About Commercial Beekeeping in Niagara college

Do you dream of working outdoors while contributing to the sustainability of one of the most important parts of our natural food system – the pollinator?

As a commercial beekeeper you will help meet the expected demand for pollination services by various agricultural crops in Canada and around the world.

Highlights

• Reflects Niagara College’s holistic approach to agri-food and commitment to helping meet the global demand for thousands of commercial beekeepers over the next decade including the need for over 3,000 commercial beekeepers across Canada by 2023.

• Eastern Canada’s first-ever Commercial Beekeeping program.

• Applied learning experiences via an on-campus apiary with 30 actively managed hives.

• Three-semester program coincides with the normal annual lifecycle of a honey bee.

• Reflective of a provincial focus on pollinator health strategies with an aim to create a highly skilled labour force to care for managed pollinators as wild pollinators continue to decline globally.

• Engaged Program Advisory Committee with representatives from sectors involved in the planning, implementation, regulation and promotion of ecological restoration activities.

Our Niagara-on-the-Lake campus is the first postsecondary institution in Canada to be recognized as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Career Opportunities

• Apiarist
• Apiary labourer, manager or technician
• Honey and beehive-related product production
• Honey production supervisor
• Owner/operator – commercial beekeeping
• Pollination services
• Seasonal beekeeper

Academic qualification equivalents

• Diploma (or equivalent) or Bachelor’s Degree

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS      :     6.5 (No Individual band under 5.5) 
• TOEFL    :     79-80 with 22 in Writing and 22 in Speaking
• PTE         :     58

Niagara college Highlights

Niagara College Average Tuition Fees And Other Expenses

The cost of attendance includes tuition fees, accommodation costs, and other expenses. The tables mentioned below will help international students estimate their cost of living in Canada.

Niagara College Tuition Fee

The cost of attendance is different for international students studying at Niagara College than the domestic students.

Accommodation

NC provides many housing facilities to their students on both their campuses. Students can also consider renting rooms, houses or sublets along with other students who are looking for housemates.

International students also have the following options for stay while they study in Canada:

• Homestays- International students can reside with a Canadian family once they have received confirmation from them.
• Landing Pad- Niagara College Landing Pad accommodates International students for 30 days, including two meals per day. 

The college helps the new students with information and ease the adjustment process with the new country.

Other Expenses

All new and returning students need to pay mandatory non-refundable 500 CAD tuition deposit. This deposit is essential to secure a place in the program. This fee is a part of the tuition fee which will thus reduce the tuition owed.

Applying for Admission at Niagara College

Priority is given to those candidates who qualify for Early Admission (subject to program capacity). Those who are unable to meet Early Admission Criteria may be qualified for admission under the Competitive Admission Process. However, no admissions are guaranteed to those who meet the minimum criteria.