Second Year Placement

Second Year Placement is the process by which first-year engineering students are placed in discipline-specific engineering programs for the remainder of their BASc degree. Program rankings will take into consideration a student’s Winter (Term 1 & Term 2) session average and personal statement. Some programs may require additional materials or interviews from applicants, this is at the discretion of the program.


Timeline

March 15 – May 15
2nd Year Program Preference form is available, student rankings of programs are submitted

Late June
Students are notified of their placement by email prior to the start of second-year registration

Early July
2nd year registration for the next Winter session

Mid July
Reconsideration of 2nd Year Placement Form is available (specific date tbd).

Early August
Students are notified of Request for Reconsideration outcome by email

Students transferring into UBC Engineering admitted after mid-June will be placed on a rolling basis.

Second Year Placement Overview Video

General Information

What is the eligibility for 2nd year placement?

BASc students who have 27 credits of the 37 credits of first year Engineering curriculum by April 30th and a sessional average of 55% or higher from the Winter Session (all courses taken between September – April) will be placed in a discipline-specific engineering program. Note that while students can be placed with 27 credits, students must complete all 37 credits of the first-year program, because they are requirements of the BASc degree.

What if a student is not eligible for placement?

If a student does not meet the 27-credit minimum or does not have at least 55% overall (on all courses taken between September – April), they will remain in first-year. We recommend students in this situation speak with an academic advisor in EAS about course planning for the following Winter Session. If you are in this situation, you may also want to review the Academic Standings for Engineering to understand the academic standing you are on based on your average.

What average does a student need to get into their top choice program?

2nd year placement is based on the average of all courses taken during the Winter Session (September – April) and a personal statement. Each year, student interest changes and thus the demand for each program changes, so there is not a specific average that a student can achieve to guarantee placement in each discipline. For context regarding the competitiveness for entry into each discipline, APSC publishes a Historical Entrance Chart for students to reference.

Can I change my 2nd year placement form once I have submitted it? How do I know if my changes have been updated?

Your 2nd year placement form submission can be updated and changed until May 15th, 2023 at 11:59pm PDT when the form closes. Once the form closes, no further adjustments can be made. A student will receive an email after they submit their 2nd year placement form. Once the form is submitted, students can log in to make adjustments until May 15th, 2023 at 11:59pm PDT. Students will receive an email notification when each change is made. Note – it may take a couple of hours before the confirmation email is sent to you.

Can a UBC-V BASc student choose a UBC-O BASc program on the placement form?

Yes. They will need to be eligible for 2nd year placement and have at least 68% sessional average in their most current Winter Session.

How are students assessed for 2nd year placement?

2nd year placement is based on the average of all courses taken during the Winter Session (September – April) and a personal statement for all programs except Engineering Physics.  

Engineering Physics uses the student’s average of all courses taken during the Winter Session (September-April), 100-level Math and Physics grades and an interview to assess applicants.  For more information on this process, please reach out to Dr Andre Marziali, Engineering Physics director.   

How are summer courses used for 2nd year placement?

The credit from courses taken in the Summer Session will not be considered for 2nd year placement eligibility. However, courses in the summer can satisfy overall BASc degree requirements. Some programs require certain first- year requirements be completed by a specific time. Please consult the “Engineering Program” section for more information.

What if a student has a standing deferred (SD) exam that needs to be written after April 30. Will a student’s 2nd year placement be affected by the SD exam?

A student’s 2nd year placement notification will be delayed pending the outcome of the standing deferred exam(s). Presuming the student is eligible for placement, they can anticipate a notification in mid to late August once all final grades for the exams have been submitted. Students with SD exams will not be negatively impacted in the placement process and they will be assessed in the same way as all other students who qualify for 2nd year placement.

How does a student accept their 2nd year placement and when do they need to do this by?

A student needs to accept their 2nd year placement by registering in that specific Engineering program’s STT, which must be completed two weeks after their placement decision has been communicated to them. Even if a student wants to submit a reconsideration form, they still need to register in the discipline that they were originally placed in.

Under what circumstances will a student not be placed in a 2nd year program?

Students who have 2nd year standing and submit a second year placement form will be placed in a 2nd year Engineering program. It is in the student’s best interest to rank all 14 programs. If a student does not have 2nd year eligibility, they will not be placed in a 2nd year program.

What if a 2nd year student is placed in a program, but then cannot attend UBC in the upcoming Winter Session. Are they able to keep hold their seat in that program?

