Admission requirements

To be admitted to the program, you must have one of the following:

• a university degree and three years of work experience
• a college diploma and four years of work experience
• high school completion and five years of work experience

English language requirement

The University of Victoria requires that applicants whose first language is not English, and who have not studied in Canada or an English speaking country for four (4) recent academic years in an acceptable program from an approved secondary or post-secondary institution, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and submit scores with their application.

Acceptance to the CBIS Program requires 90 on the online test or 575 on the paper-based test, with no section less than 20. For more information about English language proficiency requirements, please see the UVic English Language Proficiency Requirements page.

Advanced standing via Prior Learning Assessment

If you feel that courses you have completed with other institutions are equivalent to any content of the CBIS Program, or you have significant experience in a technical field that directly relates to any of our courses, you may apply for advanced standing via the Prior Learning Assessment process. We will assess the documentation that you submit and grant credit towards a course on a case-by-case basis.

A Prior Learning Assessment requires that you submit a complete portfolio to the CBIS Program Coordinator, 250-721-8779. The portfolio typically includes transcripts, course outlines, a chronological record of work experience and other documentation such as job descriptions, performance appraisals, transcripts, samples of work, testimonials and certificates of attendance.

Students may receive up to a maximum of three advanced standing credits towards the CBIS certificate program. Download the PLA form (PDF). The fee for this process is $195 per application for assessment.

Application dates