You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here.

Academic Recognition, Promotion, and Continuation

Dean's List

Dean’s List designation recognizes exceptional academic achievement in the Faculty of Arts.

Students who complete at least 27 percentage-graded credits in a Winter Session, and who achieve an average of 85% or higher on at least 27 of these credits, will receive the notation "Dean's List" on their permanent record.

Students in the Arts Co-operative Education program who complete a Co-operative work placement in either Term of a Winter Session and at least 15 percentage-graded credits in the other Term, and who achieve an average of 85% or higher on at least 15 of these credits, will receive the notation "Dean's List" on their permanent record.

Scholarships and Awards

Information on scholarships and awards available to academically outstanding students is available at Awards, Scholarships, and Bursaries. See also Financial Advice.

Class Standing at Graduation

The designation “with Distinction” will be notated on the degree parchment for any student who has achieved an average of at least 80% but less than 85%, calculated on all attempted UBC academic courses numbered 300* or higher. The designation “with High Distinction” will be notated on the degree parchment for any student who has achieved an average of at least 85%, calculated on all attempted UBC academic courses numbered 300* or higher.

*For students who complete a Minor in Music, ensemble and composition courses with 100- or 200-level course numbers will count as 300- or 400-level courses, and hence as part of the upper-level average calculation, when taken in the third or fourth years.

Promotion Requirements

In order to progress from one year-level standing to the next, a student must successfully complete a sufficient total number of B.M.S.-eligible credits. These may include transfer credit as well as credit earned through exchange. Year-level standing impacts a student’s eligibility for specializations and courses, and is one of the factors considered when registration dates are set.

Promotion is evaluated annually upon completion of the Winter Session. Students who have successfully completed 27 credits are promoted to second year standing. Those who have completed 54 credits are promoted to third year standing, and those who have completed 84 credits are promoted to fourth year standing.

Continuation Requirements

Continuation, or a student’s eligibility to continue registering in their degree program, is evaluated annually upon completion of the Winter Session. Continued registration eligibility is granted based on the Sessional Average for the Winter Session, as well as a review of specific continuation requirements.

Year 1 Continuation

B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average of at least 68% on their core courses will be assigned Pass standing and will be eligible to continue in the B.M.S. program.

B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average between 50% and 54.9% and (ii) an average of at least 68% on their core courses will receive academic probation (ACPR) standing and will be eligible to continue in the B.M.S. program. They will be placed on a reduced maximum credit load for the following Winter and subsequent Summer Sessions, as follows, and should prioritize registration in B.M.S. Core Requirements:

 

ACPR Standing Registration Winter Session Summer Session
Maximum credit load per Session 24 9
Maximum credit load per Term 12 6 (Term 1); 3 (Term 2)

B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average below 68% on their core courses will be assigned Pass standing but will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. They will be automatically transferred to the Faculty of Arts B.A. program.

B.M.S. Year 1 students who achieve (i) a sessional average of between 50% and 54.9% and (ii) an average below 68% on core courses will receive academic probation (ACPR) standing and will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. They will be automatically transferred to the Faculty of Arts B.A. program, placed on academic probation (ACPR), and will follow B.A. ACPR regulations.

Students with a sessional average of less than 50%, regardless of core average, will be given Fail standing and will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program and withdraw from the Faculty of Arts.

Summary of Continuation Requirements for students in Year 1

 

Winter Session Average Core Average1 Sessional Standing Continuation Status in B.M.S.
55% or more 68% or more Pass Eligible to continue
50%-54.9% 68% or more ACPR Eligible to continue
55% or more Less than 68% Pass Required to discontinue from the B.M.S.
50%-54.9% Less than 68% ACPR Required to discontinue from the B.M.S.
Less than 50% n/a Fail Required to withdraw and discontinue from the B.M.S.
1 Core Average is calculated on all required Core courses completed in the Winter Session.

Year 2 and Above Continuation

B.M.S. students who achieve (i) a sessional average of at least 55% and (ii) an average of at least 60% on their core courses will be assigned Pass standing and will be permitted to continue in the B.M.S. program.

