BC’s New International Education Law: What Private Colleges Need to Know

British Columbia has moved its international education quality rules from policy into law. The Post-Secondary International Education (Designated Institutions) Act was introduced on February 19, 2026, and the province’s designation requirements under the Act apply as of September 1, 2026. For private colleges that host, or plan to host, international students, this is now the most important piece of provincial regulation to understand.

What the Act does

The Act replaces the former Education Quality Assurance (EQA) policy-based designation program. According to the province, it also replaces the previous mechanism for adding BC institutions to the federal designated learning institutions (DLI) list.

Institutions must hold a valid designation certificate before they:

• advertise programs longer than six months to foreign nationals;
• offer, or contract to provide, programs to international students;
• enrol international students; or
• provide programs to students holding federal study permits.

Designation certificates are overseen by an administrator within the System Integrity Branch of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. The administrator can issue, renew or refuse applications, impose terms and conditions on a certificate, or cancel it, and must maintain a public online directory of designated institutions. When the legislation was introduced, the government said it would also provide tools to inspect designated institutions and take enforcement action, with an appeal process.

If you already held EQA designation

Institutions that held EQA designation immediately before the Act came into force are deemed to hold a valid designation certificate until their EQA designation expires. Renewal then happens under the new Act. Details such as certificate term length, application deadlines and fees are set out in the accompanying Regulation.

Practical steps for private colleges

• Confirm your expiry date. Check when your current EQA designation ends and plan the renewal well ahead of it.
• Review the Regulation. Read the requirements for applications, records, fees and certificate terms.
• Audit your marketing. Review websites, brochures and agent materials so that programs over six months are only advertised to foreign nationals while you hold a valid certificate.
• Check your evidence. Make sure policies, student records, complaint handling and quality systems would stand up to an inspection.
• Coordinate with your PTIRU obligations. Designation for international students sits alongside, not instead of, your certification obligations under the Private Training Act.

Need help? PTIA supports internal readiness reviews, policy updates and evidence preparation. Decisions on designation remain with the provincial administrator. Book a confidential consultation with PTIA.

This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the official source before acting.

Sources

• Post-Secondary International Education (Designated Institutions) Act – Province of BC
• Education Quality Assurance – Province of BC
• New legislation will strengthen oversight of international education – BC Gov News (Feb 19, 2026)
• Bill 7 – BC Laws