Welcome to English Language Learning at Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College is the largest provider of English language instruction in Alberta, offering a range of full-time and part-time programs from beginner to advanced levels. The School of Global Access offers ELL programs that help learners to live, study, and work in Canada.

We are proud to offer Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC). Bow Valley College offers a range of in class and online LINC classes, as well as LINC Career Services and the LINC Work Readiness Training Program.

This website will help you to:

  • find ELL program information
  • learn about a federally funded program called LINC
  • prepare to apply for English language classes at Bow Valley College
  • learn about career services for LINC learners
  • find answers to frequently asked questions

You can access information in multiple languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Persian, and Urdu.

Come visit us to apply today. It’s time to take the next step on your English learning pathway!

Welcome to English Language at Bow Valley College

Why Study English at Bow Valley College?

When you study English at Bow Valley College, you join a community of people from around the world. As the largest language provider in Alberta, we are a recognized leader in English language learning.

Our programs help you develop the language and intercultural skills that you need to achieve your career and educational goals in Canada.

Learners choose Bow Valley College because of our well-respected reputation, welcoming community, and our highly qualified instructors and staff.

Bow Valley College is a great place to learn English. Just ask our learners.

Reputation

Well-Respected
Reputation

Community

Welcoming
Community

Instructors

Highly Qualified
Instructors
“I was really impressed how much it helped me learn a lot and improve my skills…it was a great investment of time.”
Moe, CRTP learner from Egypt
“When I first came to Canada, I asked my friends where I can study. Everyone told me about Bow Valley College.”
Oksana, Full-time LINC learner from Ukraine
“I believe that Bow Valley College is the right place for any student who really wants to learn English because everybody is kind. Everybody is willing to help.”
Suzy, Full-time ELL learner from Sudan
“For an immigrant like me who just came to Canada, this program helps you move on with your English skills and clarify your pathway.”
Arvin, Youth in Transition LINC learner from Iran

English Language Programs at Bow Valley College

You can read information about all of our English language programs here. Use the filter buttons to read about specific types of programs.

LINC at Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College is proud to offer Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC). LINC is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and supports adult newcomers who are permanent residents or who have Convention refugee status.

At Bow Valley College, we offer full-time and part-time LINC classes at a range of levels, including very basic classes for those who have little or no English skills. We have LINC for work, including LINC Career Services. We also offer LINC Home Study, Online LINC, and LINC classes in the region.

How to apply for LINC at Bow Valley College
For more information about LINC, watch this video prepared by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Welcome to English Language at Bow Valley College

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

“Bow Valley College helps newcomers to improve, to integrate to our city and helps people to achieve their career goals.”
Mossaddek, Full-time LINC learner from Algeria
“I enjoy the structure, the people, the environment… I feel like I am breathing without pressure. I am really glad to be here.”
Miriam, Full-time LINC Learner from Peru
“LINC helped me find better job and now I can help my family. I appreciate that.”
Alla, Full-time LINC learner from Iraq
“I really appreciate LINC program because it helped me not only improve my English skills but also understand local culture.”
Anonymous, Bow Valley College LINC learner
“LINC helped me to write in English and to get ready to reach my dream.”
Anonymous, Bow Valley College LINC learner

LINC for Work

Bow Valley College is proud to offer permanent residents and Convention refugees access to LINC Career Services. LINC Career Services is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

If you are eligible for the LINC program, you can have free access to:

  • Career services workshops to improve your job search skills
  • One-to-one career coaching
  • Labour market information
  • Safety training

For more information about requirements and services, see LINC Career Services.

Prepare to Apply for English Language Programs at Bow Valley College

Each year, thousands of language learners choose to study English at Bow Valley College. Our variety of English language learning programs, taught by highly qualified instructors, means that we have the right program for you.

To get started, visit our Welcome Centre at our South Campus in downtown Calgary and Bow Valley College staff members will help you apply.

To help find the program that is right for you, our staff may ask you the following questions:

  • What is your immigration status?
  • Do you want to come to school full-time or part-time?
  • What is your educational experience outside of Canada?
  • What is your work schedule?

You can bring a friend or family member with you to help you discuss the application process with our friendly staff.

To apply for ELL programs at Bow Valley College, you need:

You may also need to bring other identification, a recent language level assessment, or other immigration documents. For information about the specific documents that you will need to bring, see ELL Applying.

Visit or call the Welcome Centre at our South Campus in downtown Calgary:

If you are an international student and would like to study at Bow Valley College, please see International Education for specific information about your application process.

Prepare to Apply for LINC Programs at Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College is proud to offer Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC).

LINC is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and supports adult newcomers who are permanent residents or who have Convention refugee status. For more information, see LINC at Bow Valley College.

We will help you with the LINC application process. Come and visit us, or attend one of our LINC Application Days. For upcoming LINC Application Days, see ELL Applying.

