Frequently asked questions

Explore answers to questions related to advising services, degree planning, transfer credits, and records and registration.

Other Faculty resources

For other Faculty resources, including forms, Honours program applications, and department contacts, refer to the faculty resources at the bottom of this page

Records and registration

How do I access Workday?

Use Workday on a desktop device for the best user experience. Log in to Workday at myworkday.ubc.ca with your Campus-wide Login (CWL).

If you don’t have a Student CWL, you can create one after accepting your offer and receiving a student number. You can set up a Student CWL through UBC IT. If you do not have Multi-factor Authentication set up, follow the instructions online, then log into Workday. 

View our How-To tutorials here.

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How do I register for classes?

Learn all about registering for courses at UBCO.

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Where do I find an unofficial transcript?

Learn how to download your unofficial transcript by accessing the UBC Official Documents Management tool (ODMT) from within Workday.

If you studied at UBC and don’t have access to Workday, you can log into the UBC Official Documents Management tool directly and skip to the instructions on downloading an unofficial transcript. If you are logging into the UBC Official Documents Management tool for the first time, you may have to wait 30 minutes for your information to sync before you can proceed with the order.

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What are my study options beyond on-campus UBCO courses?

Check out summer and off-campus study options.

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How do I declare or change my major or specialization?

Check out declaring majors.

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I failed a course, what can I do? Can I retake a course that I failed?

It’s never easy to fail a course. You’re welcome to discuss it with an Academic & Career Advisor.

If you failed a course once, you can retake it by registering the course again. If you’re unable to register the course, contact the relevant department for assistance.

If you failed a course twice, you will need your Dean’s permission to take the course a third time. Learn more.

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I’m not happy with my grade (and I didn’t fail). Should I retake a course? What does it mean for my transcript?

Sometimes, it’s necessary to retake a course if the course is required and a specific grade is required in that course. Sometimes, there is no reason to repeat a course that you passed. If you’re unsure of your situation, speak with an Academic & Career Advisor.

All attempts at a course are listed on your official transcript (unless you withdrew before the drop deadline).

How repeated courses are calculated depends on the intention of the calculation and which institution is completing the calculation. This can vary greatly. If you’re unsure of your situation, speak with an Academic & Career Advisor.

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Advising services

What can I expect from an advisor?

Learn more about Academic & Career Advising services.

What’s the difference between academic and faculty/program advisors?

Academic & Career Advisors provide degree, program, and learning support for students. Academic & Career Advisors can help students with things like: degree/program requirements, declaring majors/specializations, choosing majors/specializations, course planning, improving study skills, and navigating UBC Okanagan policies and procedures.

Program Advisors are faculty members who assist students with program-specific requirements. Program Advisors can help students with things like: program requirements, honours programs, study abroad credits, making substitutions in pre-requisite or program courses, and preparing for graduate school.

How can I meet with an Academic & Career Advisor?

Academic & Career Advising offers a variety of services to meet students’ needs throughout the year.
Visit Academic & Career Advising for more information.

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Degree planning

How do I declare a major (specialization)?

Learn how to declare or change your primary major, honours or specialization in Workday.

Note:
Some majors in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program can be declared at the end of your first year or after you have successfully completed a minimum of 24 credits. Visit the Academic Calendar to learn about the requirements to declare the major you are interested in. Some BA majors have to be declared by either the program advisor or an Academic & Career Advisor. Learn more about declaring majors.

In the Bachelor of Science (BSc), students are able to declare at the end of first year or after successfully completing a minimum of 24 credits.

You are able to declare a major/specialization in most programs on Workday.

Note: If you are a student in the Applied Science (Engineering), Health and Exercise Science, Fine Arts, Media Studies, or Sustainability, connect with an Academic & Career Advisor for information on specialization and concentration options.

How do I check my degree progress?

Learn how to view your Academic Progress Report (APR) in Workday.

Important information about the Academic Progress Report: 

• The Academic Progress Report (APR) in Workday replaces Degree Navigator (DN) in the SSC
• Your courses, credits and grades have been moved to Workday  
• If you are changing programs or adding specializations, use the APR for up-to-date requirements

I’m thinking of switching programs – what are my next steps?

When you are considering switching programs it is important to come in and meet with an Academic & Career Advisor to see how your existing courses fit into a different degree program. They can help you understand the requirements of the new degree to make sure you are choosing appropriate courses.

You should be in good academic standing and must meet the University minimum average of 60% (or 2.0 grade point average) based on your most recent 30 credits.  Meeting this minimum entrance requirement does not guarantee admission, as entry into many programs is competitive.  This includes any failed or repeated courses unless otherwise prescribed by the program to which you are applying. In cases where counting back 30 credits lands in the middle of an academic term, the academic average of that term will be used for the remaining required credits to reach the total of 30.

Students may transfer a maximum of 60 credits applicable to the new program.

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Transfer credits

How do I get transfer credit added to my UBC record?

Upon admission to UBC Okanagan, undergraduate admissions will award the most appropriate transfer credit to your file, based on the official transcripts they have received. There are two types of transfer credit awarded to students:

Specific Credit– This type of transfer credit is given when the course completed at a school other than UBC is identical to a UBC course. For example, Okanagan College’s PSYC 111 transfers to UBC Okanagan as PSYO_O 111 (3 credits).

General Credit – This type of transfer credit is awarded when a course completed at another post-secondary institution is not an exact match to what is offered at UBC Okanagan. For example, Okanagan College’s ENGL 100 transfers to UBC Okanagan as ENGL_O 1st (3 credits).

Learn more about transfer credits.

I completed AP and/or IB courses. Am I eligible for transfer credits?

Visit the undergraduate admissions page on AP/IB/A-level requirements.

How many transfer credits can I count toward my UBC degree?

Students may apply a maximum of 60 credits (with restrictions) completed at other post-secondary institutions towards their UBC degree. If you are a newly admitted transfer student, see the Admission to UBC section in the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar. If you have further questions or concerns, schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting with an Academic & Career Advisor for assistance.

Can I take courses at another institution while I am a UBC student studying at the Okanagan campus?

Students wishing to take courses at another institution after being admitted to UBC Okanagan must fill out, and have approved, a Letter of Permission (LOP) request. For more information on LOP’s visit the summer and off-campus study options page.

How do I see my transfer credits?

Log into Workday and click on your profile. Under the “Academics” section, click “Transfer Credit” in the top menu. You will only see this tab in the menu if you have been awarded transfer credit. For more information about how to view your transfer credits in Workday, view our step-by-step tutorial.

How does my transfer credit apply to my degree?

Students should contact Academic & Career Advising to discuss how transfer credit can apply to your UBC degree requirements. For more information on transfer credit visit our transfer credits page.

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Faculty resources

Inquiries about a pre-requisite for a course?

• Refer to the Faculty, School, or Department offering the course:
  • Arts and Social Sciences
    • Find the appropriate form then submit it to the appropriate Department
  • Creative and Critical Studies
  • Engineering
  • Health and Exercise Sciences
    • Please email your request to hes.undergrad@ubc.ca for consideration. Be sure to include your student number, the course information for which you are seeking entrance, and a rationale.
  • Management
  • Nursing
  • Sciences
    • Find the appropriate form then submit it to the appropriate Department