Please note: If you are an international student who needs a study permit, apply to the English for Professional and Academic Success (EPAS) program.
Yes. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with protected person status will be exempt from the tuition portion of the total fees; however, they will still be required to pay the ancillary fees to secure their spot in the course.
Please submit a copy of your transcript by email to EPAS@bcit.ca. You will also need to include your BCIT student number. If you do not attach your student number, you will not be approved to register for any courses.
Please refer to English 12 equivalencies.
We accept all of the following English tests:
- IELTS (academic format only) – must be taken within the last 24 months
- TOEFL – must be taken within the last 24 months
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) – must receive a minimum score of “5” in all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) within the last 24 months
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – must receive a minimum score of “5” in all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) within the last 24 months
- COMM 0015 (offered by BCIT) – This is a reading and writing assessment designed for students at least at the upper-intermediate level. It is not an assessment for beginners or lower-level students. No EPAS placement will be awarded to students who do not pass the test.
- COMM 0033 (offered by BCIT) – This is a speaking and listening assessment designed for students at least at the upper-intermediate level. It is not an assessment for beginners or lower-level students. No EPAS placement will be awarded to students who do not pass the test.
- Duolingo – must receive a minimum overall score of “65” and a minimum production score of “60” within the last 24 months
Please submit a copy of your test scores by email to EPAS@bcit.ca. You will also need to include your BCIT student number. If you do not attach your student number, you will not be approved to register for any courses. Please see the program placement for details of what scores you need from each test in order to meet the minimum requirements for placement into our program.
Please submit a copy of your transcript by email to EPAS@bcit.ca. You will also need to include your BCIT student number. If you do not attach your student number, you will not be approved to register for any courses.
If you submitted a transcript or test score: Please allow the department 2-4 business days to review your transcript. An email will be sent to you once a decision has been made with specific information about which levels you are approved to take.
If you took the COMM 0015 and/or the COMM 0033 assessments, you will be able to check your placement results after 5-7 business days from your test date by logging in to your Learning Hub account. An automatic approval will be given so that you can register for the level you were placed in. The approval will be valid for one year after your test date. If your test scores do not show a PELD placement, it means that you did not pass the test, and no placement was given. In that case, we recommend that students consider upgrading at other institutions that may offer lower-level starting points before transferring to our program once the minimum requirements are met. We also do not recommend students to re-take the COMM 0015 and/or COMM 0033 assessments if no placement was given the first time.
BCIT course and program information is subject to change without notice. Please visit the BCIT Course Finder for the most current information.
Most of our EPAS courses are offered six times per year:
- January
- February/March
- May
- June/July
- September
- October/November
Please contact the registration office immediately at 604-434-1610 or 1-866-434-1610 (toll-free within Canada and the U.S.).
If a seat is available in the course you wish to transfer into, a $16 transfer fee applies. Please note that all transfer requests must be submitted and processed before the refund deadline.
Please read the Refunds and Withdrawals section for more information.
No. Students are required to register for the course they have been placed into. However, if the instructor determines that a student’s skill level is higher or lower than expected for the course, a re-placement into a different course may be considered.
Each course typically runs for 7 weeks, with 10 hours of classwork per week.
Yes. Students may retake the same course up to two times within a 12-month period.
Department approval is required to take any course for a third time. Depending on the situation, it may or may not be approved. If it is not approved, students will be asked to take the COMM 0015 and/or COMM 0033 English tests for re-placement.
Yes. Please check the Adult Upgrading Grant page for more information on how to apply for it. Your application must be submitted no later than the first day of classes.
Registration operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and we are unable to guarantee or reserve seats for students.
Please continue to check the course website regularly. If a seat becomes available in your course, you will be able to register at that time.
Yes. Students may register for up to two Reading and Writing courses and two Speaking and Listening courses per term, for a maximum of four courses total.
For example, you can register for:
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EPAS 0251 (Reading and Writing) and EPAS 0211 (Speaking and Listening) in January, and then
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EPAS 0351 (Reading and Writing) and EPAS 0311 (Speaking and Listening) in February
You cannot register for:
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EPAS 0251 (Reading and Writing) and EPAS 0311 (Reading and Writing) in January or
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EPAS 0211 (Speaking and Listening) and EPAS 0311 (Speaking and Listening) in January
No. Students will not be accepted into EPAS courses unless they have met the required entry criteria and have received department approval to register.
The EPAS program is designed for students at the lower-intermediate level and above. We do not offer beginner-level courses. For this reason, placement test results are carefully reviewed to ensure students are well-positioned to succeed in the program.
Yes. Many post-secondary institutions in British Columbia and across Canada recognize EPAS 0551 and EPAS 0511 as equivalent to English 12. However, students are strongly encouraged to confirm acceptance with the Admissions Office of the institution to which they are applying.
No certificates will be issued. Please log into your myBCIT account to print your unofficial transcript if proof of completion is required.
You can check your grades or view your transcript online using myBCIT
- In the right-hand menu, select Access BCIT’s Secure Online Self Service
- Select Student Self Service
- Select Check Grades
- You can view assignments/quizzes, final grades, your unofficial transcript, and any administrative holds on your account.
For eligible students who registered for EPAS courses online, please note that it may take up to three business days for the tuition portion of your fees to be removed from your account.
Please do not make any payments until your tuition fees have been removed.
If your account has not been updated after three business days, contact Student Information and Enrolment Services at 604-434-1610 during regular business hours for assistance. Please note that the EPAS department cannot remove tuition fees.