Overview
The Full-Stack Web Development Diploma (FSWD) features an interdisciplinary learning environment to prepare you for a career as a web developer.
Focusing on emerging web application development tools and technologies, this unique two-year full-time program offers hands-on experience combined with industry projects to equip you for the many opportunities in this fast-growing and high-demand field.
Program includes
Downtown Campus
The FSWD Diploma is offered at the BCIT Downtown Campus – in the heart of Vancouver – with several high-tech sector players close by. The FSWD experience features industry-driven project-based learning, small classes, and new state-of-the-art flexible learning spaces
Who should apply?
The FSWD program might be the right fit for you if you:
- Enjoy working with people and in teams
- Have a knack for troubleshooting and problem solving
- Thrive in a multifaceted context that includes programming, user experience, and design
- Want a stable professional career with strong opportunities for growth
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program has multiple application deadlines and may fill after each deadline date.
| Start date | Applications open | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| September | October 1* | March 1* (early) |
| April 30* (final) |
*or next business day
We recommend that you apply early. All supporting documents must be submitted by the application deadline.
Indigenous applicants: Read about Indigenous student support available for the Full-Stack Web Development program.
Entrance requirements
Admission to this program is highly competitive. In 2022, BCIT admitted 1 in 4 applicants. Successful applicants substantially exceeded the entrance requirements in both English and math with an average above 89%.
Competitive Entry: Two-step process
Preference will be given to applicants with:
- Academic grades above the minimum
Step 1: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (67%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (67%) or
- Acceptable equivalent high school course or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (67%) from a recognized institution
What if I don’t meet these English requirements? - Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 12 (67%) or
- Foundations of Math 12 (73%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses
Read more about how to meet BCIT’s entrance requirements
Step 2: Department assessment
Admission is competitive and will be offered to the most qualified applicants. The competitive calculation formula takes the average of the applicant’s secondary or post-secondary English and math scores. Make sure to advise Admissions of your highest grades.
A waitlist of eligible applicants, ranked in competitive order, will be kept in the event that a seat becomes available prior to the end of the first week of term. The waitlist is cleared once the program intake is full and closed; unsuccessful applicants must re-apply to be considered for the next intake. Unsuccessful students may wish to upgrade their math and English before re-applying.
Recommended for success
BCIT is committed to providing assistance to all its full- and part-time students with permanent or temporary, visible or non-visible disabilities. Current and future students who maybe need support to overcome the limits and barriers that you may encounter during your studies are encouraged to contact BCIT’s Accessibility Services to attend an information session or to arrange an interview with one of the institute's Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
Students enrolled in this program must complete the mandatory work component to qualify for graduation. A co-op work permit is required prior to starting the work component.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Learn about BCIT entrance awards, including support for Indigenous students entering computing programs.
Tuition fees
Please see the Full-Time Tuition & Fees pages for tuition fee amounts:
Books & supplies
Books are expected to cost $500 to $800 per term.
(General estimated cost, subject to change)
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) at BCIT is an initiative that enables BCIT students to access campus resources at any time through your own device, and to use their own computers for course work. The Full-Stack Web Development Diploma at the Downtown BCIT Campus is a participant in this programs and requires all students to bring their own Windows-compatible laptop to school each day.
Please refer to this Preferred Laptop Specifications [PDF].
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
Courses
Class hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pmProgram matrix
| Level 1 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1116 | Business Communications 1 | 4.0 | |
| COMP 1171 | Web Development 1 | 3.0 | |
| COMP 1320 | Introduction to Software Development | 5.0 | |
| COMP 1340 | Introduction to Operating Systems Administration | 4.0 | |
| MATH 1320 | Mathematics for Computing | 4.0 | |
| MDIA 1106 | Design 1 | 3.0 | |
| MDIA 2190 | Photoshop | 3.0 | |
| Level 2A (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
| ACIT 2811 | UX/UI Development | 3.0 | |
| COMM 2116 | Communications for Business and Web | 5.0 | |
| COMP 2131 | Web Development 2 | 4.0 | |
| COMP 2311 | Agile Software Development | 4.0 | |
| COMP 2340 | Collaboration Tools | 2.0 | |
| COMP 2350 | Web Database Technologies | 4.0 | |
| COMP 2523 | Object Oriented Programming 1 | 5.0 | |
| Level 2B (5 weeks) | Credits | ||
| IDSP 2380 | Web Projects 1 | 6.0 | |
| Level 3 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
| BLAW 3205 | Internet and IT Law | 3.0 | |
| COMP 1350 | Web Administration | 3.0 | |
| COMP 3330 | JavaScript Frameworks and Server | 5.0 | |
| COMP 3514 | Web C# Application Development | 4.0 | |
| IDSP 3380 | Web Projects 2 | 6.0 | |
| MDIA 2106 | Design 2 | 4.0 | |
| MKTG 1352 | Digital Marketing | 3.0 | |
| Level 4 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
| ACIT 4770 | Legal and Ethical Issues in IT | 2.0 | |
| COMP 4514 | ASP.NET Core MVC for Web Apps | 3.0 | |
| COMP 4515 | Server-Side Web Scripting with PHP | 5.0 | |
| IDSP 4380 | Web Projects 3 | 6.0 | |
| MDIA 2025 | Digital Portfolio Development | 3.0 | |
| VENT 4000 | Entrepreneurship | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 110.0 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
The FSWD Diploma is a full-time two-year program.
Program Aim
This Diploma covers the knowledge and skills needed by full-stack web developers to create, modify, and maintain full web applications, including server configuration, front-end development, back-end development, data management, and web architecture design. The FSWD Diploma also provides valuable interdisciplinary training in a unique cross-program format.
Program Structure by Term
Program Goals
Upon successful completion of the FSWD Diploma, students will be able to:
- Build front-end web applications using tools such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and modern frameworks
- Build web applications using formats such as the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern
- Build back-end RESTful applications using modern scripting and programming languages and frameworks
- Install, configure, run, and manage web servers and resources through command-line interfaces
- Build, administer, and use modern database management systems, and incorporate the data within web applications
- Develop software in accordance with best practice for design, implementation, and testing and deployment
- Apply modern, best-practice front-end UX, UI, and design techniques
- Build prototypes and full-stack full web applications in teams, including front-end and back-end development based on user requirements and needs
- Communicate effectively in written and oral English and use presentation tools effectively in a business, sales or technical setting
- Create web applications that follow legal, ethical, and security best practices
- Prepare to market and sell web applications according to best current practice
- Manage and collaborate on team projects using popular technical tools such as version control and communication tools and modern methodologies such as Agile and Scrum
Program length
Two years, full-time.Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Graduating & Jobs
Employment
Web development is a fast-growing employment category, with continued projected high growth and demand in BC and beyond. Web developers are employed across multiple industries throughout the private and public sectors. They may also be self-employed.
Furthering Education
Graduates of this diploma program may apply for acceptance into BCIT’s Bachelor of Technology Degree in Technology Management. With bridging, laddering to other BCIT degrees, such as the Computer Systems Technology (CST) BTech, and BTech in Forensic Investigation (Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity option), may also be possible.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2020-2022 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2019-2021 graduates and for Degree 2017-2019 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Sam Meech-Ward, Program Head
Prospective Student Inquiries
Email: program_advising@bcit.ca
Current Student Inquiries
Email: fswddiploma@bcit.ca
Advisory committee
BCIT is well-respected by employers for its ties to the industry. In Computing, this connection is formalized through a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) comprised of experts in a range of roles from a cross-section of companies. The department consults regularly to ensure program currency and relevance.
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