University Transfer – Science
Overview
Start your science degree at VCC in a supportive learning environment with attentive instructors. Credits transfer to post-secondary institutions across British Columbia.| Tuition | $5,486 |
|---|---|
| Credential | Certificate |
| Length | 1 year |
| Hours | Full-time |
| Delivery | Class-based |
| Campus | Broadway |
| Start Dates |
| Tuition | $19,329 |
|---|---|
| Credential | Certificate |
| Length | 1 year |
| Hours | Full-time |
| Delivery | Class-based |
| Campus | Broadway |
| Start Dates | |
| PGWP | International graduates may be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. |
What to expect
What you will learn
- Solve a wide range of problems related to mathematics and science at the 1st year level
- Produce high quality oral presentations and written materials
- Apply theoretical knowledge and technical skills in solving problems
- Complete projects both independently and in teams
- Use their scientific educational experiences as a solid foundation for academic readiness in 2nd year science
Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion
The expected length of the program is 12 months, spread over three full semesters. There is also the option of part-time studies, which would result in a longer time frame for completion of the credential. The maximum allowable time for students to complete the program is three years. For the assured pathways to SFU, the maximum time for completion is 16 months. For the competitive admission to SFU, the maximum time for completion is 3 years.
Admission Requirement
Program-specific
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Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent
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Knowledge of English demonstrated by one of the following:
-
English 12 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent or
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English Language Proficiency at a minimum English 12 ‘C+’
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- Pre-calculus 12 with a minimum ‘B’ grade, or equivalent
Notes
-
Students are required to have successfully completed prerequisite course(s) or equivalents leading to courses in the Certificate (for example: prerequisite course Chemistry 12, or equivalent, needs to be successfully completed in order to take CHEM 1121 Chemistry 1). Please see the requirements for each course.
-
Specific post-secondary level courses may be used to substitute for high school courses
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
Recommended Characteristics
- Demonstrate proficiency in the English language with excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Motivated and positive attitude towards learning.
- Possess analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Some word processing experience and basic computer skills required.
Program Availability
Fall 2026 |
|
|---|---|
| Program Start Date | Sep 2026 |
| Status | Open |
| Application opens | March 15, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | August 1, 2026 |
Winter 2027 |
|
| Program Start Date | Jan 2027 |
| Status | Open |
| Application opens | July 15, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | December 1, 2026 |
Not currently available.
Courses
See the full schedule for courses (pdf).
Students must complete the program within three years.
Specific Requirements for the Science Certificate
A. 3 credits in first-year English; and
B. 6 credits of Calculus; and
C. 15 credits in Science; and
D. 6 additional credits of courses in Arts or Science
Courses
B. Math Requirements (6 credits)
Students must take:
C. Science Requirements (minimum of 15 credits)
Any course such as, but not limited to, the following:
Institutions have the discretion to not accept MATH 1020 for transfer. Check with receiving institution to ensure transferability.
D. Additional Arts and Science courses (minimum 6 credits)
Any courses from those in list C above or from (but not limited to) the following:
Admission Pathways
Two transfer pathways will be available to students from the VCC University Transfer Science Certificate (UTSC) program into 9 eligible Faculty of Science (FSci) programs at SFU: Assured Admission and Competitive Admission. The required courses for FSci program transfer are outlined below in options A to I.
Assured Admission Pathway
Assured admission from VCC’s UTSC to the a FSci major is based on a CGPA of 2.60 (calculated based on the best attempt for each required course within the certificate program), and an overall GPA of 2.00 on any transferable coursework from all post-secondary institutions attended.
Students who were required to withdraw, or were not in good academic standing upon leaving a former post-secondary institution are not eligible for consideration under the Assured Admission pathway.
All certificate courses must be completed at VCC within 16 months of commencing the UTSC. Any courses in the certificate taken at post-secondary institutions other than VCC may be transferred to VCC and used towards completion of the VCC/SFU pathway certificate, providing those courses transfer independently to SFU and receive the same credit at SFU as does the VCC pathway course.
In addition, students must meet a minimum course load of 12 credits for at least two terms while enrolled in the UTSC program at VCC.
