Diploma in Customer Service

Learn how to deliver excellent customer service.

In British Columbia, this program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

Learn the fundamentals of providing excellent customer experiences across a range of industries.

Prepare for success in workplaces driven by customer relationships, such as restaurants, hotels, motels, clubs, pubs, cafes, coffee shops, retail stores, and more. The relationship and teamwork skills you’ll develop will provide a foundation for customer service success across a wide variety of industries and roles.

Take the co-op program to get hands-on customer service experience in a client-facing role related to your studies.

A Diploma in Customer Service can open careers in fields such as Retail Sales, Restaurant Service, Client Coordination, and Reservations Desks.

Why Choose the Diploma in Customer Service.

Develop a solid foundation in customer service skills and prepare for entry into the hospitality, tourism, and travel industries.
Develop teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills to ensure collective success in delivering excellent customer experiences.
Learn about food safety and safe service of alcohol and get prepared to take exams to earn recognized certifications in these areas, often required in food and beverage service roles in Toronto and Vancouver.
Take the co-op program to put your skills into practice and get Canadian references in a work placement in customer service.

CAMPUS AVAILABLE

Toronto
Vancouver

PROGRAM LENGTH

ACADEMIC

Morning 24-32 weeks
Evening 46-48 weeks

CO-OP

Morning 48-56 weeks
Evening 86-88 weeks

• Academic Morning Schedule includes 24 weeks study + up to 8 weeks scheduled breaks in Vancouver (no scheduled breaks in Toronto)
• Co-op Morning Schedule includes 24 weeks study + up to 8 weeks scheduled breaks in Vancouver (no scheduled breaks in Toronto) + 24 weeks co-op placement
• Academic Evening Schedule includes 36 weeks study 12 weeks scheduled breaks
• Co-op Evening Schedule includes 36 weeks study 16 weeks scheduled breaks + 36 weeks co-op placement

Schedules will be adjusted in December to accommodate public holidays. Contact us for more information.

START DATES

- Morning
- - - Vancouver:
    - - 2024: 10 07, 11 04, 12 02, 12 30
      - 2025: 1 27, 2 24, 3 24, 4 21, 8 11, 9 08, 10 06, 11 03, 12 01
    - Toronto:
    - - 2024: 10 07, 11 04, 12 02, 12 30
      - 2025: 1 27, 2 24, 3 24, 4 21, 5 20, 6 16, 7 14, 8 11, 9 08, 10 06, 11 03, 12 01
  - Show Dates
- - Evening
  - - - Vancouver:
      - 2024: 11 04, 12 30
        
        2025: 2 24, 4 21, 6 16, 8 11, 10 06, 12 01
      - Toronto:
      - 2024: 11 04
    - Show Dates
  Start dates are dependent on enrolment and are subject to change

SCHEDULED BREAKS

Summer Breaks:
- Morning:
- - 6 17, 2024 - 8 09, 2024
  - 6 16, 2025 - 8 08, 2025
  - 6 22, 2026 - 8 07, 2026

Winter Breaks:
- Evening:
- - 12 16, 2024 - 12 27, 2024
  - 12 22, 2025 - 1 02, 2026
- Morning:
- - 12 23, 2024 - 12 27, 2024
  - 12 22, 2025 - 12 26, 2025

LANGUAGE LEVEL REQUIREMENT

Beginner 4
- IELTS: Overall band of 4
- TOEFL IBT: 31
- Cambridge Main Suite Exams: Key-merit
- Duolingo: 50-60
- Common European Framework: A2+

OR Completion of a minimum of three full years of study in a secondary or post-secondary institution where the sole language of instruction is English.

OTHER PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

View general Greystone College Admission Requirements for your chosen campus.

Study Schedules

Study schedules apply to all academic parts of your program. If your program includes a Co-op work placement, your work schedule will be determined based on the needs of your employer.

Select Campus:

Vancouver | Toronto

Temporary Morning Schedule*

Mon-Thu
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
CLASS
1:30 – 2:45 PM
WPS*

Fri
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CLASS

Total weekly study hours = 21

(26 during specific sessions)

Morning Schedule

Mon-Thu
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
CLASS

Fri
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CLASS

FLEXIBLE
9 Hrs Asynchronous Learning***

First Session only
Workplace Skills & Tools Course
Tue-Thu**
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
WST CLASS
Fri**
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
WST CLASS
FLEXIBLE
13.5 Hrs Asynchronous Learning***

Total weekly study hours = 30

Temporary Evening Schedule*

Mon-Thu
5:15 PM - 9:00 PM
CLASS

FLEXIBLE
5 Hrs Asynchronous Learning***

Total weekly study hours = 20

Evening Schedule

Mon-Thu
5:15 PM - 9:00 PM
CLASS

FLEXIBLE
5 Hrs Asynchronous Learning***

First Session only
Workplace Skills & Tools Course
Tue-Thu**
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
WST CLASS
FLEXIBLE
9.5 Hrs Asynchronous Learning***

Total weekly study hours = 20

Morning Schedule

Mon-Thu
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
CLASS
1:30 – 2:45 PM
WPS*

Fri
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CLASS

Total weekly study hours = 21

(26 during specific sessions)

Evening Schedule

Mon-Thu
5:15 PM – 9:00 PM
CLASS

Total weekly study hours = 15

Why Choose Co-op?

