The landscape of education is changing. Teachers need to be responsive to diverse learners in diverse contexts, inspiring students to think critically and creatively throughout their lives. Our generalist teacher education program develops prospective teachers’ stance to be focused on students and their quality of learning. Curriculum and teaching strategies or methods are secondary areas of focus.
Participate in substantial experiences both inside and outside the classroom. The Bachelor of Education program includes two school-based practicums, a community field experience and a 15-week internship. Additionally, many other place-based learning opportunities that are reflective of this territory and the histories and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples of this land are infused throughout the program.
Join our community and engage in collaborative learning. Network with practicing professionals and gain contacts in the Okanagan Valley and beyond for post-graduation career development and opportunities.
Our program has a look and feel that is quite different from others. Bachelor of Education participants are called “teacher candidates” and later “interns” not “students.” You will be engaged in competencies of creative and critical thinking, community, and personal and social responsibilities aligning with the BC Kindergarten – Grade 12 curriculum. You will learn what it means to become a scholar-practitioner. We recommend you review the Professional Standards for BC Educators and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015) Calls to Action.
Explore the resources of the community or travel the world through additional study opportunities embedded within the program.
To inspire and be inspired is at the heart of UBC Okanagan’s 16-month post-degree Bachelor of Education (BEd) program. If you are passionate about learning, join our community of educators. Throughout this generalist BEd program, you will experience a variety of approaches to teaching and learning and work alongside educators on campus, in schools and in the community. You’ll develop a teaching stance in which students and the quality of their learning are the primary focus areas. Curriculum and teaching strategies or methods are secondary areas of focus.
You will graduate with a globally recognized UBC Bachelor of Education degree and recommendation for teacher certification by the BC Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch. Both are highly sought after by employers locally, nationally and internationally.
Given the generalist nature of this BEd program, no specialization or pathway will be indicated on the transcript or parchment.
INSPIRE
INSPIRE is the core theme of UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Education program. It was conceived, planned and built on four defining principles:
Our schedule is quite different from other programs. Our courses are organized into blocks and field experiences over a 16-month span. View or download the Year at a Glance schedule (PDF).
Winter Term 1 (Year 1, September to December)
Winter Term 2 (Year 1, January to April)
Summer Term 1 (Year 1, May & June)
Summer Term 2 (Year 1, July & August)
Winter Term 1 (Year 2, September to December)
UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program includes a wide variety of courses that encompass experiences at the elementary, middle and secondary levels.
Once enrolled, you will work with classmates both within and across each pathway. You will also personalize your studies by choosing a community-based field experience and elective courses in the Summer Institute.
Sample courses:
Browse all Education courses and descriptions.
Please note, the BEd program only consists of EDUC 403, 431, 440, 436, 441, 437, 442, 438 and 444.
This self-assessment form can assist you in reviewing academic admission requirements for your admission pathway.
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Education program, students must have completed a four-year (minimum 120-credit) bachelor’s degree or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution.
In addition, applicants must have a minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people, preferably at the age range they are proposing to teach.
View the “Apply to UBC” section below for the Supplemental Application Form and two Reference Reports detailed instructions as these will need to be submitted with your application.
The following admission criteria must be met:
A 3-credit lab science is typically scheduled for three hours of lecture and two or three hours of labs per week.
Students wishing to have coursework considered in a discipline not listed should consult with an Academic Advisor.
Students unsure if their course credits meet the criteria or are transferable from another University should consult with an Academic Advisor.
All required coursework must be completed by April 30, prior to commencement in the program.
Information posted is from UBC’s Academic Calendar. In the event of a discrepancy, the Academic Calendar shall be held to be correct.
This self-assessment form can assist you in reviewing academic admission requirements for your admission pathway.
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Education program, students must have completed a four-year (minimum 120-credit) bachelor’s degree or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution.
In addition, applicants must have a minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people, preferably at the age range they are proposing to teach.
View the “Apply to UBC” section below for the Supplemental Application Form and two Reference Reports detailed instructions as these will need to be submitted with your application.
The following admission criteria must also be met:
A 3-credit lab science is typically scheduled for three hours of lecture and two or three hours of labs per week.
