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Colleges & polytechnics

Explore public colleges, polytechnics, and CEGEPs in Canada, with a searchable directory, map, program links, admissions advice, and transfer guidance.

Updated 8 min read

Your starting point

Explore public colleges, polytechnics, and CEGEPs across Canada. Compare credentials, admission requirements, practical training, and transfer routes against the work or further study you want to pursue.

A public college or polytechnic can help you prepare for an occupation, build practical skills, change careers, or begin a pathway toward a degree. You might enter from secondary school, return after years in employment, or add a specialization to a qualification you already hold. Start with the work you want to learn, then compare the curriculum, credential, costs, and opportunities for further study. A useful program choice connects your current preparation with a realistic next step.

Explore public colleges and polytechnics

Use the directory to discover public colleges, polytechnics, cégeps, and related public institutes, then open the institution’s own program information. This selection draws on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials directory. Search by place as well as institution name: a nearby campus may offer a practical route that fits your work, family responsibilities, and budget. Check the specific campus and intake before treating an institution as an application option.

161 directory records. Selected public college, polytechnic, CEGEP, and institute teaching-provider records from CICIC, reviewed 13 October 2026. Records can represent an institution, campus, affiliate, or authorization. They are not a count of independent colleges. Read the coverage notes.

Canadian college directory mapApproximate locations grouped by city. Markers link to the institution list. With interactive features enabled, selecting a marker filters that list. Every record is also available in the text directory below.Athabasca, AB · 1 recordsBanff, AB · 1 recordsCalgary, AB · 2 recordsEdmonton, AB · 2 recordsFort McMurray, AB · 1 recordsGrande Prairie, AB · 1 recordsLac La Biche, AB · 1 recordsLethbridge, AB · 1 recordsMedicine Hat, AB · 1 recordsOlds, AB · 1 recordsRed Deer, AB · 1 recordsVermilion, AB · 1 recordsBurnaby, BC · 1 recordsCastlegar, BC · 1 recordsCourtenay, BC · 1 recordsCranbrook, BC · 1 recordsDawson Creek, BC · 1 recordsKelowna, BC · 1 recordsMerritt, BC · 1 recordsNew Westminster, BC · 2 recordsPrince George, BC · 1 recordsTerrace, BC · 1 recordsVancouver, BC · 2 recordsVictoria, BC · 1 recordsBrandon, MB · 1 recordsThompson, MB · 1 recordsWinnipeg, MB · 3 recordsCampbellton, NB · 1 recordsFredericton, NB · 3 recordsSt. John's, NL · 1 recordsStephenville, NL · 1 recordsDartmouth, NS · 1 recordsYellowknife, NT · 1 recordsRankin Inlet, NU · 1 recordsAkwesasne, QC · 1 recordsBarrie, ON · 1 recordsBelleville, ON · 1 recordsFort Frances, ON · 1 recordsFort William First Nation, ON · 1 recordsGarden River First Nation, ON · 1 recordsHamilton, ON · 1 recordsKingston, ON · 1 recordsKitchener, ON · 1 recordsLondon, ON · 1 recordsM'Chigeeng, ON · 1 recordsNorth Bay, ON · 2 recordsOakville, ON · 1 recordsOhsweken, ON · 1 recordsOshawa, ON · 1 recordsOttawa, ON · 2 recordsPeterborough, ON · 1 recordsSarnia, ON · 1 recordsSault Ste. Marie, ON · 1 recordsSouth Porcupine, ON · 1 recordsSudbury, ON · 2 recordsThunder Bay, ON · 1 recordsToronto, ON · 5 recordsTyendinaga Mohawk Territory, ON · 1 recordsWelland, ON · 1 recordsWindsor, ON · 1 recordsCharlottetown, PE · 1 recordsWellington, PE · 1 recordsAlma, QC · 1 recordsBaie-Comeau, QC · 1 recordsChicoutimi, QC · 2 recordsDrummondville, QC · 1 recordsGaspé, QC · 1 recordsGatineau, QC · 3 recordsGranby, QC · 1 recordsGrande-Rivière, QC · 1 recordsJoliette, QC · 1 recordsJonquière, QC · 1 recordsL'Assomption, QC · 1 recordsLa Pocatière, QC · 2 recordsLaSalle, QC · 1 recordsLaval, QC · 1 recordsLévis, QC · 1 recordsLongueuil, QC · 2 recordsMatane, QC · 1 recordsMontréal, QC · 11 recordsOdanak, QC · 2 recordsQuébec, QC · 5 recordsRepentigny, QC · 1 recordsRimouski, QC · 3 recordsRivière-du-Loup, QC · 1 recordsRouyn-Noranda, QC · 1 recordsSaint-Félicien, QC · 1 recordsSaint-Georges, QC · 1 recordsSaint-Hyacinthe, QC · 2 recordsSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC · 2 recordsSaint-Jérôme, QC · 1 recordsSaint-Laurent, QC · 1 recordsSainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC · 2 recordsSainte-Geneviève, QC · 1 recordsSainte-Thérèse, QC · 1 recordsSept-Îles, QC · 1 recordsShawinigan, QC · 1 recordsSherbrooke, QC · 3 recordsSorel-Tracy, QC · 1 recordsSt-Lambert, QC · 1 recordsTerrebonne, QC · 1 recordsThetford Mines, QC · 1 recordsTrois-Rivières, QC · 2 recordsVal-d'Or, QC · 1 recordsValleyfield, QC · 1 recordsVictoriaville, QC · 2 recordsWestmount, QC · 1 recordsAir Ronge, SK · 1 recordsAssiniboia, SK · 1 recordsBiggar, SK · 1 recordsHumboldt, SK · 1 recordsLloydminster, SK · 1 recordsNorth Battleford, SK · 1 recordsSaskatoon, SK · 3 recordsYorkton, SK · 1 records
Institution locations · numbers show matching recordsChoose a province to enlarge its locations. The list includes records without a map location.

