Header image: ﻼF pic from Student Machine Shop Course
I have been trying, for some time now, to get some clarity on this. I first reached out in Feb 2025 and heard back the next day from a person who said they would get back to me. When they did not, I reached out again in July and I am still waiting to hear back.
Here’s the issue:
Currently, the Undergraduate Programs and Admissions page says: “We look at your grades in all academic courses. That doesn’t include career education courses, physical and health education courses, faith-based courses, skills-based courses, or courses in applied design and technology.”
I take this to mean that ADST course grades are not considered by admissions.
However, in the UBC Academic Calendar: Admission for Secondary School Applicants – Admission Requirements, it says: “Although there is not a strict minimum number of courses required, UBC does recommend that students graduating with a Canadian secondary school credential present at least six academic and non-academic Grade 12-level courses (including Grade 12-level courses taken in the Grade 11 year). Non-academic courses include subjects classified as Applied Design, Skills and Technologies, Career Education, Physical and Health Education, or Faith-based.”
I read this as saying that ADST courses, while “non-academic,” are considered within the six Grade 12-level courses presented.
I may well be missing something here, but there appears to be some difference here between the information on the two pages.
I reached out to Enrollment Services, asking if they could help me understand this and explain what, if any, weight ADST course grades are given in consideration of UBC entry requirements.
I’m still none the wiser but it is something that is on my list to follow up on.
Emails {Fallis}; Feb 27, 2025; July 29, 2025; Jan 28, 2026
Reply: Jan 29, 2026.
- The two elements you are referencing speak to slightly different pieces of the adjudication of candidates for admission to UBC.
- The first piece is “… present at least six academic and non-academic Grade 12-level courses (including Grade 12-level courses taken in the Grade 11 year). Non-academic courses include subjects classified as Applied Design, Skills and Technologies, Career Education, Physical and Health Education, or Faith-based. For applicants from outside of Canada, the minimum number of senior-year courses will vary by jurisdiction. Students with fewer than the recommended number of Grade 12-level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.” This is the guidance we provide to students on the minimum number of courses they should have at the Grade 12 level. UBC highly recommends that at least 6 courses be presented to be eligible for consideration, including both non-academic and academic courses.
- The second piece on the you.ubc.ca website concerns how we conduct academic assessments for students. When we look at students’ academic performance using grades on transcripts, we are looking at academic courses, not non-academic ones.
- ADST courses may still be considered in the admissions decision in some cases if they are relevant to a program of study at UBC. For example, a student who takes Accounting 12 may not have that course used in the academic assessment, but we do note that this is a course they took and that was relevant to the program they applied to.
In reply to my follow up, and my take-away from this:
The admission requirements are structured a bit like this. The courses that students take are a good way to show readiness and motivation for the program of study being chosen. The value of ADST courses to me is that is provide opportunities to explore and show interest in subject areas, and the learning of technical skills through ADST courses is a great way to broaden abilities which I feel should be promoted amongst all students. The UBC approach provides support and encouragement for this consideration by suggesting that these courses will be considered as needed in the admission process.
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Where I first came across this question:
Cimino (2019) The Suppression of ADST in BC Secondary Schools
https://blogs.ubc.ca/cimtech/files/2019/01/The-Suppression-of-ADST.pdf