Study Abroad

Updated September 24, 2026 Students arrived at ILAC expecting English classes and a path toward their next goal in Canada. On September 18, 2026, those plans changed abruptly. The International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) announced that it had filed for bankruptcy protection, ceased operations and cancelled all classes and programs effective immediately. ILAC said…

Volunteering can be one of the most valuable parts of a student’s high school experience. It allows students to support their communities, develop practical skills, explore possible careers and meet people outside their usual school environment. A strong volunteer record may also support scholarship applications, résumés, post-secondary applications and future employment. However, completing the volunteer…

Volunteer work can help high school students develop practical skills, explore careers, meet new people, and make a meaningful contribution to their communities. However, completing an activity does not automatically mean that a school will recognize it as volunteer service. A student may spend several hours helping at an event, assisting a family member, working…

Do Canadian high school students need volunteer hours to graduate? The answer depends on where they attend school. Canada does not have one national high school graduation system. Each province and territory establishes its own courses, credits and experiential-learning requirements. Ontario has a clear 40-hour community-involvement rule, while British Columbia allows volunteering, employment and other…

Do high school students need volunteer hours to graduate in British Columbia? The short answer is not exactly. British Columbia does not have a province-wide rule requiring every student to complete a fixed number of volunteer-only hours. However, students must complete 30 hours or more of Career-Life Exploration as part of Career-Life Connections. Volunteer work…

Completing a Canadian study program does not automatically make a graduate eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. PGWP eligibility depends on the institution, program, program length, study history, application timing, language results and, for some applicants, field of study. A spouse or common-law partner also does not automatically qualify for an open work permit simply…

Canada continues to accept international students in 2026, but applicants must meet stricter study permit requirements than in previous years. The most important rules involve Canada’s annual study permit target, Provincial Attestation Letters and Territorial Attestation Letters, proof of financial support and the process for changing schools. Official-information notice: Immigration requirements can change without much…

International students may be permitted to work in Canada, but a study permit does not automatically give every student unrestricted employment rights. Work authorization depends on the wording of the study permit, the type of program, the student’s enrolment status and whether the work takes place during a regular academic session or a scheduled break.…

What subjects do students take after entering a Canadian middle school, and how many classes do they have in one semester? There is no single answer that applies to every student in Canada. Each province and territory manages its own education system, while local school boards determine matters such as school organization and timetable structure.…

Families researching BC high school volunteer hours often hear that every student must complete “30 volunteer hours” before graduation. That description is common, but it is not entirely accurate. British Columbia’s official requirement is broader: students completing Career-Life Connections must participate in at least 30 hours of Career-Life Exploration. Career-Life Exploration may include unpaid volunteering,…