• General admission requirements

• When to apply

• How to apply

• English language entrance proficiency policy

• Provincial exam policy

• Documents

• Admission from other provinces

• Equivalents to B.C. graduation

• Conditional offers of admission

• Special admission

• Concurrent studies

• Re-admission

• Changing programs

• International students

• Assessment for placement
 

General admission requirements

Citizenship/residency status in Canada

Canadian citizens and permanent residents (landed immigrants) are eligible for admission as domestic students. Some exceptions may be made for those who are, or are dependants of:

• diplomatic or consular officers
• live-in caretakers with a valid work permit
• holders of work permits longer than one year and who have also applied for permanent residency
• refugee claimants whose claims have been accepted and who have been granted protected persons or convention refugee status

Contact Admissions for further information.

Students who do not meet these requirements may be eligible to attend UFV as International students. International students should be aware that different application forms, fees, timelines, and procedures will apply. Please see the International students section for more details.

Qualifications

Post-secondary programs at UFV generally require BC high school graduation or equivalent for admission. Some programs, such as program paths, accept mature students (age 19 or older as of the first day of classes) without high school graduation.

Many programs also require that you meet additional entrance requirements, such as completion of specific courses with certain grades or averages, written statements, references, etc. Specific admission requirements are set in order to ensure students have a reasonable chance of success. Please refer to your preferred program or discipline in the calendar for entrance requirements, documents required, and information about how and when to apply.

Programs may admit students in one of two ways:

1. Date of application: Qualified applicants are admitted in order of their “date of application” (recorded when the application is complete — see below), or

2. Competitive admission: Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis, according to criteria the program has established to determine best-prepared students. Should there be more qualified applicants for the program, students who meet the minimum entrance requirements are not guaranteed admission. Students must complete the application process by the application deadlines (see When to apply) in order to be considered in the best-prepared group. Early applications are recommended, so the applications can be reviewed (and any missing requirements completed) prior to the deadline.

Programs that admit on a competitive basis will include information on the criteria that will be used in the “Basis of admission decision” section for each program in this calendar.

Admission to a program does not imply space availability in all courses required for the program.

When to apply

A list of when programs accept applications is published in the Admissions & Records section of the UFV website. Early application is recommended for all programs. Applications should be complete upon submission to UFV, or completed as quickly as possible. The application date recorded is the date that the application form, all required information or documents for the program, and the application fee are mailed or submitted.

Application dates are used to order qualified applicants for many programs. For programs that admit students competitively, students should apply two to three months before the application deadline to give Admissions an opportunity to review the application and notify the applicant if any requirements are missing. Assignment of registration times for new applicants is currently by date of application.

Continuous application process

Continuous application means that applications are accepted throughout the year, and the names of those with complete applications are added to a wait list. Programs that admit students in application date order will then offer a seat to qualified applicants when a space becomes available. Programs that admit on a competitive basis will consider applicants who have completed the necessary requirements as of the application deadline, and will offer available seats to those who best meet the criteria.

Students currently in Grade 12 may apply as soon as they begin Grade 12 in September. Students applying to a continuous application program who want to enrol in courses while waiting, should contact A&R to request admission to a program path.

Specific intake application process

For these programs, you apply on or after a certain date, for a specific semester.

Application dates for specific intake applications:

* This is the competitive entry deadline and the recommended deadline for most other programs. Applications for programs that admit competitively must be complete, with all entrance requirements met by this deadline, in order for an applicant to be considered in the best-prepared group. If seats remain after consideration of the best-prepared group, programs will either set a second deadline to consider applications competitively, or will consider applications according to application order.

Note: Many programs accept applications after this date; check programs accepting applications at www.ufv.ca/ar/admissions/acceptapps. If the program continues to accept applications, applicants who apply after these dates, or who do not provide all the required documents by these dates, will generally be considered after other applicants and scheduled to register later than other students in the program.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted by mail, online at www.pas.bc.ca, or in person. The official "application date" is recorded once the application is complete (see below). The post-marked date is used for applications received by mail, and the date received is used for online and in-person applications.

Application forms are available for download at the A&R website or in person at any A&R office.

For more information, please see the How to Apply section of the A&R website.

Complete applications

An application will be considered complete when the application fee and all the documents listed in the How to Apply section for each program (i.e., all required documents for a complete application) are received by UFV. We recommend that applicants enclose all required documents (except post-secondary transcripts) and fees with their application. Applicants who complete the online application have the option of paying the application fee online, or submitting it to UFV by cheque. Any additional documents should be mailed or brought in the same day in order to retain the original application date. Students required to submit post-secondary transcripts from other institutions should note that official transcripts need to be sent directly to UFV from the other institution. Transcripts should be ordered in time to arrive within two weeks of the date the application is submitted.

