Provincial overview

The public post-secondary education system in Newfoundland and Labrador consists of Memorial University of Newfoundland and College of the North Atlantic. Memorial University includes the main campus and the Marine Institute, both in St. John's; Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook; a residential campus in Harlow, England; and the Institut Frecker on the neighbouring French island of St. Pierre.

Prior to 1996, the provincial college system consisted of five regional colleges of applied arts, technology, and continuing education. In April 1996, the five regional colleges were merged into the new, 18-campus College of the North Atlantic, governed by a single board and administered through headquarters in Stephenville. Of the 18 campuses, 17 are located throughout the province and one is in the Middle Eastern State of Qatar.

The Council on Higher Education promotes collaboration in the public postsecondary education system by providing recommendations to Memorial University (Memorial), College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and the Minister of Education on shared program areas.

The Council was originally established in 1992. In 2005, the province released Foundations for Success: White Paper on Public Post-Secondary Education. This policy document was commissioned as part of government's continued commitment to provide affordable and accessible postsecondary education opportunities. In light of the recommendations put forth in the White Paper, a reconfigured council was recognized in legislation through the Council on Higher Education Act (the Act) which was proclaimed January 26, 2007. The Council compiles an annual transfer guide that includes transfer of credit arrangements for courses and programs within the provincial postsecondary system. The Council's Articulation, Transfer, and Admissions Committee promotes accessibility and student mobility among the province's secondary and public post-secondary institutions. Information on the council is available online at http://www.edu.gov.nf.ca/council/.

Private training institutions have operated in the province for more than 35 years. Today, 26 institutions offer a wide variety of employment-oriented training programs on a user-pay and sponsored basis.

History

Memorial University was founded in 1925 (as Memorial University College), but did not achieve degree-granting status until 1949, the year the province entered Confederation. The university grew rapidly during the 1970s. Program offerings expanded, especially in the areas of ocean and marine sciences, and another campus -- Sir Wilfred Grenfell College -- was opened in Corner Brook in 1975. Today, the university's six faculties and seven schools offer a wide variety of degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The province's vocational school system was established in 1963 with nine schools located throughout the province. Six more schools were added to the system in 1972. The schools provided pre-employment training in the traditional trades, as well as academic upgrading.

In 1985, the vocational school system was reorganized into a provincial college system that included three institutes and five colleges with a total of 22 campuses across the province. In 1992, this system was merged into five regional colleges with similar mandates. In 1996, a further refinement of the system resulted in the College of the North Atlantic.

The Marine Institute was founded in 1964 as the College of Fisheries, Navigation, Marine Engineering, and Electronics. It became affiliated with Memorial University in 1992, and today offers specialized programs in areas such as aquaculture, fishing technology, marine engineering, and maritime studies.

Beginning in the fall of 1996, basic nursing education programs previously offered in Newfoundland and Labrador were replaced by a new four-year bachelor of nursing program. The new program is offered at Memorial University of Newfoundland's School of Nursing in St. John's, at the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's, and at the Western Regional School of Nursing in Corner Brook.

Programs and credentials offered

Programs and credentials offered by degree-granting institutions

Memorial University of Newfoundland offers a full range of programs leading to degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. The university is particularly noted for its programs in ocean and marine sciences. The Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook offers bachelor degree programs in arts, science, fine arts, business administration, nursing and education.

Most bachelor's degrees require four years of full-time study. Other undergraduate degrees (in social work, education, or engineering, for example) require five years of full-time study. Honours degrees generally require a higher level of concentration in the honours subject, as well as a higher level of academic performance, and are often prerequisites for study at the master's level.

Memorial University offers distance education programs to reach potential students across the province including those living in rural and remote communities. A variety of credit and non-credit courses are available on-line including more than 350 credit courses to complete degree programs from 10 faculties and schools. In 2007, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador committed $1.5M for distance education. It is anticipated that this investment will allow for 72 new distance education course offerings at Memorial University.

Memorial University is also partnering with College of the North Atlantic, the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation and Desire2Learn for the implementation of a new learning management system that will be used in distance education and on-campus courses at both institutions.

As an affiliate of Memorial University, the Marine Institute provides training in areas of fisheries and marine technology. Degree programs include a bachelor's of maritime studies, bachelor's of technology, and a master's of marine studies (fisheries resource management) for students seeking careers in the marine transportation and aquaculture industries respectively.

