St. Clair College

St. Clair College is a public college in southwestern Ontario with its largest campus in Windsor, directly across the Detroit River from the United States. It offers career-focused certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, graduate certificates and bachelor's degrees across business, information technology, engineering, skilled trades, health sciences and community services.

For international students, however, choosing a St. Clair College program in 2027 requires more care than it did a few years ago. Canada's post-graduation work permit rules have changed, the former Greater Toronto Area partnership campuses have been wound down, international enrolment has fallen sharply, and a course being offered by St. Clair does not automatically mean that it is PGWP eligible.

This guide therefore goes beyond a basic list of St. Clair College courses and fees. We checked St. Clair College's current program, admission, tuition, housing and PGWP information alongside IRCC rules to explain what an international student actually needs to know for 2027 admission.

What this guide covers

1. St. Clair College at a glance
2. St. Clair College campuses
3. St. Clair College 2027 intakes and open programs
4. St. Clair College PGWP eligible programs
5. Popular courses for international students
6. St. Clair College fees for international students
7. Admission requirements
8. IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and English requirements
9. St. Clair College acceptance rate
10. Ranking, graduate employment and outcomes
11. Residence and cost of living
12. Scholarships for international students
13. DLI, PAL, study permit and PGWP rules
14. What happened to St. Clair College Toronto?
15. How to apply to St. Clair College
16. St. Clair College for Indian students
17. What other St. Clair College pages often get wrong
18. St. Clair College refund policy for international students
19. Frequently asked questions

1. St. Clair College at a Glance

St. Clair College's history reaches back to the Western Ontario Institute of Technology, but St. Clair itself became part of Ontario's college system in 1967. The college says it has produced more than 150,000 alumni since then.

Its location is unusual among Canadian colleges. Windsor sits directly opposite Detroit, Michigan, making the region closely connected to Canada's automotive, advanced manufacturing, transportation and cross-border economy.

2. St. Clair College Campuses: Windsor, Downtown or Chatham?

The Main Windsor Campus is the centre of the St. Clair experience. The college describes it as home to thousands of students across more than 100 programs and facilities including the Centre for Applied Health Sciences, construction and production facilities, residence and SportsPlex.

The Downtown Windsor Campus is spread across several downtown locations. The St. Clair College Centre for the Arts sits on the Detroit River and includes the Chrysler Theatre, while other downtown facilities support different academic programs.

The Chatham Campus is considerably smaller. St. Clair describes it as an intimate campus specializing in health sciences, community studies, business, technology and skilled trades. It also has on-campus townhouse-style student residence.

3. St. Clair College 2027 Intakes and Open Programs

St. Clair College operates several admission periods, but not every course starts in every intake. September normally offers the broadest selection, while January and May have a smaller group of programs.

Winter 2027 – January Intake

St. Clair College's current Winter 2027 open-program page lists:

• Computer Programming
• Computer Systems Technician - Networking
• Data Analytics
• Early Childhood Education
• Electrical Techniques
• Personal Support Worker
• Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees
• Predictive Data Analytics
• Supply Chain Management

Spring 2027 – May Intake

The college currently lists only three programs on its Spring 2027 open-program page:

• Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity - Automobility
• Personal Support Worker

Fall 2027 – September Intake

September has a substantially larger program selection. St. Clair's program catalogue already displays Fall 2027 status information showing whether individual programs are open, closed or waitlisted.

4. St. Clair College PGWP Eligible Programs for International Students

This is one of the most important sections of the guide.

Older articles often say that graduating from a Canadian public college automatically leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit. That is no longer a safe assumption.

For students affected by the newer IRCC rules, non-degree college programs generally must be in an eligible field of study. St. Clair College maintains its own list of programs aligned with IRCC's eligible fields and publishes the corresponding CIP codes.

The college's table contains 19 entries because certain programs have separate program codes by campus. The number of unique program names is therefore lower than the number of rows.

5. Popular St. Clair College Courses for International Students

Search results for St. Clair College still show dozens of courses, but international students should now separate programs into two categories: courses that match their academic interests and courses that also fit their post-study work goals.

