Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

No matter what engineering program you plan to study, the required courses for admissions to UBC Engineering from high school are the same. All first-year UBC Engineering students take our foundation year program, which combines engineering classes with core courses in math, chemistry, physics and communication.

Required courses Foundation year program

At the end of the year, you’ll apply for one of 14 specialized engineering programs offered at the Vancouver campus if you completed your first year in Vancouver, or be placed in one four programs at the Okanagan campus if you completed your first year in Kelowna. 

14 specialized engineering programs

UBC considers your grades in all academic Grade 11 (junior level) and Grade 12 (senior level) classes, paying special attention to courses that relate to the degree you’re applying to. Non-academic classes – like those in career education, physical and health education, faith-based courses, skills-based courses, or applied design and technology – are not included. Read more about what UBC’s admission team look for in your application.

what UBC’s admission team look for

All students must meet UBC’s English language admission requirement. About six weeks after you apply to UBC you will receive an email identifying any additional documentation you need to provide, which could include proof of English language competency, and the date you need to meet this requirement by.

UBC’s English language admission requirement

You will have received a direct email between January and April 2025, similar to how you may have been notified about an award or scholarship.

Students must complete at least 27 credits of the required 37 credits from the first-year program to be eligible for program placement. For students to keep their placement guarantee, they must complete at least 30 credits in the winter session (first two consecutive terms) with an 80% average on all credits attempted. Please note that some programs have additional requirements for placement, such as Mechanical Engineering, which requires specific courses in the first year curriculum to be completed. Please refer to the Placement Website for additional information.

Advanced credit such as AP, IB, and A-levels cannot be used in the count of the 30 credits for Guaranteed Placement. However, you can use the credits to meet the credits that are part of the first-year curriculum.  For example, if you have MATH 100 (3 credits) and MATH 101 (3 credits) from IB, you can use those towards your first-year requirements. To be eligible for the Guaranteed Placement, you need to ensure you also take at least 30 credits in your first year at UBC.

Students wishing to use advanced credit to fulfill first year requirements and remain eligible for their guaranteed placement offer should meet with an Engineering Academic Services advisor to discuss course planning. 

If you don’t complete at least 30 credits with an 80% or higher average, you will proceed with competitive program placement. Students must complete at least 27 credits of the first-year program to be eligible to progress and be placed in an engineering program.

Students wishing to transfer to the Bachelor of Applied Science in Vancouver should plan to complete all of the first-year courses in the BASc at the Okanagan campus and consult with an advisor. Students should also be aware that only a limited number of transfer applications to the Vancouver campus are approved.  Engineering students at the Okanagan campus planning to transfer to Vancouver will not be given guaranteed placement at the Vancouver campus. UBC Engineering on the Okanagan campus has no seat caps on its programs, so all programs are guaranteed for students continuing to year 2 on the Okanagan campus.

Yes, although a student might be deficient in chemistry or physics, if they are admitted to the BASc program (Vancouver campus), they may be offered the placement guarantee. If a student is offered the placement guarantee, they must complete at least 30 credits and be eligible for program placement in the winter session with an 80% average on all courses taken during the Winter session (September-April).

The PBME timetable/schedule allows students who have been selected into PBME to proceed into the Biomedical Program if they have completed all courses and maintained a 72% average. Students who complete the PBME timetable and decide to pursue another program in their second year will participate in the competitive placement.

Yes. If you meet the conditions of the guarantee, you are still guaranteed your program placement of choice.

If you have questions about any of the above information, please contact:

Engineering Academic Services

We highly recommend starting at the campus you plan to graduate from. While it is possible to transfer between the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, it can be complicated as the courses offered at the two locations are not identical and space is limited.

Typically, transfer students to UBC Engineering do not need to complete a personal profile. The application will automatically ask you to include it if it is required for you.

For post-secondary transfer applicants, we typically look at the most recent 30 credits you have completed, as well as all chemistry, math and physics courses you have completed in post-secondary studies. UBC Admissions sometimes requests to review your high school grades. This could be if they want a more holistic understanding of your academic history or if you have completed less than 24 credits.  

The foundational first year program includes 13 classes for a total of 37 credits. You can see the courses included in the first year program.

