University of British Columbia vs Lighthouse Labs vs Canadian Tourism College - CTC vs Langara College vs VanWest College

Side-by-side comparison from 197 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Tie
University of British Columbia: wins 0/5 categories
Lighthouse Labs: wins 0/5 categories
Canadian Tourism College - CTC: wins 0/5 categories
Langara College: wins 0/5 categories
VanWest College: wins 0/5 categories
Columbia College - CC: wins 0/5 categories
Tamwood International College: wins 5/5 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Arts
Vancouver, Canada
Not rated
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0 reviews
×
Vancouver, Canada
4.20
Read more reviews
6 reviews
×
Best programme: Associate of Arts
Vancouver, Canada
3.50
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2 reviews
×
Best programme: Marketing
Vancouver, Canada
5.00
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1 reviews
×
Best programme: Communication
Best programme: Business and Management
Category ratings
Facilities
4.21
Not rated
Not rated
4.17
3.00
4.00
5.00
Win
Location
4.46
Not rated
Not rated
4.17
5.00
5.00
5.00
Professors
4.10
Not rated
Not rated
4.00
4.50
5.00
5.00
Internationality
4.34
Not rated
Not rated
4.17
3.00
3.00
5.00
Win
Student life
4.31
Not rated
Not rated
4.00
4.00
4.00
5.00
Win
Value
4.08
Not rated
Not rated
4.17
3.50
4.00
5.00
Win
Accommodation
3.85
Not rated
Not rated
4.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
Win
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Challenging academics and rewarding workload
  • +Excellent faculty and practical learning opportunities
  • +Vibrant campus, abundant resources, and supportive environment

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  • +- Convenient location and accessible transit
  • +- Strong academic programs and faculty support
  • +- Affordable tuition and financial aid
  • +Supportive and professional instructors and advisors
  • +Creative teaching approach and personalized attention
  • +Close-knit and supportive campus environment
  • +Practical learning and real-world application
  • +Resources and materials for engagement
  • +Passion development and field familiarity
  • +excellent, kind teachers and supportive co-op services
  • +strong international business program
Cons
  • -Difficulty with course selection and academic support in large classes.
  • -Inconsistent professor quality and arbitrary grading practices.
  • -Challenges finding genuine connections and disappointing social scene outside of clubs.

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  • -Poor teaching quality and lack of knowledgeable instructors.
  • -Social isolation and difficulty forming friendships.
  • -Inconvenient location with limited food options.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause significant frustration.
  • -Facilities and resources are frequently described as outdated and inadequate.
  • -Course content and teaching methods are often perceived as unengaging and irrelevant.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and insufficient resources are frequently mentioned.
  • -Lack of clear communication and support for students is a common complaint.
  • -Lack of clear communication and transparency from the administration.
  • -Inadequate facilities and resources, often feeling outdated.
  • -Overly demanding coursework and a lack of flexibility in learning.
Rating summary
What students say

Evaluations reveal a university excelling in several key aspects. The location garners the highest score, followed closely by internationality and student life, indicating a vibrant and globally connected environment. Professors and value also receive positive, albeit slightly lower, ratings. Conversely, accommodation presents the weakest area, suggesting room for improvement in student housing options. Facilities, while solid, are not a standout feature compared to other categories.

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This institution receives generally strong ratings, with several areas achieving a score of 4.17. Notably, **Facilities**, **Location**, **Internationality**, and **Value** are its highest-rated aspects. **Professors**, **Student Life**, and **Accomodation** are rated slightly lower but remain solid at 4.0. Overall, the university presents a consistent, positive image across these metrics.

This institution demonstrates a notably strong performance in its **Location**, receiving a perfect score. Conversely, **Facilities** and **Accommodation** are identified as the weakest areas, each scoring a 3. The university also received solid ratings for its **Professors** (4.5) and **Student Life** (4), with **Internationality** and **Value** falling in the mid-range.

This institution demonstrates exceptional strengths in its academic offerings and campus environment. Professors and location both received perfect scores, indicating a highly regarded faculty and desirable setting. Student life, facilities, and accommodation are also strong points, scoring a solid 4 out of 5. The university's weakest area is its internationality, with a rating of 3, suggesting room for improvement in global engagement. Overall, the university presents a well-rounded and appealing option.

This institution garners top marks in every assessed category, indicating exceptional performance. With perfect scores for Facilities, Professors, Location, Student Life, Accommodation, Internationality, and Value, there are no discernible weak areas. The university excels uniformly, presenting a consistently strong offering to its students.

Reviews summary
Highlights

Over 86% of reviews praise demanding yet rewarding academics, great study spaces, and excellent resources. A small minority (~1%) mentions course selection difficulties and the struggle to connect with people.

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Most reviews are positive (~83%), highlighting convenient location, strong support for diverse students, reasonable costs, and friendly staff. One negative review cited antisocial students and poor teaching from some instructors.

With one positive review out of two, approximately 50% of feedback highlights a supportive campus environment and creative instructors. The average rating is 3.5/5, with no negative reviews.

The sole review is highly positive (100%), awarding 5/5 stars. Students praise opportunities to explore passions and access to resources for real-life practice.

With a 5/5 average rating, this university receives overwhelmingly positive feedback. One review highlights excellent and kind teachers and supportive services for international students.

Rating distribution
5★
38%
0%
0%
67%
0%
100%
100%
4★
50%
0%
0%
17%
50%
0%
0%
3★
12%
0%
0%
0%
50%
0%
0%
2★
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
1%
0%
0%
17%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
Underwhelming

I was there as an exchange student from Europe, attending classes at Sauder Business School and the Mechanical Engineering Department. Studying at UBC is definitely a mixed bag in terms of the quality of education. I did have a few great professors who held wonderfully challenging and well-thought-out classes, making me feel that UBC punches above its weight in terms of educational quality. However, some other lectures were undoubtedly subpar. Grading seemed quite arbitrary at times (moving goalposts seems to be a recurring theme at UBC), and the lectures were not nearly as good as they should have been, in my opinion. It is quite fair to say that other exchange students and I were often shocked that UBC allows these courses to occur annually without making efforts to improve them. At UBC as a whole, less is expected from students than at my home university. I've seen people never show up to class and hold presentations that would never fly at my home uni. Professors seems to welcome all questions even if they are about things a fourth-year engineering student just months before graduation needs to know. I am not sure if UBC ensures that its graduates are adequately educated, and would definitely think twice if I was a recruiter and had to hire someone who attented there. From what I have seen, I would tentatively recommend Sauder Business School. For Mechanical Engineering (and probably also Electrical and Civil Engineering), UBC is simply too small, offering a lack of choices and not many lectures; usually, only introductory courses are offered for most topics. I recommend attending a more engineering/science-focused university, such as Waterloo or others in the US or Europe. It is quite astonishing how much money people pay to attend these subpar classes. Enjoyed having a beach on campus.

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convenient location, small class.

The college has a strong reputation for providing quality education and has been consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in Canada. What I like about Langara College include its diverse and inclusive community, its supportive and knowledgeable faculty, and its modern facilities and technology. Additionally, the college offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, clubs, and events, that allow students to get involved and make connections with others. On the other hand, some students and faculty members may dislike certain aspects of Langara College, such as the high cost of tuition, limited parking options, or crowded classrooms during peak times. However, these factors may vary depending on individual circumstances and experiences.

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