Post-secondary Education and Training FAQ

Yes, most institutions charge an application fee, and your application will not be processed until your payment has been received by the institution. Instructions for payment are included in each Institutional Application Form. Some institutions accept on-line credit card payment of application fees.

It depends on the institution and the program. When all seats in a program are filled, a wait list of qualified applicants is created. If a space becomes available, an applicant on the wait list will be offered the seat. Some programs will select those applicants deemed to have the best opportunity for success. For some programs wait lists are not transferred to subsequent intakes. (That is, applicants must re-apply for the next intake). Applicants to some programs such as Trades programs are normally wait-listed on the date their application becomes complete. Once added to the wait list the applicant will remain on the wait list until a space becomes available (that is, applicants do not need to re-apply to subsequent intakes). For other programs, if there are more applicants than seats available, there may be a competitive selection process.

Usually, applicant priority is given first to B.C. residents who are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants and who have lived in B.C. for the immediate 12 months prior to enrolment. Second priority is given to out-of-province Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Third priority is given to out-of-country applicants. All applicants must provide official proof that they meet institution and program prerequisites.

Most institutions allow for applicants lacking specific prerequisite courses or required grades to take upgrading courses before entering a program.

Most post-secondary institutions and programs require grade 12 graduation with specific Grade 11 and Grade 12 subjects. Individual institutions usually specify which courses and what level of achievement is acceptable and those may vary between faculty and department. Please note that possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to any faculty, program or courses at many universities. In those instances where the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number that can be accommodated, the admissions GPA cut-offs will be higher than the minimum published requirements.

The Provincial Adult Basic Education (ABE) Diploma is considered to be equivalent to graduation from senior secondary school. In all cases, applicants should check with the Admissions department to ensure courses taken through the ABE program are acceptable for admission.

In most cases, as early as you can, especially for programs that are likely to be popular and fill up quickly. In some cases the processing will begin a year or so before the course starts. For example, the intake period at BCIT for programs like Medical Radiography is 14 months after the processing begins. Applications are accepted year round. However, applications received prior to the processing dates are held until the date stipulated.

Selected applicants will receive either a full offer of admission or a provisional offer of admission. A full offer will be granted to selected applicants who completely meet institution and program admission criteria.

A provisional offer will be granted to selected applicants who have demonstrated to a satisfactory degree that criteria entrance are in the process of being fulfilled. A provisional offer includes the condition that all outstanding criteria must have been successfully fulfilled 30 days prior to the start of classes.