Students who are unable to attend UBC after being placed in a 2nd year Engineering program need to book an appointment to talk to an EAS advisor. Typically, students are unable to hold their seat in the program they have been placed in and must submit a second-year placement form again once they return for the next Winter session. There are some cases where we will hold your second year placement seat, such as mandatory military service. Please book an appointment with an EAS advisor to discuss your situation.

Eligibility

All BASc Students

What is the eligibility for 2nd year placement?

BASc students who have 27 credits of the 37 credits of first year Engineering curriculum by April 30th and a sessional average of 55% or higher from the Winter Session (all courses taken between September – April) will be placed in a discipline-specific engineering program. Note that while students can be placed with 27 credits, students must complete all 37 credits of the first-year program, because they are requirements of the BASc degree.

What if a student is not eligible for placement?

If a student does not meet the 27-credit minimum or does not have at least 55% overall (on all courses taken between September – April), they will remain in first-year. We recommend students in this situation speak with an academic advisor in EAS about course planning for the following Winter Session. If you are in this situation, you may also want to review the Academic Standings for Engineering to understand the academic standing you are on based on your average.

PBME STT Students

How does placement work for students in PBME (Pre-Biomedical Engineering) STT?

Students who are registered in the PBME STT in year one are eligible for priority placement. The students in this timetable will be placed in 2nd year BMEG if they meet the conditions of priority placement and have indicated BMEG as their first choice on the placement form.

What if a student registered in the PBME STT does not meet all conditions for priority placement?

Students who do not meet every condition will no longer qualify for priority placement and will go through the competitive 2nd year placement process. Students are still able to select BMEG as their first choice, however, they will not be “guaranteed” placement into BMEG if they have not met the priority placement conditions.

What if a student is registered in the PBME STT and does not want to continue in BMEG?

Students in the PBME STT can select any program as their first choice through the second- year placement process. If a student selects another program (i.e. CIVL, MECH etc.) as their first choice, they will be evaluated as such. PBME students who took the full STT will be able to satisfy the same requirements of the general engineering STT. BMEG 101 covers APSC 101, BMEG 102 covers PHYS 159 and CHEM 121 (or CHEM 120+CHEM 115) +CHEM 123 (or CHEM 130+135) together will cover CHEM 154.

Continuing Year One Students

Who are Continuing Year One Students?

Continuing Year One Students are BASc students who did not qualify for 2nd year placement in the previous Winter Session and hold first year standing.

How does placement work for a returning Year 1 student?

Continuing Year One Students need 27 credits of the 37 credits of first year Engineering curriculum by April 30th and at least 55% or higher sessional average to be eligible for placement. If students have taken courses from the first-year curriculum in previous sessions, these credits will be counted towards placement. Students who are continuing in their first year must take at least 24 credits and those credits will be used for their sessional average used towards placement. Students need to apply each year for placement. Previous submissions will not be used.

Will a student be disadvantaged for placement if they reduce their course load?

No, but students who are considering splitting their first year into two years need to speak with an EAS advisor. Additionally, those who are a returning year one student are encouraged to meet with an EAS advisor to go over course planning.

Guaranteed Program Placement

What is Guaranteed Program Placement?

Recipients of the Presidential Scholars Awards may be given Guaranteed Placement as part of the conditions of the award. Students who have been given Guaranteed Placement, must complete a minimum of 27 credits towards the first year of the Bachelor of Applied Science program with a minimum average of at least 75% overall in the Winter Session (all courses taken between September – April), upon which they will be eligible to choose placement in one of the participating programs, except for Engineering Physics. If you wish to pursue a placement in Engineering Physics, you must go through the competitive placement process.

UBC-O to UBC-V BASc Students

Is it possible for a UBC-O BASc student to transfer to the UBC-V BASc program?

Yes. Students who are currently attending first-year at the School of Engineering (Okanagan campus) and are eligible for 2nd year standing at the end of their first year (completed between 27 – 36 credits of the first year BASc-O Engineering curriculum), can apply to join the UBC-V BASc program using the second-year placement form. All other transfer students who are seeking a transfer to the Vancouver campus engineering program will need to complete the change of change of degree/change of campus application on the SSC by the application deadline and must meet the competitive average for admission. 

How does a student in the first year UBC-O BASc-O program with eligibility for second year apply for UBC-V placement?

