Overview
The full-time Business Fundamentals Associate Certificate provides English language development to meet SoBM diploma program entry requirements. It offers flexibility to explore paths for transitioning into a full-time diploma program. Graduates can enter full-time and flexible learning diploma programs with credits earned from this certificate.
The Business Fundamentals (BFUN) program provides an academic path for students to meet the general English requirements to enter a full-time diploma program in the School of Business at BCIT. If you’re a student who is looking to improve your English language skills, unsure about which business program to pursue, or if you prefer a more gradual transition into a full-time business diploma program, then this program might be the right fit for you! It offers options and flexibility for you to explore different paths for a transition into the full-time diploma program.
About the program
- Upgrade your English score: Offers language development to meet the entrance requirement into BCIT business programs.
- Multiple intakes a year: Offers three intakes a year in January, May, and September.
- Guidance and Advising: Work with Business Fundamentals program head and advisors to help you plan your academic journey and create a personalized academic plan that aligns with your goals and interests.
- Pathway options: Upon completion, students can enter a number of full-time and flexible learning diploma programs with credits from the Business Fundamentals program. If you already have a degree or diploma, you may enter with an advanced standing in various diploma programs.
Who should apply for the Associate Certificate in Business Fundamentals?
This program might be right for you if:
- You do not yet meet the English requirement for the full-time diploma program
- You are unsure which area of business you want to pursue
- You want a gradual transition to the full-time business diploma program
- You already have post-secondary education but want to join a program at an advanced placement
- You desire to acquire fundamental business knowledge in Canada
If this sounds like you, visit the Entrance Requirements page to apply today.
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program is open to applications:
- March 1st* to December 15th* for the Winter (January) intake
- July 2nd* to April 15th* for the Spring (May) intake
- October 1st* to August 15th* for the Fall (September) intake
*or next business day
Applications are considered for a specific intake.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
- English: one of the following:
- Composition 11 (50%) or
- Creative Writing 11 (50%) or
- Literary Studies 11 (50%) or
- New Media 11 (50%)
- Spoken Language 11 (50%) or
- English First Peoples 11 (50%) or
What if I don’t meet these English requirements?
* International students attending an English as a Second Language school in British Columbia should contact the program head for possible equivalencies.
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (60%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (60%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (60%) or
- Acceptable equivalent high school courses or
- Math for Business - OPMT 0199 (60%) or
- Business Math Assessment Test - OPMT 0198 (60%)
Note: A valid study permit is required for international students and must be submitted in person to the International Student Centre prior to start of classes.
Recommended for success
It is strongly recommended that you assess your fundamental mathematical skills. The Mathematics Self-Diagnostic Test [PDF] is voluntary. If you find these problems difficult, we strongly recommend that you attend OPMT 0199. You should be able to do this exercise in about an hour, after which you should compare your answers with the correct ones supplied. If you scored less than 20 out of 26 correct, you should seriously consider upgrading your mathematical skills.
Students are encouraged to take the COMM 0015 - English Competency Assessment and the COMM 0033 - English Speaking and Listening Assessment before starting the program as a high placement result will reduce the number of English courses required to complete the program. COMM 0015 and COMM 0033 are administered every few weeks at BCIT.International applicants
This program is available to international applicants.
Study permit: A valid BCIT study permit is required prior to starting the program.
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
January, May and September.
Costs & Supplies
Bring Your Own Device
Students are required to have their own laptop. Please refer to the Bring Your Own Device Specifications [PDF] for requirements.
Laptop costs vary depending on the configuration chosen, but will likely range from approximately $1,000 to $2,000.
Tuition fees
Domestic students
- Term 1: $3,200*
- Term 2: $2,480**
- Term 3: $2,480**
First Term Tuition Deposit for domestic students
- A $500 non-refundable, non-transferable commitment fee is due upon acceptance.
- The balance of tuition deposit, the total minus the commitment fee, is $2,700 and is due 60 days prior to the start of the program.
- *Your tuition deposit for first term is $3,200.
- Any funds remaining from your deposit can be used for future tuition at BCIT.
| Commitment fee | $500 Non-refundable, non-transferable | Due upon acceptance to the program |
| Balance of tuition deposit | $2,700 | Due 60 days prior to the start of the program |
| First term tuition deposit | $3,200* Any funds remaining from your deposit can be used for term 2 tuition |
|
International students
- Term 1: $11,000*
- Term 2: $7,400**
- Term 3: $7,400**
First Term Tuition Deposit for international students
- A non-refundable, non-transferable commitment fee is due upon acceptance:
- September 2024 intake: $3,000
- January 2025 intake: $6,000
- The balance of tuition deposit, the total minus the commitment fee, is $8,000 and is due 60 days prior to the start of the program.
- *Your tuition deposit for first term is $11,000.