Showing all 161 records, alphabetically.

Public

Cégep à distance

Montréal, QC

College / institute

Institution website CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Québec. Affiliated to Cégep de Rosemont Distance education service affiliated with Cégep de Rosemont. This entry also represents the CICIC Cégep@distance international record (4468); it is one current admissions and program service.

Public

Champlain Regional College

Sherbrooke, QC

College / institute network

Institution website CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Québec. Regional college network; its Lennoxville, Saint-Lambert and Saint-Lawrence constituent colleges also have separate directory records.

Public

École technique et professionnelle (ETP)

Winnipeg, MB

College / institute

Institution website CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Manitoba. College-level technical and professional division of Université de Saint-Boniface Offers college certificates, diplomas and postdiplomas in French within Université de Saint-Boniface.

Public

Macdonald College (McGill Farm Management and Technology)

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

College / institute

Institution website Academic programs CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Québec. College-level Farm Management and Technology program at McGill University Offers the three-year Farm Management and Technology Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS/DEC), part of the Quebec college system. This entry refers to that collegial program.

Public

Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology

Winnipeg, MB

College / institute

Admissions update: MITT is winding down. New fall 2026 students enter through RRC Polytech; current MITT students complete their existing programs. Check the linked transition update before applying. Read the official update.

Institution website Program transition and intake update CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public other institution recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Manitoba. MITT is winding down operations. From fall 2026, MITT teaches out current programs at the South Winnipeg Campus while RRC Polytech welcomes new students. Check the transition update for the correct program and intake.

Public

Royal Military College Saint-Jean

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC

College / institute

Institution website Academic programs CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college recognized under a public act.

Directory jurisdiction: Québec. Affiliated to Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu College-level diplomas are offered through Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Military entry and service requirements apply; check the Royal Military College Saint-Jean admissions pathway.

Public

Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig

Garden River First Nation, ON

College / institute

Institution website Practical Nursing diploma CICIC record
Recognition & record details

Public college authorized to grant specific academic credentials, for specific academic programs.

Directory jurisdiction: Ontario. Offers college diploma and certificate programs with partners, including Canadore College, alongside Indigenous institute programs and university pathways.

Download the full directory data (JSON). The complete list also works when interactive features are unavailable.

Understand the credential you will earn

Read the exact credential title and entry requirements. A certificate may offer focused training, while a diploma usually covers a broader program of study. Some colleges also offer degrees where authorized. A college graduate certificate and a master’s degree are different qualifications, even when both require prior postsecondary education. The Ontario Qualifications Framework provides one province’s detailed explanation of credential levels and expected learning outcomes.

Quebec has a distinct college structure. A diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) can follow a pre-university or technical program, while an attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) is associated with continuing education. Quebec’s explanation of college study describes these routes. Check the actual program and admission category, especially if your previous education was completed in another province or country.

Polytechnic study often combines applied coursework with laboratories, projects, or occupational training. Alberta’s description of its institutional system, for example, distinguishes college and polytechnic mandates and the credentials they may offer. The institution’s name does not tell you the level of every program it delivers. Read the credential and learning outcomes together, particularly when comparing a short course, apprenticeship training, diploma, and bachelor’s degree.

Choose a public college pathway that fits

Public colleges serve different communities and learning goals. One program may prepare you for a defined occupation, another may develop transferable technical skills, and another may help you complete prerequisites for further study. Compare how you will learn: weekly laboratory access, project feedback, travel to placements, and the balance between scheduled classes and independent work can all affect whether a program is manageable. The public and private institution overview explains the wider system; the college directory on this page focuses on public institutions.

Ask what graduates are expected to demonstrate, then look for the coursework and assessment that develop those abilities. For an occupation with licensing or certification requirements, confirm how the program connects to the relevant professional or apprenticeship process. A credential can be one part of that route, alongside examinations, workplace experience, or other conditions. This is especially useful when a program title sounds close to a regulated professional title.

Check your entry route and prerequisites

Read the admission requirements for the exact program and start term. Secondary-school subjects, minimum grades, language requirements, a portfolio, or previous postsecondary study can shape your eligibility. NSCC’s admission guidance separates general documentation and language requirements from additional requirements on individual program pages. Make a small record of what you have completed, what evidence is needed, and what must still be finished before an offer can become unconditional.

