List of DLI Colleges in Canada 2025
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Check out the list of DLI colleges in Canada for international students. The Designated Learning Institutions in Canada are approved by the Government of Canada for offering admission to international students. Students who receive an acceptance letter from a DLI are eligible to apply for a student visa under the Student Direct Stream program.
There is a long list of DLI-approved colleges in Canada. Designated Learning Institutions are academic institutions in Canada that have been approved by a provincial or territorial government to offer admission to international students for post-secondary education. Every year lakhs of international students reach Canada for higher studies as Canada is one of the most popular study destinations.
India is one of the top 10 countries sending the most number of international students to study in Canada. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only a limited number of students will get their Canada student visa approved this time. If you are the one who is planning for higher studies in Canadian universities then you should know about the list of DLI colleges in Canada. In this article, we will give a province-wise list of DLI in Canada.
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- What is DLI Canada?
- Why Study at DLI Colleges in Canada?
- List of DLI Colleges in Canada
What is DLI Canada?
A designated learning institution is a college/university authorized by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. Students who are going to pursue undergraduate or master’s courses need to get a Canada study visa. In order to get a Study Permit, candidates need to get an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution. Every designated learning institute (DLI) in Canada is allotted a DLI number. Whereas, Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program under which a fast student permit is given to students from selected countries who are applying to study in Canada at a post-secondary institution.
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Visa applicationBelow, we will give a province-wise list of designated learning institutes (DLI) in Canada. Candidates applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program need to get an acceptance letter from a designated learning institute in order to get a Study Permit.
Update: The Government of Canada announced the end of the Student Direct Stream (SDS program) on 09 November 2024. This fast-track visa program was introduced in 2018 to make Canada student visa process smoother and quicker. The sudden policy change will impact future students planning to study in Canada.
Why Study at DLI Colleges in Canada?
As mentioned above, only a designated learning institution (DLI) can host international students in Canada. The following points provide important reasons to study at a DLI-approved college in Canada:
- High Academic Standards: In the world of higher education, DLI-approved Colleges in Canada are renowned for their high standards of academic performance. Additionally, tuition costs are comparatively lower in Canada when compared to nations like the United States and the United Kingdom, which attract international students.
- Canada Student Visa: International students who wish to study in Canada need a Canada student visa to do so. In order to be eligible for a Canada study visa, it is essential that a student’s institution is an accepted DLI college in Canada.
- Part-Time Work: In order to be eligible to work off-campus without a work permit, a student must be a student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.
- Post-Study Work Permit: The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) of Canada is available only for those international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. Having worked in Canada, students may apply for Canada PR as well.
List of DLI Colleges in Canada
Let us look at the list of DLI Colleges in Canada for some of the top provinces of Canada:
List of DLI Colleges in British Columbia
Candidates who are planning to pursue their higher studies in British Columbia can check the DLI number of their institute. Every year, thousands of international students come to study in colleges and universities located in British Columbia. Schools in British Columbia are ranked among the top-ranked institutes in Canada. Many institutes located here are ranked among the top educational institutes in the world. There are 275 SDS Designated Learning Institutes in British Columbia. British Columbia is the only provincial government that endorses a certain number of schools under an ‘Education Quality Assessment’. The Education Quality Assessment is helpful for international students who wish to study here as they may not have visited their school before, and it offers them some consumer protection.
| College/University Name |
Location |
DLI Number |
|---|---|---|
| Prince George |
O19360977332 |
|
| Vancouver |
O19279591302 |
|
| Abbotsford |
O19395299642 |
|
| Vancouver |
O19279717512 |
|
| Burnaby, Vancouver |
O19347185182 |
Related Blogs: List of SDS colleges in British Columbia
List of DLI Colleges in Alberta
Candidates who are planning to study undergraduate or postgraduate courses in Alberta can check the DLI number of their school here. Alberta is one of the most populous provinces of Canada. Apart from this, Alberta is popular among international students as it provides excellent career opportunities to graduates. With its excellent post-graduation employment and immigration opportunities, it is one of the most sought-after locations among international students. The colleges and universities in Alberta are known for their post-secondary courses. There are 156 SDS Designated Learning Institutions in Alberta.
| College/University Name |
Location |
DLI Number |
|---|---|---|
| Edmonton |
O19257171832 |
|
| Calgary |
O19273782872 |
|
| Calgary |
O18886830282 |
|
| Camrose |
O19257171832 |
|
| Calgary |
O18761482032 |
Related Blog: List of SDS colleges in Alberta
List of DLI Colleges in Quebec
Those who are planning to pursue higher studies in Quebec province can check the list of SDS colleges along with their DLI number here. Montreal, a city with one of the highest per capita student population ratios is located in Quebec. Degree and Diploma programs offered in Quebec are recognised globally. Apart from English, students can also pursue their education in French in Quebec. Also, the cost of living in Quebec is also one of the lowest in Canada, so, it’s a perfect study destination for international students. If you have been issued a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) to attend a post-secondary institution in Quebec, your institution is designated. There are 438 SDS Designated Learning Institutions in Quebec. There are 438 SDS Designated Learning Institutions in Quebec.
