Undergraduate Academics Frequently Asked Questions

2^nd Year Placement Reconsideration Appeals: Appeals for 2^nd year placement reconsideration are processed by Engineering Academic Services (EAS). Students appealing for 2^nd year placement reconsideration are asked to contact EAS.

A1: Inter-Departmental Program Transfer (e.g. CHBE or CHML to MECH, CIVL, IGEN, etc.): Requests for inter-departmental program transfers are processed by Engineering Academic Services (EAS). Students requesting an inter-departmental program transfer are asked to contact EAS.

A2: Intra-Departmental Program Transfer (i.e. from CHBE to CHML or vice versa): Requests for intra-departmental program transfers are subject to program availability and permission of a program advisor. Students requesting an intra-departmental program transfer must submit a request at the end of April/beginning of May. Emails regarding an intra-departmental program transfer are sent directly to students at the end of Term 2.

STT Flag Removal: Students facing this situation are asked to send an email to undergrad@chbe.ubc.ca. Be sure to include your name, your student number, the STT course you completed, and the STT in which you want to enroll.

Taking Courses Outside UBC Requests: Requests to take courses outside UBC and transferring credits to a UBC program are processed by Engineering Academic Services (EAS). Students interested in outside courses must complete a request and receive a Letter of Permission prior to registering for the courses for credit.

A1: Transfer credits: Courses taken outside of UBC for which there is an equivalent, recognized UBC course may be granted ‘transfer credit’ at UBC. These transfer credits are processed by Engineering Academic Services (EAS) when a student is admitted to the Faculty of Applied Science.

A2: Course Equivalency: Prior to being placed in a CHBE undergraduate program, credits received for UBC courses that have sufficient coverage with a core course can be considered ‘equivalent’ to said core course. In such cases, that CHBE core course requirement can be waived. Students requesting course equivalency are asked to contact (1) Engineering Academic Services (EAS) for First Year Program courses or (2) undergrad@chbe.ubc.ca for Department courses. Be sure to include your name, your email, and the courses for which you are requesting equivalency.

Course Conflict Registration Form: Course requirements and registration restrictions are strictly followed. Only in exceptional cases will a student be permitted to register in conflicting courses. In such exceptional cases, students requesting enrollment are asked to use a Course Conflict Registration Form and request permission from the course instructor. Permission is granted only at the discretion of each individual instructor and ultimately the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Registration/Change of Registration Form: Course requirements and registration restrictions are strictly followed. Only in exceptional cases will a course requirement or registration restriction be waived allowing for enrollment. In such exceptional cases, students requesting enrollment are asked to use a  Registration/Change of Registration Form and request permission from the course instructor. Permission is granted at the discretion of each individual instructor.

The Department recognizes that good communication skills in English are essential to the understanding of course material and to the successful practice of engineering. Students demonstrate proficiency in English communication by completing WRDS 150 and CHBE 201. Students are strongly encouraged to complete WRDS 150 (or equivalent) in their first year and CHBE 201 in their second year. Students taking longer to complete this requirement can face registration restrictions. For more information visit the Engineering – Degree Requirements page.

Students facing this situation are advised to meet with a Department undergraduate program advisor who will work with them to develop a timetable. To arrange a meeting with a Department undergraduate program advisor, send an email to undergrad@chbe.ubc.ca. Be sure to include your name, your student number, and a Department undergraduate program advisor meeting request.

Technical electives are courses with significant technical (i.e. math, natural science, and/or engineering) content that are not equivalent to core courses in the CHBE undergraduate programs. They must generally be 300- or 400-level courses with a few exceptions. Consult our Technical Electives page for more information and a list of approved technical electives.

Non-approved courses can be granted credit towards the technical elective program requirement provided permission has been granted by an undergraduate program advisor before the student taking the course. To request permission, email undergrad@chbe.ubc.ca. Similarly, permission to take a technical elective is at the instructor’s discretion should any pre-requisites be incomplete.

Consult UBC Engineering’s Degree Requirements page for the details regarding complementary studies electives.

Academic Concession can be requested for in-term work. In-term work refers to all graded assignments, quizzes, and midterms during the UBC term dates.
If you have or will be missing in-term work and are requesting academic concession, you must submit the Request for Academic Concession (In-Term Work) Form within 48 hours of your absence. Late submissions may be considered under extenuating circumstances.

A copy of your request will be automatically forwarded to your instructor. You will need to contact your instructor directly to determine if your request for academic concession has been approved or declined. Instructors can provide one or more options to students who miss a marked assignment, test, or deadline. The options for your course should be identified in the course syllabus.

For more information about Academic Concession, please see the Engineering Academic Services Website.

The Engineering Co-op Program enhances students’ education with paid, relevant, technical work experience. Students can join the Program in their 2nd or 3rd year of a Department Undergraduate Engineering Program. For more information, please consult the Engineering Co-op Program website.