B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of at least 55%, but who either (i) achieve an average between 55% and 59.9% on their core courses or (ii) fail one or more core courses, will have their B.M.S. Continuation Status reviewed by the B.M.S. Steering Committee.

B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average between 50% and 54.9%, and who either (i) achieve an average between 55% and 59.9% on their core courses or (ii) fail one or more core courses, will receive academic probation (ACPR) standing and will have their B.M.S. Continuation Status reviewed by the B.M.S. Steering Committee. If, after review, the student is permitted to continue in the degree program, a standing of ACPR be will added to their academic record and they will be placed on a reduced maximum credit load for the following Winter and subsequent Summer Sessions, as follows:

 

ACPR Standing Registration Winter Session Summer Session
Maximum credit load per Session 24 9
Maximum credit load per Term 12 6 (Term 1); 3 (Term 2)

If, upon completion of continuation evaluation the following year, the student’s Winter Session sessional average again falls in the 50%-54.9% range they will remain on Academic Probation. There is no maximum number of instances of ACPR permitted; students may remain on Academic Probation for the duration of their studies, as long as their Winter Session average falls in the ACPR range. If their Winter Session sessional average rises to 55% or more, they will clear Academic Probation and regain Good Standing. However, for both ACPR and Good Standing evaluations, continuation in the B.M.S. is also contingent on a review of specific B.M.S. continuation requirements as stipulated above.

Upon completion of the B.M.S. Continuation Status review, and at the discretion of the B.M.S. Steering Committee, students will be given either (i) Eligible to continue in the B.M.S. program or (ii) Required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program status. All students required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program will be automatically transferred to the Faculty of Arts B.A. program. Those permitted to enrol in the B.A. Program on academic probation (ACPR) will follow B.A. ACPR regulations. Note that student representatives on the Steering Committee will neither participate in nor attend B.M.S. Continuation Status adjudication meetings.

B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of 55% or more, but an average below 55% on core courses, will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. All students required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program will be automatically transferred into the Faculty of Arts B.A. program.

B.M.S. students who achieve a sessional average of between 50% and 54.9%, but an average below 55% on core courses, will receive academic probation (ACPR) standing and be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program. All students required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program will be automatically transferred to the Faculty of Arts B.A. program. Those permitted to enrol in the B.A. Program on academic probation (ACPR) will follow B.A. ACPR regulations.

Students with a sessional average of less than 50% will be given Fail standing and will be required to discontinue from the B.M.S. program and withdraw from the Faculty of Arts.

Summary of Continuation Requirements for students in Year 2 and Above

 

Winter Session Average Core Average1 Failed Courses Sessional Standing Continuation Status in B.M.S.
55% or more 60% or more None Pass Eligible to continue
55% or more 55% - 59.9% None Pass Review
55% or more 55% or more One or more Pass Review
55% or more Less than 55% n/a Pass Required to discontinue the B.M.S.
50% - 54.9% 60% or more None ACPR Eligible to continue
50% - 54.9% 55% - 59.9% None ACPR Review
50% - 54.9% 55% or more One or more ACPR Review
50% - 54.9% Less than 55% n/a ACPR Required to discontinue the B.M.S.
Less than 50% n/a n/a Fail Required to withdraw
1 Core Average is calculated on all required Core courses completed in the Winter Session. Core Plus courses are not included in the calculation of the Core Average.

Students who attempt and fail the Writing Component twice, but who are otherwise eligible to continue their studies, will have their registration restricted to no more than three courses (normally 9 credits) per Winter Session Term, and no more than 9 credits distributed across both Terms of Summer Session (with no more than 6 credits per Term), until they successfully complete the requirement.

Students who completed and transferred credit from a college or university-level course similar in rigour, content, and learning objectives to an approved Writing Component course may appeal to apply their transfer credits towards the Writing Component of the Writing and Research requirement. For further information students should consult Arts Advising.

Appeal for Readmission

Students who have more than one failed year in the Bachelor of Media Studies are required to submit a letter of appeal with their readmission application. The letter of appeal must be submitted to Enrolment Services at Brock Hall. See the Arts Undergraduate website.


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