International Students
Students come to VFS from all corners of the globe to train, graduate, and pursue their dreams - at home or in entertainment hubs, like Vancouver.
International Offices
VFS strives to make education in the creative media arts accessible to the most diverse, international, and broadest spectrum of students. With students from over 80 countries and a student body that is almost 50% international, VFS students make up a unique, close-knit global community of aspiring visual storytellers. VFS International Student Offices are here to assist students with the admissions process and provide information, in your local time. Please contact our VFS Admissions Advisors for more information.
Admissions Offices
Canada & US Rest of World
Phone: 1-800-661-4101
1-604-685-5808
198 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1H2
Mexico
Veronica Jeronimo Cardenas
Phone: (52 55) 4737 0897
(52 55) 5661 3875
Manuel M Ponce 347
Col Guadelupe Inn
01020, Mexico City
Chat With Us
For Asia Pacific & South East Asia countries:
For South Asia, Middle East & Others countries:
Brazil
Juliana Severgnini
Phone: +55 1193 7035 179
Av Francisco Matarazzo,
1752 – Conjunto 405
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
05001-200
China
Dora Jin (Shanghai)
Cell: +86 13501659212
WeChat: jinduola
Julian Zhong (Beijing)
Cell: +86 15011482780
WeChat: 595084195
Korea
Hakyun Lim
Phone: +82 2 2008 4900
Fax: +82 2 2008 4555
41/F Gangnam Finance Center
Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu
Seoul, Korea, 135-984
Financial Support
For your VFS application to be approved, a proper financial plan must be in place to study and live in Vancouver, Canada.
Starting January 1, 2024, international students seeking a study permit through Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) must demonstrate financial support of a minimum of $20,635 to meet the cost-of-living criteria. This amount is in addition to the tuition fees and travel expenses to get to Vancouver. Prospective students are advised to ensure they have adequate funds to cover their living expenses while at VFS and fulfill the proof of funds criteria for the Study Permit. For more information on the cost of living in Vancouver, including housing costs, contact your Admissions Advisor or [email protected].
You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada.
You can prove your funds with:
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- Proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- Your bank statements for the past 4 months
- A bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- Proof you paid tuition and housing fees
- A letter from the person or school giving you money, or
- Proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program
If your country uses foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you’ll be allowed to export funds for all of your expenses.
VFS offers a variety of scholarships throughout the year. For a list of the currently available tuition grants, visit our Scholarships page.
Language Requirements
All students are required to speak and write English at an acceptable level for their program of study. In order to succeed in any VFS program, students will need to understand technical terms and be conversant enough in English to participate in presentations and in-depth discussion.
Depending upon your program of study, you must meet either the Level 1 or Level 2 English language requirements as outlined below. Achieving the indicated scores in any of these tests satisfies the VFS English language requirements.
Programs with Level 1 Language Requirements
- Acting Essentials
- Foundation Visual Art & Design
- Makeup Design for Film & Television
- Sound Design for Visual Media
International Standardized Test Scores
- IELTS (Academic) - Band 6.0
- TOEFL iBT - score of 68
- TOEFL PBT - score of 520
- PTE - score of 46- 55
- TOEIC - score of 700
- CELPIP- Level 7
- Cambridge English/First - CEFR B2 or Grade C (170 or higher)
- LPI - Level I4
- Duolingo - score of 105
VFS English for Creative Arts Program
- 65% average at the end of ECA
Secondary (Permanent Resident)
- 65% in BC English 12 or Communications 12
International Baccalaureate (IB)
- A final grade of 5 or higher on IB English A1 (English A: Language & Literature) or A2 (English A: Literature) course
Post-secondary
- One year at a post-secondary institution in an English-speaking country.
VFS English Language School Partners
VFS has partnered with a number of ESL schools in Vancouver. Beside each school you will see an indication of the level or score required to satisfy the VFS Level 1 English language requirements.
