SAIT Polytechnic Review

be aware of the white middle aged Spanish(?)guy who's working at a service center in this hall. I came by to pay for my test today and his behavior was so rude the whole time. he treated me as If I was a little kid and didn't let me finish my sentences. he even hit the table with his hand aggressively at the end for no reasons. not sure If he only does this to young ppl like me,but this guy doesn't deserve to work here due to a lack of basic manners

It is one the best polytechnic college in the canada. It is really worth to get your studies done from here but sometimes your schedule can get really tight so many students may not like it. It provides deep practical and theoretical knowledge.

As a former student, SAIT provided me with the knowledge and confidence to strongly establish myself in my field. Now, many years later, I am a proud faculty member of this institution. Your experience will be a result of the efforts you will put in, but with hard work and a positive "can do" attitude, you are very likely to find all the successes you dream of.

I love my school so much! Everything about it is great! I re-did high school here and currently a full time engineering technologist student... the atmosphere on campus is welcoming to everyone, campus is easy to navigate and instructors are excited to teach and help!

I like the building. The interior is amazing, but workers kicked out students from 2nd floor even though it was empty.

How a government subsidized school gets poor reviews from some people is beyond me.

I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I have had at SAIT and thankful to live in a place that offers educational training for a wide variety of people.

I have taken a trade training, continuing education, and general interest courses at SAIT. Each one has been marked with professionalism and industry professionals.

Great experience. Sometimes I am not sure if some of the teachers should be there ...
besides that overall great uni

Beautiful looking building, the original SAIT. But then you walk inside, and it's all '80's. The inside needs a tasteful renovation.

Everything else was perfectly fine. Nice, friendly staff, very helpful. Clean.

Walking up, and using the main doors is always fun. Very picturesque.

update in August, 2020. (9months)

Still waiting .

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I paid my brother one year tuition but his student visa didn't get through. I have been requesting a refund since mid of December, 3.5 months later, after more than 5 phone calls, multiple emails requests, I learned the same answer every time !!!!! " we didn't see your request in email, and I am going to make another request, then you have to wait another up to 6 weeks. "
I don't know what i should do if i get same answer in 6 weeks.

5 phone calls sound nothing but it takes 40 to 60 mins waiting every time. very frustrated!!!. I hope SAIT college can see my review and respond.

Haven't went to it but I have to one of their summer camps!

Gave us very inaccurate information when we visited

Terrible college. Cant even answer their phones or emails.

Centre of SAIT, bookstore, library, food court, class rooms, Student services

I like it there, the campus life was fun. The whole college had a great feel to it, it was awesome going to SAIT

It's a great facility (except the bathrooms they are terrible and out of order a shocking amount of times). I had a great time and learned a lot. The coronavirus lockdown cut my program short and I also lost a ton of opportunities in the way of shop time and business development.. naturally there was no sort of prorated refund.

SAIT claims that most of its graduates are guaranteed employment after finishing schooling, that isnt true. SAIT is all about taking your money and offering little to nothing in return. I have a couple of friends who graduated from here years ago and still havent found employment, even though "employment is gauranteed" on the website. Do not attend this school, it is an absolute scam.

Great faculty and beautiful campus, but do yourself a favor and get a bicycle or a transit pass because parking is not cheap. It does have a convenient location though, and lots of awesome places to get food nearby.

I went there two times just to get information about programs and student loans. Nobody gave me any accurate answers. I emailed them several times, they replied 4-5 days after my email, with not enough info!

You can learn many of the courses taught here by yourself as they are easy. See the course bibliography. Grab a book. Go to a library. Much more efficient.

Is this some kind of joke? I need one class to get the Canadian MLT license. You would think in three weeks they'd be able to unlock the course, but no, I just keep getting busy dial tones on the phone (what is this, 1990?) or a robo voice telling me they can't take my call. My emails have gone largely unanswered, and whenever they do bother to answer, they're wrong on literally everything. This is ridiculous. I wouldn't be dealing with these people if I didn't have to.

When I visited Calgary last year and learned that Paladin was in charge of security at SAIT, I knew they were trouble and that my safety was at risk. I took great care to park elsewhere and I wound up cutting my visit short.