Computer Programming

Computer Programming is one of St. Clair's most flexible PGWP-aligned options because the college lists January, May and September starts. The program carries CIP 11.0201 on St. Clair's PGWP page.

Computer Systems Technician - Networking

This two-year diploma is another multi-intake technology option and appears on St. Clair's PGWP-aligned list under CIP 11.1001. Students looking for a longer program can also examine Computer Systems Technology - Networking, an advanced diploma.

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management is particularly relevant to applicants who already hold post-secondary education and want a graduate certificate. St. Clair currently identifies the program as PGWP aligned and offers January, May and September start dates.

Predictive Data Analytics

Predictive Data Analytics is another graduate certificate on the current PGWP list. It is distinct from similarly named data programs, which is why international students should compare the exact program code and CIP instead of assuming every data-related course has the same immigration status.

Civil and Biomedical Engineering Technology

Students interested in engineering technology can consider Civil Engineering Technology and Biomedical Engineering Technology - Equipment and Devices, both of which appear on St. Clair's current PGWP-aligned list.

Skilled Trades

PGWP-aligned skilled-trades choices currently include Carpentry and Renovation Techniques, Plumbing Techniques, Welding Techniques and Woodworking Technician.

Health and Community Programs

St. Clair's current list also includes Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing at Chatham, Child and Youth Care, Pre-Health Sciences, Social Services Worker - Gerontology and Veterinary Technician.

6. St. Clair College Fees for International Students 2026-2027

There is no single St. Clair College international tuition figure because fees depend on the program, semester and sometimes the specific cohort.

The college's official Fall 2026/Winter 2027/Spring 2027 fee sheet shows that several common first-year program cohorts carry total international charges around CAD 20,099.60 across Fall and Winter. Examples in the published schedule include Business, Computer Programming, Computer Systems Technician - Networking and Cybersecurity.

Some programs cost substantially more. St. Clair's 2026-27 fee schedule, for example, shows higher international totals for programs such as the Bachelor of Business Administration and Collaborative Nursing.

There is another reason students should not rely on a single number found on an education-agent website: St. Clair sometimes bundles accommodation or other charges into specific international cohorts, meaning two rows for the same program may not show identical totals.

7. St. Clair College Admission Requirements for International Students

Admission requirements depend on the credential.

These are only the general thresholds. Nursing, health-science, technology and other competitive programs can require particular Grade 12 subjects and much stronger academic results.

St. Clair also identifies a number of oversubscribed programs, including Nursing BScN, Practical Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, Medical Laboratory Science and Paramedic. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee a seat in a competitive program.

International applicants should prepare their academic transcripts, graduation certificate or degree, English-language result, passport and any additional documents required by the individual course.

8. St. Clair College IELTS, PTE and Duolingo Requirements

English-test results generally need to have been taken within two years of the application date.

Special programs can be different. Pharmacy Technician, for example, has a significantly stronger language requirement than a normal diploma program.

9. What Is the St. Clair College Acceptance Rate?

St. Clair College does not publish a single official institution-wide acceptance rate for international students.

You may see figures such as 44% on education websites. These are third-party estimates, not a published St. Clair College acceptance-rate statistic.

The more useful question is whether your specific program is open, competitive or oversubscribed. Admission to a general diploma with available capacity is very different from admission to Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Sonography or another limited-seat health program.

For 2027 applications, students should therefore focus on:

• whether the program is open for the chosen intake;
• whether international applications are being accepted;
• academic prerequisite subjects;
• English requirements;
• whether the course is oversubscribed;
• and whether the program's immigration outcome fits the student's goal.

10. St. Clair College Ranking and Graduate Outcomes

Students frequently search for “St. Clair College ranking in Canada”, but rankings need context.

St. Clair is an applied public college rather than a research-intensive university. Global university tables such as QS and Times Higher Education are therefore not especially useful for evaluating it. Third-party study-abroad websites sometimes create their own college rankings, but these should not be confused with an official Canadian government ranking.

