Career-Focused Education

Why Polytechnic?

A polytechnic education offers a distinct third option between university and college – one that combines the deep, theoretical learning with applied, hands-on experience. At Humber, we believe this unique combination gives our students the very best chance to succeed in their personal and professional lives.

The polytechnic model of education is well established and highly regarded across Canada and around the world. Along with an emphasis on hands-on learning and practical experience, it incorporates the following elements:

Industry partnerships – career-focused, community-responsive education and research that is relevant to the existing job market and developed in partnership with employers.
Comprehensive range of credentials – programming across a wide range of credentials and fields of study, using a variety of delivery methods including day, evening and online classes. Credentials can include bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, graduate certificates, certificates and apprenticeships.
Pathways – effective and efficient pathways between credentials to recognize previous learning and allow students to build on their prior education.
Innovation and entrepreneurship – a unique blend of theoretical, applied and breadth learning, including relevant work experience and multiple opportunities for experiential learning and entrepreneurship.
Applied research – opportunities for students to partner with faculty and industry to solve real-world problems through applied research.

Apprentice and instructor looking at paper in factory

Get Ready for Your Career

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)

Work-integrated learning opportunities prepare you for your future career. You will apply what you’ve learned in class and in real-world environments through a wide range of academic, community and industry partnerships. These work-integrated learning opportunities may include field experiences, professional practicums and co-operative education.

Full-Time Program List

WIL at Humber

Types of Work-Integrated Learning

Two students and instructor wearing hard hats working on roof

Field Experience

A field experience offers students an opportunity to engage in intensive experiences related to their field of study or career goals to build their skills, knowledge and abilities. Field experiences may be paid or unpaid.

Professional Practicum

Programs requiring a professional practicum offer practice-based experience or work hours for a professional license or certification. Students work under the direct supervision of an experienced professional. Placements are unpaid.

Student wearing safety glasses woodworking

Co-operative Education

Students in co-op programs gain experience through paid work terms in their field of study that become progressively more complex as their skill level increases.

Student in recording room with saxophone

Optional Co-operative Education

Students in co-op programs gain experience through paid work terms in their field of study that become progressively more complex as their skill level increases. The co-op portion of this program is optional.

Our Faculties

Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology

With our comprehensive programs in design, engineering, engineering technology, and skilled trades we are preparing our students for careers of the future. Academic theory blended with applied learning provides a strong educational foundation, while state-of-the-art facilities, work placements, and apprenticeships provide experiential learning in the classroom, and in the industry.

Longo Faculty of Business

We offer a variety of relevant programs designed to launch your career, start a new one or to pathway your education to higher credentials. Many of our degrees are offered on a common platform with pathways to a variety of specializations. Build on your degree or diploma with an Ontario Graduate Certificate in business. International Students can stack postgraduate programs to study in Canada longer.

Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness

We are committed to sharing our knowledge and experience with students to help them become skilled, adaptable, compassionate and career-ready graduates. Our faculty experts reinforce excellence and a commitment to social justice and transformation as students train to work across a range of careers in the healthcare and wellness fields.

Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences

We are a part of every student’s experience at Humber, whether you are enrolled in one of our programs directly or through one of the five other Faculties. We offer courses in English, Professional Communications, Math, Literature, Social Sciences, Humanities, Science, and many more discipline areas that are at the core of a polytechnic education. We are the education that you take with you, no matter where your path may lead you.

Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design

We specialize in storytelling of all forms. No matter your medium, we show you how to bring your art to life: on page, stage, screen, or speaker. Get hands-on experience through Live Labs, regular performances, and ongoing work-integrated learning, and learn the industry-specific business skills needed wherever your career and your story take you. Your professional future starts here.

Faculty of Social & Community Services

Through our Community, Justice, and Social programs, we help prepare our students to reach their career and academic goals, designed to help them make a difference within their community. We have outstanding student support services, state-of-the-art facilities and practical work experience, along with expert faculty, and industry partners to support our students to academic success on their learning journey.