- Any funds remaining from your deposit can be used for future tuition at BCIT.
| Commitment fee | September 2024: $3,000 January 2025: $6,000 |
Due upon acceptance to the program |
| Balance of tuition deposit | $8,000 | Due 60 days prior to the start of the program |
| First term tuition deposit | $11,000* Any funds remaining from your deposit can be used for term 2 tuition |
|
**Tuition is charged each term on a course-by-course basis and will vary depending on your English placement and course selection. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on course tuition fees.
Other anticipated expenditures during your studies are:
- Local Transportation: approximately $100/month
- Textbooks: approximately $1,400/program
- Medical Insurance: approximately $900/year
Living expenses, tuition fees, textbooks, supplies, lab fees and medical insurance costs are the responsibility of the student.
Refund policy
The Business Fundamentals (BFUN) commitment fee is non-refundable.
Students withdrawing from classes will follow the flexible learning (part-time studies) refund deadlines.
International students denied a Study Permit by Canadian authorities can find information on the International fees and refunds section of the website.
Courses
Class hours
Most classes are between 8:30am - 5:30pm, Monday to Friday at the Burnaby Campus. Some classes may be scheduled in evening or weekends depending on course availability.Program matrix
| Professional English Language Development Courses (as needed): | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Depending on your English placement, you may be required to take one or more of the following supplementary and prerequisite English courses. | |||
| COMM 0003 | Technical Communication Skills for EAL Students 2 | ||
| COMM 0004 | Technical Communication Skills for EAL Students 3 | ||
| COMM 0005 | Technical Communication Skills for EAL Students 4 | ||
| COMM 0029 | Speaking and Listening Skills for EAL Students 1 | ||
| COMM 0030 | Speaking and Listening Skills for EAL Students 2 | ||
| COMM 0071 | Technical Communication Skills for EAL Students 1 | ||
| Required Courses (minimum 12.0 credits) | Credits | ||
| COMM 1106 | Introduction to Business and Technical Communication (With Language Development Component) | 3.0 | |
| COMM 1117 | Introduction to Intercultural Business Communication & Workplace Diversity | 3.0 | |
| MKTG 1323 | Effective Presentation Skills | 3.0 | |
| and | |||
| FMGT 1100 | Accounting 1 | 4.0 | |
| or | |||
| FMGT 1152 | Accounting for the Manager | 3.0 | |
| or | |||
| FMGT 2152 | Accounting for Management | 5.5 | |
| Option 1 (minimum 22.0 credits) | Credits | ||
| This option is available to all Business Fundamentals students. The following additional courses are required for direct entry into level 2 School of Business diploma programs: Required Electives (16.0 credits) |
|||
| BSYS 1001 | Business Information Systems 1-Microsoft 365 for Windows | 3.0 | |
| BUSA 1060 | Canadian Business and Society | 3.0 | |
| ECON 2100 | Microeconomics | 3.0 | |
| MKTG 1102 | Essentials of Marketing | 3.0 | |
| OPMT 1110 | Business Mathematics | 4.0 | |
Open Electives (6.0 credits) Choose a minimum of 6.0 additional elective credits to apply for entry to level 2 of one of the following programs: Full-time business diploma programs:
|
|||
| Option 2 (minimum 21.0 credits) | Credits | ||
| You must currently hold a degree or diploma to be eligible for this option. The following additional courses are required for advanced placement into School of Business diploma programs. Required Electives (6.0 credits) |
|||
| COMM 2202 | Business and Technical Correspondence | 3.0 | |
| COMM 2203 | Business and Technical Reports | 3.0 | |
Open Electives (15.0 credits) Choose a minimum of 15.0 additional elective credits to be eligible to apply for advanced placement into level 2 or 3 of one of the following programs: Full-time business diploma programs: Part-time (Flexible learning) business diploma programs: |
|||
| Total Credits: | 33.0 | ||
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
You will learn a broad range of basic business and academic skills needed to succeed in the diploma programs, and in business. Business topics include accounting, management, business math, economics, marketing, and organizational behaviour. Additionally, your technical communications, and interpersonal and oral fluency in English will be upgraded to meet BCIT’s standards.
To give you a better understanding of what you’ll learn and the activities you’ll participate in, here’s a closer look at specific course examples:
- In your computer courses, you will work in labs to learn the software necessary to complete all of your assignments, and to work successfully within an office environment. You will be expected to demonstrate basic computer skills at the end of the course.
- In organizational behaviour and management courses, you will learn about basic human management issues and how to utilize appropriate strategies to solve them,
- In accounting and math courses, you will learn how to solve business problems by applying math calculations as well as using accounting knowledge to record simulated daily business activities.
- In the business and society course, you will learn about Canadian business and culture. Ethical standards for North American businesses and for Canadian students are quite high and may be different from your country.
