Important: Professional English Language Development (PELD) has been replaced by English for Professional and Academic Success (EPAS). EPAS is BCIT’s updated English pathway for international and domestic students.
Some PELD courses are delivered online, some in person, and some in hybrid format. Check the course delivery format before registering.
Please submit a copy of your transcript by email to PELD@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 12 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 12 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 PELD placement will be given to students if they 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 PELD placement will be given to students if they do not pass the test.
- Duolingo – accepted for international students only
Please submit a copy of your test scores by email to PELD@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 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 PELD@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 at. 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 which case, we recommend students to consider upgrading at other institutions that may offer lower level starting points first before transferring into 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 PELD courses are offered six times per year:
| January | |
| February/March | (no Level I: COMM 0071) |
| May | |
| June/July | (no Level I: COMM 0071) |
| September | |
| October/November | (no Level I: COMM 0071) |
Please contact the registration office immediately at 604-434-1610 or toll-free at 1-866-434-1610 (Canada and US only). If a seat is available for the course you need to take instead, a transfer fee will apply. However, the transfer must be requested and processed before the refund deadline.
Please read the Refunds and Withdrawals from Part-Time Studies Courses section for more information.
No. Students are required to register for the course that they were placed into; however, if the instructor feels that your skill level is above or below what is expected in the course, a re-placement into a different course may be considered.
Each reading and writing course is roughly 6 to 7 weeks long, and each speaking and listening course ranges from 5 to 15 weeks long, depending on the schedules you choose.
Yes. However, you must retake the course within 12 months.
Department approval is required to take the 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 retake the COMM 0015 and/or COMM 0033 test.
Please click on the Classroom Locations link.
Yes. Please check the requirements on the Upgrading and ESL Upgrading webpage for more information and instructions on how to apply for it. Your application must be submitted no later than the first day of classes.
Please continue to check the course website frequently. If a seat becomes available for your course, it should give you the option to register. Unfortunately, no waiting list is available for our courses as registration works on a first come, first served basis only. We cannot guarantee or reserve seats for students.
Yes. Students can register for up to two reading and writing courses and two speaking and listening courses per term (3 courses total). For example:
You can register for …
COMM 0003 (reading and writing) and COMM 0029 (speaking and listening) in January
And then ..
COMM 0004 (reading and writing) and COMM 0030 (speaking and listening) in February
But you cannot register for …
COMM 0003 (reading and writing) and COMM 0004 (reading and writing) in January
or
COMM 0029 (speaking and listening) and COMM 0030 (speaking and listening) in January
No. Students will not be accepted into any PELD courses unless they have met the necessary requirements. They must receive department approval to register for our courses.
The PELD program is designed to help students upgrade their English skills starting at the upper-intermediate level. We do not offer upgrading courses for students at the lower/beginner levels; thus, we pay particular attention to your test scores to ensure your likelihood of succeeding in our program.
Yes. Many other post-secondary institutions will recognize COMM 0005 within British Columbia and other Canadian provinces; however, it is always best to first check with the Admissions Officers from whichever school you are applying to.
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 assignment/quizzes, final grades, your unofficial transcript, and any administrative holds on your account.
Business Writing
“The PELD courses taught me more than I expected and helped me get used to school in Canada, which was very different from education in Japan. I also appreciated the focus on business writing styles, whereas other schools focus on academic writing.”
– Yoshiaki Hiramatsu, PELD Student