Humber Polytechnic

Humber Polytechnic is based in Toronto, Canada, and has been an internationally renowned institution for career-focused education for over 50 years.

With three state-of-the-art campus locations, the school is one of Canada's largest polytechnic institutions, with more than 86,000 learners, including a population of more than 10,000 international students.

The school provides programs that combine classroom learning with practical experience, incorporating current industry trends and problem-solving skills into its versatile curriculum.

Toronto, Canada's largest city has a population of 3 million people and is a major international study destination. It is home to Canada's largest and busiest airport, which attracts students from around the globe. It's easy to see why. Toronto is the 3rd best city in North America for quality of living (Economist Intelligence Livability Index 2023), and the 2nd safest city in the world (Economist Intelligence Safe Cities Index 2021).

Humber Polytechnic has built its curriculum around five core values: courage, innovation, equity, health and well-being, and sustainability. These values guide the school in its mission to provide high-quality education and an inclusive and supportive environment for every student, so that they may reach their academic, personal, and professional potential.

Humber Polytechnic provides a wide array of support services designed to help students from their first day on campus through to graduation and beyond. The institution recognises that students have diverse needs and offers a wide range of resources to promote academic success, personal well-being, and community engagement. These services help to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive.

Some of the key support services available includes:

• Advising and career services: Guidance on program selection, success strategies, career exploration, job search skills, and on-campus employment.
• Accessible learning services: Provides accommodations and support for students with disabilities.
• Counselling services: Offers free and confidential support from professional counsellors to help students manage personal challenges.
• Health services: Provides on-campus medical care with a team of doctors and nurses.
• Indigenous education and engagement: Offers an Elder, study areas, peer mentoring, and cultural activities for Indigenous students.
• Learning support services: Provides tutors, writing and math specialists, and resources like Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS).
• LGBTQ+ resource centre: Offers support and resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students.

The Humber Guardian app enhances campus safety for students, staff, and faculty. It offers emergency contacts, a personal alarm, mass notifications, and a flashlight. Users can access campus maps, transit details, student support resources, and report hazards. The app also includes a Friend Walk feature and emergency preparedness guides.

Humber Polytechnic delivers a wide array of programs, including certificates, diplomas, and degrees, through a structure that comprises six academic faculties, each with a specific academic focus:

• Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology: Offers programs in design, engineering technologies, and skilled trades, preparing students for future careers.
• Longo Faculty of Business: Provides practical instruction in numerous business fields, equipping learners with essential skills for success.
• Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness: Delivers training across diverse careers in healthcare, using modern facilities and practical placements.
• Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Provides courses in core subjects like English, professional communications, math, literature, and social sciences.
• Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design: Delivers a broad mix of media, arts, music, and performance programs, training students for professional roles.
• Faculty of Social & Community Services: Provides training in criminal justice and human services, with practical experience to prepare students to serve their communities.

Humber Polytechnic has specific entry requirements that vary depending on the program. Generally, applicants must have a high school diploma, with specific English and mathematics prerequisites for most programs. Some programs may have additional requirements like portfolios, auditions, letters of intent, or references. For degrees, English, math, and physics are often required.

English language proficiency is crucial for international students, since classes are delivered in English. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency through tests like IELTS or TOEFL.

The application process involves several steps. Applicants should begin by researching programs on Humber's website and reviewing the unique admission requirements for their specific program. Applications are submitted online through the Ontario Colleges website. It's important to apply early, as programs may fill up quickly. Applicants must provide transcripts from previous institutions, and those from outside Canada may need to be evaluated.

Once accepted onto their program, students will receive an offer of admission and detailed information on how to proceed with the next steps towards enrolment.

Humber Polytechnic is dedicated to supporting students and graduates in their career development. The school redefines career-focused learning, with the highest employment rate in the Greater Toronto Area six months after graduation (KPI Graduate Survey 2022-2023).

To aid in career exploration, Humber offers self-discovery tools that help students identify potential career paths. Comprehensive career services include one-on-one appointments and drop-in sessions, where students can receive personalised guidance for resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile development. Humber's CareerConnect platform offers a valuable resource for job seekers, listing available employment opportunities. The school also provides tailored services designed to meet the unique needs of diverse student populations, such as Indigenous, international, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+, and first-generation students.

Humber Polytechnic also help current students in securing on-campus employment, enabling them to gain practical work experience and develop essential skills before graduating. Humber supports employers by providing services such as job posting and on-campus recruitment.

Tuition fees at Humber Polytechnic vary by program and cover two semesters, including health insurance and mandatory non-tuition fees. International students are required to have health insurance, and this cost is included in the fee structure.

To support its students' financial investment in their education, the school offers a variety of scholarships and awards. In fact, Humber Polytechnic awards over 10,000 bursaries, awards and scholarships annually. These include several scholarships to support new international students:

• International Entrance Scholarship: Available to New Diploma and Advanced Diploma first-year students, these are awarded each term with 20 in Fall, 15 in Winter, and 5 in Summer, and are each worth CAD 2,000.
• Bachelor's Degree Scholarships: Students entering Bachelor's degree programs directly from high school are automatically considered for this award.
• Bachelor's Degree Scholarships for EAP Graduates: Graduates from Humber's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program with a GPA of 80 per cent or higher in level 8, are eligible for a one-time CAD 1,500 scholarship when enrolling in a Bachelor's degree program.

Information about specific scholarships, eligibility criteria, and application processes can be found on the Humber Polytechnic website. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the website for the most detailed and up-to-date information on tuition fees, financial aid, and available scholarships.

Humber Polytechnic recently hosted a panel discussion to promote women in STEM fields, coinciding with International Women's Day. The panel, consisting of four accomplished speakers, representing women in engineering and technology, advised high schoolers to explore careers in these fields, emphasising the diverse opportunities available.

The speakers acknowledged the historical lack of female representation in STEM, and noted that a STEM education provides a versatile skill set which can form the basis of a wide variety of competitive career pathways. One panellist, Renee Price mentioned that when she started in engineering, about 25 per cent of engineering students were women, and today this proportion has risen overall, with about 20 to 40 per cent of graduates from engineering programs being women. Organisations like Engineers Canada are actively addressing this issue, aiming to boost the number of newly licensed female engineers.

Panelists stressed the importance of guidance and practical experience, such as co-op programs, in helping women succeed in STEM, and the discussion also addressed how work experience can greatly assist women in advancing their careers.