Admissions
English Proficiency Requirements for Admission
English is the primary language of study at KPU; therefore, all applicants must be able to demonstrate the appropriate level of English language proficiency for their graduate, undergraduate, vocational or preparatory area of study.
Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement
All applicants to undergraduate studies must satisfy KPU's Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement through one of the following ways:
High School Courses
- Completion of BC English Studies 12 , English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents)
- As part of the Adult Dogwood Diploma, completion of English Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+
- Completion of IB (International Baccalaureate) English A (HL or SL) with a minimum grade of 3 (or C+)
- Completion of AP (Advanced Placement) English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition with a minimum grade of 2 (or C+)
For English 12 and all other provincially examinable courses, KPU will accept the blended grade (classroom grade + provincial examination grade) OR the classroom grade — whichever is higher — for the purposes of Faculty and program admission, and for satisfying course prerequisites, where applicable. Current students wishing to use a higher classroom mark for the purposes of satisfying prerequisites should request to have an official copy of their high school transcript sent to Admissions should they wish to have their academic record updated to include the classroom mark for any provincially examinable courses.
Undergraduate Courses
- Completion of 3 credits of undergraduate English (ENGL) with a minimum grade of C- from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
- Graduation from a baccalaureate degree, or two-year diploma program, or successful completion of two years of study (60 credits) at the undergraduate level, with a minimum CGPA of 2.0, at a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
KPU Courses
- Completion of ELST 0381 and ELST 0383 (or equivalents) with a minimum grade of B in both, or ELST 0381 with a minimum grade of B and a KPU placement score higher than ELST 0383 level.
- Completion of one of ENGQ 1091, ENGQ 1092 or ENGQ 1099 (or equivalents) with a minimum grade of C.
Testing Options
| Test | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Accuplacer | Reading score of 260, Writing score of 250 and WritePlacer Essay score of 6, or higher, taken within the last 2 years from the term of admission. |
| Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) | Score of 70 or higher with no sub score less than 60, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
| Duolingo English Test | Score of 110 or higher, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test | Overall band of 6.5 or higher, with a minimum 6.0 in each band, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
| KPU English Placement Test (EPT) | With placement into ENGL 1100. |
| LanguageCert Academic Test | Overall score of 70 or higher, with no sub score below 65, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) | Score of 61 or higher, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | iBT 88 or higher, with no sub score less than 20, or an overall score of 4.5, with no subsection less than 4.0, taken within the last two years from the term of admission. |
Admissions Committee Recommendations
- Indigenous applicants assessed by the Indigenous Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement at KPU.
- Applicants assessed by the Access Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement for select programs at KPU.
Vocational English Proficiency Requirement
The English proficiency requirement for vocational studies varies by program. Program admission requirements, including English proficiency, are included in the calendar descriptions of each program. See the Program Index.
Note: Apprenticeship programs are not subject to KPU's Undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement.
Admissions Committee Recommendations
- Indigenous applicants assessed by the Indigenous Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement at KPU.
- Applicants assessed by the Access Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement for select programs at KPU.
University Preparatory English Proficiency Requirement
The English proficiency requirement for university preparatory studies varies by program. Program admission requirements, including English proficiency, are included in the calendar descriptions of each program. See the Program Index or the Pathway to Undergraduate Studies.
Admissions Committee Recommendations
- Indigenous applicants assessed by the Indigenous Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement at KPU.
- Applicants assessed by the Access Admissions Committee may be recommended to have satisfied the English proficiency requirement for select programs at KPU.
Applicant Categories
The following categories are used to classify all applicants for admission to KPU. Applicants in all categories are subject to published admission requirements.
High School
An applicant who is a graduate, or will be graduating from, a BC Secondary school prior to the start of the standard term of admission (or the equivalent from another school system in Canada or another country). Applicants who have completed home-schooling may be considered on a case-by-case basis and may require supplementary evidence of academic ability.
Mature
An applicant who will be 19 years of age or older on the first day of the standard term of admission.
Transfer
An applicant who has successfully completed 9 or more credits above the preparatory level from a recognized post-secondary institution.
Indigenous
An Indigenous applicant may be considered on an individual basis through an assessment of educational background, cultural knowledge, life experience, academic goals and personal achievements. Each applicant under the Indigenous admission category will be evaluated by the Indigenous Admissions Committee composed of one Indigenous faculty member, one representative of the Faculty to which the candidate is applying, one designated member of the KPU Indigenous Advisory Committee and one representative from Admissions. The committee will have the authority to recommend to the Registrar students for admission and determine if specific conditions are required for enrolment.
