International Students
A vibrant community for international students
Apply early
We recommend submitting your application and all required elements as early as possible. It can take some time for Immigration Canada to process your study permit application, so you should complete your application at least six months prior to the anticipated start of your studies.
English Language Requirements
If a course-based or CBTE, graduate or undergraduate, program at Northwest is delivered solely in English because instructors and/or mentors cannot read or speak a language other than English, students for whom English is a second language are required to provide an English Proficiency Score as a part of the application process. We require this to ensure that all students are ready to enter and excel in their programs. With this in view, the minimum English proficiency test scores required for Northwest programs are as follows.
| Level | TOEFL | IELTS | CELPIP | DuoLingo |
| Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma, BA (Completion) English-Language | 88 | 6.5 | 8 | 115 |
| Graduate Certificate, Diploma, MA, MDIV - English-Language | 88 | 6.5 | 8 | 115 |
International Student Orientation Document
This document serves as an overview of our admission policies, language proficiency requirements, credential assessment, programs, instruction and courses, services, academic terms, grading and academic standing policies, tuition, housing, and other items. We ask international students to familiarize themselves with these items.
Medical insurance for international students taking the Korean language BACL or DMIN
Medical Insurance is mandated by the Province of British Columbia for all international students. Non-Canadian students living in Canada must enroll with BC Medical Services Plan in order to attend school. The website for medical insurance info can be found here.
International students (and family members) who are new to BC are required to sign up for interim health insurance, until MSP is active. If you are an American student living in the US and commuting for classes, you must ensure that your medical insurance extends to your travels to and from Canada.
Medical insurance for international students taking course-based degrees
Medical Insurance is mandated by the Province of British Columbia for all international students. Non-Canadian students living in Canada must enroll with BC Medical Services Plan in order to attend school. The website for our medical insurance info can be found here.
International students (and family members) who are new to BC can sign up for interim health insurance GuardMe. Required info can be found here.
If you are an American student living in the US and commuting for classes, you must ensure that your medical insurance extends to your travels to and from Canada.
Information on medical insurance and other health services available to you can be found at the TWU Wellness Centre.
Transcripts
If you are applying for a course-based degree, please follow the instructions for transcripts found on the ACTS Seminaries webpage and send your transcripts (in English) to:
Director of Admission
ACTS Seminaries/TWU
22500 University Drive
Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1
If you are applying to Northwest for a CBTE degree or the Korean Doctor of Ministry degree, please send your transcripts (in English) to:
Northwest Seminary & College
Office of the Registrar - Attn: Ryan Ball
22500 University Drive
Langley, BC V2Y 1Y1
NOTE: Read Northwest's Academic Records and Documents Policy
Study permit
Once you have been admitted to a degree program and have submitted a refundable tuition deposit, you will need to apply for a study permit from Immigration Canada. This application is filled out online at the Immigration Canada website. We will provide the documentation you need for the study permit application, but we cannot contact Immigration Canada on your behalf.
Writing Centre
We encourage all international students taking programs taught in English to take advantage of the TWU Writing Centre. This is a resource to help your with your writing skills and assignments. The Writing Centre is located in the Douglas Centre Building on the TWU campus.
Class Attendance
Students are required to attend all class sessions. Attendance is tracked by instructors and records are filed with the Academic Coordinator. Students who do not attend class are considered non-participants in a course and are subject to reductions in their grade.
Grades
Each program has its own grading system. For CBTE programs, the grading rubric is posted here. Grading rubrics for course-based programs are included in the course syllabi. Grades are available to students through the student portal.
Perkins Korean-Language Theological Library & Resource Centre
We encourage all students taking the Korean BACL or KDMN programs to take advantage of the Perkins Korean-Language Theological Library & Resource Centre. This resource is there to help you with your writing skills and assignments. We are located in Northwest Seminary in Fosmark Centre on the TWU Campus.
Housing and employment
Northwest/ACTS Seminaries does not have housing available for international students. Trinity Western University has a housing website that you can access to see what’s available in the community. There may be very limited housing available on the campus for graduate students. The website will give you all the information you need, including a person to contact, so you can begin your search.
If you plan to rent housing during your studies, it is important to know that tenants have important rights regarding quiet enjoyment, dispute resolution with landlords, and housing security. You can learn more about these at the Government of BC website. If you need to apply for housing-related dispute resolution assistance, you may do so here.
International students can work up to 20 hours per week off campus. This includes any practicums or internships that are a requirement of your academic program. Please consult the Immigration Canada website for full information and regulations governing all off campus work for International students.
Employers must follow government standards for terms of employment, employee safety, working conditions, minimum wage, statutory holiday pay, and other important matters. Workers in BC also have important employment rights such as the right to refuse unsafe work, bullying and harassment, discrimination, pay standards, and other issues. You can learn more about these policies, regulations, and services available to workers here. If you are facing difficulty and need assistance you may file a complaint here.
Public schools for children of international students
Children of international students studying at Northwest/ACTS Seminaries can enroll at public primary and secondary schools. However, policies related to cost for children of international students to enroll in a local public school varies with each school district. Our students generally live in one of the following regions and should consult the following school district offices for information:
Policy for non-academic disputes
For disputes related to non-academic matters, students are encouraged to first speak to those involved directly in the hopes of resolving the issue privately. However, this is not always possible or safe. In such cases students may bring the matter to the Dean of Students, who will work with the parties involved to find resolution. For matters related to bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment, please see the "Bullying, Harassment and Sexualized Violence Policy" in the student handbook.
Critical incident and management policy
In the case of emergency, please familiarize yourself with our Critical Incident and Management Policy.