BFPC PROGRAM

BFPC (Business Fundamentals with Practicum & Co-op)

*This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. ** Graduating from this program does not make you eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

The Business Fundamentals with Practicum & Co-op (BFPC) Diploma at Gastown Business College is a 62-week blended academic and experiential business program located in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district. Students begin with 32 weeks of classroom-based courses—focusing on essential business and communication skills—and then advance to a 6-week unpaid practicum followed by a 24-week paid co-op placement in industries such as administration, marketing, customer service, or finance. With mock interview training, resume workshops, and personalized placement guidance, the BFPC diploma cultivates both the hard and soft skills necessary for career success in an international business environment.

Career Opportunities: Students will be prepared to work as general office Support Worker. In addition, they have opportunities to take on customer service roles.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  • Build and deliver boardroom quality presentations.
  • Research for and engage in formal and informal debates.
  • Complete a business resume.
  • Develop a market-ready strategy for a service or product.
  • Complete a variety of work-related writing tasks including business letters, business reports, and emails.
  • Contribute meaningfully to business conversations.
  • Complete a range of tasks related to administrative support
  • Conduct market surveys and various other research tasks
Total Program Duration: 62 weeks

(excludes holidays and/or approved leave of absence)

In-Class Training: 32 weeks + Practicum (6 weeks) + Co-op (24 weeks)

Curriculum

Course Details

Fundamentals I (4 Weeks)

  • Effective Communication

  • Presentation Skills

  • Resume Writing

  • Email Writing

  • Self Marketing

  • Business Documents

  • Time Management Systems/Attitudes

  • Working Styles

  • Networking

  • Workplace Cultures

  • Transferable Skills

Essential Business (6 Weeks)

  • Interview Skills

  • Workplace Communication

  • Debate Skills

  • Advanced Networking

  • Business Meetings

  • Report Writing

  • Negotiation Skills

  • Canadian Workplace/Culture

Business Development (6 Weeks)

  • Product Development

  • Market Research

  • Market Segmentation

  • Marketing Mix Fundamentals

  • Employee Engagement

  • Performance Management

  • Organization Structures

  • Recruitment & Retention

Fundamentals II (4 Weeks)

  • Telephone Skills

  • Self-Marketing

  • Advanced Business Concepts

  • Company Research

  • Practicum Preparation

  • Working Styles

Hospitality Fundamentals (Online & in- Class – 6 Weeks)

  • Introduction to Hospitality: Hotel Industry

  • Introduction to Hospitality II: Food & Beverage

  • The Forces of Competition

  • Introduction to Hospitality III: Cruise Lines & Casinos

  • Introduction to Travel & Tourism/Airlines

  • Customer Service Management

  • Business Communications & Module Project

  • Co-op Placement Skills & Preparation

Pioneer (Online Classes – 2 weeks)

  • Personality Types

  • Leadership Styles

  • Team Building Strategies

  • Change Management

  • Organizational Culture

  • Final Projects

Business Case Studies & Advanced Communications (Online Classes – 4 weeks)

  • The course on Business Case Studies and Advanced Communications offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in real-world business case studies, aiming to enhance their professional communication skills for career advancement. This course centers around the examination and analysis of actual business case dilemmas, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of complex scenarios.

Work Experience (30 weeks)

  • The practicum (unpaid, 6 weeks) & Co-op (paid, 24 weeks) work experience is a required part of the BFPC program in which the student obtains practical skills relevant to the learning objectives of the program.
* The above outline may be subject to change without notice.

 

Delivery Method

Combined: 50% in-person and 50% distance

Program Start Dates

  • 06-Jan-25
  • 27-Jan-25
  • 03-Feb-25
  • 03-Mar-25
  • 07-Apr-25
  • 26-May-25
  • 23-Jun-25
  • 21-Jul-25
  • 18-Aug-25
  • 15-Sep-25
  • 17-Nov-25

Scheduled Academic Breaks

December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026

Admission Requirements

  • High school graduate or 19 years of age or older at start of program
  • English Language Proficiency (must meet one of the following):
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT: minimum overall score of 46; o Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction and is one of the country’s principal languages; o Duolingo English Test (DET): minimum overall score of 95; o International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: minimum overall score of 5.5; o Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: 56 overall with no band less than 50

Tuition Fees

International

  • Tuition: $16,500
  • Application Fee: $250
  • Course Materials: $700
  • Other: $8

Domestic

  • Tuition: $16,500
  • Application Fee: $250
  • Course Materials: $700
  • Other: $8