Students wishing to have coursework considered in a discipline not listed should consult with an Academic Advisor.
Students unsure if their course credits meet the criteria or are transferable from another University should consult with an Academic Advisor.
All required coursework must be completed by April 30, prior to commencement in the program.
Information posted is from UBC’s Academic Calendar. In the event of a discrepancy, the Academic Calendar shall be held to be correct.
1If the teachable subject is French, students must also successfully complete an oral and written French language competency assessment to the level specified for French as a second language. Please see the French Language Competency Assessment for more information.
2If the teachable subject is General Science, the 24 credits of academic coursework can be a combination of Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics courses. Other science courses may be included in the 24 credits upon approval.
3If the teachable subject is Music, Theatre, or Visual Art at least 6 of the required 24 credits must be studies in theory (i.e., non-studio).
4If the teachable subject is Social Studies (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, or Sociology) the 24 required credits must include the following:
Coursework relating to the disciplines above in the areas of Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, Asian Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Indigenous Studies, Religious Studies (of a non-doctrinal nature), Classical Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Sciences may be considered provided an examination of the course syllabi reveals such a relationship.
There is a growing demand for French teachers all across Canada. Read Make a Future’s three tips about teaching French in B.C.
To apply for the French pathway, you’ll need to meet the admission criteria for either the Teaching Children or Teaching Adolescents Pathway (please see the criteria above). In addition, you’ll need to submit one of the following:
French teachers Kindergarten (K) – Grade 9+ may teach French in:
When the application process is open and you are ready to apply for the French pathway, you will select either Teaching Children or Teaching Adolescents in your online application (see steps below). You will indicate in the Supplemental Application Form that you are interested in the French pathway.
Teacher candidates who complete 55 per cent or more of their coursework in French may qualify to receive up to $1,600 to offset tuition fees from the BC Ministry of Education Bursary.
Review the eligibility criteria, guidelines and application on the BC Ministry of Education website.
As one of four ways to show French language competency, prospective applicants to the Bachelor of Education (BEd) program who wish to teach French-as-a-Second-Language (FSL) either in Core French or French Immersion are encouraged to complete the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF B2) and/or Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF C1) prior to applying to the program. Ideally, this competency test should be taken in the third or fourth year of undergraduate studies.
DELF/DALF results are normally submitted as part of the application to the BEd program. If the DELF/DALF is taken after applying, please email your test results to the Education Office at: education.ubco@ubc.ca.
Please note: There are limited seats and dates available.
Potential candidates to the French Pathway may be contacted by the Education Office in regards to their French proficiency during the application review process.
Questions related to the French Pathway may be directed to the BEd Coordinator, French, Carl Ruest, at carl.ruest@ubc.ca or (250) 807-8196.
BEd students must earn 60 credits in order to graduate.
| Schedule | Canadian | International |
| Full-time | $12,759 | $57,273 |
* In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
UBC Okanagan’s fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre. See Financial Planning for helpful resources, and add up your first-year costs with our Cost Calculator.
In addition to the tuition costs, Bachelor of Education students have program fees and require accident insurance.
Program fees are paid at the beginning of each term or you have the option to pay a one-time fee of $400 for the entire program at the beginning:
Fee Schedule:
Winter Term 1: $100
Winter Term 2: $100
Summer Terms 1 & 2: $100
Winter Term 1: $100
These fees cover general program expenses, including, but not limited to:
Field Experience Kits
The Field Experience Kit will be used for various field experiences (e.g. site-based coursework, school visits and practicum) and consists of: a teacher candidate identification lanyard and a binder for confidential information. Field Experience Kits will be distributed in September.
Field Trips & Community Building events
Workshops and special sessions (e.g. Art/Music/IT explorations, Maker Day, Indigenous learning experiences)
Students are also required to have Accident Insurance, if you do not have your own insurance, please visit the Student Resources section for details on purchasing the insurance through UBC.
For detailed tuition and fees information, visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies at The University of British Columbia.
* Fees, including tuition, program, course, special, and student society fees, are approved by the Board of Governors following consultation with students and are subject to change.
A complete application package will contain:
Plan ahead to ensure you meet important deadlines and other target dates.
