Fleming College

Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario is one of Canada's well-known public colleges for hands-on, career-focused education in health, skilled trades, technology, business and the environment. This guide answers every major question students ask before applying — programs, fees, IELTS and admission requirements, PGWP-eligible courses with their CIP codes, scholarships, intakes, life in Peterborough, and what the new 2026 merger with St. Lawrence College actually means for you.

About Fleming College

Fleming College — formally Sir Sandford Fleming College — is a public Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology that opened in 1967. It is named after Sir Sandford Fleming, the Scottish-born engineer and inventor who proposed worldwide Standard Time, helped build the Trans-Canada railway, and designed Canada's first postage stamp. He moved to Peterborough in 1845, which gives the college a genuine local connection to its namesake.

The college focuses on applied, hands-on learning: most programs are built around labs, workshops, studios, field work and placements rather than lecture halls alone. That practical model, plus small class sizes and personal access to instructors, is a big part of why students — including many from India — choose Fleming.

Where is Fleming College? Campuses and location

Fleming operates four campuses across the Kawarthas and eastern Ontario. The Sutherland Campus in Peterborough is the main and largest campus, and the one most international students attend.

• Sutherland Campus (Peterborough) — the flagship campus on roughly 200 acres of green space, with around 4,380 full-time students, modern health, trades and technology facilities, and six on-campus residence buildings. Home to the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre (KTTC) and the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre.
• Frost Campus (Lindsay) — the centre for environmental and natural-resource programs, set among forests, wetlands and the Frost Centre's outdoor learning sites.
• Haliburton Campus — the Haliburton School of Art + Design, specialising in art, craft and design.
• Cobourg Campus — a smaller campus serving the Northumberland region.

Peterborough sits about 1.5 hours northeast of Toronto. It is a mid-sized, student-friendly city — calmer and noticeably more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver — which is one reason families often prefer it for a first year abroad.

Is Fleming College public or private?

Fleming College is a publicly funded college, not a private institution. It is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), number O19303189722, which is the status international students need to obtain a Canadian study permit. Being a public DLI also matters for your work permit later: graduates of eligible Fleming programs can qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), unlike graduates of certain public–private "partnership" campuses that lost PGWP eligibility under newer rules.

What is Fleming College known for?

Three things stand out:

• Environmental & natural-resource education — Fleming is nationally recognised in this field, taught largely out of the Frost Campus with extensive outdoor and lab-based learning.
• Skilled trades & technology — the purpose-built Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre delivers electrical, welding, carpentry, plumbing, HVAC and engineering-technology programs in modern shops.
• Applied health & community services — practical nursing, pharmacy technician, personal support worker, massage therapy, and rehabilitation-assistant programs with real clinical placements.

Across all schools, the common thread is work-integrated learning — co-ops, field placements and applied projects that help graduates step into jobs with real Canadian experience.

Schools and programs at Fleming College

Fleming offers programs through six academic schools. Credentials range from one-year certificates and two-year diplomas to three-year advanced diplomas and one-year graduate (postgraduate) certificates, plus apprenticeships and degree pathways (including transfer agreements with universities such as Trent).

Here is a representative sample of popular Peterborough programs that international students apply to, with their official 6-digit CIP codes (useful for checking PGWP eligibility):

The 2026 Fleming–St. Lawrence College merger (what it means for you)

This is the most important recent update, and most older guides don't mention it. On 10 April 2026, Fleming College and St. Lawrence College (main campus in Kingston) announced they will merge as "equal partners" — the first college merger in Ontario's history. Here are the verified facts:

• The two boards approved an "integration framework agreement." Full integration is targeted for on or before 1 April 2027, after due diligence, operational planning and community consultation.
• The combined institution (about 12,000–15,000 students) will run under a single management team, with St. Lawrence's Glenn Vollebregt as President & CEO and Fleming's Theresa Knott as Associate President & Chief Academic Officer.
• The colleges state there are no planned campus closures, the Fleming brand continues, and currently enrolled students will complete their studies with no immediate changes to programs or certifications.

Why it's happening: the 2024 federal cap on international students cut visa numbers sharply, creating budget pressure across Ontario colleges. Fleming has suspended or cut roughly 50 programs since 2023 in response. The merger is presented as a way to stay financially sustainable and broaden program choice.

Admission requirements for international students

Requirements vary by program, but for Indian and other international students the general pattern is:

• Certificates, diplomas & advanced diplomas: completion of Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board, usually with a minimum of around 50% overall. Many programs name specific Class 12 subjects.
• Graduate (postgraduate) certificates: a completed diploma or Bachelor's degree, often in a related field, typically 50%+.
• English-language proof (see next section).

