Vancouver student housing provider sells Sprott Shaw College to U.K. firm | Daily Hive

Sprott Shaw College. (GECC)

A notable shift in British Columbia’s private education sector is underway as Global Education Communities Corp. (GECC), a Vancouver-based student housing and education operator, has finalized the sale of its flagship and historic institution, Sprott Shaw College Corp. (SSCC), to the United Kingdom’s BPP Education Group.

The all-cash transaction transfers ownership of all 16 Sprott Shaw College campuses and two administrative offices located across B.C. to BPP, one of Europe’s largest privately owned higher education institutions. The deal, first announced in July 2025, closed this week, according to a news release issued today.

Sprott Shaw College was originally founded in 1903 as the Vancouver Business Institute. It is one of B.C.’s oldest education institutions, offering a range of career training programs.

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GECC is known for both its educational institutions and its ownership and management of a significant, rapidly growing portfolio of student housing properties in Metro Vancouver, with most of the locations situated within Vancouver and near SkyTrain stations.

Altogether, by the end of this decade, GECC will have 14 student housing buildings across nine locations in the region, including eight that currently exist and six under the development pipeline — such as major projects near SkyTrain’s Langara-49th Avenue Station and Oakridge-41st Avenue Station, and a 49-storey mixed-use student housing tower in Surrey City Centre. When the various projects are fully complete, GECC will have nearly 3,900 beds for students and educational staff, with the new projects representing almost 2,600 additional beds.

GEC Langara 6428-6438 Cambie Street 480-488 West 48th Avenue Vancouver

Concept for GEC Langara at 6428-6438 Cambie St. and 480-488 West 48th Ave., Vancouver. (Urban Solutions Architecture/Global Education City)

gec education mega centre surrey city centre 10240 city parkway

2025 revised concept of GEC Education Mega Centre at 10240 City Parkway, Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects/GECC)

GECC’s ownership of the student housing enterprise did not change as a result of the transaction; the sale of Sprott Shaw College will likely allow GECC to sharpen its focus on the student housing sector and its remaining education institution operations, which include Sprott Shaw Language College (soon to be renamed “SSLC College”), Vancouver International College (VIC), and Global Education Alliance (GEA).

These institutions — along with over 95 other post-secondary institutions in Metro Vancouver — will continue to feed demand for GECC’s student housing.

Recent caps by the federal government on immigration, including international study permits and tighter work permit rules, have made it more difficult for private colleges to attract and retain students. The uncertain policy environment has added financial pressure across the public and private post-secondary education sector.

“We are very proud of the success and growth Sprott Shaw College has achieved since we took ownership in 2007,” said Toby Chu, chairman and CEO of GECC, in a statement.

“For the past 18 years, GECC and SSCC have navigated major events including the 2008 global economic crisis, the pandemic beginning in 2020, ensuing years of inflation and high interest rates, and government-imposed reductions in the number of international students allowed to enter Canada. Despite these challenges, the college has grown substantially in size with integrity and has gained respect from the global education community. I am confident that Sprott Shaw College will continue to flourish under BPP’s ownership.”

Sprott Shaw College in downtown Vancouver. (Google Maps)

BPP’s acquisition represents a strategic push into Canada, particularly B.C., where international education demand remains relatively high. The U.K.-based group provides professional and academic training to over 100,000 learners annually, with offerings in healthcare, law, finance, technology, and more.

“This acquisition marks an important milestone into BPP’s internationalization and meeting the needs of both domestic and international students in British Columbia,” said Graham Gaddes, CEO of BPP.

“We are impressed by the professionalism of the staff and their passion for education, which aligns with BPP Education Group. The acquisition will support SSCC’s plans to continue to be agile in meeting the needs of the domestic and international communities, with programs developed with cultural awareness and inclusivity in mind.”

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