Hundreds of International Students Face Uncertain Future After PLC Shutdown

Pacific Link College in British Columbia was ordered to stop teaching immediately after the province cancelled the school’s designation certificate. If you studied there as an international student, your next steps are to protect your immigration status, apply for a tuition refund, and transfer to another designated school if you want to keep studying.

This timeline explains what happened, why the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) took action, and what you should do at each stage to reduce the risk of losing time, money, or your ability to stay in Canada as a student.

Timeline: Pacific Link College closure and what to do at each stage

• October 8, 2025: PTIRU cancelled Pacific Link College (PLC)’s designation certificate, effective immediately. The cancellation required the school to stop delivering its career-training programs right away, including the programs students were enrolled in.
  • What this means for you: treat this as a serious disruption. Start gathering records (enrolment contract, receipts, transcripts, attendance, emails, and any work placement documents). You will need them for refunds, transfers, and immigration questions.
• October 8, 2025: PTIRU cited “serious violations” of the Private Training Act, including:
  • False or deceptive claims on the college website
  • Work placements that did not match program objectives
  • Admitting students who did not meet requirements
  • Advertising and delivering unapproved programs
  • Instructors lacking minimum qualifications
  • Programs not delivered as approved
  • An attendance policy allowing up to 90 consecutive days absence (described as unreasonable)
  • What this means for you: do not assume your program delivery, placements, or credentials will be accepted elsewhere without review. When you contact a new school, ask how they assess transfer credit and prior training from a closed institution.
• October 10, 2025: PTIRU held the first student information session for affected students.
  • What you should do: keep any notes and materials shared. If you did not attend, prepare the same core questions for PTIRU and the refund process:
  1. How do you file a claim for a refund through provincial processes?
  2. What documents does the refund process require?
  3. What do you do if you paid through a third party or agent?
  4. What proof shows you were enrolled when the closure took effect?
• October 23, 2025: PTIRU held a second student information session and posted an information presentation for students through its notice.
  • What you should do: use the guidance as a checklist. Prioritize:
  • File your refund claim quickly (see STPF steps below).
  • Start transfer planning early, since spaces at other schools can fill fast.
  • Put your study permit questions in writing to IRCC so you have a record.
• After October 23, 2025: PTIRU urged affected students to apply for tuition refunds through provincial processes, including the Student Tuition Protection Fund (STPF). PTIRU advised that impacted students may be eligible to file claims and that adjudication could take several months.
  • What you should do right away:
  • Submit your STPF claim as soon as possible with strong supporting proof (see document list below).
  • Keep copies of everything you submit, plus delivery confirmation if you submit by email or mail.
  • Set a reminder to follow up if you do not receive confirmation your claim was received.
• After the closure (ongoing): PTIRU told students who want to keep studying to seek enrolment at another designated institution quickly.
  • What you should do: list schools/programs you can realistically enter and ask each one:
  • Is the program eligible for international students?
  • Is the institution designated for international students?
  • What is the next start date?
  • What documents do you need from Pacific Link College to assess you?
• After the closure (ongoing): PTIRU stated that StudentAid BC funding is only affected if there is a disruption of 21 days or more between institutions. Students must notify StudentAid BC if they transfer or if studies are disrupted for 21 days or more.
  • What you should do: if you used StudentAid BC, track the exact dates you stopped and restarted studies, then report your transfer or disruption using the official contact details:
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 1-888-561-1818
• After the closure (ongoing): PTIRU directed students to contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for study-permit questions, because PTIRU does not decide immigration issues.
  • What you should do: contact IRCC with a clear message that includes:
  • Your full name and UCI (client ID), if you have one
  • Your study permit expiry date
  • The date your school stopped teaching
  • Whether you already transferred, and your new school’s name
  • What you want IRCC to confirm (for example, what you must do to remain compliant while you transfer)
• December 2, 2025: News coverage highlighted that hundreds of students were left in limbo and described reported financial losses and confusion about refunds and transfers.
  • What you should do: if you have not filed your refund claim yet, file it now. If you have not started a transfer plan, start it now.
• December 19, 2025: Additional reporting continued to document the impact on students, including reported tuition losses and difficulties getting clear help.
  • What you should do: check your situation against a simple plan: refund claim filed, transfer path in motion, IRCC contacted if you have study permit compliance concerns, and StudentAid BC notified if the 21-day disruption rule applies.

Your action list (personal checklist)

1) File your Student Tuition Protection Fund (STPF) claim fast

PTIRU urged students to submit an STPF claim as soon as possible and noted that the adjudication process can take months.

Collect your strongest proof before you submit:
– Enrolment contract or student agreement with Pacific Link College
– Tuition payment receipts and proof of payment method
– Any refund requests you already sent and replies you received
– Emails or letters about program delivery, schedules, cancellations, or changes
– Your student number and program details (program name, start date, expected end date)

2) Move your studies to another designated institution if you plan to continue

When a school stops delivering programs immediately, your practical option is to transfer. Do not wait for the refund process to finish before you act on school planning.

Prepare a reusable “transfer package”:
– Proof you were enrolled
– Any transcript, grade report, or attendance record you can access
– Program outline or course descriptions, if you have them
– Proof of English-language level or admission documents you used for PLC

3) Protect your study permit compliance by getting IRCC guidance

PTIRU explicitly directed students to IRCC for study-permit issues. Do not rely on informal advice from friends or agents for something this serious.

Bring a clear set of facts when you contact IRCC:
– The closure date and the impact on your ability to attend classes
– Your current school situation (stopped, transferred, or waiting on intake)
– Your plan and your timeline to restart studies

4) If you used StudentAid BC, report a transfer or a 21-day disruption

StudentAid BC funding is only affected when there is a disruption of 21 days or more between institutions, and you must notify StudentAid BC if you transfer or meet that disruption threshold.

Use the official contact details and keep a record:
– [email protected]
– 1-888-561-1818

What students reported losing — and why you should document everything

Students and advocates reported major financial and time losses. Reported tuition payments ranged from $10,000 to $15,000, and one reported claim described roughly $18,000 owed to a student.

Treat your paperwork like evidence in a formal file. Save:
– Every receipt
– Every email
– Every screenshot of policies or program promises you relied on
– Every message you send to PTIRU, the STPF process, your bank, your new school, and IRCC

Important: strong documentation makes STPF claims and immigration explanations far easier to adjudicate. Keep backups (cloud and physical) and delivery confirmations for anything you submit.

Where to get official help (contacts)

• PTIRU / Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU): [email protected]

If you need immigration guidance or general student immigration resources, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.

Quick recommended next steps (3-step practical plan)

1. File your STPF claim immediately with all supporting documents.
2. Start a transfer plan the same week — contact other designated institutions and prepare your transfer package.
3. Contact IRCC if your studies are paused or you have any study-permit compliance concerns; record your communication.

If you follow the checklist above—refund claim filed, transfer path in motion, IRCC contacted if needed, and StudentAid BC notified if relevant—you will best protect your finances and your immigration status while resolving the disruption.