What is the difference between college and university in Canada?

So colleges in Canada typically give out diplomas and certificates, which take around one to three years to complete, and then they prepare you to enter into a job afterwards. Universities in Canada will give out bachelor degrees, so those take around three to four years to complete, and they prepare you for more schooling, so you can go into pharmacy, dentistry, law school, or you can continue on and do your master's or your PhD.

In Canada, the difference between college and university will typically come down to the credentials that you earn. College, you will typically earn a one or two year diploma or certificate while in university you'll typically earn a three or four year bachelor's degree. Also in college, you'll typically be studying one subject. While in university you'll have your major, which is your subject, but you'll also have a lot of other classes in other areas so that you earn a well-rounded education.

Traditionally, a college would offer a two or three year diploma and a university would offer a four year degree. Now, many colleges, including Conestoga, also offer four year degree programs. So the difference is in the classes, college has much smaller classes. So you get more access to your professors and the assignments. In a college, you get assignments that are focused on real world simulations and practical hands on knowledge that relates back to the theory that you learned.