Pathway to University
British Columbia offers Canada’s most seamless college-to-university transfer experience, facilitated by the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer.
Columbia College students can complete up to 60 first- and second-year credits through the BC transfer system, making it easy to transfer to top Canadian universities. As a leading provider of international students to the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, Columbia College prepares students for a smooth transition to achieve their academic goals.
Students are eligible for direct transfer to many post secondary institutions
Flexible Program Options
Students can choose from our University Transfer Program or Associate Degree Program, designed to allow them to explore their passions and academic interests over two to three years. With these programs, you can confidently transition to a Canadian university and work toward your bachelor’s degree, knowing your first years of study are credited.
Why Columbia College?
University Level Courses
Affordable Tuition
Dedicated Instructors
Small Class
Sizes
Charitable
Programs
University Transfer Programs
The University Transfer Program allows you to take up to 60 credits at the first and second year level and then transfer those credits to any university in Canada.
Columbia College offers a variety of business courses, including Accounting, Corporate Finance, Management Science, Marketing, Statistics, and Organizational Behavior. Students can earn 24 to 47 credits in one year or 48 to 60 credits in two years before transferring to a university Business or Commerce degree program at the second or third-year level.
For students planning to major in Business at the University of British Columbia (UBC), they can transfer between 24 and 60 credits from Columbia College. To be eligible for 2nd year studies, students need a minimum of 24 credits, while those aiming for 3rd year require at least 49 credits at UBC’s Sauder School of Business.
Students seeking admission to 2nd year Business at UBC should complete at least 24 credits at Columbia College and are encouraged to take the following courses:
| Courses | Credits | UBC Equivalent Courses |
| English 100 or 101 | 3 | English 112 |
| *English 108, 110, 121, or 131 | 3 | Various English Courses |
| Economics 103 and 105 | 6 | Economics 101 and 102 |
| Math 111 | 3 | Math 104 |
| Various Elective Courses (can include 2nd year business courses). Non-commerce courses are recommended | 9-12 | Various Elective Courses |
*Two English courses satisfy UBC’s English Language Admissions Standard (ELAS), but an external test (eg, IELTS or TOEFL) can alternatively be used to satisfy ELAS, as long as the required test score is received by March 15th of the year for which admissions are taught.
Columbia College students seeking admission to 3rd-year Business at UBC need at least 49 Columbia College credits and are advised to take the following additional courses:
| Courses | Credits | UBC Equivalent Courses |
| All 3 of: | ||
| BUSN 272 | 3 | COMM 292 |
| BUSN 290 | 3 | COMM 290 |
| BUSN 291 | 4 | COMM 291 |
| At least 4 of the following: | ||
| ACCT 251 | 3 | COMM 293 |
| ACCT 254 | 3 | COMM 294 |
| BUSN 250 | 3 | COMM 296 |
| BUSN 298 | 3 | COMM 298 |
| ECON 207 | 3 | COMM 295 |
At least one non-commerce elective (minimum 5 non-commerce electives required for 3rd year). UBC also requires submission of a personal profile and applicants must participate in a video interview.
Columbia College students seeking admission to the Business Program at Simon Fraser University (SFU) are required to take the following courses. Although students may take more courses, the GPA for entrance to the Business Program at SFU as of Sept 2017 is based on the first eight courses below:
| Courses | Credits | SFU Equivalent Courses |
| One of ENGL 100, 101*, 108, 110, 121, 131, PHIL 101, 102, OR 103 | 3 | Various ENGL & PHI courses |
| ECON 103 and 105 | 6 | ECON 103 and 105 |
| MATH 111 | 3 | MATH 157 |
| BUSN 291 | 4 | BUEC 232 |
| CSCI 237 | 3 | BUSN 237 |
| ACCT 251 | 3 | BUSN 251 |
| BUSN 272 | 3 | BUSN 272 |
| ECON 207 (may be taken at SFU) | 3 | BUSN 207 |
| ACCT 254 (may be taken at SFU) | 3 | BUSN 254 |
*ENGL 101 is strongly recommended as it satisfies SFU’s lower-level writing (W) requirement for graduation.
Columbia College students seeking admission to the Pre-Commerce Program at the University of Victoria (UVic) are advised to take a minimum of 30 credits from the following courses:
| Courses | Credits | UVIC Equivalent Courses |
| One of ENGL 100, 101, and one of 108, 110, 121, 131 | 6 | ENGL 135 and other ENGL courses |
| ECON 103 | 3 | ECON 103 |
| Two of MATH 11, 112 or BUSN 291 | 4 | Various Math/Stats courses |
| BUSN 291 | 4 | Various Math/Stats courses |
| Recommended Electives | ||
| ECON 105 | 3 | ECON 104 |
| ECON 207 | 3 | ECON 205 |
| PHIL 113 | 3 | PHIL 201 |
| PSYC 240 | 3 | PSYC 231 |
| SOCI 110 | 3 | SOCI 110A |
Note: Students are advised not to take Columbia College’s 2nd-year business courses, as UVic requires that these courses be taken in year 3 at UVic.
The University Transfer Communication Program is ideal for Applied Media, Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Marketing Research students.
