Effective October 8, 2025, the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) has cancelled the designation certificate of Pacific Link College. This means that Pacific Link College must immediately stop providing the program in which you are enrolled.
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 in the right side of this 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 Sessions
PTIRU held information sessions for students affected by the closure on October 10th and 23rd, 2025. A copy of the presentation provided on October 23rd is available here and on the right side of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the additional questions that I need to answer when I submit my Tuition Refund Claim form?
Students are encouraged to complete a Tuition Refund Claim form and send it to PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca. When you send the form, please include responses to the following questions in your email. The responses will be necessary to process your claim:
- When did you start your program? Please provide the date of your first day of classes.
- How was the program delivered (select one):
- 100% online instruction
- Combination of in-class and online instruction
- 100% in-class instruction
- What was the last day you attended the program (either in-class or online)?
- At that time (on your last day), which course(s) were you enrolled in and what were your instructors’ names?
- What was the last evaluation (e.g. quiz, assignment) you completed and what mark did you receive?
Is there a comparable program that I can transfer into?
The registrar has not appointed comparable programs, which means no formal “train-out” arrangements are in place. Student may decide how they wish to continue their education and choose the institution and pathway that best meets their needs. Students that intend to transfer to another institution to complete their program are responsible for determining whether the receiving institution has a prior learning assessment policy, for meeting admission requirements of the receiving institution and for payment of tuition and related fees.
While PTIRU does not endorse any specific institutions, the following offer similar programs and indicated potential capacity to accept displaced students:
- Sprott Shaw Community College
- Western Community College
- Stenberg College
- LaSalle College Vancouver
- SELC College
- Cambria College
- Canada International Royal Arts (CIRA) College
- Canadian College
- Cornerstone International Community College of Canada
Note: This list will be updated as additional institutions confirm their capacity to accept displaced students.
Students can contact these institutions directly to:
- Confirm program offerings and availability.
- Review admission requirements, transfer credit policies, and associated fees.
- Engage with prior learning assessment and language proficiency confirmation processes.
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.
Do I need to use an education agent to enrol at another post-secondary institutions in BC?
No. Domestic and international students may enrol directly at post-secondary institutions in BC; students do not need to use an education agent.
You are strongly encouraged to review the website of post-secondary institutions offering similar programs, or any other institution you are considering attending, and to visit those institutions before making a decision about enrolling.
For more general information about what to consider before enrolling at an institution, go to the Be an Informed Student page of the PTIRU website.
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.