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Humber College, Post Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence
Reviewed on Jan 24, 2025(Enrolled 2023)What Students Say
Likes
- The college had well equipped classrooms with good wifi, projectors and a good audio system for a great learning experience.
- The faculty was knowledgeable, many of the professors had industry experience and were working on the latest tech.
- The coursework was more practical than theory, we had daily lab sessions, projects, and quizzes on weekly basis for our understanding.
Dislikes
- Although not really a con but some classes were held online could be delivered better offline as it created a communication gap at times. Also, some technical issues were there which made it hard to understand some of the topics.
- The coursework was practical but it they didn't go more into technical details about how the technology was made of how it is implemented at the core.
- The program had less options to customize the class schedule or selection of the subjects to students interests.
Course Curriculum
8
- The course curriculum at Humber College is a mix of both theoretical and practical learning. The difficulty level is moderate, with a focus on applying theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios. While the coursework involves technical subjects and some theoretical knowledge, the labs and projects provided hands-on experience, making the learning process more engaging and practical.
- The most positive aspect of the course is its practical approach, where we worked on projects and collaborated with other students. This helped us gain real-world skills and knowledge. On the negative side, the theoretical content sometimes felt overwhelming, especially when we couldn’t delve deeply into the technical details behind the technologies we worked with.
Admission Experience
- I had shortlisted three institutions that I applied to which were -
- Humber College, Georgian College and
- Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
- I was first accepted into TRU and I also had an interview setup with them which was canceled at the end moment because still pursuing my undergrad so I could not provide my final documents on time since they were unavailable from my college. Later, I got accepted into both Humber and Georgian College for the same course and I chose Humber College over Georgian because, I had read some reviews online about both and also saw some YouTube videos from students that were already studying there, I really liked the vibe I got from Humber and also preferred the location where Humber College was as it seem to have more Indians and more jobs for student which gave a sense of home in a new country, and also Humber seemed to have better campus and classes compared to Georgian so eventually I chose Humber College
- I chose Humber College for its good reviews, practical based learning also liked the faculty. One of the main reasons was also the location as it had many from the Indian community living there so it would feel like home living there so these factors played a crucial role to decide Humber college as my study destination of choice.
- The admission process was simple it involved submitting an online application, academic transcripts, proof of English proficiency with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no band below 6 in any module and meeting conditional requirements like final semester results, transcripts and all the other basic documents like passport, photos or any government documents before receiving the final offer.
- Talking about the experience was smooth overall, I had faced challenge with Thompson Rivers University due to missing transcripts and I couldn't additional time to submit my documents as the deadline was already crossed. My rest all was good Humber college had a really simple procedure and they were also helpful in guiding on how to fill the form which the process easy for me.
- I had applied for the Fall 2023 which starts in September. The main factors influencing my decision were that this intake had has many jobs part time job opening before the winters begin and also gives us time to adjust with the climate as it gets really cold with temps around -10 during month of December and January so it is better to come here before the weather gets bad and you get enough time to prepare for it.
- The admission process took around 4 to 6 months. I started my application around December where I cleared my IELTS exams and submitting necessary documents such as Statement of Purpose(SOP), resume and all of my academic transcripts, I had had gotten my conditional offer letter in February but I still had to clear my final semester and have my degree completion letter so it took me a little longer, after submitting all the necessary documents I received my final offer which confirmed my admission into Humber College.
- Although it was a lengthy procedure but manageable timeline that allowed me to be ready for the Fall intake.
Class Schedule
8
- Classes were scheduled five days a week, from Monday to Friday. The course had a mix of online and offline sessions. Typically, the class was divided into two groups (A and B), with each group having their own lab sessions, while theory-based classes were conducted together. The average number of students in each class was about 50.
- In terms of diversity, the classroom was quite varied. Around 70% of the students were Indian, with a good number from African, Persian, and local backgrounds. This multicultural environment provided a rich learning experience, as we could learn from each other’s diverse perspectives.
Faculty
8
- The faculty-to-student ratio in my course was about 1:50, as we had around 50 students in a class, but we had labs that were done in 2 groups so 25 in each. I think this ratio is good and especially having a lab divided into 2 groups makes it better for the professors to focus better on students individually during practical and solve doubts.
- Every class used a mix of lectures, practical labs and weekly quizzes and assignments. This provides enough resources and practice to help us apply our knowledge in our job.
- We also had a special class for career development that focused on making resume, cover letters and preparing for interviews.
- Some professors helped students find opportunities through their industry connections or providing a reference so we can connect with industry professionals to understand what they look for in a candidate.
- I admired my data analytics professor since I admired her way of teaching and she provided good study material which simplified complex concepts and using real-world examples, which greatly enhanced our understanding. She also explained what are the methods we use to tackle a problem and in labs she gave us an outline as well to help us navigate through the labs and systematically apply what have learned.
Campus Life
8
- My college has 3 campuses. One is located in downtown Toronto, other being the North campus which is in Etobicoke, this is the one I attended and other being the Lakeshore Campus which is in Lakeshore Boulevard.
- All campus have wide range of facilities, including a well-equipped library, sports facilities like a gym, and on-campus medical services for students, Art and dance clubs, on campus fast food chains that offer wide variety of cuisines to choose from
- Overall, the campus experience is vibrant, with plenty of opportunities for students to engage in both academic and extracurricular activities.
Part Time Jobs
- On-campus part-time opportunities are available, including Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA) and Departmental Assistant (DA) positions, I'd say about 5% of students are able to secure a spot here as there is a high competition here, but if you do get a job here you can make more than minimum wage and ear up to $25/hr.
