Requirements archive
BCIT revised the English Language Proficiency for programs beginning in fall 2024. The following page is maintained as a record of English proficiency requirements prior to that date. All new applicants should refer to the current English Language Proficiency requirements.
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
OR
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:
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.