International student eligibility for the assured admission pathway is dependent on the availability of international student seats at SFU within the destination program.
Competitive Admission Pathway
VCC UTSC students who do not meet the Assured Admission pathway criteria may be eligible to enter FSci programs based on the existing college transfer criteria for SFU admission (24 credits of transferable coursework and meeting the competitive admission GPA requirement for the Faculty of Science set for the specific term of admission), plus program-specific requirements (http://www.sfu.ca/students/admission-requirements/canadian-transfer/college-university.html.html).
Applicants from both pathways must meet the general SFU English language and quantitative admission requirements.
Option A: Bachelor of Science – Biological Sciences second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
BIOL 1100 – Biology 1 (4 credits)
BIOL 1200 – Biology 2 (4 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Option B: Bachelor of Science – Chemistry second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Two of:
ECON 1100 – Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECON 1200 – Macroeconomics (3 credits)
PSYC 1100 – Psychology 1 (3 credits)
PSYC 1200 – Psychology 2 (3 credits)
SOCI 1100 – Introductory Sociology (3 credits)
SOCI 1200 – Canadian Society (3 credits)
Option C: Bachelor of Science – Applied Mathematics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
MATH 1120 – Discrete Mathematics (3 credits)
MATH 1221* – Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
MATH 2700 – Probability and Statistics for Science and Engineering (3 credits)
CMPT 1010 – Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (3 credits)
CMPT 1020 – Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (3 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
*For assured admission to SFU a minimum B grade is required
Option D: Bachelor of Science – Mathematics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
MATH 1120 – Discrete Mathematics (3 credits)
MATH 1221* – Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
MATH 2700 – Probability and Statistics for Science and Engineering (3 credits)
CMPT 1010 – Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (3 credits)
CMPT 1020 – Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (3 credits)
Two of:
ECON 1100 – Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECON 1200 – Macroeconomics (3 credits)
PSYC 1100 – Psychology 1 (3 credits)
PSYC 1200 – Psychology 2 (3 credits)
SOCI 1100 – Introductory Sociology (3 credits)
SOCI 1200 – Canadian Society (3 credits)
*For assured admission to SFU a minimum B grade is required
Option E: Bachelor of Science – Molecular Biology and Biochemistry second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
BIOL 1100 – Biology 1 (4 credits)
BIOL 1200 – Biology 2 (4 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Option F: Bachelor of Science – Physics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
MATH 1221 – Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
CMPT 1010 – Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (3 credits)
CMPT 1020 – Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (3 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Option G: Bachelor of Science – Applied Physics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
MATH 1221 – Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
CMPT 1010 – Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (3 credits)
CMPT 1020 – Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (3 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Option H: Bachelor of Science – Biological Physics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
BIOL 1100 – Biology 1 (4 credits)
BIOL 1200 – Biology 2 (4 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Option I: Bachelor of Science – Statistics second-year transfer to SFU
Students must complete:
ENGL 1100 – University Transfer English 1 (3 credits)
or
ENGL 1101 – English 1101 (3 credits)
MATH 1100 – Calculus 1 (3 credits)
MATH 1200 – Calculus 2 (3 credits)
MATH 2700 – Probability and Statistics for Science and Engineering (3 credits)
MATH 1221 – Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
MATH 2251 – Calculus III (3 credits)
CMPT 1010 – Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (3 credits)
CMPT 1020 – Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (3 credits)
Two of:
ECON 1100 – Microeconomics (3 credits)
ECON 1200 – Macroeconomics (3 credits)
PSYC 1100 – Psychology 1 (3 credits)
PSYC 1200 – Psychology 2 (3 credits)
SOCI 1100 – Introductory Sociology (3 credits)
SOCI 1200 – Canadian Society (3 credits)
MATH 1120 – Discrete Mathematics (3 credits)
CHEM 1121- Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
CHEM 1223- Chemistry 2 (4 credits)
PHYS 1100 – Physics 1 (4 credits)
PHYS 1200 – Physics 2 (4 credits)
Students do not have to declare their intention of completing the University Transfer Science Certificate credential before beginning to take courses. Courses are open to any student who meets the general and specific requirements for the course.
