Conestoga’s Cambridge Fountain Street campus runs 35 programmes for international students, and 25 of them include a co-op work term. It is the engineering campus, and it carries seven degrees.
It is also the strongest Conestoga campus on work permits: 30 of the 35 qualify. But one page claims that all diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate programmes here qualify for a permit of up to three years. That is wrong twice over, and section 4 explains why it matters.
We checked every programme against the CIP code Conestoga publishes for it.
🎓 Quick Fact: Conestoga offers Ontario’s only college-based accredited engineering degrees, and this is the campus where they are taught. Five of the seven degrees here are Bachelor of Engineering. As degrees, all seven are exempt from the PGWP field of study rule whatever their subject.
What this guide covers
- About the Cambridge Fountain Street campus
- The seven degrees
- Co-op on 25 of 35 programmes
- The five programmes that do not qualify
- The 30 that do
- All 35 programmes by level
- Admission requirements
- English requirements
- The second language test nobody mentions
- Fees and application cost
- Cost of living and the residence question
- Intakes and deadlines
- Can you bring your family?
- Engineer, technologist or technician?
- What other Cambridge pages get wrong
- How to apply
- Is Cambridge right for you?
- FAQs
1. About Conestoga Cambridge Fountain Street
The campus opened in August 2011 and sits directly across Highway 401 from the Kitchener Doon campus. It is home to Conestoga’s School of Engineering and Technology and its Institute of Food Processing Technology.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institution | Conestoga College, public polytechnic, founded 1967 |
| Campus opened | August 2011, Cambridge, Ontario |
| Schools based here | Engineering and Technology, Institute of Food Processing Technology |
| Programmes for international students | 35, including 7 degrees |
| PGWP eligible | 30 of 35. 5 are not |
| With a co-op term | 25 of 35 |
| Application fee | CAD 100 on every programme |
| Tuition | CAD 14,588 to 16,319 a year |
| Entry bar | 50 percent on 25 of 35 |
2. The Seven Degrees
Conestoga holds Ontario’s only college-based accredited engineering degrees, and this campus is where they are delivered.
| Degree | Entry | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Engineering, Building Systems | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Engineering, Electronic Systems | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Systems | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Engineering, Power Systems | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Engineering, Sustainable Design | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
| Bachelor of Applied Technology, Architecture Project and Facility Management | 70% | CAD 15,961 |
All seven ask 70 percent, all cost CAD 15,961, all include paid co-op, and all are exempt from the field of study rule. At CAD 117 a year more than the most common diploma fee, they are exceptional value.
3. Co-op on 25 of 35 Programmes
This is the strongest co-op provision of any Conestoga campus we have examined. Twenty five of the 35 programmes include a co-op work term, against three of 31 at Guelph and one of 31 at Brantford.
Most are described as optional rather than guaranteed, so confirm whether a placement is assured or competitive before you rely on it.
4. The Five Programmes That Do Not Qualify
One page states that all full-time diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate programmes qualify students for a PGWP of up to three years. That is wrong in two separate ways.
| Not aligned | Aligned alternative at this campus |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering Technology, 3 years | Architecture, Construction Engineering Technology |
| Civil Engineering Technician, 2 years | as above |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology, Automated Manufacturing, 3 years | Mechanical Engineering Technology, Robotics and Automation |
| Food Processing Technician, 2 years | Food Safety and Quality Assurance graduate certificate |
| Process Quality Engineering graduate certificate | Welding Inspection or Robotics and Industrial Automation |
Both civil routes fail together, the only complete subject family here that does, on a campus where nearly every other engineering technology route qualifies. That is worth a direct question to the college.
5. The 30 That Do Qualify
| Area | Programmes |
|---|---|
| All 7 degrees | Exempt from the rule entirely, whatever the subject |
| Welding, all 5 routes | Welding Techniques, Welding and Fabrication, Welding Robotics, Welding and Robotics Technology, Welding Inspection |
| Electrical and electronics | Four technician and technology routes, all aligned under the same code |
| Automation and computing | Robotics and Automation, Robotics and Industrial Automation, Computer Engineering Technology, Embedded Systems, Wireless Network Infrastructure |
| Construction and environment | Construction Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Environmental Control, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy |
| Agriculture and food | Agri-Business Management, Food Safety and Quality Assurance |
All five welding routes are aligned, which is unusual consistency within a trade family and makes welding one of the safest choices at this campus.