The Marine Institute offers one-year advanced diploma programs, three-year diploma of technology programs, two-year technical diploma programs and one-year or less technical and vocational certificate programs. It also offers shorter programs, such as industrial response and professional development training programs, on a regular basis.

Programs and credentials offered by non-degree granting institutions

The College of the North Atlantic delivers educational services throughout the province including:

• two- and three-year programs leading to a diploma;
• full-time occupational courses leading to a certificate;
• Adult Basic Education and academic upgrading programs;
• career enhancement and personal development programs;
• courses conducted in formal institutional settings, and courses delivered in communities to meet local needs;
• various skills training programs funded through the federal Department of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSDC);
• applied research and technology transfer;
• courses conducted in partnership with other publicly funded institutions, community agencies, and the private sector;
• special interest, hobby, and craft courses offered in the evenings, part-time, or in workshops.
• customized training options from a list of over 95 full-time diploma and certificate programs and a comprehensive range of 300 part-time courses. It also builds entirely new programs tailored to fit the training requirements of clients.

The College of the North Atlantic's Distributed Learning Service serves remote learners throughout the province, across Canada and internationally. Last year, learners from more than 260 communities participated in CNA's on-line courses. Over 240 courses have been developed for Internet delivery so that learners can upgrade workplace skills and achieve diploma or certificate completion.

There are 26 private training institutions (PTIs) offering postsecondary education in the province, the majority of which are located on the Avalon Peninsula. Currently, PTIs offer a wide variety of Department of Education approved programs both on a user-pay and sponsored basis in information technology, health sciences, business and industrial trades, and apprenticeship training. PTIs are governed by the Private Training Institutions Act and Regulations.

Admission requirements

Newfoundland and Labrador's secondary school curriculum includes three years of intermediate school and three years of senior high school -- levels 1 through 3 -- leading to a provincial high school diploma.

For admission into undergraduate programs, Memorial University requires provincial students to complete the high school graduation requirements set by the Department of Education and to obtain two credits in English, academic or advanced mathematics, laboratory science, social science/modern or classical language, and electives, with an overall average of 70 percent or above in courses at the 3000 level. Mature applicants over the age of 21, who have not fulfilled these requirements, may be admitted to the university with the approval of the university's committee on admissions. Different requirements exist for lifelong learning and graduate programs.

Admission requirements to the Marine Institute vary from program to program. Diploma programs generally require high school graduation with a minimum average of 60 percent in level three mathematics, language, and science. Certificate programs require high school graduation or the equivalent. Advanced diploma programs require successful completion of a three-year diploma program or a university degree. Applicants who do not meet the regular requirements, but who are at least 21 years of age, may be admitted as mature students.

Admission requirements to the College of the North Atlantic also varies from program to program. Certificate programs usually require high school graduation or the equivalent. Diploma programs usually require high school graduation or the equivalent, and an overall average of at least 60 percent on specific level three courses. Applicants who do not meet these requirements, but who are at least 19 years old, can apply in writing for admission as mature students.

Tuition and financial assistance

Between 2001-02 and 2003-04, Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province to reduce university tuition fees. Since that time a tuition freeze has been in place. Tuition at Memorial University is the lowest in Atlantic Canada and, with the exception of the rate in Quebec for Quebec residents only, the lowest of any province.

In 2007-08, full-time undergraduate tuition fees at Memorial University are $2,550/year. International students are required to pay $8,800/year.

At the College of the North Atlantic, fees were set at $1,452/year for 2007-08. The same fees applied to sponsored refugees, but tuition for most international students was set on a cost-recovery basis.

At the Marine Institute, fees for technician and diploma of technology courses were $1,380/year; and for advanced diploma programs $2,760/year. International students were charged $6,900/year for technician and diploma of technology programs and $13,800/year for advanced diploma programs.

The provincial government operates a student assistance program for provincial residents to supplement the Canada Student Loans Program. Highlights of Newfoundland and Labrador's student financial assistance include an up-front, needs-based grant, the Debt Reduction Grant and the lowest interest rate on provincial student loans in Canada. A number of scholarships and bursaries are also available to provincial residents through Memorial University, the College of the North Atlantic and various private institutions.