Legacy English Requirements

BCIT has revised the English Language Proficiency requirements, effective October 1st, 2023. If you are applying to a full-time September 2024 intake, a Flexible Learning program, or a trades program with a rolling start date, please refer to our new English Language Proficiency guidelines. If you are applying to a full-time technology Winter 2024 or Spring 2024 intake, refer to the information provided below. Please see your program’s Entrance Requirements page to confirm the level of English required.

English is the language of instruction and communication at BCIT. All applicants and registrants, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin, must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English. This language requirement ensures that all students will have the opportunity for success in their chosen courses and programs.

There are two ways to meet the English requirement:

1. Complete both of the following:

English 12 or equivalent with the percentage required for your program
For proficiency in reading and writing
Two years of full-time education in English in an English-speaking country
For proficiency in speaking and listening

2. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and listening:

Complete courses or assessments including ISEP, PELD, PTE Academic, TOEFL, or IELTS.
Options for demonstrating your English proficiency

English 12 and equivalencies

At BCIT, entrance requirements are program-specific. All programs require English 12, but the percentage required varies by program. Be sure to confirm your program’s specific English requirement before applying.

If you do not meet the requirements, BCIT offers several options to help you upgrade your skills:

If your program requires:		You need this mark in one of these BCIT courses:
If your program requires:		COMM 0004	COMM 0005
English 12	86%	N/A	90%
English 12	73%	N/A	80%
English 12	67%	N/A	70%
English 12	50%	N/A	50%
If your program is:		You need this mark in one of these BCIT courses:
If your program is:		COMM 0004	COMM 0005
Technology Entry		50%	50%

Complete 3.0 credits* of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences with the percentage required for your program’s English requirement. For example, 67% in History 100 meets the 67% in English 12 requirement.

*Credit calculations can vary by institution. Generally, an acceptable course is 3 hours of lecture per week for one 12-15 week term.

BCIT COMM 1000-level (or higher) courses of 3.0 credits or more are acceptable to meet the required grade for English 12. For example, you may take COMM 1103, COMM 1106, COMM 1009, or both of COMM 1007 and COMM 1008.

Learn how to register for part-time courses.

View the directory of recognized institutions.

If you already have the English skills, you may choose to take an assessment test to meet your program’s requirements.

Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program you’re applying to.

1) BCIT English Competency Assessment

Note that 90 (equivalent to BCIT’s 86%) is the highest possible score for the COMM 0015 assessment.

If your program requires:		You need this mark for COMM 0015:
English 12	86%	90
English 12	73%	80
English 12	67%	70
English 12	50%	50
If your program is:		You need this mark for COMM 0015:
Technology Entry		50
Business Fundamentals		Placement in COMM 0071, COMM 0003, or above

Learn how to register for part-time courses

2) BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (trades only)

If you are applying to a BCIT trades program, you can take the BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment to meet the English 12 requirement. You must have two years of education in an English-speaking country to be eligible for this test.

3) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

If your program requires:		You need both of these marks on the SAT:
If your program requires:		Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section Score 200-800 scale	Essay Sub-score (Reading + Analysis + Writing) 6-24 scale
English 12	73%	640	19
English 12	67%	600	18
English 12	50%	500	15
Technology Entry	–	500	15

Our institution SAT number is 6162. More information on SAT

Two years of education in English

Applicants to BCIT are required to have completed two years of full-time study in a high school or post-secondary program in English in an English-speaking country. Two years of full-time education is equivalent to:

12 courses successfully completed within two years or
15 courses successfully completed within three years

Most subjects are acceptable, including academic, vocational, trades and technical studies courses.

English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are not acceptable.

English-speaking countries

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Gambia

Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Liberia
Mauritius
Montserrat
New Zealand
Nigeria
Saint Lucia
Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Singapore
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Zimbabwe

If you have English 12 (or equivalent) but not two years in English education in an English-speaking country, you can take BCIT’s COMM 0030 course or the COMM 0033 test.

Options for demonstrating your proficiency in English

If you do not have English 12, and you have not studied in an English-speaking country, you will need to demonstrate your skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening by completing one of the following options.

Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program you’re applying to.

