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.
╬
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