Once known as the “Pearl of the Pacific”, Vancouver is a city set in astounding natural surroundings, between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountains. Sitting just over 200km north of Seattle in the USA, the city is distinctly Canadian: a multicultural, liberal city and a great place to study.

Vancouver is a famously safe and friendly city, where a long tradition of immigration has created a mixed and open society. What’s more, as Canada’s third largest city, there’s a huge amount to see and do. The cultural calendar is filled with treats like the annual Jazz Festival and Film Festival, not to mention the huge Gay Pride parade each August. The city’s diverse restaurants, bars and nightclubs are busy seven days a week and offer plenty of opportunities to practise the language skills you develop on your English course in Vancouver. In the winter months, some of the most fun can be had up in the mountains that surround the city.

The ski resorts around Vancouver are some of the best in the world; a fact highlighted by the great success of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. During the winter you can enjoy world class facilities and a huge variety of runs to suit all skill levels. And the après-ski has something for everyone. During the summer months, the hills are great for hiking, mountain biking and the whole range of alpine sports. In the city itself you will find beaches, parks and beautiful spots from which to enjoy the view. Vancouver enjoys one of Canada's mildest climates and is great to visit at any time of year. So what are you waiting for?