Conestoga College’s Brantford campus runs 31 programmes for international students, 29 of them asking just 50 percent, with fees starting at CAD 14,588 and no GMAT anywhere.
Two facts shape every decision here. Fourteen of the 31 do not lead to a Canadian work permit. And three identical certificates cost CAD 7,922 less at Brantford than at Conestoga’s Doon campus, for the same qualification and the same CIP code.
We checked every programme against the code Conestoga publishes for it. No competing page does that, and several get the basic facts about this campus wrong.
🎓 Quick Fact: Brantford has no degrees at all. Every one of the 31 programmes sits below bachelor level, so every single one faces the PGWP field of study test with no exemption available. At Conestoga’s Doon campus, 12 degrees offer a way around that. Here there is none.
What this guide covers
- About the Brantford campus
- The CAD 7,922 campus saving
- The 14 programmes with no work permit
- The 17 that do qualify
- All 31 programmes by level
- Admission requirements
- English requirements
- The second language test nobody mentions
- Fees and application cost
- Cost of living in Brantford
- Three intakes a year
- Co-op: read this carefully
- Can you bring your family?
- Regulated trades and protected titles
- What other Brantford pages get wrong
- How to apply
- Is Brantford right for you?
- FAQs
1. About Conestoga College Brantford Campus
Conestoga is a public polytechnic founded in 1967, with campuses across southwestern Ontario. Brantford is one of the smaller ones, roughly an hour from Toronto, and it shares the city with a Wilfrid Laurier University campus.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institution | Conestoga College, public polytechnic |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Campus | Brantford, Ontario, around an hour from Toronto |
| Programmes for international students | 31 at this campus, no degrees |
| PGWP eligible | 17 of 31. 14 are not |
| Application fee | CAD 100 on every programme |
| GMAT or GRE | Not required anywhere |
| Tuition | CAD 14,588 to 23,766 a year |
| Entry bar | 50 percent on 29 of 31 |
| Intakes | September, January and May |
2. The CAD 7,922 Saving Nobody Mentions
Three graduate certificates run at both Brantford and Conestoga’s Doon campus in Kitchener. Same programme code. Same CIP code. Same qualification. Very different price.
| Programme | Brantford | Doon | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Business Analysis | CAD 15,844 | CAD 23,766 | 7,922 |
| Health Care Administration | CAD 15,844 | CAD 23,766 | 7,922 |
| Nursing bridging for internationally educated nurses | CAD 15,844 | CAD 23,766 | 7,922 |
That is a 33 percent saving, roughly 4.8 lakh rupees, for studying in Brantford rather than Kitchener. All three are on the PGWP-aligned list at both campuses.
3. The 14 Programmes That Do Not Lead to a Work Permit
Since 1 November 2024, graduates of programmes below bachelor level need an eligible field of study for a post-graduation work permit, decided by CIP code. IRCC has frozen the list for all of 2026.
Conestoga publishes which of its programmes are aligned. Fourteen of the 31 at Brantford are absent from that list:
| Programme | Level |
|---|---|
| Business | Diploma |
| Business, Marketing | Diploma |
| Health Office Administration | Diploma |
| General Arts and Science | Diploma |
| General Arts and Science, one year | Certificate |
| Motive Power Technician, Automotive Service | Diploma |
| Motive Power Fundamentals, Automotive Repair | Certificate |
| Office Administration, General | Certificate |
| Medical Office Practices | Certificate |
| Bookkeeping | Certificate |
| Human Resources Management | Graduate Certificate |
| Project Management | Graduate Certificate |
| Strategic Administrative Management | Graduate Certificate |
| Process Quality Engineering | Graduate Certificate |
4. The 17 Programmes That Do Qualify
| Area | Programmes |
|---|---|
| Health | Nursing bridging, Personal Support Worker, Health Care Administration, Mental Health and Substance Use, Occupational Health and Safety |
| Education and social | Early Childhood Education and its fast track, Human Services Foundation, Community Services Management, Sensory Loss Intervention |
| Trades | Welding Techniques, Electrical Techniques, Heavy Construction Equipment Operation |
| Computing | Web Development, IT Business Analysis, Data Processing and Reporting |
| Logistics | Supply Chain Management, Global, the one aligned business subject here |
5. All 31 Programmes by Level
| Level | Count | Entry from |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate certificates | 13 | A completed diploma or degree |
| Certificates, one year | 11 | Grade 12 |
| Diplomas, two year | 7 | Grade 12, except the ECE fast track |
By length, 21 run one year and 10 run two or more. That matters directly: a one year credential supports a work permit of up to one year, while two years or more supports up to three. Browse every programme with its fee and CIP position on our Conestoga Brantford programmes and fees page.
