Please watch our most recent Computing Flexible Learning information session video.
Yes. Please read the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide before registering in any COMP courses.
Grade 12 English or equivalent.
All students must have the ability to communicate at a BC Grade 12 English level, please review the detailed link above.
Many COMP courses have considerable group work and presentation requirements.
If required, please upgrade your English skills prior to starting any COMP courses.
- All Computing PTS programs either require or assume this level of English:
COMM 1103 – Intro to Business and Technical Communication - Please note: Those with English as a second language should instead complete:
COMM 0005 – Technical Communication Skills for ESL Students 4
and COMM 1106 – Intro to Business and Technical Communication (language development) - Grade 12 Math or equivalent.
The ASD_ACIS_CSC laddered credentials and the Applied Data Analytics Certificate, ADAC require recent Grade 12 Math. Those without recent higher-level math experience should first complete: MATH 0001 – Technical Mathematics
Yes. Or you must prove prerequisite knowledge from prior recent education. COMP courses are unique to BCIT and assume specific prerequisites. Because we have limited seats only students who have prerequisites and who have declared a program are given the approval to register.
It is up to each student to prove that they have the prerequisite knowledge, this is done on a case by case basis. We have limited seats so only students who have listed prerequisites and those who have declared a program are given the approval to register.
This is explained in the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide on page 6.
Most COMP courses are unique to CST and are not paralleled in other post-secondary. Even if your course title appears to be similar or even the same, it does not mean that those courses are equivalent.
You must first study and compare COMP course descriptions and learning outcomes to what you have completed elsewhere. Start with the learning outcomes, course length (total hours), and textbook used. Compare the COMP lesson-by-lesson syllabus and evaluation criteria.
To be considered for Transfer Credit Request (TCR), course(s) must have been completed within the last five (5) years. All TCR requests must be accompanied by prior detailed course outlines, your side-by-side comparison with COMP and a transcript.
You may request TCR for other post-secondary courses after you provide a detailed comparison of the topics: bcit.ca/study/outlines
A current model PC with an i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, 256 GB minimum storage and high-speed internet access. Most courses will require you to have a microphone, video camera, and headphones or earbuds, as well as a high-speed internet connection.
Many COMP courses are available for online delivery through 2022.
Our goal for 2023 is to offer a variety of courses in physical classrooms at our Burnaby and Downtown campuses. There are no guarantees that all Computing PTS courses will be online in the future, however we are planning to continue to offer some COMP PTS courses online.
Note for International Students: You must complete at least 50% of your program with in person courses to maintain a Study Permit.
Please do not contact BCIT Program Advising for course planning.
Email: cstpts@bcit.ca as detailed in the Computing PTS Student Guide, our website and program pages. Always include your BCIT student A0 number in the subject lines of all emails.
If you do not have a BCIT Student ID you must first create one.
Please note: BCIT provides a lifetime Student ID which does not change, if you had a prior BCIT ID you can search for it online. After you have verified your BCIT ID then you may choose your PTS course number, section, day and time.
Follow the prompts and proceed to check out, your payment is then due when you register. If you do not pay the total within 24 hours you will be dropped from the course and someone else could get the seat. Credit cards are not accepted, you have other options for paying tuition online. Payment Options at BCIT
Seats are limited and priority is given to students who have prerequisites and who have declared a program, they are given first approval to register.
Yes.
For the majority of the Flexible Learning courses, you must attend during the scheduled class time.
We are currently offering 3 delivery options, all of which require the BCIT Learning Hub.
- Synchronously online – students must be logged in at the scheduled class time
- Synchronously on-campus – students must attend on campus at the scheduled class time
- Asynchronously online – online available for specific sections of COMP 1630, COMP 1850, COMP 2132 and COMP 2831
A current model PC with stable internet access is required for all of the delivery options.
Please check the course schedule notes for details and be sure to register for the specific delivery you want for that entire course.
Yes. You can request approval to register in courses for which you have the specific prerequisites. Please note: Students in approved programs have first priority.
Details are in the “Program Entry” section for each credential. Typically you must complete 1-2 COMP courses prior to declaring a program.
You cannot apply for a credential unless you have declared the program.
The “Graduating & Jobs” section on each program page describes the process for submitting an Application for BCIT Credential.
Each credential is course-by-course registration, the total program costs will depend on the electives that you chose.Typically Computing Flexible Learning Associate Certificates are around $5,000 and larger Certificates are around $9,000 tuition. Tuition averages $500- $600 per COMP course; textbooks are an additional cost.
Please note: International students in BCIT Flexible Learning pay 3 times the base tuition fees.
Most Associate Certificates in Computing Flexible Learning will require 2 years to complete with 1 course per term. Some Associate Certificates may allow 2 courses in some terms however you can not typically complete these programs in less than 5 terms.
Not in most cases. The only fast-track options are for the Computer Systems Certificate, CSC and the Applied Data Analytics Certificate, ADAC. Some students may be able to complete either certificate in 2 years if they can complete 3 courses for 9 credits every term. With prerequisites and scheduling fast-tracking a certificate in Flexible Learning requires very careful course planning.
Please note: Attempting 3 COMP courses per term could equate to a 40-hour workload each week.
We encourage students to register early.
Some Flexible Learning courses may not be available in any given term.
Flexible Learning courses are market-driven and depend on enrollments.
Students are advised to check the website for course schedules before coming onsite.
Check our website or Google your course, i.e. “COMP 1002” to verify the current schedule.
Start dates may be postponed, end dates may be extended and room locations may all change.
Please note:
We only cancel courses when absolutely necessary.
Be sure that we have your current preferred email and phone number on file.
The BCIT policy on PTS course cancellation is three business days notice.
If we cancel a course we will provide a tuition refund or to offer a transfer to another course.
Yes. However only in very specific cases. All Flexible Learning course refund requests must be submitted prior to the refund deadlines.
Please note:
- A PTS refund is 85% of the tuition. You may request a refund prior to the second lesson only in a 6-week or a 12-week course. Sorry, no refunds are granted in these courses after the second lesson has started.
- Refund requests for courses lasting 4 weeks or less must be submitted 1 week prior to the course start date.
In order to withdraw from a Flexible Learning course at any point prior to the withdrawal deadline, you must fill out the Flexible Learning Course Withdrawal form and submit it to Student Records. If you simply stop attending you will get a “V” for vacating on your permanent record which calculates the same as a Fail in your GPA.