University Transfer (UT) course is a university course taught at a college by an instructor who is a specialist in the subject area.
1. Is it better to take the course at a university?
No. International students must adjust to the language and expectations of the Canadian classroom and Canadian culture. This is more easily done at a college. There are two reasons for this:
First, at university, the classes are very large (sometimes 300 students) and the professor who teaches the class has many university duties (research) besides teaching. At a university, the marking of assignments and out-of-class assistance to first and second-year students may be the responsibility of a Teaching Assistant. In the college, the classes are much smaller and are taught by instructors whose only job is to teach students and mark their work.
Second, if foreign students in Canada only listen to lectures and speak English to store clerks and "officials", they will not learn as much English as students who are speaking English in social situations. The small class size at community colleges makes it easier for students to meet each other.
2. Do I lose time by first going to a college?
No. Students who start a degree program at a college and then transfer to university do not lose any time. By taking advantage of quality instruction from dedicated teachers, small classes, and improved opportunities to learn English in social contexts, students who start at college may reach their degree goal faster than if they had started at the university.
Most students who take university courses want to obtain a degree. Degrees, such as Bachelor's Degree or a Master's Degree, are granted only by universities. To obtain a degree, students must be accepted into a university degree program and take courses at that university. At most universities, students must take their third and fourth-year courses at that university.
3. If I pass a university transfer course, am I guaranteed admission to university?
Admission is directly related to the marks you get in your UT courses. Other factors, such as TOEFL score, are also involved.
4. If I am admitted to a university, will I automatically receive university credit for UT courses taken at NLC?
Yes, if there is a transfer arrangement between your college and the university and if the course is relevant to the program that you will study at university. Our staff will help you check to see if a course is transferable before registering.
5. How do I know if a course is a university transfer course?
Each British Columbia university publishes a Transfer Guide which lists the equivalency between university and college courses.
6. Do all UT courses transfer to all universities?
No. Some universities offer unique programs and some of the course requirements for these programs are not universally accepted for transfer credit.
7. How do British Columbia college courses transfer to other provinces and other English-speaking countries?
In general, universities located in other provinces or other countries will grant transfer for an NLC course if that course is accepted for transfer credit by the University of British Columbia (UBC). This means that students who plan to transfer to another province should take courses acceptable at UBC.
8. How many courses can I transfer?
The maximum is 60 semester hours. This is the equivalent of the first two years of university.
Programs
Northern Lights College offers programs in the following division areas:
- Academic and Career Programs
- Access, Business and International Programs
- Trades, Apprenticeships and Technology Programs
General Information
Graduates of the Northern Lights College University Transfer are successful. The reasons for their success are:
- Small class size.
- Qualified Instructors.
- Your instructors like to teach students who are motivated and eager to learn. Your instructors will work with you and will take pride in your success.
- When you want to transfer to a larger institution we will help you to complete your application and write letters of recommendation for you. YOUR success is our success!
- At Northern Lights College your living and learning environment will be safe and uncomplicated.
Transferring Credit to Northern Lights College
International students who have credit at a college or university in their own country can now transfer that credit to Northern Lights College.
The procedure for obtaining transfer credit is as follows:
- You request an Application for Credential Evaluation from the International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES) or Northern Lights College.
- You complete the application.
- ICES sends a report to Northern Lights College and our Registrar will advise you of the number of credits that are transferable.
I Would Like to take Some University Courses but I Do Not Want a Degree
Students who have a TOEFL score of 173 CBT (61 IBT) or who have the permission of the instructor may audit university courses while they are registered in the ESL Program and attending ESL classes.
Please email inted@nlc.bc.ca to obtain more information.
Contact:
Northern Lights College
International Education Department
Box 1000, Fort St. John, BC
Canada, V1J 6K1
Email inted@nlc.bc.ca
Fax 1-250-785-1294 or 1-250-787-6224