Indigenous refers to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada. Candidates seeking admission consideration under this category must self-identify as an Indigenous applicant. Indigenous applicants include status and non-status First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. Documentation of Indigenous heritage can include, but is not limited to a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis status card. It can also include official letters from Indigenous organizations, or written or oral statements from Elders, or other relevant information identified by the applicant.
Access
The Access category allows students who have experienced barriers in their educational journeys to be considered for select programs at KPU. This includes students with intellectual, developmental and/or learning disabilities. An applicant pursuing programming offered through KPU’s Access programs department who is 18 years of age or older and has received The School Completion (“Evergreen”) Certificate, may be admitted as an access student.
Other Applicant Classifications
Concurrent
An applicant enrolled in a BC secondary school who wishes to register in courses at KPU may be admitted as a concurrent student. The University reserves the right to limit the number of seats available to Concurrent students (in total and per section). The applicant must have the written consent of the parent or legal guardian, a high school transcript, and letter of support from the secondary school principal. In all circumstances the primary home of students admitted in the concurrent admissions category is understood to be the high school and school district to which they belong.
Dual Credit
High school students enrolled in a BC High School with whom KPU has a partnership agreement may be permitted to take a limited number of undergraduate courses at KPU. Continued registration as a dual credit student in subsequent term(s) is contingent on the continued support of the secondary school principal and the student maintaining good academic standing. In all circumstances the primary home institution of students admitted under the dual credit applicant category is understood to be the high school and school district to which they belong.
Exchange
An exchange student is someone from one of KPU’s approved partner institutions who has been nominated by their institution to come on an exchange to KPU. Exchange students may be of domestic or international status and pay tuition and fees to their home institution and not KPU.
General Interest
The General Interest applicant category is for non-credential-seeking students. Students may enroll in up to a maximum of 12-credits. Students admitted under the General Interest category may not earn a credential.
Visiting
A visiting student is someone who is attending a home institution and wishes to spend a period of time up to one year studying at KPU with the intent of taking credit earned at KPU back to the home institution. Visiting students must provide a Letter of Permission from their home institution.
Admission Intake Types
Programs are categorized into two distinct intake models. Open Intake refers to an application cycle in which all qualified applicants who meet the minimum institutional requirements are admitted. Limited Intake refers to an application cycle in which a limit has been set on the number of students admitted.
Admission Categories
Undergraduate Admission
The admission type used to identify the post-secondary undergraduate-level of studies up to a master’s degree. At KPU, such credit is awarded on the undergraduate-level of the academic transcript. Admission criteria for undergraduate admission is determined by the Faculty, and approved by Senate.
Graduate Admission
The admission type used to identify post-secondary studies at the graduate level. At KPU, such credit is awarded on the graduate-level of the academic transcript. Admission criteria for graduate admission is determined by the Faculty, and approved by Senate.
| Faculty | Areas of Study |
|---|---|
| Arts | Limited Intake Programs |
| Sustainable Food Systems & Security (Graduate Certificate) | |
| Business | Limited Intake Programs |
| Business Management - Global Business Management (Graduate Diploma) | |
| Business Management - Green Business Management and Sustainability (Graduate Diploma) |
Vocational Admission
The admission type used to identify post-secondary educational training that provides practical experience, skills and knowledge for a particular occupational field, at the vocational level. At KPU, such credit is awarded on the vocational-level of the academic transcript. Admission criteria for vocational admission are determined by the Faculty, and approved by Senate.
Preparatory Admission
The admission type used to identify post-secondary studies at the preparatory level. There are two types of preparatory learning at KPU:
- Upgrading: post-secondary learning that prepares students for vocational or undergraduate studies (e.g. Academic and Career Preparation)
- Access Programs resulting in a preparatory credential (e.g. Citation in Employment and Community Studies)
At KPU, such credit is awarded on the preparatory-level of the academic transcript. Admission criteria for preparatory admission is determined by the Faculty, and approved by Senate.
| Faculty | Areas of Study |
|---|---|
| Academic & Career Preparation | Open Intake Areas of Study |
| Adult Upgrading | |
| Limited Intake Programs | |
| Access Programs (Citation) | |
| English Language Studies (Citation & Diploma) |
Other Offerings at KPU
Apprenticeships
Visit kpu.ca/apprentice for information about apprenticeship offerings at KPU.
Continuing & Professional Studies
Visit kpu.ca/cps for information about continuing and professional studies opportunities at KPU.
This online version of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Calendar is the official version of the University Calendar. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, KPU reserves the right to make any corrections in the contents and provisions of this calendar without notice. In addition, the University reserves the right to cancel, add, or revise contents or change fees at any time without notice. To report errors or omissions, or send comments or suggestions, please email Calendar.Editor@kpu.ca