Admission requirements

To qualify for the DBA program, candidates are required to provide a transcript showing a minimum of high school completion. Mature applicants who do not meet this requirement may also be considered on the basis of minimum five years' work experience and must provide a resume. In addition, two years of professional, full-time work experience (or post-secondary educational equivalent) is recommended. 

It is recommended that candidates for the DBA program review the program completion requirements. Students are welcome to consult with program staff (bmt@uvic.ca) prior to enrolling in courses to ensure that their planned selections will satisfy the diploma program requirements.

If your first language is not English, you will be asked to provide evidence of proficiency through one of the following:

• Transcript showing graduation from a Canadian secondary school
• Four years of full-time academic studies in which all language of instruction is English at a high school or post-secondary institution
• Successful completion of a recognized degree program from an accredited university in which all language of instruction is English, in a recognized English-speaking country
• IELTS (academic) 6.0 overall (no sub-score less than 5.5)
• TOEFL IBT 79 (no sub-score less than 17) (Please note: TOEFL IBT Home Edition not accepted)
• TOEFL Paper-based Test 550 (discontinued) 
• UVic ELC ELC Intensive English level 570
• Successful completion of approved English partner pathway level

Please note we will not accept tests taken more than two years prior to the date of your program application. 

In rare circumstances we may request secondary verification of English proficiency prior to admission. 

Advanced standing

Students may apply to transfer a previously completed course from other colleges and universities or from UVic credit programs, provided the content and learning outcomes closely match a specific Business and Management Programs course. Only one course submission will be considered toward one advanced standing request, and at least 90% of the learning outcomes must match.

Due to course content changes over time and to meet current curriculum and learning outcomes, only BMBA-coded courses completed within the last ten (10) years will be eligible for consideration (e.g. BMBA100 Business Administration). For our TECH100, TECH110 and TECH325, we will consider courses completed within the last four (4) years. All other TECH, BIDA and ISP coded courses are ineligible for transfer.

The maximum number of advanced standings allowed per program type:

• Diploma in Business Administration: two (2) courses
• Certificate in Business Administration: one (1) course

Students can submit a request at any time during their program.  An advanced standing approval will be processed in the term in which the request is received.  An advanced standing course does not replace an ‘active’ course within a study term, and therefore does not count towards the number of courses a full-time student must complete in a term.

Please note that courses for which a student has received Advanced Standing (ADV) will not be eligible to put towards the completion requirements of other programs (ex: Professional Development Certificate (PDC) in Business Communication). 

To request advanced standing, students can complete the online Request for Advanced Standing form and upload the following mandatory documents (in English, or accompanied by an official translation):

• transcript showing the course name and code, date taken, and the passing grade achieved
• detailed course outline/syllabus containing:
• a course description
• learning outcomes
• weekly structure
• assessments
• course materials/textbook
• total instructional hours

Calendar and/or website descriptions are unacceptable due to lack of detail. Only requests received with these mandatory documents will be reviewed.

International students should note that adding advanced standing courses to their program may shorten their overall program length, as there will be fewer courses to complete with UVic. Before submitting a request, we recommend you review the IRCC web page for post-graduation work permit (PGWP) validity and the 'Transfers between educational institutions' section for more information about how transferring courses for advanced standing may affect PGWP validity: View IRCC website.

The fee is $350 per advanced standing granted, and is non-refundable upon acceptance.

Please allow 4 – 6 weeks for processing.