulation come into effect on January 1, 2025. The amendments require action by certified private training institutions to be compliant by the in-force date. See the Regulatory Amendments 2025 page for more information. 

Here2Talk connects students with mental health support when they need it. Through this program, all students – domestic or international – currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.

A job board and so much more, WorkBC can help you find work, plan your career and education, get skills for today's labour market and connect employers.

Graduates of private training institutions are not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). Only international students who have graduated from programs of 8+ months at public post-secondary institutions or degree programs at authorized private institutions are eligible to apply for a PGWP. Some graduates of commercial flight training programs are also eligible to apply. Issuing Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) for international students is the responsibility of the federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For more information about the PGWPP eligibility requirements, visit the IRCC website. If you believe you were misled by an institution regarding your eligibility for the PGWPP, please contact PTIB at (778) 945-0605 or via email at pti.studentsupport@gov.bc.ca.

The registration certificate of Fraser Valley Community College (FVCC) was cancelled on October 26, 2015. The owner, Sunanda  Kikla, and FVCC have commenced several proceedings challenging, amongst other things, the cancellation. The BC Supreme Court determined that Ms. Kikla abused the court’s processes and declared Ms. Kikla a vexatious litigant.
For more information, review the full notice.