| College/University Name |
Location |
|---|---|
| Montréal |
|
| Vanier College |
Montréal |
| Royal Military College Saint-Jean |
Saint-Jean-surRichelieu |
| CDE Collège |
Sherbrooke |
Related Blogs: List of SDS colleges in Quebec
DLI in Ontario
Ontario hosts the maximum number of international students in Canada. The largest city in Canada, Toronto is in Ontario, so it offers plenty of job opportunities to young graduates. A recent report also suggests that in the last ten years, graduates from universities in Ontario earn significantly higher than in any other province. Also, their employment rate (92%) is the highest in Canada. Students who are planning to pursue higher studies in Canada and whose college falls in Ontario province can check the DLI number of their college below. Ontario has the largest number of SDS Designated Learning Institutes in Canada. There are 526 SDS Designated Learning Institutions in Ontario.
| College/University Name |
Location |
DLI Number |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo |
O19305471522 |
|
| Toronto |
O19394700003 |
|
| Barrie |
O19395677361 |
|
| Brockville |
O19332845222 |
|
| Toronto |
O19361109242 |
Check out the complete list of colleges and universities located in Ontario along with their DLI number here
Learn more about the SDS program: FAQs for SDS Canada
DLIs are crucial to Canada's educational system and give overseas students a way to study there. International students may only attend educational institutions that have been authorised and designated by the province or territory in which they are located. Hence, it is vital that students check whether the institution they have applied to, is a DLI or not. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.
Studying at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada is advantageous to international students because of the following reasons:
- Canada study visa: Only those students, who receive an offer from a DLI in Canada, are eligible for the Canada student visa.
- High-quality academics: Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Canada are known for their top-notch academics, placement opportunities, etc.
- Part-time work: Students, who wish to work off-campus without a work permit, need to be enrolled in a DLI in Canada in a full-time course.
- Post-study work permit: International students, who have graduated from a DLI in Canada, are eligible for PGWPP Canada.
Some of the top DLI in Alberta include:
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
- Alison College
- Athabasca University
- Columbia College
- Concordia University of Edmonton
- MacEwan University
- NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
- Northern Lakes College
- Northwestern Polytechnic
- Portage College
- Prairie College
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT Polytechnic)
- The Royal Alberta College
Some of the top Designated Learning Institutions in British Columbia include
- Academy of Learning College
- Acadia College
- Anderson College of Health
- Business and Technology
- Arbutus College of Communication Arts
- Business & Technology
- Ashton College
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Canada International Royal Arts College
- Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC)
- Langara College
- New York Institute of Technology
- Thompson Rivers University
- University of British Columbia (UBC),
When it comes to changing your institution in Canada, there are two scenarios:
- If your current institution loses its DLI status: In this case, you can study in this institution till the validity of your Canada student visa. However, in this case you will not be able to extend your study permit.
- If you change your institute: In this case, you will have to sign in to your account and choose the “Transfer from DLI number”. You can then enter further details and input the new DLI Number, Student ID, and start date. You can then complete the transfer.
Vancouver Community College is a premier and one of the oldest community colleges in Canada. VCC does not officially publish data on the acceptance rate. However as per some unofficial sources, Vancouver Community College acceptance rate ranges between 50% - 75%. VCC is one of the most sought-after and popular college among international students. Please note, that the data on acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
International students can apply for St. Clair College admission through the college official portal and submit the required application material before the equal consideration deadline. As application received after the deadline are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The admission decision on acceptance to the college can take anywhere between 2-6 weeks. However, there is no special mention about admission decision timeline, it is recommended to reach out to the college for further clarity.
As per some unofficial sources, the University of West Canada acceptance rate is 80%, which means out of every 100 applications, around 80 are selected, which makes it fairly easy to get selected into the university.
The university gives preference to students having higher grades or have exceptional academic or research experience. Hence, having higher grades increases your chance of getting selected at University of West Canada.
Here is the list of eligibility requirements to get into Canadian Universities.
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Hello. For counseling services you can contact our experts here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply You can also refer to this link: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/canada/bsc-colleges-dc
A Designated Learning Institute is an academic institution that has received an approval from a provincial government or the territorial government to admit international students for post-secondary education.
It is essential for international students to confirm whether the Canadian institution they are applying to is in the DLI list or not. International students will be eligible for a Canada student visa and post-study work permit only if they receive an admit from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. Moreover, in order to be eligible to work off-campus without a work permit, a student must be a student at a DLI in Canada.