Now that G4S has taken over, I am happy to visit SAIT again and see what you have to offer. Well done on making a positive change!

I had done my AT FIRST year and dropped the 2nd due to the baby but because there is no daycare at SAIT i am still in trouble to go back and complete. after studying on student loan i cant afford daycare for my child.

SAIT is a big school but does not support many students. My friend has failed a visa because of an unbelievable reason, his letter of acceptance from SAIT not clear, duplicate study time. Furthermore, When he asked the school to write a letter to help him explain to his Consulate, SAIT has declined.
Finally, He failed the visa, reason not by him but by SAIT. Increasingly poor quality.

Did my Apprenticeship here back in 09 and the school had great instructors with great hands on training . Have returned recently to find that the courses are dragged out with irrelevant, and outdated material . Text books are often wrong and or opposite of what's on a test . The tuition costs don't reflect the value of the course... fancy new buildings though .

I've gone here for drafting, my electrical apprenticeship, and now I'm doing the EET course part time. I've had successes and failures, and they both reflect well on SAIT. Those times I wasn't focused, I washed out and failed. This shows that SAIT has standards and enforces them. Those times where I genuinely did my best, I mastered the subject matter and came out as an expert in my field.

Like anything made by humans, SAIT isn't perfect. SAIT is very well run though, has a vision, and does a great job executing that vision. The teachers are overwhelmingly well qualified and dedicated. The support staff is helpful, patient and persistent. By far the most negative thing is the food. I've ate at basically every restaurant at SAIT, and I would describe the food as universally terrible.

6/5
I don't understand how anyone could give SAIT less than 5 stars. It truly is a world-class facility that aims to provide every student that walks through the door the right tools and skills to be successful in what ever trade they desire. I took the AT program and if it wasn't for the guidance from the instructors and the course material we learned, I'd hardly be the tech I am today! For one semester I also lived at East Hall on campus and that was a great learning experience as well. I have had many opportunities come my way because employers resonate so highly with SAIT. There's a reason it has been operating in Calgary for so long and continues to grow! Nice work SAIT!
-mackenzie

Network Technician course is amazing. Because of SAIT I was able to change career easy and they helped me get a job even before completing the program!

SAIT made me so frustrated. I am graduated and international student. I waited for over a month to have my transcript and my completion letter to apply for my PGWP. SAIT sent me an email with no unofficial transcript. In the email, they showed me detail about how to pay $10 for official transcript. However, I don't need official transcript. I only need unofficial transcript. They only said I can print it on mysait. I went to mysait website, but there were no way to print or save it to my computer. I tried to contact them by email last week, call back system for today, but what I received is unavailable...SAIT only have instruction to pay, and delay to help students.

He studied English, it was not bad, the hostel is mediocre, but clean. A little expensive.

This school is a straight joke of an institution. Dont give them a single penny of your money all they'll do is cancel classes on you because its not profitable enough for them to run with just 10 people registered.. They'll screw you and screw your future more than help you. My 1 year continuing ed course has turned into a 2.5 year nightmare. Stay away.

Sait Staff is excellent. Building is old and looks like a castle... Wonderful for weddings.

Very nice campus and the teachers of IT are awesome! I graduated in May 2016 and got a job in mid July of the same year!

Nicely built and the architecture is quite a treat to look at and be around. The only downside is weird and sometimes very inhibitive parking space.

As the person below me stated, parking is absurdly expensive, the parking attendants are some of the most rude people you will encounter. The campus itself does not have any guide posts, other than vague maps which are barely readable. Also, every time I have been to student services, I have encountered uncooperative staff, who expect you find all the information online. They get frustrated when you ask them more than two questions. I suppose they don't realize that it's because of students like us why they get their salaries paid.

This school clearly lies about there employment rates. Absolute garbage schooling. They're just after peoples hard earned money. They up-sell educations. Be careful, do your own research before going to this school, DO NOT rely solely on their employment rates for their programs, because employment rates are fraudulent at best.

Automotive service technician apprentice program was great. Need better pricing and more spots for parking.

A university city carefully structured to transmit, welcome and develop knowledge. A pity to be difficult to access for people with less purchasing power.

