Frequently Asked Questions

Most Asked Questions

Staff are available Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Email: info@portagecollege.ca

Portage College Lac La Biche Campus
Box 417, 9531-94 Avenue
Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0
Phone: 780-623-5551
Fax: 780-623-5519
Toll Free: 1-866-623-5551

Portage College Cold Lake Campus
Cold Lake Energy Centre
101-7825 51 Street
Cold Lake, AB T9M 0B6
Phone: 780-639-0030
Fax: 780-639-2330
Toll Free: 1-866-623-5551

Portage College St. Paul Campus
Box 1471, 5205-50 Avenue
St. Paul, AB T0A 3A0
Phone: 780-645-5223
Fax: 780-645-5162
Toll Free: 1-866-623-5551

For all locations and Boyle, you can contact Lac La Biche Campus.
For Frog Lake, contact Cold Lake.
For Saddle Lake and Goodfish Lake, contact St. Paul.

We have seven campus locations spread across northeast Alberta:

  • Lac La Biche
  • Cold Lake
  • St. Paul
  • Boyle
  • Frog Lake First Nation
  • Saddle Lake Cree Nation
  • Whitefish Lake First Nation #128

Portage College Service Region Map

Prospective Students

We would be honoured to show you around campus.

Take a look at our open house schedule or book a personalized tour.

For help you can contact one of our student advisors.

They can provide information about admission requirements, course selection, funding, and other services. This can be done in person (by appointment only), by phone or online.

Advising hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm.

By phone: 1-866-623-5551 ask for a student advisor. If advisors are busy, we will schedule a call with you.

Online advising: Call the toll free number above and schedule an online chat with an advisor.

Prepare for you call or chat:

  • Look at the Programs A-Z list to find the program of your choice.
  • Review the admission requirements on the program page to make sure you have what you need. If you need upgrading, we can help you with that.
  • Write down any questions you have may need answering and have a pen and paper ready to take notes.

Admissions

We offer over 30 certificate and diploma programs to give students the ability to choose their own path through education.

Contact one of our student advisors to get help with choosing a program that's right for you.

Once you've decided on a program, you should apply as soon as possible. There is no deadline for applications, but some programs fill up quickly.

For example, you might want to apply in January or February for the Fall semester and September or October for the Winter semester. However, if the program of your choice has space available, you can still apply up until a few weeks before the start date.

The College is part of applyalberta, which is a one-stop application site, where you can apply to Portage College and authorize the transfer of your Alberta high school or post-secondary transcripts.

How to Apply

Once we have received your application from applyalberta, we will send you an acknowledgement letter and information on what else we may require for the application process.

If you are a successful candidate, you will receive a letter offering you admission to a program along with a fee statement.

It's important that you inform us if you change your address, phone or email. If you don't we will continue to send information to your old address and you may not receive the information you need.

Call 1-866-623-5551

Students will need to pay tuition and fees:

  • Fall Tuition Fees Due - August 15
  • Winter Tuition Fees Due - December 15
  • Spring Tuition Fees Due - April 21

Payment Options

After you accept your offer, you’ll receive a letter from the College. It will give you information on assessment testing (if applicable) and paying your fees. You may also be asked to meet with an academic advisor regarding course options. It will also contain information about Student Orientation.

Financial

You can apply for government student loans until 30 days before the end of the academic year. If you don’t need a loan now to start the term, you can apply later if your circumstances change.

National Student Loan Service
The loan amount you may receive is calculated based on factors including:

  • the cost of tuition;
  • your savings/financial contributions; and
  • your living situation.

Alberta Student Loan Service
To get student aid you must meet academic and residency requirements, have financial need and be enrolled in an eligible program.

For other sources of funding including Indigenous Student Funding and Alberta Supports visit our financial aid page for information and links.

We have many Scholarships, awards, and bursaries available for students. To qualify students must be enrolled in, or have successfully graduated from a program and fulfil specific requirements.

Awards, scholarship and bursaries deadlines are as follows:

  • September
  • November
  • January
  • March
  • May

For exact dates and details check out this link.

