General University Admission Requirements
Admission to Kwantlen varies depending on the program to which you are applying. Not only does Kwantlen offer undergraduate-level studies, we also provide qualifying courses and programs within our Faculty of Academic and Career Advancement that are at the university preparatory-level, as well as a variety of vocational-level programs. Each level of programming has different requirements for admission.
To qualify for admission, applicants must:
- satisfy the appropriate undergraduate, vocational, or university preparatory-level English proficiency requirement,
- qualify under one of Kwantlen’s admission categories,
- satisfy specific program admission requirements
1. Kwantlen’s English Proficiency Requirement
Undergraduate-Level English Proficiency Requirement
All undergraduate applicants must satisfy Kwantlen’s General University Admission English Proficiency Requirement.
Any of the following achievements can be used to satisfy this requirement:
High School Grades
A grade of “C” in one of the following courses (or equivalent from another school system):
- English 12
- English Literature 12
- English 12 First Peoples
- IB English A1 or A2 (HL or SL)
- Communications 12
- English 12 from a completed Adult Dogwood Diploma
For English 12 and all other provincially examinable courses, Kwantlen will accept the blended grade (classroom grade + provincial examination grade) OR the classroom grade — whichever is higher — for the purposes of university and program admission and for satisfying course prerequisites. 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.
Testing Options
One of:
- Kwantlen Placement Test into one of: ENGQ 1099, ABEE 0091, ABEE 0092 or ELST 0381
- LPI Essay score of 26 Level 4
- Internet based TOEFL (iBT) score of 80 (taken within the last two years)
- Paper-based TOEFL 550 with TWE 4.5 (taken within the last two years)
- IELTS Academic Module overall band score of 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band (taken within the last two years)
Kwantlen Course Completion Options
One of:
- Completion of ENGQ 1098 with a minimum grade of "C" (or transferable equivalent)
- Completion of ELST 0281 or ABEE 0081 with a minimum grade of "B-" (or transferable equivalent)
- Successful completion of ENGL 1100 (or transferable equivalent)
Vocational-Level English Proficiency Requirement
Applicants to vocational-level programs are not required to meet the above English proficiency requirement. English proficiency is assessed according to the specific requirements of the vocational-level program. Program admission requirements are included in the descriptions of each program. See the Program Index.
Note: Apprenticeship programs are not subject to Kwantlen's English Proficiency Requirement.
University Preparatory-Level English Proficiency Requirement
Applicants to university preparatory-level programs are not required to meet the above English proficiency requirement. English proficiency is assessed according to the specific requirements of the preparatory-level program. Program admission requirements are included in the descriptions of each program. See the Program Index.
Applicants to undergraduate or vocational-level programs who do not meet the English proficiency requirement of their program of admission may be offered admission to Adult Basic Education (ABE), University Qualifying Studies, or English Language Studies (ELST). Information about these program options can be found at www.kwantlen.ca/aca.
2. Admission Categories
All applicants must qualify under one of the following admission categories.
Regular Admission
Anyone who is a graduate of a BC Secondary school in any program, or the equivalent from another school system, qualifies under Kwantlen’s regular admission category. Applicants who are missing only one course for graduation are also eligible to attend, provided they have completed English 12 or the equivalent with a minimum "C" grade. As per the 2004 Provincial Graduation Program requirements, BC secondary school students are required to write their Language Arts 12 provincial exam (i.e., English 12, First Peoples English 12 or Communications 12). For English 12 and all other provincially examinable courses, Kwantlen will accept the blended grade (classroom grade + provincial examination grade) OR the classroom grade - whichever is higher - for the purposes of university and program admission and for satisfying course prerequisites. BC Secondary school students do NOT have to write optional provincial exams in order to be admitted to Kwantlen. For applicants who have completed the BC Adult Graduation Diploma program, provincial exams are not required. Home Schooled applicants will be evaluated as equivalent to BC Grade 12 graduates, provided they have written and passed the BC Provincial English examination. Home Schooled students who require Mathematics for entrance to their programs may also be required to write Kwantlen's Math Placement Test.
Mature Student Admission
Anyone who is not a secondary school graduate (or equivalent) but who will be nineteen (19) years of age or older on the first day of classes for the term is eligible to attend Kwantlen as a mature student.
Underage Admission
Anyone who is not a secondary school graduate but who is seventeen years of age or older, and has not been in regular attendance at a secondary school for a minimum of one year, is eligible to appeal for permission to attend Kwantlen as an underage applicant. Applicants in this category will normally only be accepted into the Adult Basic Education (ABE) or English Language Studies (ELST) program. Admission of underage applicants to other programs will be considered on an individual basis.
Special Admission
An applicant who does not meet any of the above admission criteria may appeal to be admitted as a Special Admission student and complete up to 12 credits before they must meet the general university admission requirements. Testing and attendance at an interview may be required and the applicant must provide supporting documentation as requested. Students under 19 who have not written the BC Provincial English examination will be required to write Kwantlen's English Placement Test (or equivalent) in order to be considered a Special Admission student.
Concurrent Admission
Students who are enrolled in grade 12 in a BC Secondary School may be admitted to Kwantlen to pursue Concurrent Studies. Normally, no more than 3 semester hours credit may be applied toward the requirements of a certificate program. Similarly, no more than 6 semester hours credit may be applied toward the requirements of a diploma program. The following conditions will apply to concurrent studies:
- The applicant must have achieved a B standing in academic subjects in the last full year of high school completed
- The applicant must be enrolled in a BC Secondary School at the grade 12 level, in a program that meets regular Kwantlen entry requirements
- The applicant must have the written recommendation of the secondary school principal
- The applicant must have the written consent of his or her parent(s) or legal guardian if under the legal age of majority on the opening day of classes
- The applicant must have the support of the Dean responsible for the course(s) in which she or he plans to enrol
Admission will generally be limited to one semester only; however, it may be renewable with the continued support of the school principal and the Dean. Concurrent students will be treated as typical students in most respects except they may not register in a full range of courses, and their eligibility to register is valid for one semester only (unless renewed as above). Kwantlen reserves the right to limit the number of seats available in total and per class.
3. Program Admission Requirements
Once an applicant has met the appropriate English Proficiency requirement and has qualified under one of the above admission categories, they may be considered for admission to a specific program. Each program has a different set of program admission requirements, and some programs require a higher English proficiency requirement than that listed under the above undergraduate English proficiency requirement. The specific requirements of your program of interest are included in the descriptions of each program. See the Program Index.