- Red River College was renamed Red River College Polytechnic, or RRC Polytech, in October 2021
- It now operates nine campuses across Manitoba and lists more than 150 full- and part-time programs, of which over 60 are open to international students
- From Fall 2026, 19 programs from the closing Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology move to RRC Polytech's new South Winnipeg Campus
- IELTS Academic requirements are 6.0 overall for certificates and diplomas and 6.5 overall for degrees.
What Is RRC Polytech, Formerly Red River College?
RRC Polytech is Manitoba's largest institute of applied learning and research, based in Winnipeg. The Manitoba government records it as established in 1938, offering over 180 credentialed programs. It was renamed Red River College Polytechnic in October 2021, and its own website now lists more than 150 full- and part-time options.
The institution is a college and polytechnic, not a university. It awards certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, selected bachelor degrees, apprenticeship training and micro-credentials, and it describes polytechnic education as applied, hands-on training combined with theoretical learning that responds to labour market demand.
The name has changed several times since 1938:
- 1938 - vocational education centres open on Henry Avenue and in St. Boniface, Winnipeg
- 1942 - Manitoba Technical Institute becomes the official name for the institution
- 1963 - renamed Manitoba Institute of Technology as the Notre Dame Campus opens
- 1969 - becomes Red River Community College after a public vote
- 1997 - becomes Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology
- 2021 - becomes Red River College Polytechnic, shortened to RRC Polytech
Where Are the RRC Polytech Campuses in Manitoba?
RRC Polytech runs nine campuses. Four are in Winnipeg: Exchange District, Notre Dame, South Winnipeg and Stevenson at the airport. Five are regional: Interlake and Peguis-Fisher River in Selkirk, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, Stevenson at Southport and Winkler. The student residence sits inside the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute on Main Street.
Notre Dame Campus is the largest site and houses most skilled trades, transportation technology, health sciences and engineering technology programs. The Exchange District Campus, in downtown Winnipeg, hosts business, information technology, creative arts and hospitality programs. South Winnipeg Campus is the newest addition, created from buildings formerly used by the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.
| Campus 2026 | Address |
|---|---|
| Exchange District Campus | 160 Princess St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 1K9 |
| Notre Dame Campus | 2055 Notre Dame Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0J9 |
| South Winnipeg Campus | 130 Henlow Bay, Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1G4 |
| Stevenson Campus (Airport) | 2280 Saskatchewan Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3J 3Y9 |
| Interlake and Peguis-Fisher River | 825 Manitoba Ave., Selkirk, MB R1A 2B3 |
| Portage la Prairie Campus | 32 - 5th Street SE, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1J2 |
| Steinbach Campus | Unit 2 - 385 Loewen Blvd, Steinbach, MB R5G 0B3 |
| Stevenson Campus (Southport) | 75 Musketeer Road West, Southport, MB R0H 1N1 |
| Winkler Campus | 100 - 561 Main St., Winkler, MB R6W 1E8 |
Which Programs Can International Students Study Here?
RRC Polytech states that over 60 academic programs are open to international students, drawn from a wider catalogue of more than 150 full- and part-time options. Credentials range from certificates and diplomas to advanced diplomas and selected bachelor degrees, plus an Intensive English pathway for applicants who do not yet meet language requirements.
Programs available to international applicants are grouped under areas of study including:
- Business, accounting and management, including International Business
- Computer and information systems technology, including Application Development and Delivery
- Creative arts, communications and digital media design
- Engineering and construction technology
- Health sciences and allied health
- Hospitality, culinary arts and tourism management
- Community services and education
- Skilled trades and transportation technology
- English for Academic and Professional Purposes
Programs are added and retired each intake, so check the RRC Polytech international list of programs before applying rather than relying on a static course list.
Study Visa Requirements for CanadaRead →How Much Does RRC Polytech Cost in 2026?
International program and student fees at RRC Polytech run roughly CAD 17,700 to CAD 19,900 for the first year of a typical full-time program, according to the college's own catalogue. Domestic fees for the same programs are far lower, around CAD 8,000 a year, and books and supplies are charged separately.