Student Support Services

Our counsellors are connecting with students both remotely and in person from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Help is available for personal and career counselling as well as mental health support and sexual violence support & prevention.

Virtual counselling sessions are available to students, here's how:

  • Contact the counsellor of your choice from the list below and supply your email.
  • The Counsellor will send you a "Microsoft Teams" meeting invitation.
  • You can download the app on your device and then simply "join" the meeting.

Counsellors

Lac La Biche Campus
Frances Stewart
Coordinator
Office: 780-623-5578 or Cell: 780-404-1439
Email Frances Stewart

Debbie Jansen
Mental Health Support Worker
Office: 780-623-5544 or Cell: 780-404-4733
Email Debbie Jansen

Please note: An Alberta Health Services Mental Health Therapist is available to students, appointments can be made by calling: 780-623-5230.

Cold Lake Campus & Region
Genevieve Milliken
Counsellor
Office: 780-639-7107 or Cell: 780-545-9355
Email Genevieve Milliken

Alanna Bauman
Mental Health Support Worker
Office: 780-639-7159 or Cell: 780-815-0873
Email Alanna Bauman

St. Paul Campus & Region
William Gill
Counsellor
Office: 780-614-6347 or Cell: 780-815-1424
Email William Gill

After hours, or any time at all, there's the togetherall App. togetherall is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Yes, staff are available Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

You may also contact us by phone or email so we may schedule a virtual session.

All campuses toll free: 1-866-623-5551

Email: info@portagecollege.ca

Portage College Lac La Biche Campus
Box 417, 9531-94 Avenue
Phone: 780-623-5551

Portage College Cold Lake Campus
Cold Lake Energy Centre
101-7825 51 Street
Phone: 780-639-0030

Portage College St. Paul Campus
Box 1471, 5205-50 Avenue
Phone: 780-645-5223

Textbooks can be purchased at the Portage College Bookstore.

Order your textbooks by phone: Toll free 1.866.623.5551 ext. 5647 or 780.623.5647.

Call in your order, have your list ready and your credit card details.

Or if you prefer you can email your order.

Textbooks can be picked up in person, make sure to call first to schedule a pick-up time. Or, we can mail your textbooks.

Technical

Internet Connection

  • Download (and upload) speeds of 5Mbps.
  • A monthly Internet data plan capable of providing sufficient data to be able to participate in online audio/video streaming.
  • There is space provided on campus for students that do not have high speed internet available to them

A Windows 10 computer or laptop.

  • Minimum 4GB of RAM.
  • 10GB+ available hard drive storage.

Enough available hard drive space to install the FREE Microsoft Office suite from Portage College (approximately 3GB)

A method of backing up/synchronizing to local or cloud-based storage such as OneDrive is highly recommended. Onedrive is included with Office 365 access

  • Microphone, webcam and speakers.
  • System updates must be regularly installed.
  • Anti-Virus software

Windows Defender anti-malware platform should be enabled by default.
Windows Firewall enabled.

A Macintosh computer/laptop.

  • Minimum 4GB of RAM.
  • 10GB+ available hard drive storage.

Enough available hard drive space to install the FREE Microsoft Office 365 suite from Portage College (approximately 3GB).

A method of backing up/synchronizing to local or cloud-based storage such as OneDrive is highly recommended. Onedrive is included with Office 365 access

  • Microphone and speakers or headset, webcam.
  • System updates must be regularly installed.
  • Anti-Virus software.

AVG is free and adequate.
MAC firewall enabled.

There is space provided on campus for students that do not have high speed internet available to them.

Arrangements can be made before your program starts.

Contact a student advisor to find out more.

Tutorials for technical assistance can be viewed here.

For help, contact Tech Support by clicking the lin on your portal page or call 1-888-623-5717.

We acknowledge that Portage College’s service region is on the traditional lands of First Nation Peoples, the owners of Treaty 6, 8 and 10, which are also homelands to the Métis people. We honour the history and culture of all people who first lived and gathered in these lands.
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