For a complete overview of our leadership team, please see our administration page. Our dedicated administrators provide strategic guidance and essential support across all departments, ensuring that our institution operates smoothly and continues to foster an environment where students and faculty can thrive

For a comprehensive overview of our academic team, please refer to our faculty listings. These dedicated educators bring a wide range of expertise and professional experience to our programs, ensuring high-quality instruction and meaningful learning opportunities for all students.

VSOHA does not operate on-campus housing, so students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. However, our International Admissions Specialist, Domenica Milillo, can offer guidance and support. She can be contacted at domenica@vsoha.com for assistance.

Helpful housing resources and tenant information in BC:

• BC government housing & tenancy information
• Residential Tenancy Branch 3 rights and responsibilities
• Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) 3 tenant rights and human rights

Some private student housing and room providers (information only, not endorsements):

• Casa Student Housing: Furnished student units.
• VanMates: Shared and furnished accommodation options for students and newcomers.
• Rentals.ca: Listing site where you can search and compare apartments, condos, and houses for rent.
• Facebook Marketplace & local rental sites (e.g., Craigslist): Frequently used for finding rooms, shared apartments, and short-term sublets.

When using any private platform or listing site, take extra care to verify information and avoid scams.

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is BC’s public health insurance program. If you will be in BC for more than six months, you are required by law to enrol in MSP. MSP helps cover medically necessary services such as:

• Visits to family doctors and walk-in clinics
• Hospital care
• Medically required diagnostic tests (e.g., X-rays, lab work)

There is usually a 3-month waiting period before your MSP coverage begins. This includes the remainder of the month you arrive in BC plus the next two months. If you apply as soon as you arrive, coverage typically starts on the first day of your 4th month in BC (for example, arrive in August ³ coverage from November 1).

During this waiting period, you should have private health insurance (for example, a plan from your home country or a temporary plan in Canada such as from GuardMe).

Once your MSP application is approved, you will receive a BC Services Card (health card) by mail. You should also register for:

Fair PharmaCare: May provide additional coverage for prescription medications and certain medical supplies or services. You can find more information and apply for MSP and Fair PharmaCare through official BC government and Study in BC websites.

The College is committed to enrolling students who meet program admission criteria and who are likely to succeed in achieving their education and career goals.  For admission to the College, an applicant must meet the following criteria for each specific program:

Bodywork Therapy
C-IAYT Yoga Therapy

*If an applicant does not meet our minimum admission requirements, the requirements cannot be waived by either the College or the applicant.

All students, whether they be Canadian or International students, must prove sufficient English proficiency through one of the following methods:

1. Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages. This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program or providing international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS.
2. Two years of full-time post-secondary education* have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS).*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this
3. Successful completion of one of the following English proficiency exams, achieving the minimum required score indicated below:
   a. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: Minimum overall score of 5.5
   b. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT: Minimum overall score of 46
   c. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Minimum overall score of 40
   d. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5
   e. Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum overall score of 95
   f. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Minimum overall score of 43
   g. Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE): Minimum overall score of 160 or “C” (Institutions may include other Cambridge Qualifications at a higher level, e.g., C2 Proficiency (CPE))
   h. Cambridge Linguaskill: Minimum overall B2 level
   i. LANGUAGECERT Academic: Minimum overall B2 level
   j. The Michigan English Test (MET): Minimum overall B2 level
   k. iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 5
   l. EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1

4. Where the applicant is 19 years of age or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education through one of the other stipulated methods in the College’s Language Proficiency Policy, they may satisfy language proficiency requirements through the Accuplacer English Assessment process as follows:
   1. Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where the English is one of the principal languages*, and
   2. Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
      i. Reading: 230, and
      ii. Writing: 230, and
      iii. WritePlacer: 4

*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation. Accuplacer may not be used to demonstrate that a student meets an admission requirement other than Language Proficiency.

*English-speaking countries include the following:

VSOHA offers an orientation pathway for international students that begins before you leave home and
continues into your first semester in Vancouver. This guide, the VSOHA website, and live orientation
sessions are designed to help you feel prepared and supported at every step.

British Columbia is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Learning about local Indigenous Nations, Treaties, and the history and ongoing impact of the residential school system is an important part of understanding Canada’s past and present. We encourage you to explore resources about:

• Diverse Indigenous Peoples –  the diverse Indigenous peoples of BC and Canada.
• Truth and Reconciliation – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and residential schools
• Local Nations – Local Nations on whose territories you live and study.

VSOHA provides and suggests various options for mental health and counselling support for its students:

• Rhodes Counselling Centre: Offers pro-bono counselling support to Rhodes & VSOHA students. Details and booking information are available through the Student Hub.

• External Counselling Options: Student Services can help you explore options if you prefer to work with a counsellor outside the college.

• Here2Talk: A free, 24/7, confidential counselling and referral service for all post-secondary students in British Columbia (domestic and international). Support is available by app, phone, and web.

• HealthLink BC (8-1-1): Provides non-emergency health advice, including mental health and substance-use information, from registered nurses and other health professionals.

• Suicide Crisis Helpline (9-8-8): A free, 24/7 phone and text service that connects people in Canada with trained responders for immediate support with suicidal thoughts, mental health crises, or emotional distress.

• KUU-US Crisis Line: A 24/7, toll-free crisis service in British Columbia that provides culturally safe support by Indigenous responders for Indigenous people and families experiencing emotional distress, mental health crises, or other urgent concerns.

• Overdose & Addiction Supports: VSOHA provides free Naloxone kits (on site) and information on overdose prevention and response through health authorities, pharmacies, and community services. If you or a friend is concerned about substance use, you can speak with a counsellor at the Rhodes Counselling Centre, contact Here2Talk, or call HealthLink BC.

• Inclusive & Anti-Racist Environment: VSOHA is committed to an inclusive, respectful learning community. If you experience or witness discrimination or racism, you should speak with Student Services, the Director of Student and Alumni Services, or your Student Success Supervisor for a response and support.

VSOHA has a complete set of policies published online: https://vsoha.com/vsoha-policies/
These policies apply to all students, including international students. This guide summarizes key points
only. If there is any difference between this summary and the official policy, the official documents will
always take precedence.