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Ministry of Advanced Education

Degree Authorization

Institutions Not Authorized to Grant Degrees in British Columbia

The following list of institutions that do not have authority is maintained by the Ministry of Advanced Education for the protection of the citizens of British Columbia and current and prospective students.  The list contains institutions which have claimed to grant degrees and operate in or from British Columbia or that have been linked to British Columbia in some way.  This is not a comprehensive list and new institutions can emerge at any time, many of which remain unknown to the Ministry.

  • Alternative Medicine Research Institute
  • American Liberty University
  • American University of London (Kingston College)
  • Armstrong University
  • Asia Pacific International Graduate School of Management
  • Austin College
  • Bible University
  • Bircham International University
  • Brainwells University
  • Brixton University
  • Canada International Education Center
  • Canada Princeton College
  • Canadian College of Management and Technology
  • Canadian Institute of English
  • Can-National Business College (formerly Canada Institute of Business & Technology and HGK International Institute of Business & Technology)
  • Covenant Life College
  • Distance Learning University
  • Generale Polytechnic Institute
  • Generale University
  • George Washington University Inc
  • Information University of America
  • International Academic Correspondence Inc.
  • Kennedy Open University
  • Manhattan University
  • Merlion International University
  • Mission Institute of Canada
  • Mission Institute of Distance Education
  • Neurontology University
  • Newton University
  • Rutherford University
  • Saint Michael University
  • Senior University Inc.
  • Southern College British Columbia
  • Stanton University
  • Stratford International University
  • The Distance University
  • The Open University of America
  • University Consortium International Inc.
  • University of Northern Washington
  • University of NorthWest
  • Vancouver University Worldwide
  • Washington College & University
  • Western Imperial College of Canada
  • Weston Reserve University
  • Windsor Education Academy, Inc.

Anyone with information, questions or concerns about the authority of any institution claiming to offer degree programs and operate in or from British Columbia may contact the Ministry at (250) 387-2040 or ALMD.StrategicPolicy&Initiatives@gov.bc.ca

A list of institutions and degree programs that are authorized under the Degree Authorization Act (DAA) in British Columbia is available here. This list is continually updated as new institutions and degree programs receive authority from the Minister.

Authorization for Private and Out-of-Province Public Institutions in British Columbia

Post-secondary institutions are authorized to operate according to the legislation established in each province in Canada. In British Columbia, the Degree Authorization Act (DAA) requires private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions to receive consent from the Minister of Advanced Education before they provide, advertise or grant degrees, or use the word "university" for educational purposes in British Columbia. Institutions offering only theological degrees programs are exempt from the DAA and are not subject to government oversight.

Institutions wishing to apply for consent to offer degrees and operate in or from British Columbia must undergo a quality assessment process and meet established criteria prior to the Minister granting consent. Further information about the application process for obtaining consent from the Minister is available here for B.C. Public institutions and here for private and out-of-province Public institutions.

The Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation is British Columbia's brand for quality post-secondary education. The designation is a voluntary mechanism that provides an easily recognizable symbol that both domestic and foreign students can use to easily see which institutions are recognized as having met quality assurance standards. EQA is administered by the BC Council for International Education, which also has a mandate to enhance international education activities in British Columbia. A list of institutions that have received EQA is available at http://www.bceqa.ca/.