- In communications courses, you will upgrade your English speaking, writing, and presentation skills so you are comfortable working with others, and can clearly communicate your ideas.
Learning at BCIT
Students in the Business Fundamentals program at BCIT are enrolled into special sections of the courses, which means that you will study many of your classes with the same group of students. Canadian students will also be studying in those same classes with you.
Small class sizes allow each student to get more individual attention which helps build valuable study and learning skills. Our instructors are professional business men and women who work in the field in which they teach, and have many years of experience teaching international students.
At the end of each term you will need to consult with your Program Advisor to determine which courses you need to take in the following term to complete the program and to prepare for entry to the diploma program. Since we have a number of students in each term with different educational and cultural backgrounds, the learning environment will be interesting and exciting with many different views and opinions on issues.
As a full-time student who is enrolled in this program, you will be spending about 22-24 hours per week in the classroom either working independently or in teams. Also, you will spend about 20 hours per week in study after school. You will learn through in-class work as well as after-class exercises that you are expected to complete on a timely basis. Managing your time in and after school is a very important factor for your successful completion of this program.
Learning in the classroom at BCIT may be very different than what you are used to. Instructors expect students to speak in class, offer their opinions and analysis, and to work closely in teams with other students. Employers in North America expect their employees to have these skills when they come to work in management. Therefore, throughout your time in the Business Fundamentals program, you will be practicing and enhancing your skills in these areas.
Help for students is available through the BCIT Peer Tutoring system, which is free for students, and through other resources on campus.
Program length
Normally one year, full-time
Note: International students who complete this program in less than one year may not be eligible for post graduate work permits. Check with the International Student Centre for more information.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Students will be registered into classes according to their ultimate program of choice. Students entering without a degree or diploma are typically registered in the following courses in their first term of study:
Students are normally required to take a minimum of four courses, including at least one COMM course, and must continue to advance in their level of English. Course selection for subsequent terms is determined by meeting with the program advisor. Students may only change their courses with program head approval, and must meet prerequisites for advanced-level courses.
After completing the required courses, students must choose between two options to complete their credential, as described below. Option 2 is only available to students who currently hold a degree or diploma. Students in both options will be eligible for the Associate Certificate.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Continue your education
Many courses in the Business Fundamentals program are transferable to BCIT's business diploma programs. Upon successful completion of the Business Fundamentals program, you may qualify for advanced placement into the next program. To be eligible for placement to that program, you must complete all of the required entry courses for the BCIT business diploma program you would like to enter. Seat availability is limited so please apply as early as possible.
Level 2 of BCIT's full-time business diploma programs start in January each year, and level 3 of BCIT's full-time business diploma programs start in September. Depending on when you complete the Business Fundamentals program, you may need to take Part-time Studies courses until you can start the full-time diploma program.
Part-time studies diploma programs can be entered at any time during the year once you are eligible. You can apply for transfer credit for any applicable courses taken during this time.
To view detailed information by program, please visit Direct Entry.
Students who successfully complete a BCIT business diploma program may choose to continue their studies further by applying to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program.
Graduating & Jobs
Academic Opportunities
BCIT School of Business diploma students may be eligible to study abroad at one of our educational partners. For more information, please contact the International Exchange Coordinator at sobiep@bcit.ca.
Job Opportunities
Graduates of the Business Fundamentals program will have the skills to work at an entry level or junior position in the Canadian marketplace. Graduates are eligible to apply for a work visa through Citizenship & Immigration Canada.
More information on work visas is available.
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 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 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.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
You will learn much of what you need to know from the instructors in your class. All of your instructors have worked in industry, generally have advanced degrees in their field of expertise and are very committed to teaching. Using this background they are able to bring real-world examples and its application into the classroom. For our instructors, applying knowledge to the business world is central to what we do and you will learn.
You will also be learning from each other. Through team work, you will build on each others’ skills and knowledge, and indirectly learn much about yourself and Canada.
As well, you may be learning from people in industry. In the first term there will be field trips into actual businesses to help you become acquainted with business environments firsthand. Later on in your diploma program, you will be expected to work for a business in an internship or on a supervised project.
You will also have the opportunity to join student run clubs on campus which engage in actual entrepreneurial activities, such as Enactus BCIT.
Contact Us
Janet Wong
Program Assistant
604-451-6905 | bfun@bcit.ca
Eva Wong
Program Head – Business Fundamentals
604-412-7409 | ewong300@bcit.ca
Contact a Program Advisor with the BCIT program name in the subject line if you have a question about:
- Course selection and program planning
- Making changes to your approved program plan
- Applying for transfer credit and advanced placement
- Laddering options
- Job placement and graduate outcomes
- Student life
Questions or comments?
Subscribe
Sign up to receive updates, invitations to events, and information about BCIT and your program.
We promise not to spam you, we won’t share your personal information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.