Undergraduate English Requirement

Undergraduate students, excluding students in diploma and certificate programs (other than the Certificate in Foundations in Indigenous Fine Arts), but including other unclassified students, must complete 1.5 units of first-year English (excluding ENGL 181 and 182) or ENGR 110/111 in order to satisfy the Undergraduate English Requirement. Students who can show equivalent proficiency in English may be exempt from this requirement.

Exemptions from the English Requirement

Students who meet any of the following criteria are exempt from the English requirement:

• a score of 86% or higher on the B.C. provincial Grade 12 English examination or a final grade of 86% in Grade 12 English from other Canadian provinces within the three years prior to admission
• a score of Level 6 on the Language Proficiency Index (LPI)
• a score of 4 or higher on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition
• a score of 4 or higher on International Baccalaureate Higher Level English
• 1.5 or more units of transfer credit for university level English courses (excluding ENGL 181 and 182)
• a degree from an accredited English-speaking university
• while attending as a visiting student on a Letter of Permission

Important: See also English Deficiency, concerning course access and grading.

The Language Proficiency Index

Students who are not exempt from the English Requirement and who have not received a school or interim grade of 86% or higher in English 12 or English 12 First Peoples must write the B.C. Language Proficiency Index (LPI).

Students applying to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing post-diploma Option B program are advised to contact the School of Nursing Adviser prior to writing the LPI.

Students should arrange to write the LPI at least six weeks before registration to allow time for the results to be processed.

The Language Proficiency Index is available nationally and internationally.

For dates, locations and further information, contact the LPI office at UBC:

Current secondary students who have received a school or interim grade of 86% or higher in Grade 12 English may register for ENGL 135, 146 or 147 without writing the LPI.

Placement following the LPI

Placement Test Results

Students who are required to register in LING 099 or ENGL 099, on the basis of their LPI results, may not change their original placement once they have registered in the Winter Session and must register in LING 099 or ENGL 099 without delay. Further placement test results will only be processed if the test is undertaken, and results received, following the end of Winter Session and before registration in a further Winter Session. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099.

Placement in Linguistics 099

Students placed in LING 099 (a non-credit course) must successfully complete the course and are then placed in either ENGL 099 or ENGL 115, based on the results of an exam taken at the completion of LING 099.

Students who fail LING 099 must repeat the course in each subsequent term until they are placed in either ENGL 099 or ENGL 115. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099. The attempts must occur in consecutive terms. Students who do not register in LING 099 in consecutive terms or who fail after their allotted attempts will normally be denied permission to return to the University until they have demonstrated the required level of competence in English. Students may appeal the decision to the Senate Committee on Admission, Reregistration and Transfer.

For students who are placed in LING 099 (and then ENGL 099, if required), successful completion of ENGL 115 is necessary to satisfy the Undergraduate English Requirement. Students who successfully complete LING 099 and are allowed to move directly into ENGL 115 must register in ENGL 115 in the next term attended and in each term attended until the English Requirement is satisfied. There must be no interruption in the sequence of courses without the permission of the Director of the Writing Program.

Placement in English 099

Students placed in ENGL 099 (a non-credit course) must successfully complete the course before being placed in ENGL 115 or ENGR 110.

Students who fail ENGL 099 must repeat the course in each subsequent term until they are placed in ENGL 115 or ENGR 110. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099. The attempts must occur in consecutive terms. Students who do not register in ENGL 099 in consecutive terms or who fail after their allotted attempts will normally be denied permission to return to the University until they have demonstrated the required level of competence in English. Students may appeal the decision to the Senate Committee on Admission, Reregistration and Transfer.

For students who are placed in ENGL 099, successful completion of ENGL 115 or ENGR 110 is necessary to satisfy the Undergraduate English Requirement. Upon successful completion of ENGL 099, students must register in ENGL 115 or ENGR 110 in the next term attended and in each term attended until the English Requirement is satisfied. There must be no interruption in the sequence of courses without the permission of the Director of the Writing Program.

Deadline for Completing the English Requirement

Students who are NOT exempt from the English requirement must register in 1.5 units of English or ENGR 110 before completing 30 units of credit. Students who fail to complete the requirement before completing 30 units of credit must meet the requirement in the next session they attend. Students who were initially placed in LING 099 or ENGL 099 must complete the required remedial course within four terms (normally two Winter Sessions) and then must also complete the required 1.5 units of English or ENGR 110 no later than the next session after completing 30 units of credit (achieved 3rd year standing).

Transfer Students

Students who are admitted to UVic for the first time as third-year students (except Nursing and block-transfer students) must complete the Undergraduate English requirement in their first Winter Session. Nursing and block-transfer students should consult their academic advisers for information about their deadline for completing the English requirement.

Part-time and Distance Students

Students studying part time or through distance learning may satisfy the English requirement through Thompson Rivers University –Open Learning, a BC community college or another recognized post-secondary institution. Students who are required to write a placement test should contact the LPI Office (see The Language Proficiency Index for the address).