A more useful official measure is Ontario college performance data.

These figures should not be presented as current international-student employment probabilities. St. Clair states that these KPI figures are based on domestic graduates, and the published data relates to the 2022-23 reporting period.

11. St. Clair College Residence, Housing and Living Costs

St. Clair College provides residence options in both Windsor and Chatham.

Windsor Residence

The Main Windsor Campus has traditional college residence options as well as GEM Residence. GEM contains more than 500 rooms in single and double occupancy configurations, with shared facilities, Wi-Fi and on-site laundry.

Chatham Residence

The Chatham Campus has a smaller townhouse-style residence close to classes.

Off-Campus Housing

St. Clair's international housing guidance tells students in Windsor and Chatham-Kent to prepare for approximately CAD 12,000-15,000 per year for rent, with utilities, internet and groceries potentially adding to the total.

That means an international student's real annual budget can be significantly higher than tuition alone.

12. St. Clair College Scholarships for International Students

St. Clair College's Foundation awards more than CAD 900,000 in general scholarships to roughly 900 recipients each year.

Most Foundation scholarships are available to both international and domestic students, although individual awards can have their own eligibility conditions.

The general scholarship process normally opens from October 1 to December 1. Applicants are matched to available awards after submitting a single scholarship application through the Student Information System.

Students normally need to be enrolled full-time, remain in satisfactory academic standing and meet the criteria attached to the particular award.

13. St. Clair College DLI, PAL, Study Permit and PGWP Rules

Is St. Clair College a DLI?

Yes. Canada's official DLI list identifies St. Clair College's public Windsor and Chatham locations under DLI number O19395083703.

Do St. Clair College students need a PAL?

Most new international post-secondary students who are not covered by an exemption require a Provincial Attestation Letter as part of the study-permit process.

St. Clair's international admission procedure states that after the applicant receives an LOA and pays the required confirmation amount, the college can provide the PAL required for the study-permit application.

How much money must a student show for a Canadian study permit?

For study-permit applications made on or after September 1, 2026, IRCC requires a single student studying outside Quebec to demonstrate CAD 23,448 for living expenses. This amount is separate from tuition and transportation.

Does every St. Clair College course give a PGWP?

No.

For college, polytechnic and other non-degree programs affected by the current field-of-study requirement, students generally need to graduate from a program with a currently eligible CIP code. Degree graduates are treated differently under IRCC's field-of-study rules.

IRCC also imposes a language requirement at the PGWP stage. For graduates of college and other non-university programs, the current minimum is generally CLB/NCLC 5 in all four language abilities. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates face a higher CLB/NCLC 7 threshold.

14. Does St. Clair College Still Have a Toronto Campus?

This is one of the biggest sources of outdated information about St. Clair College.

St. Clair previously delivered programs through a public-college-private-partnership arrangement with Ace Acumen Academy in the Greater Toronto Area, including Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.

Those locations were different from St. Clair's publicly operated Windsor and Chatham campuses.

Canada later changed PGWP rules for students beginning programs at public-private partnership locations, and St. Clair began winding down the Ace Acumen arrangement.

St. Clair reported no new Ace Acumen enrolment in Fall 2025, and its 2026 records say the partnership winddown is now complete.

15. How to Apply to St. Clair College as an International Student

16. Is St. Clair College a Good Option for Indian Students in 2027?

For an Indian student, St. Clair College can make sense when the specific program fits the student's previous education, career plan, finances and post-study objectives.

St. Clair may suit you if

• You want to study at a public Ontario college in Windsor or Chatham.
• You have found a program that matches your previous studies and career progression.
• Your chosen program is currently PGWP aligned and a PGWP is important to you.
• You are interested in IT, engineering technology, health, community services, skilled trades or supply-chain related studies.
• You prefer Windsor's mid-sized border-city environment to downtown Toronto.
• You have budgeted realistically for both tuition and housing.