6. All 35 Programmes by Level
| Level | Count | Entry from |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced diplomas, three year | 11 | Grade 12 with mathematics and physics |
| Graduate certificates | 8 | A completed diploma or advanced diploma |
| Bachelor degrees | 7 | Grade 12 at 70 percent |
| Diplomas, two year | 7 | Grade 12 |
| Certificates, one year | 2 | Grade 12 |
By length, 18 run three years or more, 10 run two years and 7 run one. That is an unusually long-credential catalogue, and it directly supports the maximum three year work permit on 28 of the 35.
Browse every programme with its fee and CIP position on our Conestoga Cambridge programmes and fees page.
7. Admission Requirements for Indian Students
| You need | Programmes | Which |
|---|---|---|
| 50 percent | 25 | Diplomas, advanced diplomas and most graduate certificates |
| 70 percent | 9 | All seven degrees, plus Embedded Systems and Wireless Network Infrastructure |
| 75 percent | 1 | Construction Management, the highest bar here |
There is no GMAT or GRE requirement anywhere, and the application fee is CAD 100 on every programme.
8. English Language Requirements
| Band | Programmes | IELTS | TOEFL | PTE | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 19 | 6.0, none below 5.5 | 80 | 53 | 110 |
| Higher | 16 | 6.5, none below 6.0 | 88 | 58 | 120 |
Only two bands, and every programme accepts all four major tests. Broadly the technician and technology diplomas sit on the standard band and the degrees and graduate certificates on the higher one.
9. The Second Language Test Nobody Mentions
10. Conestoga Cambridge Fees 2026
| Annual tuition (CAD) | Programmes | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| 14,588 | 19 | The most common. All technician and technology diplomas |
| 15,844 | 7 | Graduate certificates |
| 15,961 | 7 | All seven degrees |
| 15,477 | 1 | Renewable Energy Techniques |
| 16,319 | 1 | Agri-Business Management, the dearest here |
11. Cost of Living and the Residence Question
| Item | Approximate monthly cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Shared room | 650 to 900 |
| Food and groceries | 300 to 450 |
| Transit, phone and miscellaneous | 180 to 320 |
| Realistic annual total | 13,500 to 20,000 |
Budget separately for the Guaranteed Investment Certificate supporting your study permit, and for winter clothing and safety boots in your first year, since most programmes here involve workshop or laboratory time.
12. Intakes and Deadlines
| Intake | Programmes offering it |
|---|---|
| September | 26 of 35 |
| January | 10 |
| August | 7, and these are exactly the seven degrees |
| May | 7 |
13. Can You Bring Your Family?
14. Engineer, Technologist or Technician?
This distinction decides what you can call yourself and what work you can sign off, and it is the most important thing to understand at an engineering campus.
| Route | What it leads to |
|---|---|
| The 5 engineering degrees | The route toward Professional Engineer. Licensing with Professional Engineers Ontario requires examinations and supervised experience after graduating |
| The 11 advanced diplomas | Technologist work. Certification is through OACETT, not PEO. You cannot call yourself an engineer |
| The 7 diplomas | Technician work, also via OACETT certification |
| Welding routes | Canadian welding tickets are earned by process and position through the CWB, separately from any diploma |
| Interior Design degree | The accredited route toward registered interior designer, requiring examinations and provincial registration |
15. What Other Cambridge Pages Get Wrong
| Claim you will see | The actual position |
|---|---|
| “All full-time diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate programmes qualify for a PGWP of up to 3 years” | Wrong twice. Five do not qualify at all, and a one year credential earns a one year permit, not three. Seven programmes here run one year |
| “Most popular programmes: project management, health care administration, Cloud Data Management, practical nursing, Cyber Systems Engineering, Advertising and Marketing” | Not one of those is taught at this campus. All are Doon programmes. That page is describing a different location entirely |
| “Tuition fees range from CAD 16,200 to CAD 17,500” | The actual range is CAD 14,588 to 16,319. The quoted minimum is above the real maximum |
| Intakes described as “winter (January), fall (August), and spring (May)”, omitting September | September is the main intake with 26 of 35 programmes. August applies to exactly seven, and those seven are the degrees |
| Student numbers of 26,000, 55,000 and “over 10,000 at Cambridge” | Three sources, three figures, none separating this campus from the college. Treat all of them with caution |
16. How to Apply to Conestoga Cambridge
Applying through the Apply Study Visa portal is free. Conestoga charges CAD 100, payable to the college regardless of outcome.
- Consider the degree first. At CAD 117 a year above a graduate certificate, with paid co-op and the field of study exemption, it is the strongest option here for most applicants who can reach 70 percent.
- Check your Grade 12 subjects. Engineering programmes normally need mathematics and physics, not just the percentage.