- BCIT – ISEP 500
- Canadian College – Level 140
- CICCC – Upper Intermediate 69-75
- EC – Upper Intermediate
- EF – Level B2
- ELS – Level 109
- IGK – General English Upper Intermediate or EAP 200
- ILAC – Pathway 3.1 or Level 14
- ILSC – Level I4 with 70%
- Inlingua Victoria – Level EAP2 with 80%
- International House – Level 1 EAP
- iTTTi – Upper Intermediate Level with 80%
- Kaplan – Higher Intermediate with 70%
- Maple Leaf – World School Curriculum
- Oxford – Level 7
- SGIC – Level 8/UCPP with 70%
- SSLC – EPE with 80%
- Tamwood – EAP 193
- The Language Gallery – Level 5 with 80%
- VanWest – EAP 300 with 85% or Level 8
- VGC – Level 7 with 70% or Intermediate University Prep with 75%
Programs with Level 2 Language Requirements
- 3D Animation & Visual Effects
- Acting for FIlm & Television
- Animation Concept Art
- Classical Animation
- Digital Design
- Film Production
- Game Design
- Programming for Games, Web & Mobile
- Writing for Film, Television & Games
- VR/AR Design & Development
International Standardized Test Scores
- IELTS (Academic) - Band 6.5
- TOEFL iBT - score of 80
- TOEFL PBT - score of 550
- PTE - score of 56+
- TOEIC - score of 785
- CELPIP- Level 8
- Cambridge English/First - CEFR C1 or Grade A (180 or higher)
- LPI - Level 5
- Duolingo - score of 120
VFS English for Creative Arts Program
- 75% average at the end of ECA
Secondary (Permanent Resident)
- 65% in BC English 12 or Communications 12
International Baccalaureate (IB)
- A final grade of 5 or higher on IB English A1 (English A: Language & Literature) or A2 (English A: Literature) course
Post-secondary
- One year at a post-secondary institution in an English-speaking country.
VFS English Language School Partners
VFS has partnered with a number of ESL schools in Vancouver. Beside each school you will see an indication of the level or score required to satisfy the VFS Level 1 English language requirements.
- BCIT – ISEP 600
- Canadian College – Level 145
- CICCC – Advanced 76-83
- EC – Pre-Advanced
- EF – Level C1
- ELS – Level 112
- IGK – EAP 300
- ILAC – Pathway 3.2 or Level 15
- ILSC – Level A1 with 70%
- Inlingua Victoria – Level EAP2 with 85%
- International House – Level 2 EAP
- iTTTi – Advanced Level or EAP
- Kaplan – Advanced
- Maple Leaf – World School Curriculum
- Oxford – Level 8
- SGIC – Level 8/UCPP with 80%
- SSLC – EPE with 85%
- Tamwood – EAP 194
- The Language Gallery – Level 6
- VanWest – EAP 400
- VGC – Level 7 with 80% or Advanced University Prep with 75%
What Are My Other Options?
We realize that you may have to plan ahead in order to secure your seat at VFS, and that you may want to start applying before you've met the required conversational or written level of English. Our Admissions Advisors understand ESL issues and are more than willing to help you meet all language requirements to make sure they do not get in the way of your dream.
If you don’t pass an approved test, you may be accepted on a conditional basis. If you receive conditional acceptance, you must provide regular feedback to your Admissions Advisor on specifically what you are doing to improve your English before you start your course at VFS (e.g., attending ESL classes). Additionally, you must schedule and pass an approved test no later than one month before your start date, or risk having your enrollment postponed or cancelled.
Study Permits
All of VFS’s programs require international students to obtain a study permit. You must apply for your study permit at the Canadian Consulate or Canadian Embassy for your area, before your program starts.
To get a study permit you must provide
You'll need to present the original acceptance letter from Vancouver Film School and proof of deposit.
As stated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), students will be required to provide proof of a minimum $20,635 CAD to cover cost-of-living expenses while residing in Canada, in addition to their first year's tuition and travel expenses.
Examples of financial support:
- proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you've transferred money to Canada
- a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- your bank statements for the past 4 months
- a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- proof you paid tuition and housing fees, or
- a letter from the person giving you money (e.g. parent's or grandparent's bank statement and letter of financial support)
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your program.
Be sure to include the VFS’s Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number on your study permit application: O19239015912. Please note, the first digit in the sequence is the letter “O”, and not a zero.
Starting November 8, 2024 you must be enrolled at the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) listed on your study permit. If you plan to change DLIs, you’ll need to get a new study permit by applying to extend your current one. Details may be subject to change as new announcements are released by IRCC. Make sure to check IRCC’s website for the most up to date information.
You may also need to provide the letter of explanation. This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. This letter should be written entirely by yourself, in your own voice; it should be written from the heart and convey authenticity. As the letter should reflect your current English language proficiency, you should not feel the need to use a translator or other service to fix any potential spelling or grammatical errors.
Your letter should explain:
- Why you want to study in Canada
- That you understand your responsibilities as a student
- How the program you have enrolled in at Vancouver Film School will help you achieve your desired career outcome
- If you hold a degree in an unrelated field, be honest about your desire to make a career change and explain the reasoning behind this change in full; it is a perfectly acceptable decision to change your career path
You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if you don’t have to get a study permit for your program.