Co-op or “co-operative education” combines academic study with a work placement related to your study area. This popular Canadian learning approach provides students with hands-on experience in their study field, quality references, and networks that will give them a competitive edge for finding future work and growing their career.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CO-OP

Take the Diploma in Customer Service co-op and build work experience in entry-level positions like:

Food and Beverage Attendant
Front Desk Receptionist
Function Attendant
Restaurant Host/Hostess
Sales Clerk/Customer Service Attendant
Function Host
Server/Banquet Server

Program Courses

NOTE: Starting on December 2, 2024, in Toronto and on December 30, 2024, in Vancouver, some courses in this program will change:
The new Workplace Skills & Tools course will replace:
• Providing Information and Assistance AND
• Work Placement Skills 1 & 2 or Job Search Preparation (depending on your schedule, and whether you are taking an academic or co-op program)
Courses are listed alphabetically and may not be scheduled in this order.

In this course, students will gain the knowledge required to deliver a fundamental customer service to both internal and external customers. Good customer service requires the ability to greet and serve customers and to respond effectively to customer service enquiries including routine customer problems.

In this course, students will gain the knowledge required to source and use current and emerging information on the hospitality, tourism and travel industry. Students will develop researcher skills in order to stay current on industry structure and technology issues. Personnel integrate this essential knowledge on a daily basis to work effectively in the industry.

In this course, students will gain the knowledge required to provide customers with information and assistance on facilities, products and services. They will learn how to identify customer needs and how to build their knowledge base in order to provide relevant and helpful information.

The Restaurant Service Course will teach you how to provide excellent food and beverage service while learning important protocols to ensure food safety and safe service of alcohol. The course will prepare you for entry-level food and beverage positions in the tourism and hospitality industry. Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to take exams for the following certifications, which may be required for certain food and beverage jobs in Canada: - American Hotel and Lodging Education Institute START* Restaurant Server certification - Smart Serve ®** (Ontario) or Serving it Right (British Columbia) certification - Food Safety Basics / Food Safe Level 1 certification *The START program is a registered trademark of American Hotel and Lodging Association. **Smart Serve is a registered trademark of Smart Serve Ontario.

In this course, students will develop teamwork skills for the workplace. The course covers topics like working in a group environment, promoting team commitment and cooperation, supporting team members and dealing effectively with issues, problems and conflict.

In this workplace-centered course, students will develop communication skills for the workplace. Key skills include gathering, conveying, and receiving information together with completing routine written correspondence.

Learn the fundamental skills necessary for the Canadian workplace. Students will learn topics such as oral and written communication, computer skills, and workplace preparation. The course will also cover the necessary skills needed for academic study in their program.

During the co-op work placement, students will put their skills into practise in a local workplace in a position related to their specific program objectives. Students will be required to complete job tasks as assigned to them by the employer. In addition, students are required to provide regular feedback (monthly) on their placement experience to Greystone College using prescribed reporting forms.

In this course, students will learn strategies and techniques to establish and implement a personal professional development plan to strive for efficiency and effectiveness in business. Students will reflect on their personal self-awareness through assessing their values, strengths and weaknesses as well as their vision in life. This will also help students set meaningful life and career goals, align with their goals more effectively and understand oneself in relation to others.

*This course is only required for Vancouver program students taking the academic (non-co-op) program in the daytime schedule. Evening program students and Co-op students will take Work Placement Skills. However, please note that this course is being phased out and will be replaced by Workplace Skills and Tools (exact date varies by program).

This course is delivered in two parts. In Part 1, students will develop the basic skills for finding and securing work in Canada – they will learn about resumes, cover letters, tax forms and more. Part 2 of the course is designed especially for Co-op students. It provides additional support to help students find and secure a co-op placement related to their studies and explains expectations and responsibilities during the work term.

*Evening program students taking academic (non-co-op) programs will take the first part of the Work Placement Skills Course. Co-op students will complete part 1 and 2. Daytime academic (non-co-op) students will take the Job Search Preparation course.

Explore our Hospitality Programs

Certificate in Hospitality Skills Co-op

CO-OP

Learn about the hospitality industry in Ontario, Canada and quickly skill up for entry level work.

ACADEMIC & CO-OP

Develop an in depth understanding of operations processes in tourism & hospitality careers.

Diploma in Customer Service

Learn how to deliver excellent customer service.

Learn the fundamentals of providing excellent customer experiences across a range of industries.