To be eligible for admission to the 16-month Bachelor of Education post-degree program, you must have completed a four-year (minimum 120-credit) bachelor’s degree or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution. For details, please review the academic requirements for each pathway under “Admission Requirements” above.
These self-assessment forms can assist you in reviewing academic admission requirements for your admission pathway: Teaching Children and Teaching Adolescents. You will submit your self-assessment form as part of your application.
In addition, applicants must submit:
a) A summary of experience working with school-age children and/or youth. A minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people is required;
b) A one-page essay indicating what they have learned from their experience with school-age children and/or youth that will help them in their teaching career; and
c) Two confidential reference reports
You will provide your summary of experience and essay in the Supplemental Application Form.
You will send a link to your chosen references for them to submit a confidential reference report.
Admission to the Okanagan School of Education is competitive and the Bachelor of Education program has limited enrolment. Satisfying the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission.
Applicants’ teachable subject(s) will be considered when determining admissibility.
Apply according to the online submission option that best applies to you:
To apply for the French pathway, you will select either Teaching Children or Teaching Adolescents in your online application. You will indicate in the Supplemental Application Form that you are interested in the French pathway.
Once you have submitted the application, you can submit your Supplemental Application Form and send your references the Confidential Reference Form.
The Supplemental Application Form offers you the opportunity to share your practical experiences (up to three) and explain your educational goals through a personal essay.
To meet the admission requirements, you must have a minimum of 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid), preferably at the age level you wish to teach. Although we consider all relevant experiences, we strongly recommend current experiences within the last two years.
A range and variety of instructional experiences is encouraged to better prepare for the program. Typical experiences for applicants include but are not limited to working in school classrooms as a volunteer or assistant, teaching dance, coaching team sports or working as a summer camp counselor. While we recommend classroom experience, it is not required. Experience in international settings is valuable, but we recommend experience in Canadian settings.
Normally an applicant without experience with school-aged children and/or youth will not be admitted to the program.
You may provide us with information on up to three experiences in the supplemental application.
Recognizing that you may want to plan, write, and/or polish your personal essay before pasting it into the form, the essay question is provided below for your convenience.
Becoming an educator opens doors to many opportunities to teach, learn, and contribute in a variety of contexts including but not exclusive to schools. What are your goals as an educator? Highlight and provide examples of the qualities and experiences you bring to the challenge of becoming an educator? (Maximum 500 words)
The Supplemental Application Form is due by January 31 of the application year.
You will receive an automatic email with a confirmation that we received your application. This email will be from noreply@qemailserver.com. This confirmation will include a copy of your responses. Please check your junk and spam folders. If you do not receive this email within 48hrs of submitting your application, please email us at education.ubco@ubc.ca.
Please note: If you are applying to UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan you will be required to submit your experience summaries and personal essay to both campuses.
You must arrange for the submission of two (2) confidential references to be sent on your behalf. Please ensure you arrange this early to provide your references ample time to complete the form.
The School of Education will not accept more than two reports. Letters in lieu of these report forms are also not acceptable.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have provided your references:
Further, it is your responsibility to ensure that your references understand the importance of including those pieces of information accurately when submitting their reference.
Your references must be directly associated (e.g., your supervisor) with the activities you list on the Supplemental Application form which comprise the minimum 75 hours of practical experience (volunteer or paid) working with young people (preferably the age-range you wish to teach).
They must have personally observed you working in a face-to-face or an online context where your primary role was to instruct or interact, in group or individual settings, with children and/or youth.
The references must be credible authorities who can speak to your abilities, experiences, and interests relevant to the teaching profession. They cannot be a family member or a personal friend.
Examples of appropriate references include:
Examples of inappropriate references:
Your experience with children/youth and your personal character and qualities as reflected in the reference reports are essential selection criteria.
Qualities appropriate to the profession of teaching that referees are asked to judge include: motivation for teaching; enthusiasm; leadership potential; dependability; initiative; flexibility and adaptability (including the ability to deal with change and/or stressful situations); oral and written communication skills; ability to interact appropriately with children and/or youth and with adults; ability to identify problems and pose possible solutions; and ability to access feedback and respond to suggestions.
References must be completed and submitted online by January 31 of the application year.