UBC- O BASc-O students who are eligible for 2nd year standing (completed between 27 – 36 credits of the first year UBC-O curriculum) at the end of their first year and are interested in being placed in an Engineering program at the Vancouver campus need to apply through the 2nd year placement form. They do not need to submit a change of degree or campus form through UBC Admissions. First year BASc-O students need to be aware that this is an extremely competitive process and there are only 15 seats available for first-year BASc-O students transferring to Vancouver. Additionally, the process takes into consideration the percentage of the first year BASc-O Engineering curriculum that is completed, the number of credits attempted during the winter session, and sessional average.  

How does a BASc-O first year student know if they qualify for UBC-V 2nd year placement?

UBC-O students take 36 credits in their first-year studies, with 27 credits being required for promotion to second year. If a BASc-O student completes between 27 and 36 credits of UBC-O Engineering curriculum, they are eligible to apply using the second year placement form. 

How does a UBC-O BASc-O 2nd year student apply for UBC-V 2nd year BASc placement?

UBC-O BASc-O students need to complete the change of degree/change of campus application. This application is evaluated through UBC Admissions. If admitted to UBC-V BASc 2nd year, the student would need to fill out the 2nd year placement form and go through the competitive placement process. A student who was guaranteed their discipline at the School of Engineering is not guaranteed the same discipline at the Vancouver campus. Courses completed in the School of Engineering at UBC-O are not matched 1:1 with courses at the Vancouver campus. Students from UBC-O that are placed in Mechanical Engineering at UBC-V will need to do MECH 2 at UBC-V, even if they have already completed second year MECH at UBC-O.

Can a student at UBC-O in another degree program other than Engineering apply for UBC-V 2nd year placement?

UBC-O students in all other degree programs need to complete the change of degree/change of campus application for consideration through the admissions process. If admitted to UBC-V BASc 2nd year, the student would need to fill out the 2nd year placement form and go through the competitive placement process.

UBC-V Faculty Transfer Students

How does a student transferring from another Faculty at UBC know whether they are eligible for 2nd year placement?

UBC-V students in a different faculty can apply for the BASc degree program by submitting a request through the change of degree application for consideration through the admissions process. If admitted to UBC-V BASc 2nd year, the student would need to fill out the 2nd year placement form and go through the competitive placement process.

Can UNBC-UBC Environmental Engineering (ENVE) joint program students be considered for 2nd year placement?

UNBC-UBC Environmental (ENVE) students only qualify for the joint Environmental Engineering program at UBC. If they would like to pursue a different engineering discipline, they would first need to apply to UBC and be accepted into the BASc program as a 2nd year standing student in order to be considered for 2nd year placement at UBC in any other discipline other than the UNBC-UBC Environmental (ENVE) program.

Post-Secondary Transfer Students

Do Post-Secondary Transfer Students, who qualify for 2nd year standing, need to fill out the 2nd year placement form?

Yes, they do. If a student is admitted to the UBC Engineering Program with 2nd year standing they will need to fill out the 2nd year placement form to be evaluated and successfully placed in an Engineering program.

Can a post-secondary transfer student fill out the 2nd year placement form even though they are admitted to year one?

If a student has been admitted to year one with a substantial amount of transfer credits that they believe would cover 27 credits of UBC-V BASc first year curriculum, they are welcome to submit a placement form. We will hold on to the completed form until all transfer credits have been assessed and year standing has been determined. If the student is granted second-year standing, they will be given a 2nd year placement.

What is used to assess a transfer student’s 2nd year placement application?

For a student transferring into second year at UBC, 2nd year placement will be based on your admission average and personal statement.

Engineering Program Specifics

Biomedical Engineering

Can a student who did not take part in the PBME STT be placed in BMEG?

Yes. Students who did not take part in the PBME STT are welcome to select BMEG as their first choice on the 2nd year placement form.

Are there any additional courses required to start BMEG in 2nd year if a student was not in the PBME STT in 1st year?

Yes. Students must take BMEG 200 in the summer before starting 2nd year BMEG if they did not complete BMEG 101/102. BMEG 200 is a course designed to support student readiness for the 2nd year BMEG curriculum. Students will also need to take CHEM 121 and CHEM 123 in the summer after 2nd year. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements. .

Chemical Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start CHML in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

How does a current CHML or CHBE student switch to the other program in the department?

Around mid- March, the department sends current second year students in the CHBE or CHML program an application to apply for the other program. This is competitive as lab seats are limited. For more information, please contact CHBE Undergraduate Advising.

Civil Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start CIVL in 2nd year?