Students will need to meet the admission requirements to the program before courses can be used to complete the University Transfer Science Certificate. No course will be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements (for example, MATH 1120 as both a Science requirement and as an additional Arts and Science requirement). Students must complete: A. English Requirement (3 credits)| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1100 | Academic Writing | 3 |
| or ENGL 1101 | Academic Writing for EAL Students | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1100 | Calculus 1 | 3 |
| MATH 1200 | Calculus 2 | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1100 | Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 1200 | Biology 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 1120 | Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 1220 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 1121 | Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1223 | Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| CMPT 1010 | Introduction to Computer Programming 1 | 3 |
| CMPT 1020 | Introduction to Computer Programming 2 | 3 |
| GEOG 1110 | Earth Systems | 3 |
| MATH 1020 | Precalculus | 3 |
| MATH 1120 | Discrete Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| MATH 1111 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 1190 | Mathematics for Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 1221 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 1210 | Mathematics for the Arts | 3 |
| MATH 2251 | Calculus 3 | 3 |
| MATH 2310 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 2700 | Probability and Statistics for Science and Engineering | 3 |
| PHYS 1100 | Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 1200 | Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 1110 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 1170 | Mechanics 1 | 3 |
| SCIE 1100 | Engineering, Technology and Society | 3 |
| SCIE 1151 | Engineering Graphics & Design | 3 |
| SCIE 1180 | Introduction to Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2104 | Introduction to Ecology | 3 |
| ECON 1100 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 1200 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 1200 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 1102 | Introduction to Literature for EAL Students | 3 |
| GEOG 1100 | Society, Space, Environment: Introducing Human Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 2241 | Social Geography | 3 |
| INDG 1100 | Introduction to First Nations & Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| PSYC 1100 | Psychology 1 | 3 |
| PSYC 1200 | Psychology 2 | 3 |
| SOCI 1100 | Sociology 1: Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 1200 | Sociology 2: Canadian Society | 3 |
| SCIE 1110 | Professional Communication | 3 |
This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.
Fees and Costs
| Application fee | $36 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,486 | |
| Student union | $145 | |
| College initiative | $91 | |
| Campus resource | $110 | |
| Medical & Dental | $285 | Provided by Student Union |
| U-Pass | $329 | Discounted, unlimited transit pass. Learn more. |
| Graduation | $45 | |
| Total | $6,525 |
* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable. Tuition fees include a non-refundable deposit ($300 or $500, depending on program).
Fees listed are for domestic students. For international programs, visit VCC International.
Any refunds are issued according to VCC's refund policy.
Need help with tuition?
Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans.
Technical requirement
Tuition deposits are payable usually within three weeks after a Letter of Offer is issued.
| Tuition deposit | $10,600 | $10,000 non-refundable |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $145 | |
| Tuition | $19,329 | |
| Student union | $145 | |
| College initiative | $95 | |
| Campus resource | $110 | |
| Medical & Dental | $285 | Provided by Student Union |
| Temporary medical insurance | $149 | |
| U-Pass | $329 | Discounted, unlimited transit pass. Learn more. |
| Graduation | $45 | |
| Other fees | $1,385 | |
| Total | $20,714 |
Books & Supplies
Textbooks or other supplies may be required for this program. Visit the VCC Bookstore for more information.
* Fees are approximate and subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors. Students are required to pay any applicable fee increases. Application and assessment fees are non-refundable. Tuition fees include a non-refundable deposit ($300 or $500, depending on program).
Fees listed are for domestic students. For international programs, visit VCC International.
Any refunds are issued according to VCC's refund policy.
Need help with tuition?
Explore your options for scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans.
Technical requirement
How to Apply
Are you interested in this program? Applications are open! Don't forget to:- Submit your official transcripts to the Registrar's Office when you apply
- Check Important Dates for deadlines and registration information
Ready to apply?
Online
You will be directed to EducationPlannerBC.
Fill out a PDF form and mail to:
VCC Registrar's Office
1155 East Broadway
Vancouver, B.C., V5T 4V5
Contact us
Advising services
Phone: 604.871.7000, option 2
Email: studentservice@vcc.ca
Advising services for International students
Do you have any questions?