If your program requires:		You need this mark in ISEP:
		Prior to January 2021 (Level)	After January 2021 (Technical Academic English)
English 12	73%	Level 6 – 70% in each course	TAE 5 – 70%
English 12	67%	Level 6 – 60% in each course	TAE 5 – 60%
English 12	50%	Level 5 – 60% in each course or Level 6 – 50% in each course	TAE 5 – 50% or TAE 4 – 60%
If your program is:
Technology Entry (TE)		Level 5 – 50% in each course	TAE 4 – 50%
Business Fundamentals		Level 4 – 50% in each course	TAE 3 – 50%

Learn more about ISEP

Please note that PELD courses are part-time and are not suitable for international applicants who require a study permit.

Note that 90 (equivalent to BCIT’s 86%) is the highest possible score for the COMM 0033 assessment.

If your program requires:		You need this course or assessment:	And this course or assessment to meet listening/speaking requirements:
English 12	73%	COMM 0005 (80%) or COMM 0015 (80)	COMM 0030 (80%) or COMM 0033 (80)
English 12	67%	COMM 0005 (70%) or COMM 0015 (70)	COMM 0030 (70%) or COMM 0033 (70)
English 12	50%	COMM 0005 (50%) or COMM 0015 (50)	COMM 0030 (70%) or COMM 0033 (70)
If your program is:		You need this course or assessment:	And this course or assessment to meet listening/speaking requirements:
Technology Entry (TE)		COMM 0004 (50%) or COMM 0015 (50 or placement in COMM 0005)	COMM 0029 (S grade) or COMM 0033 (60)
Business Fundamentals		COMM 0015 (“U” and placement in COMM 0071 or higher*)	COMM 0033 (“U” and placement in COMM 0071 or higher*)

*For example, placement in COMM 0003, 0004, or 0005.

Learn more about PELD

Due to the accessibility of English proficiency testing during the COVID19 pandemic, BCIT is temporarily accepting the CAEL Online test.

If your program requires:		You need these scores on the CAEL:
English 12	73%	80 overall band score 70 minimum on all subtests
English 12	67%	70 overall band score 60 minimum on all subtests
English 12	50%	60 overall band score 50 minimum on all subtests

Where and when can I write this test?

If your program requires:	You need to complete:	With this score:
English 12	73%	C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency	185
English 12	67%	B2 First or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency	176
English 12	50%	B2 First or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency	169

If your program requires:

You need to complete:

With this score:

English 12

73%

C1 Advanced or

C2 Proficiency

185

English 12

67%

B2 First or

C1 Advanced or

C2 Proficiency

176

English 12

50%

B2 First or

C1 Advanced or

C2 Proficiency

169

Learn more about Cambridge Assessment English

BCIT is currently accepting the Duolingo English Test for international applicants only.

If your program requires:		You need these scores on the Duolingo English Test:
English 12	73%	120
English 12	67%	115
English 12	50%	105

If your program is:	You need these scores on the Duolingo English Test:
Technology Entry (TE)	100
Business Fundamentals	90

Learn more about the Duolingo English Test

BCIT is currently accepting the IELTS Indicator.

The following is acceptable:	The following is not acceptable:
IELTS Academic*	IELTS General Training
*You must submit your Official IELTS Test Report Form with your online application.

If your program requires:		You need these scores on the IELTS:
If your program requires:		Overall Score
English 12	73%	7
English 12	67%	6.5
English 12	50%	6.0

If your program is:	You need these scores on the IELTS:
If your program is:	Overall Score
Technology Entry (TE)	6.0
Business Fundamentals	5.0

Learn more about IELTS

If your program requires:		You need these scores on the PTE Academic:
If your program requires:		Overall Score
English 12	73%	65
English 12	67%	60
English 12	50%	52

If your program is:	You need these scores on the PTE Academic:
If your program is:	Overall Score
Technology Entry (TE)	52
Business Fundamentals	45

Learn more about the PTE Academic

Due to the accessibility of English proficiency testing during the COVID19 pandemic, BCIT is temporarily accepting the TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition test.

The following are acceptable:	The following are not acceptable:
TOEFL iBT Official Score Report TOEFL iBT Examinee Score Report TOEFL iBT Test Taker Score Report	TOEFL paper-based test TOEFL online test results MyBest Scores

If your program requires:		You need these scores on the TOEFL:
If your program requires:		Overall Score
English 12	73%	90
English 12	67%	86
English 12	50%	82

If your program is:	You need these scores on the TOEFL:
If your program is:	Overall Score
Technology Entry (TE)	82
Business Fundamentals	35

BCIT’s Destination Institution (DI) Code is 9110.

