How to Apply to Business at the University of Victoria: Direct Entry to the Gustavson BCom, Progression to the Cohort After Year 1, and Requirements and Timeline for BC and Chinese High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Victoria (UVic) is in Victoria, BC’s capital. Business is taught by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, which offers a four-year Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) with integrated work terms. UVic says high school students can apply directly to the program, or transfer into Year 2 after a year or more at UVic or elsewhere. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on UVic’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. How the program works

• Year 1 foundations: a new curriculum applies from fall 2025 entry. Year 1 requires COM 100 (Understanding World-Class Organizations), COM 120 (Organizational Behaviour), ECON 103 (Microeconomics) and STAT 252 (Statistics for Business, with MATH 151 as a prerequisite), plus 4 to 6 electives and an Academic Writing Requirement (AWR) course.
• Progression to Year 2: you need an average of 4.5/9.0 (B/B-) on the Year 1 required courses, which UVic calls the progression conditions.
• Fall of Year 2: ATWP 250 (business communication), COM 315 (financial accounting), COM 204 (professional practice) and electives.
• Cohort terms: in the spring of Year 2, the fall of Year 3 and the Year 4 specialization term, you study with the same group of 50 to 60 students, work in teams of 4 to 6, and take part in at least one case competition.
• Year 4 specializations: Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Service Design, Marketing and Management; Financial Management (accounting or finance stream); and AI and Technology Management.
• Paid work terms: UVic recommends two paid work terms, which most students complete, with an optional third for up to a year of experience. One work term falls in the summer between Years 2 and 3.
• Exchange: after the cohort terms, with a GPA of at least 4.0, you can spend a Year 4 term at one of 80+ partner schools in 40+ countries.
• Standing: a term GPA below 3.0 (C+) or a failed work term can lead to a required withdrawal of at least a year.

2. Academic requirements: Canadian high school students

• British Columbia and Yukon:
  • Grade 11: approved English 11, Pre-Calculus 11, an approved science 11 and an approved social studies 11/12;
  • Grade 12: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 (minimum 73%), Pre-Calculus 12 (minimum 73%) and two approved academic Grade 12 courses;
  • estimated admission average: minimum 85% on the required Grade 12 courses. UVic notes this is based on recent cycles and may rise with competition and limited capacity.
• Alberta: ELA 30-1 and Math 30-1 at 73% or higher plus two 30-level academic courses, with the same 85% estimate.
• IB: the full diploma with at least three HL subjects, English 3+, Math 4+ (Math Studies and Math AI SL not accepted), and an estimated 30 points excluding bonus points.
• Expanded qualifications: academics are the main criterion, but a limited number of Canadian high school graduates may also be considered on non-academic qualifications.
• Early admission: students who apply and submit grades by early December can be considered on completed courses.

3. Academic requirements: students at high schools in China

• senior secondary graduation with Senior Years 1 to 3 grades and an overall average of at least 80%;
• Huikao or Xuekao results;
• three years of senior-level math (Pre-Calculus) with at least 82% in senior math;
• estimated admission average 85%, based on years 10 to 12. UVic does not ask for the Gaokao.
• SAT and ACT are not required but will be considered (SAT 1250+, ACT 26+).

4. English requirements

• Full admission: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (One Skill Retake accepted); TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20) or 4.5 on the new scale (no section below 4.0); Duolingo 120 (subscores 110+); PTE 65; CAEL 70.
• Conditional admission: Business is among the areas that can offer it, for example with IELTS 6.0 (5.5 bands), TOEFL 79 (17 sections) or 4.0 (3.5 sections), or Duolingo 110 (subscores 100). You register as usual and must meet the requirement by the date in your offer.
• ELC preliminary admission: with lower scores, enrolling in UVic’s Intensive English Program gives up to 24 months to meet the requirement and start your degree without reapplying.
• Tests older than two years at application are not accepted.

5. Application timing

• Apply through EducationPlannerBC.
• 31 January 2027: the September deadline for most degree programs. UVic notes some programs stay open after the deadline while they remain selectable in EducationPlannerBC, but they can close at any time.
• Commerce is not listed for January or summer entry, so plan for September.

6. Tuition and scholarships

• International tuition (two terms, rates effective 1 May 2026, CAD): Year 1 37,576, Year 2 39,830, Year 3 44,976, Year 4 47,674, plus ancillary fees such as the academic program fee (1,252), Commerce Student Society (100) and medical insurance (265).
• Domestic tuition: CAD 6,544 for two terms plus ancillary fees.
• Automatic entrance scholarships (no application): international students with an A- admission average receive a one-time CAD 15,000; Canadian citizens and permanent residents with 90%+ (or IB 32) also receive automatic awards. You must enter Year 1 directly from high school. International students completing a Canadian high school diploma are assessed as Canadian high school students.

7. Transfer students: entry to Year 2

• Complete Year 1 requirements first: transfers must complete the equivalent of Gustavson’s Year 1 required courses with the required average to be considered for Year 2. Preference goes to applicants who have completed at least two required courses, including the AWR course, by the deadline. UVic says very limited seats are available for transfers.
• Minimum transfer averages (calendar minimums, which may be higher in practice; averages include repeated and failed courses):
  • BC college: 8+ university-transfer courses (12 UVic units) with at least B- (4.0 on UVic’s 9-point scale) on the most recent 12 units; one full year of a diploma with A- (7.0); a completed diploma with B (5.0); certificate programs not eligible.
  • Canadian university (including UVic): 8+ university courses with at least B- (4.0) on the most recent 12 units.
  • Other institutions: one full year of a bachelor’s program with at least B (5.0) on the most recent 12 units.
• Under 12 units: you must also meet the high school requirements for Year 1.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• English Studies 12 and Pre-Calculus 12 at 73%+ plus two approved Grade 12 academic courses; aim for an 85%+ average
• Apply through EducationPlannerBC by 31 January 2027; submit grades by early December for early admission
• Keep a B/B- average on Year 1 required courses to progress to the Year 2 cohort

Students at high schools in China:

• Overall Senior Years 1–3 average of 80%+ (estimated 85% to be admitted), senior math 82%+, plus Huikao or Xuekao results
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 bands, One Skill Retake accepted), TOEFL 4.5 or Duolingo 120; slightly lower scores can earn conditional admission
• International students with an A- average automatically receive CAD 15,000

Transfer students:

• Complete equivalents of COM 100, COM 120, ECON 103, STAT 252 and an AWR course with the Year 1 average
• BC college and Canadian university applicants need at least B- on the most recent 12 units; seats are very limited

Sources: University of Victoria, Commerce program and admission requirements (with tuition estimate); Gustavson BCom; New BCom curriculum; BCom specializations; Application deadlines; English language requirements; How to apply; Entrance scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry (tuition reflects rates effective May 2026). Check UVic for the latest details.