Some examples of subject-specific requirements: Pharmacy Technician expects Class 12 with Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry; Practical Nursing looks for a science background with a higher overall percentage; engineering-technology and trades programs typically require Class 12 English and Mathematics. Health programs may also have non-academic requirements such as immunisations, a police/background check and placement clearances.

English language requirements (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo)

Fleming accepts several recognised English tests. As a general guide:

If you don't yet meet the score, Fleming offers 8- and 16-week English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs at the Sutherland Campus. Successfully completing the top EAP level can give direct entry into most post-secondary programs (subject to meeting the academic requirements), without a separate IELTS.

Tuition fees for international students

International tuition at Fleming varies by program and is published on each program's official page. As a broad guide for recent intakes:

• Diploma / advanced diploma programs: roughly CAD $14,000–$19,000+ per year.
• Graduate certificates: roughly CAD $16,000–$18,000+ per year.

For a concrete example, the Pharmacy Technician diploma's official international tuition is about CAD $9,586 per semester (roughly $19,000+ for the first year), which shows why you should never rely on a single "flat fee" number — health and specialised programs cost more than standard diplomas. There are also additional costs for books, kits, uniforms and placements, plus mandatory health insurance (around CAD $900 per academic year through the college's provider).

Cost of living in Peterborough

Peterborough is meaningfully cheaper than Toronto, which is a real advantage for international students. Approximate monthly living costs:

On-campus residences are available at the Sutherland Campus, and there are homestay and off-campus options in the community. A student bus pass is typically included in fees, giving free local transit around Peterborough.

Scholarships & financial aid

Fleming offers a range of entrance scholarships, bursaries and awards, including options for international students, awarded on a mix of merit and need. Amounts and eligibility differ by award and program, and applications are usually made online after you receive your offer. Because specific amounts change each cycle, check Fleming's current scholarships-for-international-students page for the live list and deadlines.

Intakes and application deadlines

Fleming generally offers September, January and May intakes, but the exact terms available depend on the program — some run only in September, others add January or May. High-demand and health programs fill early, so apply as soon as applications open. A common, safe rule of thumb is to apply 6–8 months before your intended start to allow time for the offer, fee payment and study-permit processing.

PGWP eligibility and CIP codes

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets eligible graduates work in Canada for up to three years. Since 1 November 2024, students who are not in a Bachelor's, Master's or doctoral degree (i.e. most college diploma and certificate students) must graduate from a program whose field of study, identified by its 6-digit CIP code, is on IRCC's eligible list. Degree graduates are exempt from this field-of-study rule.

Fleming publishes a dedicated, regularly updated list of which of its programs currently align with the eligible fields of study, along with each program's CIP code. Many in-demand Peterborough programs — across health, trades, technology and several business and community-services fields — are on that list. Because the rules and lists can change, and because the final decision always rests with IRCC, you should:

• Confirm your exact program's CIP code on Fleming's official PGWP-eligible list, and
• Check that CIP code against IRCC's current list of eligible fields of study when you apply.

Co-op, placements and careers

Most Fleming programs include work-integrated learning — co-op terms, field placements, clinical rotations or applied projects — so you graduate with Canadian experience and industry contacts. The college runs career services (resume help, interview prep, employer connections) and partners with local employers. One honest note for planning: Peterborough is a mid-sized city, so the local job market is smaller than a major metro; many graduates broaden their search regionally or relocate (for example toward the Greater Toronto Area) after finishing.

Student life, housing and safety

The Sutherland Campus is a green, self-contained community a short distance from downtown Peterborough, with the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre (pool, gym, courts), the Fleming Sport Complex, dining, a library and student clubs. There is a strong international community with students from more than 30 countries, plus orientation, airport-pickup and arrival support, and multicultural events. Peterborough is generally regarded as a safe, friendly, affordable city — a comfortable place to adjust to life in Canada.

How to apply to Fleming College

1. Choose a program and confirm it is open to international students for your intake (and PGWP-aligned if that matters to you).
2. Check the academic and English requirements on the program page.
3. Apply online through ontariocolleges.ca (Fleming's college code is SSFL), or apply via an authorised representative/agent.
4. Submit your documents (transcripts, English test, passport) and pay the application fee.
5. Receive your Letter of Acceptance (LOA), pay the required tuition deposit, then apply for your study permit.

So, is Fleming College good?

For students who want practical, career-focused training in health, trades, technology or the environment — in an affordable, low-stress city with strong student support — Fleming College is a solid, reputable public choice with genuine PGWP pathways. The honest caveats are that the local job market is smaller than a big city, and the college is in the middle of program streamlining and a 2027 merger with St. Lawrence College, so you should confirm your specific program is running and PGWP-aligned before committing. Do that homework, and Fleming remains a strong, credible option for international students.