6. Admission Requirements for Indian Students
| You need | Programmes | Which |
|---|---|---|
| 50 percent | 29 | Nearly everything at this campus |
| 70 percent | 2 | Mental Health and Substance Use, and the nursing bridging certificate |
Diplomas and certificates are entered from Grade 12. Graduate certificates require a completed diploma or degree. There is no GMAT or GRE requirement anywhere, and the application fee is CAD 100 on every programme.
7. English Language Requirements
Brantford is refreshingly simple here. There are only two bands, and every programme accepts all four major tests.
| Band | Programmes | IELTS | TOEFL | PTE | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 16 | 6.0, none below 5.5 | 80 | 53 | 110 |
| Higher | 15 | 6.5, none below 6.0 | 88 | 58 | 120 |
No programme at Brantford refuses PTE or Duolingo, and none demands an unusual single band score. That is a meaningful simplification compared with the Doon campus, where several programmes have restrictive requirements.
8. The Second Language Test Nobody Mentions
9. Conestoga Brantford Fees 2026
| Annual tuition (CAD) | Programmes | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| 14,588 | 16 | The most common. Diplomas and certificates |
| 15,844 | 12 | Most graduate certificates |
| 15,477 | 1 | Welding Techniques |
| 21,882 | 1 | Heavy Construction Equipment Operation |
| 23,766 | 1 | Web Development, the dearest here and cheaper at Doon |
The application fee is CAD 100 on all 31 programmes, payable whether or not you receive an offer.
10. Cost of Living in Brantford
| Item | Approximate monthly cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Shared room | 600 to 800 |
| Food and groceries | 300 to 450 |
| Transit, phone and miscellaneous | 150 to 300 |
| Realistic annual total | 12,600 to 18,000 |
Brantford is a smaller city than Kitchener and cheaper again than Toronto, which is part of its appeal. Student transit is generally covered, and Toronto is around an hour away for weekend work or travel.
Budget separately for the Guaranteed Investment Certificate supporting your study permit, and for winter clothing in your first year.
11. Three Intakes a Year
| Intake | Programmes offering it |
|---|---|
| September | 25 of 31 |
| January | 14 |
| May | 11 |
Across 108 recorded entry windows, missing a deadline usually costs four months rather than a year. Conestoga admits on a rolling basis until seats fill, so apply four to six months ahead.
12. Co-op at Brantford: Read This Carefully
The field placements sit mostly in the health and social programmes, where supervised practice is part of the qualification. The one co-op option is on the Human Resources Management certificate, which is not on the aligned list.
13. Can You Bring Your Family?
14. Regulated Trades and Protected Titles
| Programme | What follows separately |
|---|---|
| Electrical Techniques | Electrician is a compulsory certified trade in Ontario. Working as one requires apprenticeship registration and certification through Skilled Trades Ontario |
| Welding Techniques | Canadian welding certification is granted by process and position through the CWB, separately from this certificate |
| Both motive power routes | Automotive Service Technician is a certified trade requiring apprenticeship and examinations. Both routes are also unaligned |
| Early Childhood Education | Registered Early Childhood Educator is a protected title requiring registration with the College of Early Childhood Educators |
| Nursing bridging | Does not license you to practise. College of Nurses of Ontario registration has its own assessment and examinations |
| Mental Health and Substance Use | Regulated counselling and psychotherapy titles require separate provincial registration. A vulnerable sector check applies |
15. What Other Brantford Pages Get Wrong
| Claim you will see | The actual position |
|---|---|
| “All programs feature mandatory co-ops or field placements” | One programme has an optional co-op. Eight have placements. Twenty two have neither. This is the most misleading claim we found |
| “34 courses including a Bachelor of Emergency Management” | Brantford has no degrees at all. The 31 programmes are 13 graduate certificates, 11 certificates and 7 diplomas |
| Tuition of “CAD 7,922 to 21,882” for non degree courses | The actual range is CAD 14,588 to 23,766. The low figure is roughly half the real minimum |
| “Programmes in Business, IT, Philosophy and Crafts” | There is no philosophy or crafts programme at this campus. The real strengths are health, social services and trades |
| “Admissions offered in fall intake” only | There are three intakes: September on 25 programmes, January on 14, May on 11 |
| Living costs from “CAD 2,050 to 4,090 a month” | Another page says CAD 10,000 to 13,000 a year. The first figure would be over CAD 49,000 annually, which is far above realistic costs in a city this size |
| Nothing about which programmes fail the field of study test | 14 of 31 are unaligned. No competing page names a single one |
16. How to Apply to Conestoga Brantford
Applying through the Apply Study Visa portal is free. Conestoga charges CAD 100, payable to the college regardless of outcome.
- Decide your endpoint first. If you intend to work in Canada afterwards, that removes 14 of the 31 programmes immediately.