Yes, you need to complete WRDS 150b or an English equivalent before the start of Winter Session of 2nd year. CIVL Engineering has a communications skills module, CIVL 201, commencing two weeks prior to the start of the winter session and it may be mandatory for some students. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements

Computer Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start CPEN in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Electrical Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start ELEC in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

How can I apply for the Biomedical option in Electrical Engineering?

This is a separate application that ELEC candidates can use to apply through the ECE department. Acceptance to the Biomedical option is conditional on acceptance to the ELEC program.

Engineering Physics

Are there any admission requirements required to start ENPH in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

What is the criteria to qualify for an ENPH interview?

For more information on the ENPH interview process, please refer to the ENPH website. If a student has missed the interview timeframe, please reach out to Dr Andre Marziali, Engineering Physics director. 

Environmental Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start ENVL in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Geological Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start GEOE in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Integrated Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start IGEN in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Manufacturing Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start MANU in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Mechanical Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start MECH in 2nd year?

Yes! Students who want to be placed in Mechanical Engineering and start the program in September, need to complete: MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 152, PHYS 170, one of (a) PHYS 153 or (b) all of PHYS 157, PHYS 158, PHYS 159, and WRDS 150 or another first-year English course and must have received credit for these courses no later than August 1st. More information can be found on the MECH2 website.

How can I apply for early admission for the Mechanical Engineering program options?

The application for early admission is available through Mechanical Engineering. Students who are accepted into these options are not guaranteed a placement in Mechanical Engineering.

Materials Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start MTRL in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

Mining Engineering

Are there any admission requirements required to start MINE in 2nd year?

No. However, 2nd year courses that are a part of this program’s STT have pre-requisites that are first year Engineering courses. It is the student’s responsibility to know what courses are listed as pre-requisites and do their best to complete all first year Engineering courses as they are degree requirements.

UNBC-UBC Joint Program (ENVE)

Can a UBC-V student rank the UNBC-UBC joint Environmental (ENVE) program on the 2nd year placement form?

No. Students who are interested in this program will need to apply to UNBC through their application process.

Preparation

Explore your options by visiting Open Houses, reading through the Engineering Program websites and doing some research on your own. Current first-year students can access the second-year placement video through the APSC 100 and 101 Canvas modules using their CWL login.

Historical Entrance Chart

Historical Entrance Chart Link
What is the Historical Entrance Chart and how often is it updated?

The Historical Entrance Chart is a resource to help students understand the averages for each discipline over past years. It is updated each year with 4 years of historical data and can be used to aid a student’s 2nd year placement decision making.

Is a student “guaranteed” a spot if they have a sessional average that matches the sessional average range on the chart?

No. Each year, demand for each engineering discipline changes, and thus the Historical Entrance Chart is a good guideline to follow, but it does not guarantee a student a spot in a program if they have a certain sessional average that fits within the listed range.

Additional Resources

What can I do with my Engineering degree?
This UBC resource provides information about how to build your network, find your competitive edge, get experience, and more.

Behind the Career Video Series
This video series by Engineering Stories highlights recent alumni from all 14 of our engineering disciplines. These videos give you a sneak peak into what their jobs look like and insights they’ve gained throughout their degree and early employment.

The Career Action Program
The Career Action Program through Engineers Canada has a wealth of information for students to learn more about the engineering profession. This resource provides information on what it means to be an engineer, a complete overview of the fields of engineering, a list of accredited institutions, and a detailed guide to licensure. In addition, it has an optional, fee-for-service ($160) assessment with a series of questions designed to test your aptitude for the engineering field.

Career Cornerstone
Information about the field of engineering, career options, employment, earnings, etc. (this is a US-based site, but should give you a good idea about your options).

Educating Engineers.com
Descriptions of programs of study, career options and aptitude needed for each field.

Discover
A website dedicated to discovering careers and other options within the field of Engineering.

Career Cruising (Username: ubc | Password: careers)
Career Cruising provides detailed career profiles. Students can search job descriptions, job titles, and see a “day in the life of” typical employees, at junior, intermediate, and senior job levels. Education, training, duties, salary ranges and benefits are also described.

O*net
O*net describes the tasks, skills, and knowledge required for this profession. Related occupations, related job titles, and categories for professions are described. No login or membership is needed. Content provided is American.

Assessment

How are students assessed for 2nd year placement?

 2nd year placement is based on the average of all courses taken during the Winter Session (September – April) and a personal statement for all programs except Engineering Physics.   

Engineering Physics uses a student’s average of all courses taken during the Winter Session (September-April), 100-level Math and Physics grades and an interview to assess applicants. For more information on this process, please reach out to Dr Andre Marziali, Engineering Physics director.  