Think carefully if

• You selected the college only because an old website advertises a Toronto campus.
• You are assuming every public-college diploma automatically produces a PGWP.
• You are choosing a program unrelated to your previous education purely because it is open.
• Your financial plan covers tuition but leaves little room for rent and other living expenses.
• You are relying on an unofficial acceptance-rate or ranking figure to make your decision.

The best choice is therefore not simply “St. Clair College versus another college.” The more useful comparison is the exact program + campus + tuition + PGWP status + career outcome against equivalent programs at other public institutions.

17. What Other St. Clair College Pages Often Get Wrong

18. St. Clair College Refund Policy for International Students

The St. Clair College refund policy for international students is important to understand before paying tuition or a confirmation fee. Refund eligibility depends on why you are withdrawing, when the refund request is submitted, whether you have arrived in Canada, and whether you are transferring to another Canadian institution.

St. Clair College requires international students who want to withdraw to officially submit an International Withdrawal Request together with all required supporting documents through the student OCAS portal as a refund request.

St. Clair College International Refund Policy at a Glance

Refund if Your Canadian Study Permit Is Refused

If an international student's Canadian study permit or visa application is refused, St. Clair College has a specific refund procedure.

The student must provide:

• a copy of the official visa/study permit refusal letter;
• a completed International Student Withdrawal Form;
• the refund/withdrawal request through the required online admissions process; and
• any other information requested by the International Education Office.

St. Clair's current policy states that all other approved refunds are subject to the CAD 2,649.95 administrative fee. Visa-denial cases are handled separately under the college's visa-refusal provisions.

What Happens if You Apply for a Refund After Classes Start?

The first 10 business days of the semester are crucial.

St. Clair College says first-semester international refund requests are reviewed between days 6 and 10 of the beginning of the semester. The actual processing of refund requests does not begin until after the 10th business day, but the student's request still needs to be received by the 10th business day.

If the student misses that deadline, fees for the current semester are generally no longer eligible for refund. Fees already paid for later semesters may still qualify for return.

Refund if You Transfer from St. Clair College to Another Canadian DLI

International students cannot treat a transfer to another Canadian school as a simple tuition cancellation. St. Clair requires extensive documentation when a student is withdrawing to attend another Designated Learning Institution.

The college currently asks transferring students to provide documentation including:

• the St. Clair College Letter of Acceptance;
• the student's original Study Permit;
• a copy of the new study permit identifying the new institution;
• a copy of the student's passport;
• the Letter of Acceptance from the new Designated Learning Institution;
• evidence that the new program is for the same semester and at the same or a higher level of education;
• the Provincial Attestation Letter from the new institution;
• proof that first-semester tuition has been paid to the new institution;
• confirmation that the student changed their DLI with IRCC;
• communication with the student's education agent about the withdrawal, where an agent was used; and
• the bank-wire receipt showing the original payment from the student's home country.

This means students planning to move to another Canadian college or university should not assume that paying tuition to a new school automatically triggers a St. Clair refund.

What if the Student Has Already Arrived in Canada?

International students who have already arrived in Canada have an additional requirement. St. Clair College currently requires them to schedule an appointment with an International Department Manager before the refund is disbursed.

If the student is leaving Canada and returning to their home country, St. Clair also requires a copy of the student's boarding pass after the student has arrived home.

Are St. Clair College Housing Fees Refundable?

Students need to distinguish between ordinary tuition and accommodation charges.

According to the international withdrawal policy, bundled accommodation fees are normally non-refundable. The stated exception is a visa-denial case.

Students who have already used St. Clair College's arrival or settlement services, including short-term accommodation, may also face a non-refundable charge of up to CAD 500.

Is International Health Insurance Refundable?

For a registered international student requesting a refund, the mandatory first-semester International Health Insurance fee is normally non-refundable.

The college makes an exception for students whose visa or study permit has been denied.

How Does St. Clair College Send the Refund?

St. Clair College states that refunds are normally issued through the same payment method used for the original transaction once a complete refund application has been received and approved.

Any outstanding amount that the student still owes to the college will be deducted before the remaining refund is issued.

19. Frequently Asked Questions About St. Clair College