If you are missing a prerequisite or returning to education, ask about academic upgrading and the entry routes available for your circumstances. Previous employment may also have given you learning that can be assessed for credit. NSCC’s recognition of prior learning process distinguishes transfer credit from assessment of learning gained through work or other experience. Its process is available after admission, illustrating why admission and credit decisions should be planned separately. Ask the college about evidence, assessments, fees, and timing before assuming prior experience will shorten your program.

Read real programs side by side

Compare programs at the level of what you will study and produce. BCIT’s Computer Systems Technology diploma provides a computing example with a published course sequence and further-study options. NSCC’s IT Programming program describes its curriculum and portfolio development. Read each course list to see whether the emphasis matches the kind of technical work you want to learn.

For applicants with previous postsecondary education, Seneca Polytechnic’s Data Analytics graduate certificate illustrates a different entry point. It replaces Business Analytics for new students from September 2026; the former program page explains the name change. The current program combines statistical analysis, programming, and communication of results. Its optional work term requires a student-led job search, and a position is not guaranteed. Compare both the academic content and the conditions attached to practical experience.

Use these examples to practise reading a program page, then apply the same questions to your own field. Identify what you would produce by graduation, how feedback is provided, and which skills are assumed at entry. A program with an appealing title may repeat material you already know, while a differently named diploma or certificate may provide the preparation you need. Confirm the current curriculum and delivery format with the college.

Plan a transfer before choosing courses

If a degree is your eventual goal, start with the receiving university’s requirements. A diploma-to-degree agreement may specify a particular program, minimum grades, course choices, or an intake. Ask how much credit would apply to your intended major and how much study would remain. Admission to the university and the award of transfer credit are related decisions, but they are not interchangeable.

The BC Transfer Guide, Transfer Alberta, and ONTransfer are practical starting points. Keep course outlines and assessments, and ask the receiving institution to explain any unclear conditions before you enrol. Use the university directory to investigate possible destinations. A written pathway gives you a better basis for planning than an informal promise that credits will transfer.

Find public study options across Canada

These government, public-institution, and public-college network sources offer starting points for each province and territory. Some describe a whole public system, while others lead directly to local programs. Institutional categories differ across Canada: Yukon University, for example, offers certificate and diploma routes alongside degrees. Use the table to explore available study, then confirm the credential and entry requirements on the program page.

Public college, polytechnic, and related program sources by province and territory
Province or territoryOfficial source
AlbertaCollege and polytechnic types and mandates
British ColumbiaPublic institution list and mandate letters
ManitobaPublic universities and colleges
New BrunswickPublic colleges in the provincial system overview
Newfoundland and LabradorCollege of the North Atlantic programs
Northwest TerritoriesAurora College programs and admissions
Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Community College program search
NunavutNunavut Arctic College and local study options
OntarioOntario public colleges
Prince Edward IslandPublic institutions, including Holland College and Collège de l’Île
QuebecPublic cégep network institution search
SaskatchewanPolytechnic and regional college sections of the provincial overview
YukonYukon University certificate, diploma, and other programs

Check international-study requirements separately

International applicants should check the exact institution and campus against IRCC’s designated learning institution (DLI) list. Public status alone does not establish eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, and IRCC notes that not every program at a DLI qualifies. Confirm the requirements for your program, delivery arrangement, and circumstances before making plans that depend on work after graduation.

Read the international applicant guide alongside the college’s offer. Ask the international office to clarify the credential, delivery location, study mode, and the documents it will issue. Keep immigration eligibility, student-aid eligibility, and professional recognition as separate questions.

Make the offer concrete

Before accepting, obtain the full fee schedule, refund terms, start and completion dates, and placement requirements. Include equipment, transport, and time away from employment in your comparison. If practical experience is important, ask who arranges it, whether it is paid, and what alternatives exist when a placement is unavailable.

Ask how the college supports students who need academic help or accommodations, and how concerns are handled. A useful final conversation connects the program to your next step: the work you will be able to demonstrate, the requirements you will have met, and the further study that remains possible. The funding comparison guide can help you organize the financial part of that decision.

Sources, coverage, and map notes

The directory selects public college and polytechnic records from CICIC, including public cégeps and relevant institutes. Private training providers, research centres, and other records outside this college pathway are excluded. A record may describe an institution or campus rather than a separate college, and this selected snapshot is not a complete inventory of every public program or teaching location. Read CICIC’s directory definitions alongside the record. A listing does not establish that every program is accepting applicants or meets your transfer, professional, or immigration requirements.

The map uses approximate source coordinates, grouped by city for readability, on a public-domain Natural Earth outline. It is a guide to location, rather than campus boundaries or travel directions. Records without a usable Canadian map location remain in the list. The searchable directory and full static list provide the same records without requiring you to use the map.

Institution and program links follow the source profiles. Source records may lag behind a rename, closure, or change in authorization, so check the college and responsible authority before acting on an entry. The downloadable directory data retains source information so you can trace a record.

Official directories, program information, and credential guidance linked above were reviewed on . Confirm current institutional status and program details with the responsible authority and college before applying.