- Check both campuses. Three certificates are CAD 7,922 cheaper here than at Doon, and one is cheaper there. We compare before you commit.
- We get the CIP code in writing and check it against the current IRCC eligible list before you pay a deposit.
- Verify the placement claim. Only nine of 31 programmes here have any work component, so we confirm what your specific programme includes.
- We submit and guide you through the offer, deposit, attestation letter, GIC and study permit as one process.
The three costly mistakes here are choosing an unaligned programme expecting a work permit, paying the Doon price for a certificate available cheaper at Brantford, and assuming a co-op is included when it is not. Check your eligibility free, or read our Canada study permit guide.
🛂 Planning a Canadian study permit? The team at ApplyStudyVisa.com handles the full sequence from transcript assessment and offer through the attestation letter, GIC, biometrics and permit decision. Contact our Ludhiana office for a free assessment.
17. Is Conestoga Brantford Good for Indian Students?
For the right programme, it is a sensible choice. Twenty nine programmes accept 50 percent, fees start at CAD 14,588, English requirements are simple, and three certificates cost CAD 7,922 less than at Doon.
The counterweights are real: 14 of 31 programmes do not lead to a work permit, there are no degrees to fall back on, and only nine programmes have any work placement.
It suits you if
- Your marks are around 50 percent and you need an accessible route.
- You want health, early childhood education, social services or trades, where most programmes are aligned.
- You are taking IT Business Analysis, Health Care Administration or the nursing bridging certificate, which are markedly cheaper here.
- You want a smaller, cheaper city with Toronto about an hour away.
- You need a January or May start.
It does not suit you if
- You want business, marketing, HR, project management or office administration and intend to stay in Canada.
- You want a degree. This campus has none.
- You need a spouse to receive an open work permit.
- You are counting on co-op. Only one programme offers it, and it is optional.
- You need a large part time job market near campus.
18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are all Conestoga Brantford programmes PGWP eligible?
No. 17 of 31 are. 14 are not. Brantford has no degrees, so every programme faces the field of study test with no exemption available. Always confirm the CIP code in writing.
Q: Does Conestoga Brantford offer degrees?
No. The 31 programmes are 13 graduate certificates, 11 one year certificates and 7 diplomas. Pages claiming a Bachelor of Emergency Management here are incorrect.
Q: Is Brantford cheaper than the Doon campus?
For three certificates, yes, by CAD 7,922: IT Business Analysis, Health Care Administration and the nursing bridging certificate. But Web Development is cheaper at Doon by the same amount. Check both.
Q: What marks do I need for Conestoga Brantford?
Fifty percent on 29 of the 31 programmes. Only two ask 70 percent: Mental Health and Substance Use, and the nursing bridging certificate.
Q: What IELTS score does Conestoga Brantford require?
Either 6.0 with no band below 5.5 on 16 programmes, or 6.5 with no band below 6.0 on 15. Every programme accepts IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo.
Q: Do Brantford programmes include co-op?
Rarely. One programme has an optional co-op and eight have a field or clinical placement. The other 22 have neither. Claims that all programmes include work placements are wrong.
Q: What is the CLB requirement for a PGWP?
A second language test within two years of applying for the permit. Since Brantford has no degrees, every programme here requires CLB 5 in all four abilities. This is separate from your admission test.
Q: What are Conestoga Brantford fees for international students?
CAD 14,588 to 23,766 a year. The most common figure is 14,588 across 16 programmes, and most graduate certificates are 15,844.
Q: Which business programme at Brantford is PGWP eligible?
Only Supply Chain Management, Global, which sits in the transport sector. The business diploma, marketing diploma, HR certificate, project management certificate and administrative management certificate are all unaligned.
Q: Can I bring my spouse to Conestoga Brantford?
Not on an open work permit. Canada restricts those to master degrees of 16 months or longer and doctorates. Brantford has no degrees at all.
Q: How many intakes does Conestoga Brantford have?
Three: September on 25 programmes, January on 14, and May on 11, across 108 entry windows. Claims of a fall intake only are incorrect.
Q: Does Apply Study Visa charge for Conestoga applications?
No. Counselling, application review and submission are free, including the CIP code check and the campus fee comparison. Conestoga’s own CAD 100 fee still applies. We are paid by the institutions we work with, which is exactly why we will tell you plainly when a programme carries a risk.
✅ Confirm before you pay. Get the CIP code in writing and check it against the current IRCC list, since IRCC decides and not the college. Compare the Brantford and Doon fee for your programme, since three differ by CAD 7,922. Confirm whether your programme has any placement at all. Plan for the CLB 5 test before you graduate. Programme details cover all 31 Brantford campus programmes open to international applicants and were checked in September 2026. IRCC rules, tuition and living costs are revised regularly.