You can bring a friend or family member with you to help you discuss the application process with our friendly staff. Our staff may ask you the following questions:

  • What is your immigration status?
  • Do you want to come to school full-time or part-time?
  • What is your educational experience outside of Canada?
  • What is your work schedule?

See the timeline to learn more about the documents you need to bring with you and the LINC application process.

You can also contact the Welcome Centre at our South Campus in downtown Calgary:

To apply for LINC programs at Bow Valley College, you need:

  • your recent Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) results
  • a LINC referral to Bow Valley College

Your CLB results must be less than 2 years old. CLB tests and referrals are available from CLARC through Immigrant Services Calgary.

You will also need:

* For information about the immigration documents that you need to bring, see ELL Applying.

Bring everything you need to one of our LINC Application Days. For upcoming LINC Application Days, see ELL Applying.

You can bring a friend or family member with you to help you discuss the application process with our friendly staff.

You will receive a communication from us telling you if you are on the waitlist or if you are accepted.

If you are on the waitlist, we will contact you if a seat becomes available. This could happen between the time you receive the communication from us and the start of the next term.

If you are accepted, we will confirm your schedule and provide details about how to log into your MyBVC account.

If you are accepted, keep checking MyBVC for important information.

If you are on the waitlist, we will contact you if a seat becomes available.

If you are accepted into a LINC program, you will start on the first day of class.

If you are still on the waitlist two weeks after the start of term, you will need to confirm if you would like to be on our priority waitlist for the next term.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Our English language programs have different schedules and different start dates. See English Language Programs at Bow Valley College and select the program you are interested in for specific start dates.

This information can change at any time. To find out about availability in upcoming terms, contact the Welcome Centre:

Bow Valley College offers a variety of part-time and full-time English language learning programs at a range of levels every term.

For many programs, you will apply in person at a Bow Valley College campus. Select a program from English Language Programs for specific application information.

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and supports adult newcomers who are permanent residents or who have Convention refugee status.

Learn more about LINC at Bow Valley College.

If you have applied for LINC classes, you will receive a communication from us a few weeks after attending the LINC Application Day. This communication will tell you if you are accepted or if you have been placed on the waitlist. See Prepare to Apply for LINC Programs for more information.

If you have applied to an ELL program that is not LINC, we will email you to confirm your application status.

If you are registered in a program, we will email you details about your MyBVC account. Please check your MyBVC account regularly for communications from us.

If you need more information after you have applied, contact Enrolment Services:

Once you are registered in an ELL program, we will send important information to your MyBVC account. Please check your MyBVC account regularly for communications from us.

If you are on a waitlist, you may get a seat in the upcoming term. We will contact you if a seat becomes available.

If you are on a LINC waitlist, see the timeline at Prepare to Apply for LINC Programs at Bow Valley College for more information.

If you are on a waitlist for a program that is not LINC, and do not get a seat in the term that you applied for, you will need to apply again. Learn more about preparing to apply for ELL programs.

If you need more information, contact the Prospective Student Centre:

There are many possible explanations for this. You might be on a waitlist due to the number of people that have applied, your program choice, your recommended level, or schedule availability. When our classes are full, we place learners on waitlists.

You need current Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) results to apply for LINC classes at Bow Valley College. To book a Canadian Language Benchmark assessment, contact CLARC – Calgary Language Assessment & Referral Centre through Immigrant Services Calgary.

You can take a practice reading and listening test on the Canadian Language Benchmarks Online Self-Assessment website. This test is free and takes about one hour to complete. It is based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) and will help you prepare for your formal assessment.

We are a proud provider of the federally funded language training program called Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), and provincially funded programs such as Alberta Works.

You may be eligible for full-time financial aid for your program. See Bow Valley College Financial Aid:

If you need to change your program, contact Enrolment Services:

You can apply for an ASN at the Alberta Government website.

We offer a variety of programs at Bow Valley College Regional Campuses and online. See English Language Programs above and select the Regional filter.

Our full-time programs can be scheduled anytime between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. When you are accepted into a program, you will receive your schedule. If you have a problem with the schedule you receive, contact Enrolment Services:

If you become a Canadian citizen while you are taking LINC classes, you must inform us right away. In most cases, you will be allowed to complete your term/course. To continue with your English language studies as a Canadian citizen, you will need to select classes that are not LINC funded. Learners who are interested in applying for full-time ELL may apply for provincial funding.

To apply for International ELL, visit Bow Valley College International Education, or contact us:

Contact Us

If you are not sure which program is right for you and you would like more information, or if you have questions about how to apply, we are here to help. Specially-trained Bow Valley College representatives will provide you with program and admission information, and can assist you in completing a Bow Valley College application.

Welcome Centre

Phone: 403-410-1402

Email: info@bowvalleycollege.ca

Office: S-1111, 1st Floor South Campus

URL: bowvalleycollege.ca/applying/ell-applying