Link to send to references: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eVCVPXsOKwPPLKu
You will receive an automatic email with a confirmation that we received your reference. Your reference will also receive a confirmation email. This email will be from noreply@qemailserver.com. Please check your junk or spam folders. If you have not received a confirmation email 48 hours after your reference had submitted their form and they have not received a confirmation email either, please email us at education.ubco@ubc.ca.
Please note: If you are applying to UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan your references will be required to submit a confidential report to both campuses.
Self Assessment Form and Guide
Please review the BEd self-assessment guide prior to starting the form.
Submission instructions
After submitting your online application to the Bachelor of Education program you will be able to upload your self-assessment form.
Please note, if you have applied to both the Teaching Children and the Teaching Adolescent pathways, please ensure that you have uploaded the correct self-assessment form to the corresponding pathway.
The self-assessment form must be submitted by January 31 of the application year.
Submit your official transcripts for any post-secondary studies at institutions other than UBC.
Look for an email from UBC with the subject line “Your UBC Application – Next Steps” that outlines which documents you are required to submit, how you can submit them, and when you’re required to submit them. Once you have applied, you can check for instructions on your UBC Student Service Centre portal.
After we’ve received your documents, it can take two to four weeks for the information to be updated on your Student Service Centre portal.
Please note: If you are applying to UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan you will be required to submit your transcripts to two different locations: The Teacher Education Office for your Vancouver application, and the Undergraduate Admissions Office (located in Vancouver) for your Okanagan application.
If you have questions about your application or need assistance determining whether or not your course meets the criteria, please visit the Student Advising Services webpage to contact them or book an appointment.
If you have questions about the Bachelor of Education program, please contact us at education.ubco@ubc.ca
Please note that all communication and interactions with the Okanagan School of Education are considered part of the admissions process and are taken into account when considering applicants for admission. Admission may be denied to applicants who communicate in an unprofessional manner or who act in an inappropriate manner during the admissions process, regardless of academic standing.
You can check the status of your application through the Student Service Centre.
Prospective students will be notified of an admission decision any time between March and June of the same year. Welcome packages will be sent by the end of July of the same year, although the information is available through our BEd resources.
For full admissions information visit the UBC Okanagan academic calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services, and academic policies.
Please note: If you are applying to UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan you will be required to submit a complete application, including personal essay, experience requirements and references, to each.
Build a broad foundation and great career potential with UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program. Graduates can teach at elementary, middle and secondary levels. A UBC teacher education degree is highly sought-after within the K-12 school system.
Positively impact your professional career and learn alongside faculty conducting research and contributing educational scholarship through our Professional Development opportunities like our Summer Institute in Education or Certificates & Diplomas, and our Graduate Programs offering Master and Doctorate level degrees.
Find out what students, faculty, and alumni have to say about their time at UBC Okanagan.
Read all of UBC Okanagan’s stories from other faculties.
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the 40 best universities in the world. At the Okanagan School of Education, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally respected university while studying in a close-knit learning community.
The Bachelor of Education (BEd) program offers the following scholarships and awards:
For more information on awards for Okanagan School of Education students, visit Awards & Scholarships.
Students should also review UBC Okanagan’s Awards, Scholarships and Prizes page for other opportunities.
Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and stay active—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and varsity athletics.
Learn more at Sports and Recreation, which includes links to fitness facilities, sport clubs, intramurals and recreation programs, as well as the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat varsity teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association.
Branch out, get involved in student life, and have fun by joining various campus clubs.
Living on or near campus you will find yourself immersed within a learning culture, close to academic supports, and surrounded by hiking and biking trails, and sand beaches and lakes.
Meet new people while living in a study-oriented environment with easy access to academic and personal support. UBC Okanagan offers modern residence living surrounded by hiking and biking trails. One of the newest residences, Purcell, features a rooftop patio that offers a panoramic view of the campus and the Okanagan Valley. Find out more about living in residence.
Living off campus is an exciting way to explore Kelowna’s dynamic, growing community. Students who commute to campus have access to campus collegia—gathering places specially designed for commuters.
UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.
More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the Top 10 busiest airports in Canada.
UBC Okanagan is situated within the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.
A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.
Explore the Okanagan lifestyle.
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