There are many career opportunities in communications, including journalism, editing, public relations specialist, media consultant, advertising director, producer, film editor, media researcher, public policy consultant, and media broadcaster.
Here’s a sample course load for the Communication program:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| English 100 (3) | English 110 (3) |
| Mass Communication 100 (3) | Mass Communication 220 (3) |
| Mass Communication 130 (3) | Anthropology 110 (3) |
| French 101 (3) | Philosophy 113 (3) |
| Sociology 110 (3) | |
| 15 semester credits | 15 semester credits |
Students in the Columbia College Computer Science program take first- and second-year courses before applying to various university faculties, such as Science (UBC), Applied Sciences (SFU), and Engineering (UVic). While specific course requirements differ among universities, core first-year courses are generally similar.
Admission to Computer Science departments is highly competitive, leading many students to explore alternatives focusing more on practical applications than theory. Students are encouraged to research related programs.
Here’s a sample course load for the Computer Science program:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| English 100 (3) | English 110 (3) |
| Mathematics 113 (3) | Mathematics 114 (3) |
| Computer Science 120 (3) | Computer Science 125 (3) |
| Economics 103 (3) | Computer Science 150 (3) |
| Philosophy 101 (3) | Mathematics 252 (3) |
| 15 semester credits | 15 semester credits |
Columbia College offers courses that match those in the first-year Engineering (Applied Sciences) programs at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Simon Fraser University (SFU), and the University of Victoria (UVic).
Students who complete the following courses qualify for a Columbia College First-Year Engineering Certificate. Those interested in pursuing an Engineering degree at UBC, SFU, or UVic should consult a Columbia College counsellor and the specific university to identify which courses are required for their desired program.
Requirements for a Columbia College First-Year Engineering Certificate:
| Courses | |
| Applied Sciences 151 (4) | Computer Aided Engineering Graphics |
| Applied Science 160 (3) | Fundamentals of Computer Programming for Engineers |
| Chemistry 121 (4) | General Chemistry I |
| Chemistry 123 (4) | General Chemistry II |
| English 100 (3) or English 101 (3) | Language and Composition or Approaches to Academic Writing |
| Mathematics 113 (3) | Calculus I (for Sciences) |
| Mathematics 114 (3) | Calculus I (for Sciences) |
| Mathematics 252 (3) | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations |
|
One of the following three combinations of physics courses: Physics 110 (4) & 120 (4) |
Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity & Magnetism Newtonian Mech, Optics & Thermodynamics Optics & Therm and Electricity & Magnetism |
| Physics 118 (4) | Engineering Mechanics |
| Arts Elective (3) | Any Arts Course |
| Total Credits | 42 |
Students in the Science program can select from various courses, including Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics.
Many courses include science labs, allowing students to conduct experiments and deepen their understanding of scientific theory. Students can earn between 24 and 60 credits before transferring to a university science program’s second or third year. Here’s a sample course load for the Science program:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| English 100 (3) | English 108 (3) |
| Mathematics 113 (3) | Physics 120 (4) |
| Physics 110 (4) | Chemistry 123 (4) |
| Chemistry 121 (4) | Mathematics 114 (3) |
| Sociology 110 (3) | Philosophy 102 (3) |
| 17 semester credits | 17 semester credits |
Associate Degree Programs
An Associate Degree is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year university degree. With an Associate Degree, you can enter into the third year of a university’s Bachelor Degree program.
Students in this program complete 20 courses at the first and second year levels, including:
- Two courses in first year English (one Composition course and one Literature course).
- Three courses in Mathematics/Science including at least one course in Mathematics, Computer Science or Statistics and one course in a laboratory Science.
- Twelve courses, including at least six at the second year level (in at least two different subject areas) in Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. This must include two courses in Social Sciences, two courses in Humanities other than English, and eight additional courses in Arts.
- Three courses in Arts, Mathematics, Science or other areas.
- Degree Options: Communications, Economics, Environmental Studies, General Studies, International Studies, Political Science, and Psychology
Students in this program complete 20 courses at the first and second year levels, including:
- Two courses in first year English (one Composition course and one Literature course).
- Two courses in Mathematics including at least one course in Calculus.
- Twelve courses, including at least six at the second year level (in at least two different subject areas) in Science including at least one course in a Laboratory Science.
- Two courses in Arts other than English.
- Two courses in Arts, Science or other areas.
- Degree Options: Computer Science, General Studies, and Mathematics
Academic Advising
Columbia College students are encouraged to connect with our knowledgeable academic advisors for personalized guidance on program planning, degree requirements, and more. Our advisors are here to support each student’s journey and help them achieve their academic goals. Visit our Academic Advising page for more information.
BC Transfer Guide
Using the BC Transfer Guide, students can check what their credits will be worth in participating universities across Canada. Visit this page to check if your credits are transferable.
FAQ
The updated PGWP eligibility was issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Students can check which programs are eligible through the IRCC website.
An Associate Degree is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year university degree. With an Associate Degree, you can enter into the third year of a university’s Bachelor Degree program. And the University Transfer Program allows you to take up to 60 credits at the first and second year level and then transfer those credits to any university in Canada.
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