Are you an international student 17 years or older wanting to enrol in a Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or Science? Have you successfully completed your O-levels? Do you need help meeting the admission requirements? The Canadian University Foundation Year (CUFY) will support you as you work toward entering VIU programs. Explore other VIU programs accepting international students.
The Canadian University Foundation Year (CUFY) is a one-year transition program to help you enter your post-secondary program of choice. You will:
- do activities directly related to your program of choice
- connect with your peers and faculty
- build the skills you need to succeed in your VIU program
This program will be of interest if you are from British pattern systems and successfully completed your O-level or equivalent but need some additional coursework before you enter university programs.
The CUFY Coordinator will work with you to plan your pathway into your program and help you build strategies for success in a Canadian university. Throughout the program, the CUFY Coordinator will support you as you develop skills and relationships to enrich your university experience.
Canadian University Foundation Year
You must enroll full time and take nine courses annually. You take five core courses and four courses based on the your chosen pathway. These courses are a combination of Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses and credit-bearing courses.
In order to complete the CUFY program, you must complete the following:
- A provincial (Grade 12) English course with a minimum grade of C
- An advanced (Grade 11) math or provincial (Grade 12) math (grade/level depends on receiving program)
- A provincial (Grade 12) study skills course
- A provincial (Grade 12) transitions course
- Anthropology 110 (Developing Intercultural Competence) (3 credits)
- Up to four additional courses at the provincial (Grade 12) level or university level or a combination of both
Student Supports
The CUFY Coordinator will support you every step of your journey with us. They will help you adapt to the Canadian university system and connect you with:
- immigration services
- educational advising
- academic tutoring
Accessibility services and counselling are also available to you.
Check out some of the supports that are available on the Student Support link below.
You may choose to complete required courses in semesters other than those suggested below, depending on course availability. We encourage you to check with the program coordinator and an educational advis0r to make sure the courses you take align with the requirements for the university program you plan to take.
| Term 1 (Fall Semester) |
|---|
ENGL 068 – First Peoples Literature and Composition or English 067 – English Provincial |
MATH 047 – Pre-calculus 11 or MATH 049 – Foundations of Math 11 |
| STSK 067 – Student Success – Provincial Level |
| TRSN 090 – Transitions – Provincial Level |
| Term 2 (Spring Semester) |
|---|
| ANTH 110 – Developing Intercultural Competence |
| Two elective courses chosen from Adult Basic Education and/or any 100-level courses |
| TRSN 090 – Transitions – Provincial Level (continued) |
| Term 3 (Intersession Semester) |
|---|
| Two elective courses chosen from Adult Basic Education and/or any 100-level courses |
We encourage you to consult the program coordinator and academic advising or degree advising to ensure courses are aligned with the admission requirements for your intended future program or general requirements for completion of that program.
General admission requirements
- minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or equivalent
- partial completion of higher secondary, such as a minimum of three O-level subjects, including min. C+ in BC Foundations of Math & Pre-Calculus 10 or equivalent
- must be 17 years of age upon arrival
Suggested requirements
- We encourage you to write an ABE Math assessment prior to registration
If you have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band below 5.0 we suggest you enroll in VIU’s ESL program (UP 5 level) to meet the minimum language proficiency requirement before you apply to CUFY.
Notes
We will accept provisional O-level results if final results are received by August
Student transcripts from countries that do not use the O-level system will be assessed for equivalencies based on the country’s education and grading systems. You may need to take the Faculty of Academic and Career Preparation’s placement assessments before we can place you in CUFY courses.
The program starts in September of 2024 and applications for admission are accepted on the first business day of October to May 31. Applications received after May 31 are considered late and will be processed as space permits. Late applicants may need to wait to start the program in January or April.
All fees and other costs are subject to change without prior notice.
Approximate costs are as follows (dependent on course selection):
- application fee: $150
- tuition fees: 20,964.96 ($776.48 per credit x 27 credits)
- ancillary fees: $834.03 ($30.89 per credit)
- medical insurance: $521 (Guard me $246 for first 4 months, VISU Health and Dental $275 for one year)
- books: $1500 (Estimate)
- VIUSU: $248.80
Total = $24,218.79
If you have any questions about the Canadian University Foundation Year (CUFY) program, please contact us!