- Avoid the five unaligned routes if you intend to work in Canada, and note that each has an aligned alternative at the same campus.
- We get the CIP code in writing and check it against the current IRCC eligible list before you pay a deposit.
- 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 a civil route expecting a work permit, assuming an engineering technology diploma makes you an engineer in Canada, and believing every programme earns a three year permit. 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 Cambridge Good for Indian Students?
Of the Conestoga campuses we have examined, this is the strongest. Thirty of 35 programmes qualify for a work permit, 25 include paid co-op, fees are narrowly banded from CAD 14,588, and it holds Ontario’s only college-based accredited engineering degrees.
The counterweights are the 70 percent degree entry with mathematics and physics, no residence at the campus itself, and five routes that quietly fail the field of study test.
It suits you if
- You want engineering and can reach 70 percent with mathematics and physics.
- You want paid Canadian work experience during your studies.
- You want welding, robotics, automation, electrical or electronics, all aligned here.
- Your marks are around 50 percent and you want a three year advanced diploma supporting the full work permit.
- You want Professional Engineer status eventually, and understand the degree is the only route.
- You are comfortable in a workshop and laboratory environment.
It does not suit you if
- You want civil engineering and intend to stay in Canada.
- You need a spouse to receive an open work permit.
- You need anything other than an August start for a degree. All seven are August only.
- You expect an engineering technology diploma to make you an engineer in Canada.
- You want residence on campus. It is adjacent to Doon, across the highway.
- You want business, health or creative subjects. This is an engineering campus.
18. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do all Conestoga Cambridge programmes qualify for a PGWP?
No. 30 of 35 do. Five do not. Claims that all diploma and graduate certificate programmes qualify for up to three years are wrong twice: five fail the field of study test entirely, and a one year credential earns a one year permit.
Q: Which Cambridge programmes are not PGWP eligible?
Both civil routes, Mechanical Engineering Technology in Automated Manufacturing, Food Processing Technician and Process Quality Engineering. Each has an aligned alternative at the same campus.
Q: Does Conestoga Cambridge offer engineering degrees?
Yes. Seven degrees, five of them Bachelor of Engineering. Conestoga holds Ontario’s only college-based accredited engineering degrees, and they are taught here. All seven are exempt from the field of study rule.
Q: Does an engineering technology diploma make me an engineer in Canada?
No. Engineer is a protected title. The advanced diplomas lead to technologist work certified through OACETT. Professional Engineer status requires an accredited degree plus PEO licensing.
Q: What are Conestoga Cambridge fees for international students?
CAD 14,588 to 16,319 a year, a narrow range. Nineteen programmes are at 14,588 and all seven degrees at 15,961. Claims of 16,200 to 17,500 are above the real maximum.
Q: What marks do I need for Conestoga Cambridge?
Fifty percent on 25 of 35 programmes. All seven degrees ask 70 percent, as do Embedded Systems and Wireless Network Infrastructure. Construction Management asks 75. Engineering programmes also need mathematics and physics.
Q: How many Cambridge programmes include co-op?
Twenty five of 35, by far the strongest of any Conestoga campus. All seven degrees include it. Most are described as optional, so confirm whether a placement is guaranteed.
Q: Is there residence at the Cambridge campus?
No. Conestoga residence is adjacent to the Kitchener Doon campus, across Highway 401, roughly a three minute drive or fifteen minute walk from Doon. Plan housing and daily travel accordingly.
Q: What IELTS score does Conestoga Cambridge require?
Either 6.0 with no band below 5.5 on 19 programmes, or 6.5 with no band below 6.0 on 16. Every programme accepts IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo.
Q: When can I start a degree at Cambridge?
August only. All seven degrees list two entry windows and both are August starts. They are the only August intakes at this campus, and they do not appear in the September, January or May intakes at all.
Q: What is the CLB requirement for a PGWP?
A second language test within two years of applying: CLB 7 for degree graduates and CLB 5 for college credentials. Since this campus has seven degrees, the higher bar applies to many students here.
Q: Does Apply Study Visa charge for Conestoga applications?
No. Counselling, application review and submission are free, including the CIP code check and the subject prerequisite check for engineering. 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. Confirm your Grade 12 mathematics and physics meet the engineering prerequisite. Confirm whether a co-op place is guaranteed or competitive. Understand the difference between engineer, technologist and technician before you choose. Plan for the CLB test before you graduate. Programme details cover all 35 Cambridge Fountain Street programmes open to international applicants and were checked in September 2026. IRCC rules, tuition and living costs are revised regularly.