Do certain programs use criteria like interviews or other applications to assess placement?

Engineering Physics conducts in-person interviews with potential candidates. Please refer to ENPH website for more information or reach out to Dr Andre Marziali, Engineering Physics director.   

Electrical Engineering allows students to apply for the Biomedical Engineering option that is a part of their program. Even if a student is accepted into the Biomedical Engineering option, this does not determine a student’s placement in Electrical Engineering for 2nd year.

Mechanical Engineering allows students to apply for early admission to some of their program options. Even if a student is accepted into one of Mechanical Engineering program options, this does not determine a student’s placement in Mechanical Engineering for 2nd year.

2nd Year Placement Form

Are the 2nd year placement forms processed immediately after a student submits it?

No. These forms are not processed on a first-come-first-serve basis. Once the form closes, the forms are processed altogether. There is no advantage to submitting your form before the May 15 deadline.

Can UBC-V BASc students rank UBC-O Engineering Programs?

Yes! The School of Engineering at UBC-O has four Engineering programs and BASc students who qualify for 2nd year placement may rank these programs. If a student is subsequently placed in a UBC-O program, the placement is final. UBC-V students should only rank UBC- O programs with the understanding that if they are placed in a UBC-O program they will be required to relocate to Kelowna for the remainder of their degree and will not be permitted to change their Placement to another program.

What if a student is admitted to the UBC-V BASc program after the 2nd year placement form closes?

If a student is admitted to the BASc degree as a second-year student after the form closes on May 15, please email Engineering Academic Services at students@apsc.ubc.ca

Personal Statement

What is the personal statement?

The personal statement is a 500 words statement written to a student’s top choice program, which is a part of a student’s 2nd year placement application.

What is the criteria for the personal statement?

There is no specific criteria for the personal statement. Most students choose to write about their interest in the program, their skills, and experiences (both academic and outside the classroom) as well as any other information they would like the program to consider that is relevant to their first- choice discipline.

What makes a good personal statement?

A good personal statement is one that shows why a student would be a good fit for a program. A student should explain why their top choice program should consider their application based on both skills and experiences from academics and experiences or interests outside the classroom. Students should also consider showing why they are a suitable candidate through illustrating their experiences and achievements. It is important for students to reflect and highlight what they have learned and the thought process behind their actions.

For example: 

I have always been interested in computer engineering and coding since I was younger and I’m even more interested now.  

VS 

My growing interest in computer engineering stems from a high school coding project that evolved into a continued pastime hobby and passion.  

Who reads the personal statements on the placement form?

Only the student’s top choice program reviews their personal statement.

Placement Results

When does a student hear back about 2nd year placement?

Students will hear back about their placement results before second year registration opens.  

Engineering Physics will provide updates to candidates regarding the application process before the placement form closes, and they will also inform successful applicants of their acceptance in the program ahead of 2nd year registration. 

What happens if a student does not receive a placement?

If a student has not received a 2nd year placement, please email Engineering Academic Services at students@apsc.ubc.ca so we can determine why this has happened.

How is 2nd year placement communicated to students?

Students who submitted a 2nd year placement form will be notified by email when the placement results are released before second year registration.

What if a student did not receive their top choice for  2nd year placement?  

2nd year placement is a competitive process. In order to be competitive for high-demand programs, students must have competitive grades and an excellent personal statement. Unfortunately, because of limited availability in some programs, not all students will qualify for their top choice program. If a student feels like a mistake was made or there are extenuating circumstances that would allow them to be considered for a different 2nd year Engineering program, they can review the Reconsideration section to see if they qualify. Additionally, students can review the Interdepartmental Transfer Process. We encourage students to talk to an EAS advisor about their situation and the options, they have.

Reconsideration

Can any student submit a reconsideration form after receiving their 2nd year placement?

Students who believe there has been a mistake relating to their placement or have extenuating circumstances to explain a specific circumstance outside of their control that may have affected their placement, can submit a Reconsideration form to give insight to a specific situation. This must be new information.

Can UBC-V BASc students who are placed in a UBC-V program be reconsidered for UBC-O programs?

Yes. If a UBC-V students has at least 68% sessional average, they can be reconsidered for UBC-O Engineering programs. Please note: that if a student’s reconsideration form is successful, the student will need to relocate to Kelowna, BC.

When will students get the results for reconsideration?

Students can expect to hear back about the results of reconsideration in early August. Students should register in their currently placed program, and change their registration if the reconsideration is successful.