Download example here.
As of January 22, 2024, IRCC has announced that most students will need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study. Find out if you are exempt from needing a PAL.
You can request a PAL as early as 6 months prior to your start date. If your start date is more than 6 months away, please return to this page later.
For more information, contact:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship CanadaCustodianship
VFS Students under the age of 19 are considered “minors” in the province of B.C. and must be cared for by an adult. At the point of entry into Canada, Immigration Officers may, on a case-by-case basis, require any VFS international student under the age of 19 have an appointed custodian. To prevent delays in receiving a study permit, appointing a custodian before arrival in Canada is highly recommended. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for details on how to appoint a custodian:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare/minor-children.html
Minor-aged VFS students without a responsible adult, such as a family member, in and around the Vancouver area capable of accounting for them will need to retain a “custodian” who will ensure the minor-aged student’s safety and the necessary advice & support to safely reside in Canada. Agencies providing stand-alone custodian services and agencies providing homestay in addition to custodian services are both available. Agencies providing custodian services can offer valuable services including:
- Ongoing, deliberate contact with the student
- Assistance with access to immediate and/or ongoing medical service
- Mental, physical and emotional health monitoring for the student
- Explanation of local laws and regulations
- 24/7 response to emergency situations involving the student
Students under 19 years of age have numerous, excellent homestay options they and their families can choose from. Additionally, homestay agencies can provide custodian services for a fee.
Below are some homestay options as well as homestay & custodian agencies.
CanBeHome - https://canbehome.ca
NorthWest Homestay - https://northwesthomestay.com
Casa Vancouver - https://casa-toronto.com/vancouver
For information on preferred homestay agencies, please contact VFS Housing.
Tel: 1.604.631.3078
E-mail: [email protected]
Note: Vancouver Film School is not affiliated with the homestay companies listed above, and assumes no liability for any disputes arising from custodianship or other services advertised. This information is intended to provide only general information and guidance.
If the minor requires a custodian, you must include the Custodianship Declaration form (PDF, 1.02 MB) with your application. It has 2 pages that must be notarized (certified by a notary) and then included with your study permit application.
The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child’s home country must sign the second page.
Medical Insurance
All students must have medical insurance coverage while studying in Canada. You'll need to apply for coverage before you arrive in Canada, and it must cover you for your first three months in British Columbia. Students MUST have medical insurance while studying at VFS, or you will not be eligible for services from us.
Some main fees medical fees and their cost:
| Type of fee | Cost without insurance |
| Emergency visit | $927 |
| Outpatient visit/day | $1000+ |
| Day surgery | $3,495 |
| X-Ray | $49+ |
| MRI | $2,028 |
| Ambulance Charges | $240 |
| Lab test | $125 |
| Physician fees | $100-240 |
International students: All international students are required to have medical insurance for the length of their studies at Vancouver Film School. We have partnered with Guard.me, an insurance provider in Canada that provides coverage to international students at affordable rates. The estimated charge is $2.00 CAD per day. Guard.me covers you from the time you leave home (up to seven days prior to arrival) until a week after your program end date. VFS does not accept insurance from companies outside of Canada.
Canadian students: Canadian students can remain on their home provinces medical plan. However, you must notify your provincial health provider that you will be away from BC studying at a post-secondary school.
Guard.me
Guard.me Insurance coverage can be used for injury or sickness requiring emergency hospital confinement or emergency treatment up to CDN$2,000,000.00. For a comprehensive summary of the services included in their plans, go to the policy section of the guard.me website.
- You must be a student of foreign nationality
- You must not be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant
- You must be enrolled in and attending a recognized learning institution (Vancouver Film School)
- You are not travelling against a physician's advice
CDN $2.00/day per person.
For more information contact Student Services by emailing [email protected] or talk to your advisor.
If you have been involved in an accident and have gone to a non-direct-billing clinic you will need to pay and submit a claim after. To make a claim, please go to the Guard.me website directly.
(Insurance claim is a request to the insurance provider to cover/compensate or refund you expenses for a covered loss or policy event.)
Check here to find a direct pay clinic near you.
If you are a student, and have been living in BC for more than three months you are eligible for BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP). Click the link below to obtain a copy of the BC Medical Insurance application or apply online.
You may need a medical exam if any of these situations apply to you:
- You plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months.
- You recently spent time in certain countries.