The figures below are taken from the Locations, Dates and Fees pages of the RRC Polytech Program and Course Catalogue, which is the college's own official fee source. They are estimates and can change without notice, and they already include health, dental and international health fees where applicable.
| Programme (international) 2026 | Year 1 fees (CAD) | Books and supplies (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Application Development and Delivery (diploma) | 19,619 | 2,150 |
| International Business (advanced diploma) | 19,929 | 1,500 |
| Business, Accounting and Management - International (certificate) | 17,739 | 2,000 |
For comparison, the same Application Development and Delivery diploma costs a domestic student CAD 7,973 in Year 1. Alongside tuition, RRC Polytech publishes these standard charges:
- Application fee: CAD 160 for international applicants and CAD 122 for domestic applicants
- Tuition deposit: CAD 5,000 for international students and CAD 400 for domestic students
- Student services fee: CAD 222 annually
- Technology fee: CAD 344 annually
- International administration fee to process a refund cheque or courier documents: CAD 109
- Credit card user fee on online payments: 1.95 percent
What Are the Admission and IELTS Requirements?
The minimum academic requirement is a Canadian Grade 12 education or its equivalent, and some programs add post-secondary study in a related field. English proficiency is proved with IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or CanTest, taken within two years of the application date, or by completing the Intensive English for International Students program.
RRC Polytech sets its IELTS Academic thresholds by programme type in its Program and Course Catalogue. The old blanket claim of 6.5 in every band is no longer correct for most certificates and diplomas.
| Programme type 2026 | IELTS Academic overall | Minimum in each band |
|---|---|---|
| Certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Bachelor degrees and Creative Communications | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| International Pathway to Nursing | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Nursing and Allied Health programs | 7.0 | 6.5 |
In October 2025 RRC Polytech widened its exemption list. Applicants from Botswana, Fiji, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are now fully exempt from submitting English test results. Applicants from Gambia, Liberia, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands may qualify by supplying proof of English-medium education. Indian applicants are not on either list and still need a test score.
How Does RRC Polytech Rank and How Do Graduates Fare?
RRC Polytech placed 15th in the Research Infosource ranking of Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges 2025. Its own reporting shows 86 percent of 2022-23 graduates found work in their field of study within six to 18 months of graduating, and a 74 percent graduation rate for the 2023-24 cohort.
The college is not ranked in global university tables such as QS or Times Higher Education, because those rank universities rather than polytechnics. The meaningful comparison is the national college research ranking and the college's published outcome indicators:
- 15th in Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges 2025, with CAD 7,302,000 in sponsored research income in fiscal 2024
- First among Canada's medium-tier colleges for completed research projects, with 158 projects
- Second among medium-tier colleges for total research partnerships, with 150 partnerships
- Total industry research income up 21.7 percent in fiscal 2024
- Graduate employment rate of 86 percent for 2022-23 graduates
- Graduation rate of 74 percent for 2023-24 graduates
- Employer satisfaction of 95 percent for students on work-integrated learning placements in 2024-25
How Do You Apply to RRC Polytech From India?
Applications are made online through the RRC Polytech international portal. The college advises starting at least six months before the intended start date, sending supporting documents within 15 days of submitting the online form, and allowing up to four weeks for processing once those documents arrive by mail.
- Choose a programme from the list of programs open to international students and check its Locations, Dates and Fees page
- Create an online account and complete the international application form
- Pay the international application fee of CAD 160
- Send transcripts, credential evaluations and your English test result so they arrive within 15 days
- Wait up to four weeks for an admission decision once documents are received
- Pay the CAD 5,000 tuition deposit to secure your seat and receive the letter of acceptance
- Apply for a Canadian study permit using that letter of acceptance
What Is Changing at RRC Polytech in 2026?
The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology is winding down, and 19 of its programs move to RRC Polytech for the 2026-27 academic year. Most will be delivered at the new South Winnipeg Campus, created from MITT's former Henlow, Fultz and Pembina buildings. Existing MITT applicants did not need to reapply.
MITT announced the wind-down in January 2026. RRC Polytech confirmed that applicants already holding a MITT application had to complete a transfer form by 15 June 2026 to be prioritised for the Fall 2026 intake, and that RRC Polytech and MITT would share space through Fall 2026 while remaining MITT students finish their programs.
The change matters for international applicants because several trades and health support programs that were previously only available through MITT are now delivered under RRC Polytech admission rules, including its IELTS thresholds for those specific programs.