Please watch our most recent Computing Flexible Learning information session video.
High School English and Math
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.
Computing Flexible Learning programs require BC High School Grade 12 level of English or equivalent.
- COMM 1103 – Intro to Business and Technical Communication, is required for the laddered Computing programs.
- Students who have English as a second language should consider:
COMM 0005 – Technical Communication Skills for ESL Students 4 and COMM 1106 – Intro to Business and Technical Communication (language development)
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 BCIT 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.
On a case by case basis.
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 learning outcomes to what you have completed elsewhere. It is up to the student to compare the COMP lesson-by-lesson syllabus and make a written case that they possess the majority of the prerequisite knowledge.
This is explained in the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide on page 7.
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, with your side-by-side comparison to COMP and your official transcript.
You may only request TCR for other post-secondary courses before you declare a program, and after you provide a detailed comparison of the topics bcit.ca/study/outlines and then email the department cstflex@bcit.ca.
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 online courses or courses with blended components will require you to have a microphone, video camera, and headphones or earbuds, as well as a high-speed internet connection.
No.
Many COMP courses are available for online delivery. Our goal is to offer a variety of courses in physical classrooms at our Burnaby and Downtown campuses.
There are no guarantees that all Computing Flexible Learning courses will be online, however, each term, we will to continue to offer a selection of COMP courses online.
Note for International Students: You must complete at least 50% of your program in person with courses on campus to maintain a Study Permit.
Please do not contact BCIT Program Advising for course planning.
Email: cstflex@bcit.ca as detailed in the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide, our department website and our program pages. Always include your BCIT student A0 number in the subject lines of your 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 Flexible Learning 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, 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.
Each COMP course has very specific prerequisites.
Most COMP courses are unique to BCIT and the Computer Systems programs.
You may request approval to register in courses for which you can prove the prerequisites.
Please note: Students in approved programs have first priority on course registration.
Details are in the “Program Entry” section for each credential. Typically you must complete first COMP course in each Associate Certificate (ACert) prior to declaring that program. However, students on timelines or those with funding agency requirements must contact cstflex@bcit.ca for specific course plans and a checklist.
Please note: The Computing ACerts are not available to International students.
Only the laddered Computer Systems program series and Applied Data Analytics are available to international students.
• Computer Systems Certificate (CSC)
• Computer Systems Diploma (CST FLEX)
• Applied Computer Science Degree (BScACS). This degree is available to CST Diploma graduates.
• Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC) is a separate stand-alone program aimed at those with prior work experience, other post-secondary education and higher-level math abilities.
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.
It varies depending on the course delivery. Tuition averages around $600 per COMP course, and textbooks are an additional cost.
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 $10,000 tuition.
Please note: International students in BCIT Flexible Learning pay 3 times the base tuition fees.
Most Associate Certificates (ACerts) in Computing Flexible Learning will require at least 2 years to complete with 1 course per term because of prerequisites and scheduling.
However in some ACerts such as ADAD and AWD, it may be possible to complete 2 courses in some terms. Please contact Computing Flexible Learning via email for course planning cstflex@bcit.ca.
No.
Computing Flexible Learning programs were designed for working adults, who are able to complete one to two courses per term.
We do have fast-track options for the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC) and the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC).
With prerequisites and scheduling fast-tracking a certificate in Flexible Learning requires very careful course planning. Some students may be able to complete either certificate in 2 years if they can complete 3 courses for 9 credits every term.
Please note: Attempting 3 COMP courses per term could equate to a 40-hour workload each week for most students.
We only cancel courses when absolutely necessary.
- We encourage students to register early.
- Some Flexible Learning courses may not be available in any given term.
- All 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:
Be sure that we have your current preferred email and phone number on file.
The BCIT policy on Flexible Learning course cancellation is three (3) business days notice.
If we cancel a course, we will provide a tuition refund or to offer a transfer to another course.
Yes. Only in very specific cases.
- You must fill out and submit the Flexible Learning Course Withdrawal form.
- The standard Flexible Learning /PTS refund is 85% of the tuition before the deadlines. Requests after the Refund Deadlines will not be considered.
Please note:
- All Flexible Learning course refund requests must be submitted prior to specific deadlines.
- For 6-week or a 12-week courses, no refunds are granted after the second lesson has started.
- For courses lasting 4 weeks or less, the request must be submitted 1 week prior to the course start date.
You may withdraw from a Flexible Learning course at any point prior to the withdrawal deadline.
- Please notify your instructor that you are dropping the course.
- You must fill out and submit the Flexible Learning Course Withdrawal form.
Please note: If you simply stop attending, you will get a grade of “V” for “Vanished” on your permanent record, which calculates the same as a Fail and will affect your GPA.