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(Changing to the Academic Writing Requirement as of May 1st, 2012. Click on the link at the bottom of this page for further information.)
All undergraduate students, including diploma, certificate and unclassified students, must complete 1.5 units of first-year English (excluding ENGL 181 and 182) in order to satisfy the English Requirement. Students who can show equivalent proficiency in English may be exempt from this requirement.
Registration in English courses is not permitted until a placement test or other measure of English proficiency is submitted. The most common English proficiency measure is the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) result.
Exemptions from the English Requirement
Students who meet any of the following criteria are exempt from the English Requirement:
- a score of 86% or higher on the B.C. provincial Grade 12 English examination or a final grade of 86% in Grade 12 English from other Canadian provinces within the last 3 years
- a score of Level 6 on the Language Proficiency Index (LPI)
- a score of 4 or higher on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition
- a score of 4 or higher on IB Higher Level English
- 1.5 or more units of transfer credit for university level English courses (excluding ENGL 181 and 182)
- a degree from an accredited English-speaking university
- while attending as a visiting student on a Letter of Permission
The Language Proficiency Index
Students who are not exempt from the English Requirement must write the Language Proficiency Index (LPI).
Students applying to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing post-diploma Option B program are advised to contact the School of Nursing Adviser prior to writing the LPI.
Students should arrange to write the LPI at least six weeks before registration to allow time for the results to be processed.
The Language Proficiency Index is available nationally and internationally.
For dates, locations and further information, contact the LPI office at UBC or consult the LPI website using the link below:
LPI Office
Paragon Testing Enterprises
The University of British Columbia
102-2389 Health Sciences Mall
VANCOUVER BC V6T 1Z3
Telephone: 778-327-6853
E-mail : info@lpitest.ca
Website: www.lpitest.ca
Current secondary students who have received a school or interim grade of 86% or higher in Grade 12 English may register for ENGL 135, 146 or 147 without writing the LPI.
Information for prospective and current UVic students writing the LPI
LPI scores are provided electronically to the University of Victoria if the LPI record matches with the UVic record. Please ensure the data you provide when you write the LPI (name, date of birth, telephone number, and address) matches with the information on your UVic student record (you may view your address and phone number on My page). You are advised to include your UVic student number when you write the LPI. Please enter the 8 numbers with the V omitted.
Failure to provide matching information will delay the inclusion of your LPI score on your UVic student record and may impede your ability to register in English courses.
Placement following the LPI
Placement Test Results
Students who are required to register in LING 099 or ENGL 099, on the basis of their LPI results, may not change their original placement once they have registered in the Winter Session and must register in LING 099 or ENGL 099 without delay. Further placement test results will only be processed if the test is undertaken, and results received, following the end of Winter Session and before registration in a further Winter Session. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099.
Placement in Linguistics 099
Students placed in LING 099 (a non-credit course) must successfully complete the course and are then placed in either ENGL 099 or ENGL 115 based on the results of an exam taken at the completion of LING 099.
Students who fail LING 099 must repeat the course in each subsequent term until they are placed in either ENGL 099 or ENGL 115. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099. The attempts must occur in consecutive terms. Students who do not register in LING 099 in consecutive terms or who fail after their allotted attempts will normally be denied permission to return to the University until they have demonstrated the required level of competence in English. Students may appeal the decision to the Senate Committee on Admission, Reregistration and Transfer.
For students who are placed in LING 099 (and then ENGL 099, if required), successful completion of ENGL 115 is necessary to satisfy the University English Requirement. Students who successfully complete LING 099 and are allowed to move directly to ENGL 115 must register in ENGL 115 in the next term attended and in each term attended until the English Requirement is satisfied. There must be no interruption in the sequence of courses without the permission of the Director of the Writing Program.
Placement in English 099
Students placed in ENGL 099 (a non-credit course) must successfully complete the course before being placed in ENGL 115.
Students who fail ENGL 099 must repeat the course in each subsequent term until they are placed in ENGL 115. Students are allowed four attempts, normally over two Winter Sessions, to complete the required remedial course work for LING 099 and/or ENGL 099. The attempts must occur in consecutive terms. Students who do not register in ENGL 099 in consecutive terms or who fail after their allotted attempts will normally be denied permission to return to the University until they have demonstrated the required level of competence in English. Students may appeal the decision to the Senate Committee on Admission, Reregistration and Transfer.
For students who are placed in ENGL 099, successful completion of ENGL 115 is necessary to satisfy the University English Requirement. Upon successful completion of ENGL 099, students must register in ENGL 115 in the next term attended and in each term attended until the English Requirement is satisfied. There must be no interruption in the sequence of courses without the permission of the Director of the Writing Program.
Programs that Require First Year English
The following programs require first year English courses. Please note that students also require English for many of the pre-professional programs as outlined by Academic Advising.
Faculty of Education
Elementary Education
Secondary Education in Art, Music and Physical Education
Post Degree Professional Programs in Education
Kinesiology
Leisure Service Administration
Faculty of Engineering
Engineering
Computer Science
Software Engineering
Faculty of Fine Arts
Music
Theatre
Faculty of Human & Social Development
Child & Youth Care
Health Information Science
Social Work
Faculty of Humanities
English
Applied Linguistics
Professional Writing (minor only)
Faculty of Science
Biochemistry and Microbiology
Faculty of Social Sciences
Psychology
Sociology
Deadline for Completing the English Requirement
Students who are NOT exempt from the English requirement must register in 1.5 units of English before completing 30 units of credit. Students who fail to complete the requirement before completing 30 units of credit must meet the requirement in the next session they attend. Students who were initially placed in LING 099 or ENGL 099 must complete the required remedial course within four terms (normally two Winter Sessions) and then must also complete the required 1.5 units of English no later than the next session after completing 30 units of credit (achieved 3rd year standing).
Transfer Students
Students who are admitted to UVic for the first time as third-year students (except Nursing and block-transfer students) must complete the University English requirement in their first Winter Session. Nursing and block-transfer students should consult their academic advisers for information about their deadline for completing the English requirement.
Part-time and Distance Students
Students studying part time or through distance learning may satisfy the English requirement through Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning, a BC community college or another recognized post-secondary institution. Students who are required to write a placement test should contact the LPI Office at the address above.
NEW: beginning in May 2012 Academic Writing Requirement
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