Absolute worst post secondary! If you deviate from the course program in anyway be prepared to have an incredibly difficult and frustrating time finishing courses. SAIT does not offer courses in both semesters and does not post future semesters until one month before the next semester. This gives student no ability to plan out future semesters ahead of time. Along with this, the administrative staff are not only miserable to deal with, but do not care in the slightest to help students out. Along with this, SAIT has one of the lowest transfer credit rates, they accept no where near as many class in comparison to every other institute.
If you work, have children, or plan to take longer than the allotted time to complete a program, do your self a favor and DO NOT go to SAIT. choose an institution that has some sort of flexibility because SAIT has zero.

I went here for first year sheet metal a while back, and despite a couple of instructors being fairly decent, there were a lot that just didn't care. How do you learn from someone who doesn't care? Not to mention that their shop they expected us to learn in was (dont know if it still is) so archaic. Those machines don't exist anymore! What use is it to learn on a machine that you'll never even see in your career? A good majority of the shop class was completely irrelevant to modern day technology.

It's a heritage place. Beautiful architecture and ambiance to experience

It s more of a business taking money than it is a school. Don t expect any help, organization, or even working technology!! It d be wiser to travel to a different city than go to SAIT

Simple transfer request took 13 days, RPL is very unprofessional and it seems that they did not take the time to even investigate if an RPL was deserved. No explanation offered as to why I did not receive a transfer credit with the hope that I would just "go away". Do not have enough negative things to say about the RPL department.

Great facilities. Staff needs to work in improve their customer service.
Careful. Do not forget that Customers have a choice.

Such a beautiful campus, cool equipment, amazing research. Very friendly people.

I received a scholarship from this school and have been trying to accept it for the past few months. I have called multiple numbers, and emailed multiple people with no response. The deadline to accept my money is now tomorrow and I have still not heard back. I would really appreciate some help as I am out of options. Super disappointed.

I graduated from ITSD. I love their approach on teaching. It's practical! You graduate and you know how to do your job. The things I did practically by hand are the things I still remember until today. I would go back to take another diploma one day.

Sait stresses out their students to breaking point. Teachers dont think about students other classes when it comes to assignments. Students dont have the time to do assignments 24/7 especially if they have a job.

Great condition, nice old building with history breathing through it

Don't apply for SAIT programs. All they will do is waste your time. Their process is never ending. They don't even do the updates on application on time. Just wasting student's time.

SAIT is good school, but could use some improvement. Definitely enjoy my time here.

Very beautiful place. The architecture is amazing! I loved walking around with my family during an open house.

Very nice modern campus. The new expansion allows for individual buildings per field.

Very neat place. The campuses here are so modern, and technically advanced. Came here on a field trip with my high school, and it was amazing. They offer so many Interactive programs for kids that haven't enrolled yet due to age, and high school graduate time. The tour guides were super friendly. I had a ton of fun trying this place out. Amazing experience., and quality visit.

Would recommend to anyone looking to jump right into the workforce. the experience and education gained here is mostly practical which is a large benefit to employers.

The campuses here are so modern, and technically advanced. Came here on a field trip with my high school, and it was amazing. They offer so many Interactive programs for kids that haven't enrolled yet due to age, and high school graduate time. The tour guides were super friendly. I had a ton of fun trying this place out. Amazing experience., and quality visit.

Big and nice school to study. It was near to C-train Station.

SAIT has a sterling reputation among students and employers in industry. Facilities are of a very high quality (library, study area with table lamps and wood furniture, food court etc.), all set in a beautiful campus with a view of Calgary's downtown core. In addition, the resources are all geared to help you successfully learn and also find a good job. The staff are simply the sweetest and most helpful and instructors top notch. The school keeps in touch with employers who are frequently on campus attending events such as class presentations and such...they eventually (or shortly as is sometimes the case) hire students right out of the program. Research the program you are interested in so you know it's right for you, then make use of all the excellent facilities and resources available and most importantly: give it your best! SAIT will not disappoint.

every thing is a mass there are lot of mis communication between the academic chair and the professor in my course

The sait college is literally worst college i have ever seen ... never try to get admission in this college they does not provide proper information for the admission. as an international student i have suffer a lot due to their mistake. and they doesn't even accept their mistake i will give Zero star to college