If an application is incomplete upon submission, the “application date” will be updated to reflect the date the application becomes complete.

Students currently attending Grade 12 have until March 31 to submit interim grades and/or final grades for courses required for program entrance, and any test scores required for admission. All other required documents should be submitted with the application form. See the Documents section below for further information.

English language entrance proficiency policy (policy under review)

English is the language of instruction at UFV. UFV recognizes that applicants must have a level of English sufficient to participate and be successful in the learning process. Applicants to all post-secondary level programs, and students registering for any post-secondary courses, are expected to be able to demonstrate language proficiency. Meeting English language entrance proficiency meets language requirements for post-secondary courses, except for English and communications courses which have specific requirements.

All applicants to post-secondary programs will be checked to ensure English language entrance proficiency has been met prior to being admitted. Applicants unable to meet entrance proficiency levels will be given the opportunity to upgrade their language skills through Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, and/or the University Foundation certificate.

See English language policies in the Regulations, Grading, and Policies section for details.

Provincial exam policy

BC secondary students applying to UFV are not required to submit provincial examination results for courses where the examinations are deemed optional. Should a student elect to write an optional Grade 12 provincial exam, the higher of the school mark or the blended grade (school mark and provincial exam result combined) will be used for admission or course prerequisites.

Students must continue to write the provincial examinations for those subjects where examinations are mandatory in order to meet BC graduation program requirements; however, at UFV, the higher of the school mark or the blended grade will be used for admission or course prerequisites. For more information, please see www.ufv.ca/ar/admissions/provincial-exam-policy-change.

Where program entrance requirements include BC Grade 12 courses that offer provincial examinations, optional provincial examinations do not have to be written. For students who take Grade 12 outside BC, equivalents will be established to courses which offer provincial examinations in BC. The subjects that offer provincial exams can be found in the BC Handbook of Procedures.

Documents

Official transcripts from other institutions you have attended are required for entrance to many programs. Students who have taken course prerequisites at other institutions will also need to submit official post-secondary transcripts for evaluation. A post-secondary transcript is considered official if it is sent directly to UFV from the originating institution in the original sealed envelope with the institution's name and address imprinted upon it. The transcripts must bear the official institution seal or authorizing signature. Exceptions may be made when it is determined that it is not possible for a transcript to be sent directly to UFV, provided the credential evaluation office can reasonably determine the document's authenticity.

An English translation by a certified translator must accompany the official transcripts if the document is in a language other than English (some exceptions may be possible for documents in French).

Allow a minimum of six to eight weeks for the evaluation. You may need to submit course outlines if the courses have not previously been articulated.

Documents submitted become the property of UFV. Only documents that are considered by UFV to be irreplaceable will be returned to the student if requested by the student at the time of submission.

Official High School transcripts are required for program applications unless otherwise specified. . Some programs, including program paths, General Studies and English as a Second Language, require that students be high school graduates or be 19 years of age by the first day of the semester. Students who are under 19 and not in school will be required to submit proof of high school graduation (an official high school transcript) with their application forms. BC Grade 12 students can arrange to have their grades sent directly from the Ministry of Education upon graduation. Students enrolled in Grade 12 should note that if the program requires completion of specific high school courses, Grade 12 students will be given until March 31 to submit spring interim high school grades.

Equivalents to BC high school graduation from outside the province

Many programs require that students have BC secondary school graduation or equivalent in order to meet entrance requirements. The following is considered as equivalent to BC high school graduation from other parts of Canada:

International qualifications that are considered equivalent to BC high school graduation can be viewed at International qualifications.

Equivalents to BC high school courses will be established for students who graduate outside the province. Where program entrance requirements include BC Grade 12 courses that offer provincial examinations, equivalent courses from other jurisdictions will be accepted. The courses which offer provincial examinations can be found in the BC Handbook of Procedures.

Alternatives to Grade 12 Graduation

Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate diploma program, the ABE Provincial diploma, the BC Adult Graduation diploma, or the General Education diploma (GED) may be considered to have the equivalent of BC secondary school graduation for admission purposes. Students who are applying for any program that requires specific secondary school level courses for entrance, e.g., Biology 11 or equivalent, or who intend to register for a course that has a specific secondary school course as a prerequisite, must provide an official transcript showing a final grade in the appropriate subject. In most cases, equivalent courses are available at UFV.

Conditional offers of admission

Some programs may accept students prior to completion of all entrance requirements. Other programs do not consider applications without documentation that all requirements have been completed. Check the relevant program's How to Apply section or the calendar for details.

If an admission decision is based on courses and/or high school graduation in progress, acceptance will be conditional upon proof of completion of final academic requirements. Your offer of admission will state a final date for receipt of this information. However, applicants are encouraged to submit final grades as soon as possible.