- You can also apply to volunteer in library or as a student ambassador to help new students my providing them guidance and hosting events that allows students to engage in fun activities. They are some students that also work at shops or restaurants present in the campus and they make anywhere around $17 - $23.
- For students the work hours are limited to 20 hours and can only work on part time basis in order to maintain they eligibility as a full time student here. I think that is just enough time to work and manage your study and also you save money to pay back your student loans and your personal expense.
- It is tough to secure spot not only on campus but also off campus as many are applying for the same job as the jobs are lesser than the number people applying to it, If you have a reference or somebody that already works there which makes it easy to get the job but its difficult otherwise
- Students normally make minimum wage which is around $17 but doing no experience or a low skilled jobs like working at a gas station, restaurants, shops, warehouses or drive cabs and deliver food on doordash or uber.
- Some students also take additional licences like heavy vehicle license that allows them to drive bigger vehicles like trucks which pays better or a security license which allows them to work as a security person and make upto $27/ hr which is really good.
- You have to search for jobs rigorously while being a student you can apply on online platforms like indeed or glassdoor or directly apply on the company's site, you also have to actively look for jobs around shops or businesses near you by going and talking to them about your skills and provide a resume that reflects your expereince. It is difficult process and takes some time but you have to try every possible option to find a job eventually.
Placement
6
- The current job market is quite challenging, and many graduates face difficulties securing full-time roles within 6 months of completing their program.
- While some do manage to find positions through internships or networking, a significant portion of students are still in the job search phase due to bad market and it is even more difficult while being a fresher as they look for candidates with some experience which is hard to have without a job.
- After graduating you can expect an annual package of $50000 to $70000 depending on the role and the company.
- One of my classmate is working a data scientist in a startup and he was able to get that job after doing a capstone project with that company and then getting a offer to work with them although he is making roughly $30000 which quite less than the standard but since it is a start up they can only offer as much. However it is still a good starting point that allows to learn and gain valuable experience which will help get a better job later. Some of the top firms that hires graduates from my program include Bell, TD Bank, RBC bank, Deloitte, Dell, HP, Microsoft, TCS etc. These are some the top companies that look for people with the skills that are taught in my program and pay a good salary as well.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I found my accommodation through Facebook Marketplace after about two months of searching. Initially, I stayed with a relative, but they lived far from the college, and it took me around 2 hours to commute by public transit. Eventually, I found a place closer to the college, paying $650 per month for a single room, which included utilities like electricity, hydro, and Wi-Fi.
- Finding affordable accommodation was challenging as things have gotten expensive here from past few years, most places cost around $800 to $1000. So would I recommend starting your search 2-3 months before your arrival and using platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or WhatsApp groups to find your accommodation, also research about the locality as some places have higher rate of crimes and drugs being legal is also an issue here. Talk to the person who has posted the ad for the room to make sure the are genuine and not scammers as it's common these days.
- My accommodation is about 20 minutes away from the college by bus and 10 minutes by car. It is very convenient as I need to only take one bus which goes directly to my college.
- Many students and some of my classmates took the same bus as many students live near college and many also came from Mississauga and Brampton where majority of students stay.
Exams
- For admission to Humber College, IELTS and PTE are the 2 most commonly accepted language proficiency test for international students. Apart from this I had no other entrance exam just need to clear my degree with at least 70% overall.
- The documents required for the admission process are Statement of Purpose, a Letter of Recommendation from my undergraduate college, a CV and a letter of completion confirming the completion of my undergraduate degree.
- There was no interview required for Humber College. However, they do accept mostly people who have studied in the same field or related curriculum so they have a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals and coding.
- I did have an interview scheduled with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) like I mentioned, but it couldn’t happen due to missing documents.
Events
8
- The campus hosts several major events and festivals throughout the year, including cultural festivals, tech meetups, fun and games events and festive events like during Christmas or Halloween.
- These events allow students to showcase their talents, learn about different cultures, and build connections with peers from diverse backgrounds.
- There are multiple student clubs and organizations, including cultural clubs, the tech club, finance clubs, art clubs, sports clubs and volunteer organizations.
- These clubs provide opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities like sports, debates, coding challenges, and cultural events. The college also organizes sports competitions such as cricket, football and basketball tournaments, we also have official teams from our college that take part in tournaments with colleges as well as we have our own team.
- Cultural events also happens where students can perform music, dance, or theater. These activities are a great way to have fun and make new friends.
Fees
- The total fees for my course at Humber College was around CAD 18,000 which is for 2 semesters as it was a one year course and had 2 semesters. this was tuition fees which also covered my medical insurance which as roughly CAD 400 and other services and tools which were used for some courses.
- My monthly expenses is around $1100 - $1200. This includes rent which is $650 for a single private room $150 for my commute as I rely on public transit to travel to my college or to buy my groceries and sometimes to explore new places around here. for my food I spend around $250 which is enough to get my monthly ration and also I eat out sometimes. I also buy new clothes sometimes like when it is winter I had to buy jackets and winter or some decor items for my room which in total was around $500 but since it is a one time investment I don't count it as my daily expanse but yeah initially I had invest money to live in a new place.
Scholarship
- Humber College does have scholarships for both international and local students. For international students, scholarships were based on academic performance and I have seen scholarships up to $4000.
- I didn't get any scholarships as such but I had applied for some for which I was eligible for but had no luck getting one. Most of my batchmates, including myself didn’t received scholarships, but I do remember one fellow classmate had got a scholarship of $2000.
- She was part of the black community and the college had options for the student belonging to a particular community through which she was able to get some sort of discount on the fees.
- On average I believe over 1000+ scholarship programs are available for both local and international students so many do get it.