My name is Olamide Akinnuoye and I have been trying to reach SAIT for almost TWO MONTHS now!
You guys need to spend less time responding to Google reviews and more time responding to emails.
I have been trying for several weeks to call SAIT, email SAIT, text the queue phone number for SAIT, use QLess, I cannot reach them and it is quite frustrating because I am trying to register for the winter term of January 2021 for SAIT s Pre-employment carpenter course, and the SAIT website will not allow me to do so. When I say this, I mean that it will not allow me to choose my admission term(fall, winter, spring, etc), so because of this, my planned course of study does not show up in the list of program options. How do I select my admission term in the application process for the Pre-employment Carpenter course? I have been trying for SEVERAL weeks now! And yes, I have emailed construction.preemp@sait.ca, inquiry@sait.ca, construction.info@sait.ca, otr@sait.ca, and social.media@sait.ca.

So I would IMMENSELY appreciate help!
Please call me as it will be much clearer to be verbally guided through the process when I am in front of a computer. My phone number is at the bottom of the emails I've sent to you guys several times within the past two months.

Thank you and can t wait to hear back from you guys!

(When you look for my email to find my phone number, search for the email olamide.akinn@shaw.ca)

Low star reviews are from people who A) unable to finish a course because they don't work hard B) Socially inept and unable to find a job after graduating or C) Are just negative people.

My experience at SAIT was awesome. Took a diploma then continued on to get my bachelors degree. It is a great route for people who learn by doing, actually want to get a job after graduating and/or are into technology. The instructors are awesome (especially Geomatics & GIS ;) ) and Verda was one of the most responsive, encouraging and helpful educators I've ever worked with. After wasting 2+ year at U of C, making the switch to SAIT saved me. It set me up for industry and encouraged me to think outside of the box when dealing with problems. Thank you!

A school that makes you depressed and makes you hate what your learning

Pretty fancy. A nice homage to the past and future.

SAIT Polytechnic is a technical school offering a multitude of courses, a great atmosphere, and many clown sightings. has full food court and only a few miles from downtown it is a great place. 10/10 would attend again!

Hands down a world class experience from a world class instituion. I've been at sait for 4 years of training and I'm going to miss it with my heart and soul when I am done. My instructors have been the best teachers I've ever had. The skills I've acquired and the people I've met have re defined me as a person. There's simply nowhere better in western Canada to educate yourself when it comes to the trades. I'm in a mechanical trade and the level experience and training provided by the labs, shops and classes given by sait is simply second to none. If you take your education and self improvement Seriously, SAIT IS FOR YOU!!!!

It is an amazing experience for me during my hospitality management program. I really like this college for my program compare to other schools here in Calgary.

Mr. Dan Swiatek
Just wanted to let you know To the other stuedents you may be just a teacher, but for me you were a life coach. Thank you for everything you thought me about life and carpentry as well.
Babak Aydenlou,

UPDATE: This issue was dealt with promptly, and I would like to thank the service staff. I hear recent cuts have made things pretty tough, and the receptionist on the phone was patient but thorough. I eventually took the upgrading in question, and forgot to update this review. Thank you!

ORIGINAL: Attempted to take academic upgrading here. Applied fine and managed to submit my transcripts. When I attempted to apply for the courses, there was a requirement that I met but apparently the system didn't think so. I submitted a ticket and they got back to me a few days later - they said transcripts are correct but there is an error in the system still, so I have to phone in to speak to a rep and apply directly.

Now that would be fine. However, I phoned the number they provided at least a dozen times over the span of two weeks to be met with an answering machine that didn't let me leave a name or number. Not even the option of holding on the line. Sure enough the course has started and still has 15 open seats...wow.

Losses one star because there is smokers EVERYWHERE. Can't walk across campus without inhaling tobacco.

Bad administration running this place into the ground, think about your students education.

Fantastic place in school. We had a final presentation in here with a beautiful memory.

Don t do academic upgrading here. Even if you are 30, the teachers will treat you like you are 15

I was part of the first class to graduate from the then new Financial Services program. The education I received at SAIT has been useful in all of the jobs I had over the years. From the investments class through accounting, law or statistics, everything learned at SAIT has been, and will continue to be, greatly useful.