Special admission

Any person who does not meet stated admission requirements may petition our Academic Standards committee for special consideration. Special Admission request forms are available at www.ufv.ca/ar/forms under Student forms, or at Admissions and Records. Special Admission requests, with supporting documents, should be forwarded to the Associate Registrar, Admissions.

The request must be accompanied by an Application for Admission form, and the application fee (currently $45), as well as a rationale for special consideration, transcripts, and a reference from a UFV advisor or counsellor. Applicants may also be required to undertake testing, write provincial examinations, attend an interview, and/or write an essay in order to assess academic level. Applicants are advised to apply for special admission by April 30 for fall entry, October 31 for winter, or February 28 for summer semester.

Concurrent studies

Secondary school students may take courses at UFV while still working toward secondary school graduation, under the following guidelines:

1. The student is attending a secondary school.

2. The student is deemed to have strong academic ability or may benefit substantially by taking the university course.

3. The student’s parent or legal guardian provides written support, and the student’s counsellor or principal provides a letter of recommendation.

4. The student may be considered for a maximum of two courses per semester, under normal circumstances. This limit may be increased in special circumstances, with approval of the appropriate dean.

5. The student is expected to meet course prerequisites, if any.

To apply for concurrent studies:

1. Submit a Request for Concurrent Studies form and the Application for Admission for the initial request (both available here) for concurrent studies to the Associate Registrar, Admissions, at least one month before the start of classes (submission by May 31 is recommended for fall semester).

2. Indicate the specific course(s) and section(s) you are requesting. One or two alternatives may be selected.

3. Both the student and a parent or guardian must sign the form, and attach a recent high school transcript (including interim grades for the current term), a letter of support from the high school principal or counsellor, and the application fee.

Once the request is received, the admissions office will:

1. Contact the course instructor(s) and program/department head for approval.

2. Advise the applicant of acceptance and registration procedures.

3. Schedule a registration time at the end of the regular registration period, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Approval to register as a concurrent studies student is given for one semester initially. Students wishing a subsequent semester can submit a second request following the same procedures.

Students in concurrent studies will be treated as regular students in most respects, except that they may not register in a full range of courses. Fees and deadlines are the same as for regular students. Upon completion of courses, students can order an official transcript.

To continue studying at UFV after high school graduation, concurrent studies students should apply to a UFV program for the semester following high school graduation. Regular application procedures for high school students should be followed; however, students will be treated as returning UFV students (i.e. if they have registered at UFV within two years before the semester start date, they will not be charged an application fee and will be given a continuing student registration time upon admission).

Students who have enrolled in concurrent studies at other recognized post-secondary institutions prior to secondary school graduation may be eligible for transfer credit. The student should arrange to have an official transcript sent directly to UFV from the institution they attended.

Re-admission policy

Students who have been admitted to a program at UFV and who fall into any of the following categories must apply for re-admission to that program:

1. UFV students who fail to attend courses in the program for two years. Some programs, e.g., Health Sciences and Trades, require continuous enrolment. Check individual program information.

2. Students who fail to register in the first semester, or who withdraw completely in the first semester of attendance.

A $20 re-application fee is required.

Please refer to policy 340.20 for more information.

Changing programs

New applicants who wish to apply to a different program must submit another Application for Admission form, and the $20 re-application fee.

Continuing UFV students who would like to enter a new program must also submit an Application for Admission form. No application fee is required for continuing UFV undergraduate students (i.e. students who are currently registered or who have attended within two years prior to the start of the semester).

International students

UFV welcomes many international students each year. These include exchange students sponsored by local community groups, visitors from overseas and others residing temporarily in our communities, as well as students applying from outside Canada.

Although it is not always possible to meet the needs of international students completely due to the priority for university services (which is reserved for local residents) UFV does, wherever possible, attempt to make its full range of services available to interested students. Different fees, application forms, and procedures apply.

For further information concerning international education and the enrolment of foreign students please call UFV International at 604-854-4544, 604-504-7441, or international@ufv.ca, or refer to the International Education website at www.ufv.ca/international.

Assessment for placement

Students may need to take tests to determine skill levels and aid in selection of courses appropriate to their educational backgrounds and abilities. Placement tests may also be used to meet entrance requirements for some programs, the language proficiency policy, and/or course prerequisites.

Dates, times, location, cost, minimum scores, preparation, etc., and detailed handouts on placement tests are available from Assessment Services in Room G159 on the Abbotsford campus, Room D117 on the Chilliwack campus, or online at www.ufv.ca/Assessment/Placement. Contact the Abbotsford office at 604-557-4006, or the Chilliwack office at 604-792-0025, local 2460.