Provincial Overview

Postsecondary education in Prince Edward Island is delivered through the province's one publicly funded university, the University of Prince Edward Island; Holland College, a publicly funded community college with eleven training centres throughout the province; the francophone Adult Learning Centre in Wellington, established by the Education Society of Prince Edward Island, and a number of private vocational training schools (sometimes called career colleges).

The University of Prince Edward Island is home to the Atlantic Veterinary College, which serves all four Atlantic provinces - Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. Holland College welcomes students of all ages and educational backgrounds to its full-time, adult and community education and continuing education programs. The francophone Adult Learning Centre (the Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É,) employs state-of-the-art distance education technology to link Prince Edward Islanders to francophone learning opportunities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Approximately 20 private training schools offer a wide assortment of vocational programs ranging from computer technology to personal health care.

The provincial Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning is responsible for the province's postsecondary system.

 History

St. Andrew's College, founded in 1831 to train Roman Catholic clergy, was the province's first institution of higher learning. The college remained operational until 1845. It was replaced by St. Dunstan's College, which opened its doors in 1855, and achieved university status 30 years later. The Central Academy, later Prince of Wales College, was founded by the government in 1834. The college did not achieve degree-granting powers until 1965.

Following the recommendations of a royal commission into the province's postsecondary education system, Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's University were merged into the University of Prince Edward Island in 1969.

Other recommendations from the royal commission led to the creation of Holland College, in 1969, on the campus of the former Prince of Wales College.

 Programs and Credentials Offered

Programs and credentials offered by the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)

Building upon the academic traditions of its predecessor institutions, Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's University, UPEI explores innovative methods of teaching and features a strong network of faculty, staff, and student researchers in every discipline.

UPEI's 200-member faculty provides a rich blend of academic programs in arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, and veterinary medicine to over 3,599 full- and part-time students. Graduate programs - Master of Veterinary Medicine, PhD (veterinary medicine), Master of Science (chemistry and biology), Master of Education, and Master of Arts in Island Studies - internship opportunities, and exchange programs are offered in addition to a wide selection of courses coordinated by Continuing and Distance Education and other departments.

The university also offers a certificate and a diploma program in public administration; certificate programs in human resource management and management development for women; diploma programs in school librarianship, adult education, and inclusive education; and a three-year diploma program in engineering.

Undergraduate programs require four years of full-time study. Honours programs, available in history, English, psychology, biology, and physics also require four years of full-time study, with a higher level of concentration in the honours subject, as well as a higher level of academic achievement.

For the graduate programs offered in conjunction with the Atlantic Veterinary College, a master of science degree requires two years of study beyond the undergraduate level. The doctor of veterinary medicine degree requires four years of study beyond a specified undergraduate program and work experience. Since January 1996, a PhD program is also being offered in conjunction with the veterinary college. Normally, the prerequisite is a master's degree in science, and the program requires three to five years of full-time study.

Programs and credentials offered by Holland College

Holland College offers over 65 full-time, career-oriented programs in a wide variety of fields including accounting, aircraft maintenance technology, automotive technology, business administration, carpentry, cooking, corrections, early childhood education, medical support services, paramedicine, nursing assistance, hotel and restaurant management, journalism, marine engineering, administrative assistance, retail sales and marketing, and graphic design. Applications to Holland College are accepted throughout the year. However, there are specific student selection dates for programs beginning in September, January, February, March, and April. Priority in acceptance is given to applications received by those selection dates.

The cornerstone of Holland College programs is CBE (competency-based education). CBE is an educational system that emphasizes the specification, learning, and demonstration of those competencies - skills and knowledge - that are central to a given career, activity, or task.

Among the features that distinguish CBE are the identification of skills by industry and students' evaluations based on performance of these skills. As part of the CBE approach to education, every college program includes an on-the-job training (OJT), internship/cooperative education component, which ensures that each college student has an opportunity to apply his or her newly acquired skills and knowledge to the -real world.- Students should note that an OJT placement is a required component of their training and is not compensable by the college or the placement site.