Learn more about TOEFL

Note: Refer to the tables above for English level requirements.

If you meet English course requirements with:	You can meet the two years of English education requirement with:
COMM 0015 test or COMM 0005	COMM 0030 course, COMM 0033 test or ISEP
English 12 course or equivalent	COMM 0030 course or COMM 0033 test
International Student Entry Program (ISEP)	COMM 0030 course or COMM 0033 test
Language Proficiency Index (LPI)	COMM 0030 course or COMM 0033 test
Post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences	COMM 0030 course or COMM 0033 test
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)	COMM 0030 course or COMM 0033 test

Please see the English for Academic Purposes Course Equivalency/Transfer Grid [PDF].

Courses articulated at the same level as BCIT’s COMM 0005 meet our English Studies 12 (reading and writing) requirement.
Courses articulated at the same level as BCIT’s COMM 0030 meet our speaking and listening requirement.
Integrated courses articulated at EAP Level IV meet our listening, speaking, reading, and writing requirements at English Studies 12 level.

If your program requires:		You need these scores in the articulated EAP course
If your program requires:		percentage grade required	Letter grade required if percentage is unavailable*
English 12	73%	80%	A-
English 12	67%	70%	B
English 12	50%	50%	C

*If your final grade is not a letter or percentage, for example, ELSK courses from VCC, you may request a percentage grade in a letter from your instructor.

ILSC Education Group

If your program requires:		You need this course/grade from ILSC Education Group:
English 12	73%	Level A2 (Advanced) with 70% overall average or higher
English 12	67%	Level A1 (Advanced) with 70% overall average or higher
English 12	50%	Level 4 (Intermediate) with 70% overall average or higher
If your program is:		You need this course/grade from ILSC Education Group:
Technology Entry (TE)		Level 3 (Intermediate) with 70% overall average or higher
Business Fundamentals		Level 3 (Intermediate) with 70% overall average or higher
For placement in:		You need this course/grade from ILSC Education Group:
COMM 0005 or ISEP TAE Level 5		Level 3 (Intermediate) with 70% overall average or higher
COMM 0004 or ISEP TAE Level 4		Level 2 (Intermediate) with 70% overall average or higher

Royal Bridge College

If your program requires:		You need this course/grade from Royal Bridge College:
English 12	73%	Level 6 (Advanced) with 80% or higher
English 12	67%	Level 6 (Advanced) with 75% or higher
English 12	50%	Level 5 (Lower-Advanced) with 75% or higher
If your program is:		You need this course/grade from Royal Bridge College:
Technology Entry (TE)		Level 5 (Lower-Advanced) with 75% or higher
Business Fundamentals		Level 4 (Intermediate) with 75% or higher
For placement in:		You need this course/grade from Royal Bridge College Inc:
COMM 0005 or ISEP TAE Level 5		Level 5 (Lower-Advanced) with 75% or higher
COMM 0004 or ISEP TAE Level 4		Level 4 (Intermediate) with 75% or higher

VGC International College

If your program requires:		You need this course/grade from VGC International College:
English 12	73%	University Preparation (Advanced) with 80% or higher
English 12	67%	University Preparation (Advanced) with 75% or higher
English 12	50%	University Preparation (Advanced) with 70% or higher
If your program is:		You need this course/grade from VGC International College:
Technology Entry (TE)		University Preparation (Intermediate) with 80% or higher
Business Fundamentals		University Preparation (Intermediate) with 70% or higher
For placement in:		You need this course/grade from VGC International College:
COMM 0005 or ISEP TAE Level 5		University Preparation (Intermediate) with 80% or higher
COMM 0004 or ISEP TAE Level 4		University Preparation (Intermediate) with 70% or higher

Learn more about VGC International College

Legacy English Requirements

Notice to applicants

English 12 and equivalencies

1: Take an upgrading course

2: Take a post-secondary course at BCIT or another recognized institution

3: Take a test to verify your competency

1) BCIT English Competency Assessment

2) BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (trades only)

3) Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Two years of education in English

English-speaking countries

Options for demonstrating your proficiency in English

BCIT International Student Entry Program (ISEP)

BCIT Professional English Language Development (PELD) Courses

Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test

Cambridge Assessment English

Duolingo English Test (international applicants only)

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Combination of Assessments and Courses

Other Post-Secondary Institutions

ESL Schools

ILSC Education Group

Royal Bridge College

VGC International College