First Year Program

Your Bachelor of Applied Science degree at UBC will be four or more years. The foundational first year includes two engineering courses as well as courses in math, chemistry, physics and communications that form the basis of engineering. In second year, you’ll choose a specific engineering discipline. Your classes will incorporate theory, hands-on projects, labs and tutorials. You can also choose to participate in programs like studying abroad, taking a minor or participating in co-op; however, pursuing some of these opportunities may extend your degree to five years.

Studying abroad Taking a minor  Participating in co-op

Some programs have more flexibility than others, but there are also lots of ways to customize your degree by studying abroad, taking a minor, doing a dual degree, completing co-op, and more. You will take at least two humanities electives during your degree, and some engineering programs will require additional electives or technical electives.

Taking a minor Doing a dual degree Completing co-op

You can complete a minor in science, commerce, entrepreneurship, arts or honours math. You can also pursue a dual degree in arts and engineering. Students typically apply for this during their first year at UBC, and we recommend that you speak with your academic advisor if this is something you are interested in.

minor dual degree

There are two major engineering projects in the first year: the cardboard chair project and the claw project. Check out the videos below to learn more about these complex and fun projects.

First Year Engineering Project: The Cardboard Chair!

APSC 101: The Claw

The foundational first-year curriculum will introduce you to the many different types of engineering. In the APSC 100 and 101 classes, you are given presentations on each of the disciplines available to help you make your decision. Over the year, we’ll also make sure you have other information to help you decide, including historical averages for each program.

Check out Stephanie’s video about being a part of the Women in Engineering club at UBC and hear her perspective on what it is like to be a woman in engineering.

You can also chat with our Engineering Ambassadors to learn about their experiences.

Engineering Ambassadors

Yes! Women in Engineering promotes gender diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering. Students of any gender are welcome to join and support these initiatives. UBC Gears and Queers also strives to build and support a community for queer engineering students and provide a positive safe space on the UBC campus through social and professional events and a visible presence in engineering student life. 

UBC Gears and Queers

The benefit of UBC’s foundational first year is that you are exposed to all the engineering disciplines so that you can make a more informed choice for your program of study. We also encourage students to consider the field they want to work in as many engineering disciplines can lead to the same field of work.

If you are in a discipline that you have decided is not right for you, you might be eligible for an interdepartmental transfer. Please be aware that this will be based on space available in the program and you will need to meet the competitive average. This will likely also extend the length of your degree.

You can get involved in research in a variety of ways, including paid work experience through co-op or participating in the Undergraduate Student Research Awards. There are also clubs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Club to ensure all undergraduate students can access multidisciplinary research opportunities. For more information about getting involved in research, check out the Engineering Stories video How do I get into research in first year at UBC?

Undergraduate Research Awards Research in first year

Co-op is an optional work experience opportunity. It is a great way to get industry experience while getting paid and exploring your career opportunities. You will need to apply in September of your second or third year. Students must complete four to five work terms. Each work term is four months in length and will alternate with school terms. You can see what the work term schedule looks like for all disciplines on the website.

Co-op work term schedules

Co-op provides you with up to 20 months of paid work experience, and extends your degree from four years to five years. Your co-op work experience can also count for up to one year of work credit towards your Engineer-in-Training status.

Co-op is an optional program that you apply for in your second or third year of study. Find out about the requirements you will have to meet to be accepted into the co-op program.

co-op program requirements 

You can join a UBC club as early as your first year! Check out the full list of UBC clubs and UBC Engineering design teams.

UBC clubs UBC Engineering design teams

CIE is the Coordinated International Experience, which allows students to complete a semester of their education at an international engineering institution abroad. Most students that participate in CIE study abroad in a semester during their third year.  

Coordinated International Experience

There is no standard naming system for engineering degrees in Canada, so you’ll find that degree names differ from province to province and even from school to school. The Bachelor of Applied Science is equivalent to other engineering degrees like a Bachelor of Engineering or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. UBC offers accredited engineering programs, which means that your degree will be recognized across Canada and internationally.

The deadline to apply for the First Year Guarantee in residence is May 1 if you are entering your first year of university. Most first-year students apply for “Winter Session Residence” for September through April.

You can apply to residence at the same time you apply to UBC, or you can follow the instructions on the Vancouver Housing website to apply before May 1.

First Year Guarantee Vancouver Housing website

For more information on residence and meal plans, check out Engineering Stories’ YouTube playlist. ​​​​​​

The Residence Meal Plan is required for students living in first-year residence. The meal plan gives you access to residence dining rooms, restaurants, cafes, food trucks, quick service eateries and more.

Residence Meal Plan