The college has created partnerships and centres of excellence to enable it to focus on the resources of key industries and to customize training to industry needs. Located in several communities across the Island, they include the Atlantic Tourism and Hospitality Institute, the Culinary Institute of Canada, the Justice Institute of Canada, the PEI Institute of Adult and Community Education, the Aerospace and Industrial Technology Centre, and the Atlantic Welding and Fabrication Centre.

Programs and credentials offered by Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É,, Wellington, PEI

Since 1995, the Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É, has been serving the PEI francophone population via the satellite office in Wellington, PEI. Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É, avails itself of distance education programming, general education programs, and literacy programs, as well as retraining courses and French-as-a-second-language courses. A master's in education program is currently being offered to Island teachers of French by the Université de Moncton, New Brunswick.

Programs and credentials offered by registered private training schools

Especially over the past decade, there have been a growing number of privately operated institutions, which provide characteristically -hands-on- training, a mix of theory and practical learning, leading to a great variety of occupations. The programs range in length from twelve weeks to more than a year and result in a diploma or certificate of achievement issued by the schools. Training is available in fields such as hairdressing, aesthetics, truck driving, school bus driving, flying, computer technologies, network administration, computer applications support, Web site development, office skills and administrative support, accounting, business practices, travel and tourism, pharmacy (technician), call centre service, counselling, residential care, home health care (aide), teaching English as a second language, heavy equipment operation, teaching assistance, professional make-up artistry, graphic art, animation, and fitness and lifestyle training.

 Admission Requirements

There are three years of senior high school in Prince Edward Island, grades 10 through 12, leading to a high school graduation certificate. Successful completion of the university preparatory program is required for admission to the University of Prince Edward Island's undergraduate programs. The university also makes provisions for mature students who lack high school certification. Admission to the doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) program requires 20 pre-requisite courses. A limited number of seats in the DVM program are available to international students.

Requirements for specific programs at Holland College may vary considerably. The minimum academic requirement is a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many programs have additional requirements that are unique to that area of study. For specific program prerequisites, please refer to each program's listing. Mature applicants who do not meet the minimum requirement may also be considered if their life experiences are likely to contribute to their success at the college.

Admission policies may vary considerably among the private vocational training schools but in general resemble those for the public community college: high school diploma or equivalent, with an allowance for mature student status. Specialized programs may have additional screening criteria.

 Tuition and Financial Assistance

Undergraduate tuition fees for the 2008-09 academic year were $4,530 for a 10-course load for full-time students at UPEI ($453 per three semester hours of credit). The foreign differential fee for full-time students (academic year) was $4,410 and for part-time students (per course), $441.

Graduate program fees for the 2008-09 academic year

• Master of Education: $621 per three semester hours of credit (Canadian); Thesis: $2,484
• Master of Science program: $5,934 (Canadian); $14,754 (international)
• Master of Science/course (credit): $621 (Canadian)
• Master of Science/course (audit): $415
• International differential fee, part-time student (per course): $340

Postgraduate program fees for the 2008-09 academic year

• PhD Program: $8,901 (Canadian students); $22,131 (international students)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

  Canadian students

  Years 1, 2, 3 and 4: $8,988

  International students

  Year 1: $48,380

  Year 2: $47,608

  Year 3: $46,848

  Year 4: $46,108

Tuition fees at Holland College vary, depending upon the program and duration. Tuition fees for full-time programs range from $3,250 to $18,000. Fees for international students start at $6,250.

There is a great range in tuition fees and other charges among the private vocational training schools and their individual programs. The least expensive programs tend to be at the $4,000 level; the longest program can cost $20,000 or more.

The provincial government maintains a student assistance program for provincial residents, which complements the Canada Student Loans Program. In addition, various scholarship programs are available through the university and the college, as well as from private agencies.

Revision: June 13, 2008